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“” (He was a brat when he was young). That’s how Sanjay Bharadwaj remembers Amit Mishra during his formative years. Now Mishra, a legspinner, has been included in the Indian squad for the third time and his coach Bharadwaj is as pleased as the player.Mishra hasn’t forgotten those early carefree days. “I was a naughty one, who never listened to anyone in the family. But I got away most times because I was the youngest.” He’s more mature now and is keen to capitalise on his latest opportunity.”It’s a second break”, he told Cricinfo from Chennai, where he took five wickets in India A’s victory against New Zealand A. “I’ve got a chance against a good team and I will make sure I perform.” His first India call-up came in 2002 during the home series against West Indies but he never got a game. A year later he played three ODIs during the TVS Cup. Expectations soared in the Mishra household but he didn’t get another opportunity after 2003.Mishra didn’t lose hope. Born into a lower middle-class family, he was the youngest of four brothers. Material possessions were not so much a priority. “Cricket has, will and always will remain my first love,” he said. “Cricket has given me so much and it is in my blood. From lower middle-class, I’ve moved up to middle-class now and it is because of the game.”Spin, and an aggressive bowling style, came naturally to him. When he went to Bharadwaj, the coach knew Mishra was a natural. “He had the ability to bowl all kinds of balls,” Bharadwaj said. “I never taught him anything but just guided him. He used a lot of variety in his bowling so I taught him to focus only on spinning it.”A short bowler, Mishra’s delivery begins with a short walk to the crease and ends in a swift round-arm action, in the Shane Warne mould, with the shoulder playing a prominent role. His USPs have always been flight and control but he also has a dangerous wrong ‘un.”Aggression has always been my strength,” he said. “I’ve always thought that if you can flight the ball along with spin, it will always pose enough difficulties for the batsman. It is more difficult to play a slow ball compared to a fast one if you are attacking.”A classic example was his last-over hat-trick for Delhi Daredevils against Deccan Chargers during the inaugural IPL. Deccan required 15 off six balls and Virender Sehwag told Mishra not to shy away from attacking. “If I went on the defensive I knew a couple of strokes would’ve finished the match,” Mishra said. “So I decided to attack and it worked out. He [Sehwag] had the confidence in me and that inspired me.”In a way the IPL opened a door that was shutting fast on him. He was the best spinner on the domestic circuit – 46 wickets in the 2007-08 season – and has fared well for India A but previous selectors weren’t convinced. He has improved on his figures in the last two years in the A games and ended up as India’s highest wicket-taker in the Emerging Players tournament held in Australia recently.Two years ago he suffered a career-threatening shoulder injury to his bowling arm and thought that he “might have to give up cricket”. But he remained patient and persevered, just like how he’d fought his way back in domestic cricket after moving from Delhi to Haryana.Mishra says Ranbir Singh Mahendra, the former BCCI president and an influential voice in Haryana cricket, played a vital role in his return, giving him an opportunity despite being hit for 26 runs off two overs during the trials.Along the way, he has met more people willing to offer help. “[Anil] Kumble told me that whatever variation I bowl, line and length is very important. Harbhajan [Singh] said my strength is flight and I should continue to focus on that. Sachin [Tendulkar] told me flight is important but spinning the ball is more important.”He will have the opportunity to learn from them once again when the Test squad assembles in Bangalore on October 6.

Dwayne Bravo, the West Indies allrounder, will undergo surgery on his left ankle in New York after being left out of the Tri-Nation series in Canada because of the injury.Bravo, who said he had carried the injury for the last two years, earlier planned to have surgery on his ankle in November but decided to move it forward as the problem turned urgent. “I have used painkillers and stuff but I cannot go on like this,” Bravo told the . Last year he missed the Quadrangular series in Ireland after aggravating the injury.”I need to have the problem corrected and as such I will be going across to New York to have surgery done on the ankle. I have pushed it to the limit and there is no way I could have continued with the problem persisting.”The surgery was organised by the West Indies board and Bravo is expected to return to Trinidad on Sunday. He will aim to be fit for England’s tour of the West Indies starting February 2009.

