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.

Ajay Ratra, who is 20, made his Test debut against the West Indies in Trinidad in April. He was the fourth keeper the side had used in a year – but, after hitting 115 and picking up the Man of the Match award in his third game (in Antigua) he looked to have solved India’s wicket-keeping problem…

Is it true you’re known as ‘Bunty’ by your team-mates?
Yeah – that’s my nickname. My parents called me that, I don’t know why. It’s quite a popular nickname in India.

Was winning the under-19s World Cup in 2000 your springboard to getting into the Test team?
Yes: I kept very well in that tournament and I got 18 victims in eight matches. After that, I performed well and I came into the Test team...

What was the first game you saw?
I was always a big watcher when I was younger – I can’t remember the first game I saw, but I liked all the big players: Sachin Tendulkar, Ravi Shastri...

What was it like sharing a dressing room with players that you’d only seen as a fan?
It was a great feeling. Before I played a match with the team, I’d already done three training camps, so I was quite familiar with all the senior players – and they were very co-operative and helpful. On the morning of my debut, I talked to Sachin and he gave me a few tips...

Has anyone given you advice about keeping in England?
Yes, I’ve been talking to [former Test keepers] Kiran More and Syed Kirmani – they’ve given me tips I’m trying to follow. They’re not officially involved with us as coaches – though Syed Kirmani works with the National Cricket Academy – but they’re always ready to talk to you.

Have you spoken to any English wicket-keepers?
Not yet – but I’m hoping to talk to Bob Taylor. I know he’s a great keeper, but I haven’t met him yet – obviously, our coach John Wright knows him very well from when they were at Derbyshire together.

Are you picked as an all-rounder, expected to score runs?
They always expect me to score runs as well as keeping. I’ve worked hard on my batting – I got a hundred in the West Indies and I’m pretty confident now.

Do you keep souvenirs?
I always keep cuttings from papers and magazines. And I’ve kept the bat from when I made my century!

Tell us something we don’t know about the Indian team.
Everyone has a very good sense of humour and I think Harbhajan Singh may be the funniest... Most of the boys like to listen to Indian music – and VVS Laxman is probably the biggest Hindi music fan.

6 Aug, 2002