LIFE is full of missed opportunities and for the lesser lights, younger lights and Alistair Brown, who made up the Surrey A team, it was a case of drive in haste, repent without leisure in the oppressive heat, as their batsmen flattered to deceive and were bowled out for 173.

Considering that it is harder for them to force their way into the Surrey team than it is for their opponents to break into the India team, some may rue not putting down a marker for the watching Keith Medlycott, the Surrey coach.

“I thought they bowled steadily, but we’ve given them three quarters of the wickets. We were rubbish and it wasn’t only the second team players who gave it away,” Alan Butcher, the assistant coach, said.

India A have spread around the runs and wickets on this tour and this time it was Amit Bhandari, one of four seamers hoping to take Javagal Srinath’s Test place, who did the damage, finishing with five for 54.

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