SL v IND, 2nd Test: Day 2 Stats

Following are the statistical highlights of day two of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka: 

# Kumar Sangakkara, with seven double centuries, has set a record for most innings of 200-plus for Sri Lanka, eclipsing the previous record of six held by Mahela Jayawardene and Marvan Atapattu. 

# Sangakkara's tally of seven double hundreds is bettered only by Australia's Donald Bradman (12) and West Indian Brian Lara (9). 

# For the first time, the top five players - No 1 to 5 - have made fifty-plus in an innings for Sri Lanka. 

# Sangakkara became the seventh skipper in the history of Test cricket to register a double hundred against India, joining England's Graham Gooch (333), West Indian Clive Lloyd (242 not out), New Zealand's Graham Dowling (239), West Indian Carl Hooper (233), Australia's Greg Chappell (204) and Don Bradman (201). 

# Virender Sehwag has recorded his 22nd fifty in Tests - his third against Sri Lanka. 

# Sehwag and Murali Vijay have amassed 530 in only four innings in partnerships at an average of 176.66, including two stands of 100-plus and two 90-plus. 

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Aamer and Asif are best in the world - Butt

Salman Butt, the Pakistan captain, has praised his new-ball pair, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, as the best opening duo the world ahead of the Test series against England following their performances which earned a 1-1 draw with Australia.

Although Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, South Africa's quick bowlers, can lay their own claim to be the leading strike force in the game, Pakistan's combination have certainly made a huge impression in recent weeks and will be a major threat when they take on England at Trent Bridge. Asif and Aamer shared 22 wickets in the two-Test series against Australia and were both outstanding during Pakistan's three-wicket victory at Headingley, their first win against Australia for 15 years.

Aamer has gained praise from former great fast bowlers including Wasim Akram, while Asif has shown tremendous skill in controlling the swing even though he has lost pace in recent years. They have enjoyed bowling in overcast conditions, but are also capable of extracting reverse swing which could play a part against England.

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Decision on Modi recusal issue on August 1

The BCCI's disciplinary committee has pushed to August 1 a decision on suspended IPL chairman Lalit Modi's request for the removal of interim IPL chairman Chirayu Amin and BCCI vice-president Arun Jaitley from the committee. However, a BCCI statement said the committee did agree to provide Modi with several documents sought by his counsel.

"The core issue of recusal of two members from the panel was debated," Modi's lawyer Mehmood Abdi said after the hearing in Delhi that lasted three and a half hours. "Our lawyers argued the case. The BCCI will be allowed to come out with a rejoinder."

Abdi was adamant that a neutral judge should be part of the panel. "A retired Supreme Court judge must be there in the committee. We have grave concern about the BCCI's stance," he said. "If they have already decided then what's the point in all their meetings? Whosoever is doing this is hurting BCCI's cause more."

The board agreed to hand over copies of the minutes from the special general body meeting held earlier this month at which the charges against Modi were ratified, and relevant extracts of two IPL governing council meetings (April 26 and June 25). Modi's lawyers were also given a copy of the amended agreement between the BCCI and Sony-MSM on condition of the strictest confidentiality. Abdi had asked for these documents three days ago, saying they were "crucial to the proceedings".

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