The secret of Yuvraj Singh’s success in India’s record chase in the first Test in Chennai could be that he ‘pretended’ it was a one-day game. Gary Kirsten, India’s coach, has said Yuvraj was advised by the team management “to pretend he was playing a one day innings”.

Yuvraj scored an unbeaten 85 and added a match-winning 163 with Sachin Tendulkar on his return to the Test side after eight months, following a phenomenal run in the ODIs against England. "Yuvraj has felt the heat but you need just one innings to turn it around. We told him to pretend he was playing a one day innings, and to play positively," Kirsten told television channel Neo Cricket.

"England were on top but we still felt that we could win. Then it was up to England to make a plan. We went into the fifth day saying that we could do it. The players were nervous but when you have Tendulkar at the crease, playing as he did, the nervousness seems to disappear.”

There have been thousands of police and hundreds of commandos swarming all over Chennai during this Test, and India must have spent a fortune on security in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist strikes. But one journalist was rather grateful for all the snipers and army personnel while she was trying to spend a penny: the BBC's intrepid and unfailingly cheerful reporter, Alison Mitchell, managed to lock herself in the ladies' lavatory according to Peter Hayter's enjoyable piece at the Mail on Sunday.

All this protection is certainly worth the hassle if it can save a damsel in distress.

	Kevin Pietersen and his team-mates are surely helping India recover from the horror of the Mumbai attacks © AFP

After making the brave decision to go ahead with the Test series in India, Kevin Pietersen and his team-mates have made another gesture that will surely win over the hosts: they will donate 50% of their match-fees from the first Test in Chennai to the families of the victims of the recent Mumbai terror attacks.

Alastair Cook, the opener, read out a statement from the team. "Following a very difficult period for the last two weeks, the England cricket team would like to recognise the following reasons for returning to India for the Test series.

"As an open and public statement of support for the Indian people following the tragic events in Mumbai recently. To extend our sincerest sympathies to those families that have lost loved ones in the Mumbai attacks. As cricketers, first and foremost to win a Test match series against India. Finally, the England players will donate half their match fees from the first Test match to the families of the victims of the Mumbai attacks."

Cook said: "We have made a massive pact this morning at our meeting when we came up with the statement that this is it and nothing else can distract us from playing cricket. It was something that everyone wanted to get across because as a side we felt we wanted to do it."

The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) is hoping to get insurance cover for the losses incurred after the sixth one-day international between India and England was cancelled following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

“We’re very disappointed. So much preparation has gone into hosting this match. Now, if we don’t get the insurance cover, we’ll have to suffer a huge loss,” Bikash Barua, the ACA secretary, told the Indian Express. “It takes about Rs 80 to 90 lakh to organise an ODI in the city and ACA treasurer Ghanashyam Barua is not certain whether the expense will be covered by the insurance company.

“We’ve insured this match for Rs 80 lakh. In case of abandonment, without a ball being bowled, we’re supposed to get this amount from them. But I’m not sure whether we can claim the insurance amount. If it doesn’t happen, we’ll have to request the BCCI to compensate us.”

The spectators who had purchased tickets for the match will be given a refund by the association.

	Kabir Ali: "“I should have been there by 9 o'clock, about half an hour before the shooting started" © Getty Images

“We were having coffee there [Taj Mahal hotel] in the afternoon and were due back for dinner later,” Kabir told the Times. “I should have been there by 9 o'clock, about half an hour before the shooting started. I don't really know why I changed my mind. For some reason, something told me not to go and I went to the cinema instead. I should have been at the hotel.
“I started watching the film, but it soon became obvious something was wrong. It was a really good Bollywood film but people kept leaving. Then I received a text message telling me what was happening and I joined those trying to get out.

“There was panic outside. At first I thought there were fireworks going off in the next street, but then it hit home. There were sirens and bangs and people running. It was chaos. I just want to get home now. I do feel shaken, but my thoughts are with all the people who were just going about their lives normally who haven't been as lucky as me.”

Pakistan internationals Kamran Akmal and Sohail Tanvir were also in Mumbai during the attacks - at the suburban Taj Land's End. But they were nowhere near the areas where the violence erupted and stayed in their hotel after hearing the news.

“I wasn’t sure what was happening when I heard about the attacks," Tanvir told Daily News & Analysis, a Mumbai daily. "Both me and Kamran have not stepped out of our rooms and have been following the news." The two players are now waiting for the Pakistan board to facilitate their return home. “It would be good to head back," Tanvir said. "It was expected that after attacks of such enormity the Champions League and England tour would be put on hold or cancelled. I have been in touch with PCB officials and they are making plans to get us back to Pakistan."

The bees have license to travel, it seems. Last month, a swarm of pesky bees swooped into the Feroz Shah Kotla and forced Indian and Australian players, as well as the two umpires, to hit the deck and lie flat until the horde passed over. Now it has been reported that organisers of the India-England ODI in Cuttack are worried that bees may be a nuisance to spectators at the Barabati Stadium.

The reason for concern is that honeycombs have been a part of the gallery structures for over a decade. Last January, during an Orissa versus Assam Ranji Trophy match, players and umpires had to dive for cover when a swarm of bees invaded. Bee collectors were duly called in to help out. However, it is understood that the honeybees have multiplied on the outer roof of galley No. 5 and a giant honeycomb has been formed.

“We are taking steps on priority basis to get rid of the honeycomb to prevent possible bee invasion during the match," said OCA secretary Asirbad Behera.

Google tells you that a large enough swarm of bees could theoretically generate as much lift as a jet liner. Here's hoping they don't train their attention to the good folks in gallery No. 5, or that a Virender Sehwag six doesn't disturb that beast of a honeycomb. No funny 'bees'ness, this.

In an age when shirt numbers are mandatory for players in uniform, Virender Sehwag decides to bend the rules a bit. In the fourth one-dayer in Bangalore, Sehwag walked out with a numberless shirt and when questioned about it later, said he really didn’t see the big deal with numbers or the whole concept of astrology.

"I don't believe in astrology but my family members do,” he told PTI. “Too many people used to call up and pester me and my family to use different numbers. I was so fed up that I decided not to take their advice. We play Test matches without numbers and hence I don't use any number on my T-shirt."