When India look back on the opening day at Nagpur, they will experience a mixture of elation and disappointment. Having fought back magnificently to wrest the initiative before lunch, they threw it away with some wretched bowling after the interval, not helped by a pitch that eased out to be as flat as the pancake that was always predicted despite the decorative green covering. With Australia 234 for 3 moments before tea – 143 came from the 29 overs bowled in the afternoon session, unacceptable figures no matter what the quality of the batting – the match and the series were slipping away, but Murali Kartik then produced a spell as eye-catching as the streaks in his hair to ensure that the final session wouldn’t be the run-fest that the second had been.Deprived of the services of Harbhajan Singh – a far more significant absentee than either Sourav Ganguly or Irfan Pathan, given his record against Australia – Rahul Dravid initially appeared unsure of how to attack opponents who started with customary flourish. Neither Ajit Agarkar nor Zaheer Khan did enough with the new ball, though there was enough lateral movement, and it didn’t help that the slip cordon – prompted by a lack of faith in the wicketkeeper? – was deep enough to bring back memories of the West Indian speed demons of yore.Both Zaheer and Anil Kumble then bowled themselves to a standstill after lunch, and were unavailable when Damien Martyn and Darren Lehmann started to hit the ball with crispness and power. Murali Kartik came on late, and Sachin Tendulkar even later, while Agarkar chose that passage of play to illustrate why so few rate him as a Test-match bowler.His bowling to Martyn could best be described as thoughtless. Pitching short to a man who made his reputation for back-foot play at the WACA in Perth was a bit like sending down loopy half-volleys on off stump to Ganguly in his pomp, and Martyn duly cashed in with some sumptuous drives and cuts.To focus too hard on Indian inadequacies would be to overlook the luminosity of Martyn’s batting. When he came forward to the spinners, his footwork was decisive and precise, and on the back foot, he was seldom hurried into a false stroke. Visiting batsmen – most notably Ricky Ponting on the last tour – have prodded forward with dismal results in Indian conditions, but Martyn’s method – treating each ball on its merit, with no pre-conceived plan of attack – showed that the most effective solutions are also the most simple.

But for two beautiful deliveries from Kartik, India could conceivably have given up 400 runs, as they did on the opening day at Adelaide last year. For someone with nothing to gain – Harbhajan is a shoo-in if he regains fitness before Mumbai – and everything to lose, Kartik’s performance spoke volumes of his character. The initial overs were touched with hesitancy, expected from someone who has never enjoyed a decent run in the XI, but later on the beguiling loop and turn that first caught the eye several years ago were in evidence. On a day when Kumble wasn’t quite his immense self, it was a virtuoso performance.To be fair, India’s position would have been far healthier had Michael Clarke been given out when struck on the back pad by Zaheer. Replays suggested that he was palpably plumb, and Zaheer’s bemused expression – he bowled with great heart and skill after an indifferent opening spell – said enough of India’s anguish. Clarke had made just 6 then, and he and Martyn would add a further 65 before being separated.But once again, India have to look within – or behind the stumps in this case – to pinpoint the root cause of their troubles. Parthiv Patel fumbles the ball more often than David James, England’s much-maligned goalkeeper, on a bad day, and he gave Clarke two gifts of life late in the day, courtesy a fluffed stumping and a horrendous drop. His expression afterwards suggested that he was on the verge of tears, and after the endless media scrutiny of the last few days, you couldn’t blame him.There are times when courage in the face of adversity is an admirable thing. But in Patel’s case, surely the time has come to take the backward step into first-class cricket so that he can restore shattered confidence and rebuild what remains of his technique. For the moment, every second he spends in the middle only enhances the intolerable cruelty of the poison-pens, and for one so young, that appears too much of a burden to bear.

The Australian first-class domestic competition will be called the Pura Cup for another three years after National Foods renewed its sponsorship yesterday. James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said Australia’s success at the elite level relied on the talent emerging through the ranks and the importance of the Pura Cup as a foundation stone was vital."The quality and skill of the players, the healthy rivalry among states and the desire to achieve success ensure that the Pura Cup thrives and attracts the public’s interest," he said. "Running a national cricket competition is not a profit driving exercise by any means – it costs money. But that money must be spent so that we can continue to prepare and promote our players through the cricket system and maintain Australia’s success at the elite level."National Foods, through its Pura Milk brand, made its initial investment into Australian cricket in 1999, and the current renewal marks the company’s second extension of that contract.