Match facts

Thursday July 31 – Monday August 4, 2008
Start time 10.15am (0445GMT)

Big Picture

After the annihilation at the SSC, the Indians have plenty of questions to answer in the second Test at Galle. The gulf between the two teams was so vast, and India were so abject in all departments, that Anil Kumble will be justified in believing that things can only get better. The bad news is the improvement will have to be dramatic for India to have any chance of levelling the series; the good news is they have done it before in Sri Lanka. The last time India toured here, in 2001, they lost the first Test by ten wickets, and then bounced back to win the second by seven wickets.Sri Lanka’s display in the first Test was so emphatic, though, that it seems unlikely they will slip up like they had then. They’re coming back to a venue which has brought them plenty of success and one that is hosting only its second Test since being ravaged by the tsunami in 2004. Sri Lanka couldn’t finish the job against England last year despite dismissing them for 81; this time, they’ll hope to seal the series with one Test still to play.

Form guide (last 5 Tests)

Sri Lanka WLWDD
India LWLDD

Watch out for

The spin wizards: Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis didn’t give India a chance in the first Test, and they’ll ask plenty of questions of the batsmen’s technique in Galle as well.Sachin Tendulkar scored only 39 runs in two innings in the first Test but the manner in which he tackled the spinners bodes well for future contests. He needs 133 more to become Test cricket’s leading run-scorer, so there is plenty of motivation for him to turn on the run tap.The review system: The first experiment with the use of more technology in decision making wasn’t an unqualified success and the system will be under scrutiny again in Galle. Mark Benson, who reversed three decisions at the SSC after consulting with third umpire Rudi Koertzen, will be watching the replays this time while Koertzen does the on-field duty.

Team news

So utterly dominant were Sri Lanka at the SSC that they’re almost certain to field an unchanged line-up, unless a last-minute injury or illness forces a change. The only aspect which disappointed in the first Test was the fast-bowling department. The new-ball bowlers took only one wicket, and Chaminda Vaas didn’t take any, with his pace dipping to as low as 110 kph at times. Dammika Prasad has been added to the squad because of the pace he offers but it’s unlikely Sri Lanka will sacrifice Vaas’ swing, control and experience.Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Michael Vandort, 2 Malinda Warnapura, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 5 Thilan Samaraweera, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Muttiah Muralitharan, 10 Ajantha Mendis, 11 Nuwan Kulasekara.Despite the first Test debacle, India’s batting and bowling line-ups are likely to remain unchanged as well. The only change they might consider is the wicketkeeper. Dinesh Karthik dropped a couple of chances at the SSC and failed with the bat as well. He attempted a hopeless slog off Muralitharan in the first innings and edged limply to slip in the second. However, Kumble indicated India wouldn’t make any changes, which suggests Parthiv Patel will have to wait to play his first Test since October 2004.India (probable) 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 Sourav Ganguly, 6 VVS Laxman, 7 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 8 Anil Kumble (capt), 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Ishant Sharma.Umpires: Billy Doctrove and Rudi Koertzen. : Mark Benson

Pitch & conditions

The pitch is likely to be another turner which will suit Sri Lanka. What might not suit them as much is the weather forecast with thunderstorms likely throughout the game. With India fighting to level the series, that’s a piece of information Anil Kumble won’t like either.

Stats & Trivia

Andre Nel, the South Africa fast bowler, has left Titans after four years due to personal reasons.”We wish him every success, and thank him for his efforts for the Titans over the last few years,” Andy O’Connor, chairman of the Easterns franchise, said, “which included winning the SuperSport Series twice and the unprecedented double during the 2007-2008 season!””It is regrettable to hear of Andre’s decision to leave the Titans,” Richard Pybus, the Titans coach, said. “He played an important role in our Standard Bank Pro20 success this year and never gave less than a 100% for us, whether training or playing. We wish him well for the England tour and for his future.”Nel played 23 matches for Titans, picking up 30 wickets at 31.36. He represented Essex earlier this season but was granted early leave to play for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, before earning a call-up to South Africa’s Test squad on their tour of England next month.

