Sachin puts his hand up

Duncan Fletcher’s public utterances are few and far between and rarely memorable. But there is usually a waspish sting in the tail.

Last night he was being lightly grilled about England’s dilatory run rate as they attempted to set India a target. Having explained how hard it was for the batsmen, the coach said: “In Pakistan we were told we scoring too quickly and that we needed to be more patient. Now we’re scoring too slowly. It’s pretty hard to please you people.”

Not hard, Duncan, impossible.

Rivalling the British press in the fickleness stakes is the Wankhede crowd. Not 48 hours since Sachin Tendulkar was lampooned by his own people, he was welcomed shamelessly back yesterday into the bosom of his home city.

When he was caught behind off Jimmy Anderson on Sunday afternoon, he was booed all the way back to the dressing room. Yesterday he was given the full we-are-not-worthy treatment after running out Owais Shah.

As he strolled back his fielding station on the boundary, supporters swarmed to the front of the stand and clammered at the perimeter fence.

Sachin raised a dignified hand in acknowledgement. Personally, I might have favoured a different gesture.