• Sunday night's win against the Deccan Chargers was a brilliant one, and all kudos to Harbhajan, first for the superb knock he played, and then the three wickets he followed it up with.

     

    Deccan did have us on the ropes at one point, but Bhajji's whirlwind 49 off just 18 balls got us to 172 and what turned out to be a match-winning total. Maybe using Sachin Tendulkar's bat has something to do with it and a bit of the Little Master's magic rubbed off! Bhajji, however, does take his batting very seriously and has been working hard at nets and it paid off.

     

    Besides Bhajji, Zaheer and Malinga also did a wonderful job, and Sachin carried on his rollicking form too, and his move to open the bowling with Bhajji was as aggressive as it was inspired. And it worked with the dangerous Gilchrist falling in the very first over and that set the tone for the rest of the match. 

     

    We play Kings XI Punjab on Tuesday, and though they have not been having the best of times this season, with just the one

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  • Even those who still hold reservations about the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS), would I hope be convinced following the unhappy events in the England - Bangladesh series that even with its flaws the system should be enforced in all Test matches.

     

    As one who has enthusiastically backed the system, I fail to understand the reluctance of some teams not to adopt it even after the ICC gave the green signal last June. Admittedly the system - which gives players the opportunity to request a review by the third umpire of a decision made by the on-field umpire they believed was wrong - has not been without its controversial aspects and has muddied the waters in several instances. 

     

    But as ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat himself a keen votary of the system has maintained the protocols were clear, perhaps the application was not so good. In any case, the UDRS in the ultimate analysis will make cricket more error-free and who would not want that?  It would for all its faults reduce

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  • Steven Finn is a terrific talent who I believe will make a huge impact in the upcoming season in England and for many years to come.

     

    It is clear to me that both Ryan Sidebottom and Steve Harmison will not be returning to represent their country, and that leaves the likes of Finn with a tremendous opportunity to establish themselves as the future.

     

    After working with the Middlesex paceman at close quarters with the England Lions, it is apparent that there are few cricketers who work harder at their game, and I was pleased to see him given his Test debut in Chittagong.

     

    Finn has genuine, searing pace and the height to extract real bounce out of even the most placid of pitches - there is no doubt in my mind that he will excel this summer in English conditions.

     

    He is just 20 years old, but he has already acquired a good grasp of his game, and that includes having learnt how to swing the ball at pace.

     

    I thought he coped admirably in extremely unhelpful conditions in Chittagong with

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