Scorecard
A strong performance from Scotland’s bowlers helped them gain a substantial first-innings lead on the second day of their Intercontinental Cup match against Bermuda in Hamilton. Bermuda were dismissed for 106, giving Scotland a lead of 176, which they extended to 259 by scoring 83 for 3 in the second innings.Bermuda’s openers – Chris Foggo and Oronde Bascome – provided a steady start by adding 44 for the first wicket, of which Bascome’s contribution was only 6. Medium-pacer Sean Weeraratna triggered the collapse, having Bascome caught by Ross Lyons after which he dismissed both James Celestine and Steven Outerbridge to reduce Bermuda to 64 for 3. Foggo offered resistance but once he fell for 53 the innings folded – the last six wickets fell for 33 runs. Only one other batsman – Jekon Edness, who scored 23 – got into double figures.Dewald Nel, the Scotland medium-pacer, mopped up the tail to finish with figures of 4 for 27 but it was Weeraratna’s 3 for 14 at the top that hurt Bermuda. Lyons provided support by picking up 2 for 15.Scotland slipped to 22 for 3 during their second innings – all the wickets fell to George O’Brien – but the captain Fraser Watts and wicketkeeper Colin Smith steadied the innings with an unbeaten 61-run stand for the fourth wicket. Watts, who had scored 93 in the first innings, made 43 to steer the hosts to 83 for 3.Earlier in the day, Scotland’s first innings had wrapped up for 282 after beginning the day on 240 for 7. Nel struck 22 to help add 20 each for the last two wickets before Dwayne Leverock picked up the final wicket to finish with 6 for 120.

Kevin O’Brien will captain a strong Ireland A side for their three-day match against Bangladesh A in Dublin which begins on June 23.All of the side have Ireland senior experience apart from Andrew Poynter and Peter Connell. The emphasis is also firmly on youth, with eight of the side having represented Ireland in the Under-19 World Cup.Phil Simmons, Ireland’s coach, said he would use the match as a chance to have a look at some players who were fighting for inclusion. “There’s no doubt that Bangladesh A will provide very stern opposition,” he said, “and it will be a good test for the players.”The two teams will play a Twenty20 two days after the scheduled end of the three-dayer. That game starts at 4.30pm in Eglington. They then face off for two one-day matches in Bangor and Stormont.Squad Kevin O’Brien (capt), Peter Connell, Phil Eaglestone, Ryan Haire, James Hall, Gary Kidd, Fintan McAllister (wkt), Andrew Poynter, Paul Stirling, Reinhardt Strydom, Greg Thompson, Shane Getkate (12th man).

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Bangalore Royal Challengers’ woeful IPL campaign plunged new depths at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium as they slumped to a 65-run drubbing at the hands of Rajasthan Royals, who went one step closer to a place in the semi-finals with their eighth win in ten games.Apart from the toss, everything was perfect for Rajasthan as Bangalore put in another thoroughly abject performance with the ball, bat, and in the field. Swapnil Asnodkar and Graeme Smith were the protagonists for Rajasthan, putting together 109 in a mere 12.2 overs – the second first-wicket century stand for the team – before Shane Watson applied the finishing touches with a 28-ball 46. They finally settled for 197, which was far too many for a batting line-up, which is completely lacking in form and confidence. The first three wickets went down within 14 deliveries, and though Rahul Dravid struck a defiant 36-ball 75, the result was never in doubt.Dravid decided to field first despite afternoon temperatures soaring to 48 degrees Celsius, and if that wasn’t bad enough, his bowlers were subjected to a pummelling by Asnodkar and Smith, who cut, drove, pulled and edged the rivals to distraction.With two wins in nine games, Bangalore could have done with all the luck possible; instead, through the early exchanges it was Rajasthan that got the rub of the green as both batsmen pinged the third-man region regularly. Asnodkar got a 50, but it was one of the most unconvincing half-centuries of the tournament, as he got the benefit of an lbw shout, and then edged twice over the wicketkeeper off Jacques Kallis.After seven overs Rajasthan were motoring along at 63 without loss, mostly thanks to Asnodkar, but Smith soon joined in the act, making room and striking the ball cleanly over mid-on and midwicket. Abdur Razzak became the first Bangladesh player to get an IPL game, but his start was hardly auspicious: he began with a no-ball which was edged for four by Smith, and the free hit was deposited on the midwicket roof.