The ECB is holding urgent talks with the authorities in Zimbabwe after a number of journalists were denied entry to Zimbabwe to cover England’s forthcoming five-match one-day series, which is scheduled to start later this week.The Zimbabwe government has denied entry to journalists from , , and , and their Sunday stable-mates, as well as the BBC. However, those from the , the , and , and agency reporters from the Press Association and Reuters, will be allowed in. Visa applications and requests for press accreditation were made through the cricket boards of both England and Zimbabwe two months ago.Ehsan Mani, the president of the ICC, indicated that they only became aware of the decision late this afternoon, and it remained unclear on what basis it had been taken. Mani has been in talks with Peter Chingoka, the chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket, and David Morgan, his counterpart at the ECB, and also the Zimbabwe High Commission in London.”The ICC looks to get a clear understanding of what has taken place, and the reasons for it,” Mani said. “At this time, until we have received clarification on this issue, it is difficult for us to comment further on what has happened today.”As far as Chingoka is concerned, it’s nothing to do with his cricket board: “I have no say whatsoever in accreditation. Government officials are the ones who handle that. I have just passed on my information to the ECB and my dealings are with them.”Morgan, who is still in England before flying to Zimbabwe for the series, told BBC Radio Five Live that there was no way out of the tour: “The England cricket team is committed to appear in Zimbabwe for the future tours programme which is a regulation of the International Cricket Council. I expect the tour to proceed despite the unfortunate situation regarding media accreditation. It’s unfortunate and embarrassing, and something that we will be pursuing on arrival there with the chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket.”Meanwhile, Andrew Walpole, the ECB’s media relations manager, who is currently with the England side in Namibia, told Wisden Cricinfo: “This is an evolving situation and we’re taking it hour by hour. We’re currently holding urgent talks with the authorities in Zimbabwe, and it’s too early to speculate on what the outcome of those talks will be.”England are scheduled to travel to Zimbabwe on Wednesday, and the first one-day international is set for Harare on Friday.

Sales of Pakistan’s one-day strip from the 2003 World Cup are expected to reach £1million following some unexpected exposure from British comedian Peter Kay on Channel 4’s comedy show according to newspaper. Kay wore the shirt in all six episodes of the series, which finished last Friday.The World Cricket Store, which holds the UK licence to make the shirts, has been overwhelmed by the demand. It outsells England strips. A few months ago, the shirt was proving so unpopular that the line was dropped. “We’ve been inundated,” Mark Whitehead, the firm’s managing director, told chortle.co.uk. “It’s amazing the effect a TV show as popular as Peter’s can have. He’s made our Christmas.”The sitcom sees two ex-bouncers take the road in a motor home, but it hasn’t yet been made clear why Kay’s character wears the shirt.

ScorecardAt Cape Town, Western Province Boland did not take full advantage after winning the toss and batting first – Lance Klusener helped the Dolphins to bowl them out for 233 with a return of 4 for 80. A maiden hundred from Derrin Bassage was all that stood between a mediocre performance and complete disaster, while a 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket, between Bassage and Ashwell Prince (30) was the only one of any substance. Klusener’s figures were dented somewhat by Paul Adams, who came in down the order and threw the bat for 38. In reply the Dolphins showed that the pitch held no terrors as Imraan Khan and Doug Watson raced away to bring up their 50-run partnership inside ten overs. Just before stumps they shut up shop. Watson moved on to 48 and Khan to 49 to leave their side in the strong position of 99 without loss by the close.Warriors 163 for 3 (Bruyns 55, Bradfield 51) v Eagles
ScorecardRain and lightning at Buffalo Park in East London stopped play after the Eagles had won the toss and put the Warriors in. Mark Bruyns and Carl Bradfield gave the Warriors a near-perfect start with a century opening stand that was eventually broken when Bruyns was caught by Jacob Malao off Deon Kruis for 55. Bradfield followed soon afterwards for 51. With the weather failing quickly and lightning striking close to the ground, the umpires took the players off with the Warriors 163 for 3 after 58.2 overs.Lions 346 for 8 (Ontong 98, Ackerman 129, Nel 4-86) v Titans
ScorecardAfter winning the toss and batting at Benoni, the Lions recovered well from 41 for 2 following two early strikes from Andre Nel. Justin Ontong then put on 61 with Neil McKenzie (38), and 133 with HD Ackerman, to help his side recover to 235 for 4 before Paul Harris trapped Ontong in front two runs short of his hundred. Ackerman, coming off a big century at Paarl last weekend, continued his good form and reached his hundred today from 145 balls. With four overs remaining in the day, the tall Ethy Mbhalati bowled Ackerman, who had looked solid throughout, for 129. He had hit 19 fours and a six. When stumps were drawn the Lions had reached 346 for 8.Keith Lane works for Cricinfo in South Africa.