A pay cut, and VVS on trial

The BCCI is planning to reduce match fees for international cricketers once a contract system is introduced. According to The Times of India, Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI's joint secretary, has said that the pay cut for both, Tests and one-dayers, would be Rs 65,000.

"There is a likelihood that the match fees for Tests and one-day internationals would be cut down by around Rs 65,000," said Shetty. "But this is not final. The suggestion is that cricketers making the playing 11 would get Rs Two lakh for a Test, compared to Rs 2.68 lakh they are getting now. For one-dayers the amount works out to Rs 1.60 lakh as compared to the Rs 2.35 lakh they are getting now." He added that the board would most likely implement the team's suggestion about giving reserve players half of what the playing 11 received.

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In the same paper, Sourav Ganguly reacted with disbelief when he was told that VVS Laxman, who has averaged 74.75 since January 2003, grumbled about being perpetually on trial. "VVS on trial? You've got to be joking," said Ganguly. "His is one of the first names to be put down on paper by the selectors. I don't see any question marks against his name."

He touched on the debate about the openers, saying, "Today Yuvraj [Singh] is ready for Tests and I see no reason why he should not get a shot at the top of the order. Just imagine both Viru [Virender Sehwag] and Yuvi firing together! Gee, it gives me goosebumps!"

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Laxman again, and he talks of the record Test score in The Indian Express. "I've my sights on 400," he says, "but only when the team needs it. It should come when the team requires it the most." Laxman's best score in Tests (281) was also India's highest score for three years, until Sehwag's 309 earlier this year.

He spoke about his evolving game and experiences. "My shot selection has improved," he said. "It's not that I am playing lesser shots. Only, they are more risk-free. Also, I am able to judge the wickets better."

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Most of the Indian players were unable to follow the football too closely because of the training camp, but they all had their favourites, according to The Indian Express. Zaheer Khan likes Zidane and Henry, and in the event of the French faltering, he's got van Nistelrooy and David Beckham as well. Laxman doesn't follow the game much anymore, but France find favour with him too. Rahul Dravid likes Ronaldo, Rohan Gavaskar thinks Italy or the Czech Republic could win, Mohammad Kaif prefers Portugal, and Lakshmipathy Balaji prefers sleep. Yuvraj, though, has a way of watching the games. "Train, sleep, watch matches and again sleep."

But no one bends it like Badani. His favourites are France and he thinks Beckham is overrated by the English press. "I am not an idiot, though," says Hemang Badani, presumably speaking about his understanding of football.