Those early exchanges swung the momentum Rajasthan’s way, and they ensured they never let it go. Anil Kumble finally got his first wicket of the tournament, but Asnodkar’s departure only brought in the even more destructive Watson, who quickly made his presence felt with a couple of superb pull shots when Kumble pitched it fractionally short. Smith reached his half-century in the same over, pulling the last ball of Kumble’s spell over midwicket for six. Dravid turned to pace, medium pace and spin, but the run-fest continued unabated as Watson teed off whenever the ball was pitched on a length, freeing his arms to cut, pull and drive the bowlers.As has happened throughout the tournament, Bangalore were let down in the field as well. Apart from Patil’s poor form behind the stumps, there were misfields galore in the outfield. Misbah-ul-Haq dropped a tough chance from Watson when he was on 19, Praveen didn’t react at all to a lofted shot from Smith four balls later when it dropped a few feet in front of him, and Vinay Kumar rounded off a miserable performance by missing a sitter from Watson in the final over.Bangalore’s run-chase was a non-starter. The out-of-sorts J Arunkumar holed out to mid-off in the first over. Misbah’s disappointing tournament continued – he has now scored 32 runs in four innings – as he hopelessly miscued a pull to mid-on, and when Virat Kohli chopped on onto his stumps off the impressive Sohail Tanvir, Bangalore’s total read a shambolic 5 for 3. Kallis’ method of moving across his stumps and flicking everything to the on side fetched him a disappointing 20 from 29 balls. The difference in the fielding of the two teams came out starkly too, as Shane Warne plucked off a stunning caught-and-bowled low to his right when Zaheer Khan clubbed one straight back to him.The only show of resistance came from Dravid, whose unbeaten 75 was a strong message to the rest of his batsmen. The result was admittedly a foregone conclusion, but Dravid made his point emphatically, carving six sixes, including three in an over from Yusuf Pathan. That knock lifted Bangalore to a somewhat respectable total, but it was hardly enough to stop Rajasthan, who have now won all six games at home.

