India went from the sublime to the ridiculous on the first day of the second Test against South Africa yesterday. Having made 627 in the drawn first Test last week, India won the toss and chose to bat in seaming conditions in Ahmedabad. Precisely 20 overs later, they were dismissed for 76, the shortest Test innings recorded on the sub-continent.

Dale Steyn, the fast bowler, forced Virender Sehwag to play on for six, 313 fewer than he scored last week, and removed Rahul Dravid with a ball that pitched on middle stump and clipped off. The 24-year-old finished with five for 23 to continue an astonishing winter. In 16 Test innings since November, he has taken 63 wickets at a strike-rate of one every four overs. His team-mates put on 223 for four in reply yesterday, with Jacques Kallis and A.B. de Villiers making an unbeaten 106 for the fifth wicket.

Andre Nel, the South Africa fast bowler who was omitted from this tour, will play for Essex at the start of this season until Danish Kaneria arrives on May 21.

Shoaib Akhtar will not be allowed to play in the Indian Premier League if a five-year ban for ill-discipline imposed on him this week by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) stands. The fast bowler was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for £230,000 but the league said yesterday that Shoaib, who is also being sued for defamation by the PCB chairman, could not play without clearance.

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