Rejecting the LTA's approach, which was made after David Lloyd, the British captain, had expressed concern about the health of his players, the Ghanaian Tennis Federation said it wanted, "to give our fans the chance to see the match". Accra's state-owned Daily Graphic took a stronger line. The Lawn Tennis Association has failed in its attempt to buy home advantage from Ghana for Britain's second round Davis Cup tie the weekend after Wimbledon, amid rumblings of "racist undertones". Up went Ray Julian's finger and off wandered Symonds.Five overs later, Hancock tried and failed to lift the slow left-armer Sagi Raju over long off and the question then became: "Could India win?" Davis and Jon Lewis hung on for 20 overs before Lewis, 22 not out, took India into the 66th over and the draw.More reports, Scoreboard, page 22. When Dickie Davis appeared, he won some turn and took a fine return catch to dismiss Mohammad Azharuddin. He might have had more wickets had fielders been able to hang on to two difficult chances.Gloucestershire looked vigorous and alert in the field, but once committed to the chase, 300 to win in a minimum of 60 overs, were less certain.

Against Javagal Srinath and Bapu Prasad, both seaming the new ball, any hopes of a chase were lost in the clatter of falling stumps.Rob Dawson was caught behind off Prasad's first ball; Monte Lynch lost his off stump to Srinath before Hewson suffered a similar fate at the other end: 6 for 3 in four overs. But at 63, India's relief seamer Ganguly won extra bounce and Symonds, half forward, was hit on the thigh. That brought in Symonds to join Tim Hancock and, for perhaps two overs, the county looked to be still hunting. Mark Alleyne, captain in the absence of Courtney Walsh and Jack Russell, declared overnight, 155 behind.The pitch showed signs of wear on a crisp morning, and India had lost both openers for 22 by the seventh over. Sauran Ganguly was more circumspect at one end while the pursuit continued at the other.

Then if they [England] give me a break, I'd be happy to play." Symonds did not advance his Test future greatly yesterday, adding 28 in the second innings after his 120 not out in the first, as both sides declared in an effort to win. Symonds has refused to speak to the English media, but in an interview with an Indian journalist, Joseph Hoover of the Deccan Herald of Bangalore, he said: "I'd like to play Test cricket, but first I want to play to the best of my ability and establish myself at first class. We must avoid at all costs a situation as in soccer where footballers feel that they can ping-pong the referee around."We don't want to go down the road of the other sports where the officials are abused and jostled by players. Rugby players will be reminded by this ban that they are in the shop window and watched by millions of youngsters.".

An hour after Gloucestershire had announced that a statement on Andrew Symonds' future - is he English or is he Australian? - would come at the end of the season, the player dropped the broadest hint that he sees any Test future with England. I am sure that it will."Richard Moon, the secretary of the newly formed Rugby Union Players' Association, said: "The stated aim of Rupa is to maintain fair play and good sportsmanship. There has been concern about the attitude of players on the field in the professional era. But amateur or pro, the referee's word is law and nobody should put that fact in jeopardy."Obviously the RFU felt that the game had been brought into disrepute and we support this attempt to uphold the good name of rugby. You can always talk to them afterwards and let's hope that that continues. It is the first incident of that type I have been involved in and, as far as I know, it is a one-off. "There has always been a good relationship between players and referees. Steve Lander, the Pilkington Cup final referee pushed by Neil Back, said he had "no personal reaction" to the player's ban.

But he added: "I am absolutely satisfied that the principle of not laying hands on the referee has been upheld. "You can feel vulnerable out there with such power and energy surrounding you. When Dean told me I had pushed the referee I went into his room and apologised."In fact, Back is shown by the video to have been standing alongside Lander when he blew the final whistle.. "I ran in to join the other forwards and believed I was giving Robinson - offside again - a push to clear the way.