All the drums that were drowning out any other noise in New Zealand cricket circles yesterday appear to have been correct – Stephen Fleming and Chris Cairns are apparently talking with New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden.The Sunday Star-Times reported today that Fleming was set to have the players return to action in time to be ready for the onset of the first-class season and the upcoming tour by India.No-one is commenting at the moment, which is perfectly understandable if negotiations are, in fact, underway.But the news that earlier advocate Rob Nichol is out of the frame is hardly surprising either.Being Sunday, there are plenty of opinions in print on the issue.Under a heading “Posturing alley cats need to start talking to each other” in the same newspaper, Chris Laidlaw described the whole issue as “low level farce.”Being more in touch with rugby matters than cricket, Laidlaw did provide one opinion probably felt by many looking at the issue from outside.”The most distinctive feature of the players’ association position is that it doesn’t seem to have one,” he said.Applying an over-used rugby analogy he said the players’ position didn’t appear to have a consistent bottom line, as articulated by Nichol.”The goalposts are, it seems, in constant motion and New Zealand Cricket isn’t quite sure what to aim at,” he said.Mind you, Laidlaw didn’t spare New Zealand Cricket either.He said: “And it’s time for New Zealand Cricket to become a little less pious in its blanket refusal to deal with the strikers.”Former New Zealand captain Ken Rutherford, who writes a column in the same newspaper said: “I’m picking a consensus will be reached, with our leading players saying enough is enough – let’s get back to work. And that agreement will be achieved in the next couple of days.”Rutherford was critical of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association approach.”The players’ association has communicated little more than the need for more money; other concerns are mentioned but we are waiting for elaboration.”And he concluded by saying: “It has been outplayed in the media stakes by NZC and has consistently failed to provide fair and reasonable evidence to back up its argument.”All of which is a long way removed from the editorial stance taken by the New Zealand Herald yesterday.The Herald suggested the Indian tour should be called off.It felt nothing would be achieved by a third-string side playing the might of India.”At the moment, there seems only one avenue of escape from that prospect. The striking players appear resolute. Perhaps only the passage of time, and absence from the game they purport to love, will shift their resolve. If there is no change, it would be best to cancel the Indian tour. That would create time for new talent to be cultivated – or for the present crop of top players to come to their senses,” the Herald said.All of which forgets the obligation New Zealand Cricket has to international commitments already made.The lesson that it takes a major calamity, such as that the New Zealand players were exposed to in Karachi earlier this year, for a tour to be abandoned without economic consequence, appears to have been forgotten.Quite literally, NZC can’t afford to call off the tour as the result of agreements already signed and revenue-providing television rights having been sold.Hopefully, more will be revealed in the next few days to cover all concerns.

The One-day match being held at the Gaddafi Stadium Friday, now will be a day and night match, starting at 11.00am instead of 9am.The match is being held to test form and fitness of senior and junior players before announcing Pakistan team for the forthcoming tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa starting from Nov 1.PCB has already announced its Greens and Reds teams for this match which are a blend of experience and youth. However, PCB did not announce the names of the two captains of either side. However, it is likely that Wasim Akram will lead the Greens while Moin Khan the Reds.International umpires Aleem Dar and Nadeem Ghauri will be supervising the 50-over-a-side match.The match is expected to finish around 6.45pm which means that the cold evening weather and dew could create problems for the players near the end of the match.Test discard Ijaz Ahmad and Azhar Mahmood have also been called up for the match, but both have expressed their unavailability due to different reasons. PCB has included Yousuf Youhana and Saleem Elahi in their place.Teams:PCB Greens: Saeed Anwar, Rifatullah, Yousuf Youhana, Usman Tariq, Saleem Elahi, Kamran Akmal, Yasir Arafat, Wasim Akram, Abdul Rauf, Danish Kaneria, Bazid Khan. Junaid Zia (12th man).PCB Reds: Salman Butt, Babar Naeem, Ijaz Ahmad Junior, Naveed Latif, Shahid Afridi, Moin Khan, Rana Naveed-ul-Hassan, Mohammad Zahid, Umar Gul, Irfanuddin, Yasir Hameed. Najaf Shah (12th man).

Lahore Blues moved into the final of the National One-day Junior (Under-19) Grade-I Cricket Tournament with an easy six-wicket victory over Fata at Gaddafi Stadium Friday.Lahore Blues’ second win in the triangular series was set up by pacer Wahab Riaz’s four wickets and an unbeaten 54 from Asim Ijaz.Set a modest target of 152, Lahore Blues occupied the crease for 46.5 overs with Asim striking four boundaries in his 120-ball innings. Earlier, Fata, who lost the toss, were bowled out for 151 in 40.3 overs.Left-arm pacer Wahab, who gave away 31 runs for his four wickets was ably supported by leg-spinner Raheel Abbas.Raheel was economical as he conceded just 16 runs while snapping up three wickets.Mumtaz Afridi, who was left high and dry on an undefeated 36 and opener Johar Hussain (29) were the only Fata batsmen to make significant contributions.