11.   He followed it up with the prized wicket of star batsman Aravinda de Silva who played on an inswinger on to his wickets.

12.   Hooper arrived at the crease with the crowd hushed after the dismissal of star batsman Brian Lara for a duck.

13.   India decided to rest star batsman Sachin Tendulkar and leg-spinner Anil Kumble for the first two matches.

14.   India starts as favorite given the form of star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who suffered a personal tragedy when his father died last week.

15.   India will be handicapped, however, by the absence of star batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Shewag, who were both nursing injuries.

16.   Injured in both series was star batsman Brian Lara.

17.   India were off to a poor run chase as it lost its star batsman and skipper Sachin Tendulkar who scored only four runs.

18.   India will be handicapped, however, by the absence of star batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Virendra Shewag, both of them were nursing injuries.

19.   India, playing without star batsman Sachin Tendulkar who returned to India before the game following the death of his father, won the toss and elected to field.

20.   Jimmy Adams, a star batsman, cut his finger with a bread knife during the flight, Bacher added.