The following is an extract from Test Match Cricket: C4 and the ECB's official guide to the 2nd Test between England and India at Trent Bridge, available at the ground throughout the match.

Actor Shah Rukh Khan is currently Bollywood’s most famous star. His face is as familiar to fans of the Indian cricket team as the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. His film Dil Se was the first to enter the British top ten, and Andrew Lloyd Webber says it is the inspiration behind his musical, Bombay Dreams – though fans don’t hold that against Shah Rukh.

We caught up with him as he promoted his new movie Devdas. And despite being famous for dancing around trees to a sitar, he reveals he would rather be listening to the smack of leather on willow...

What was the first cricket match you ever saw?
It was an India versus Pakistan match in New Delhi and Imran Khan scored 36 runs. I am a sportsman myself. I used to play a lot of cricket and soccer. I also went to see the Sharjah Cup once, but those are the only matches I have been to. I don’t really like going to see matches live because you can’t see the action replay. That’s no fun.

Did you ever want to be a cricket star yourself?
Yes, I was actually chosen for North Zone as a youngster. I used to keep wicket but I had an injury and had to give up cricket and all other sports. And that’s how I became an actor.

Would you prefer your son to be an actor or a cricketer?
An actor I think, but I would like him to play a lot of sports. Not cricket exclusively though. I would also like him to play soccer and hockey. I am very keen that he should learn hockey because it is the national game and it is a sport.

Who is your favourite player?
There are lots. I like Anil Kumble when in form and Muttiah Muralitharan for Sri Lanka is very good. Sachin Tendulkar is a fantastic player and Waqar Younis at his best is a very good bowler.

Are you friends with any cricketers?
I meet up with them all. I don’t think any of us have the time to get together and spend much time with each other. I like Sachin a lot, he is a gentleman and we went to the same school, so I keep up with him. Among the Pakistani team, I think Wasim Akram is really nice. I met all the Pakistani team at the Sharjah Cup and am quite a big fan of them also. The last time I met them was at Singapore Airport a while back: Shahid Afridi told me one of his kids is a big fan of my films.

If you could play a cricketer in a film, who would you play?
Well I know a lot of these guys, so it is hard to say. I like Sachin a lot and Abdul Qadir. I think he was very funny and the way he bowled was marvellous. I would actually like to see Imran Khan in a movie. Then there’s Ian Botham. I met him on a plane and he’s a good guy…

Will you see any matches over here?
I have been invited to the one at The Oval, but I will see if I go. I will probably pop in to see the boys backstage.

Who will win the series?
India. They will win definitely. No two ways about it!

6 Aug, 2002