Ajinkya Rahane's success so far, and it is important to remember that it has only been two innings as I write this, is an interesting development for both young cricketers and selectors.

For those who think that getting your front foot out of the way, tonking a few and eyeing an IPL contract is the way ahead, the news is that the longer you bat the better you seem to get. Rahane has an outstanding first class record, has seen success and frustration and has shown the right attitude towards playing cricket. And 17 first class hundreds means he doesn't only know how to bat but also how to get runs. And those are two rather different things! He's shown himself to be quite capable in the T20I and the rained-out ODI against England as well.

He was India's top performer with the bat according to the Castrol Index in the T20I and contributed with a helpful 40 runs in the one-day match, too. The former was in a losing cause, but the ODI looked promising for India until the weather spoiled