Forget the Test, Boris is best at handling spin

It wasn’t quite the England cricket team’s stunning 10-wicket win over in India in the second Test, but it wasn’t far off.

As Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann clinched victory for England in Mumbai, on the other side of the country Boris Johnson picked up a plastic bat and marched out across the lawn of the British High Commissioner’s residence in Delhi.

His opponents were 11-year-old schoolchildren, but the Mayor was taking no chances as he batted for Britain, hitting one ball into the assembled media while another disappeared in the direction of the swimming pool.

The Mayor had just handed over Thomas Heatherwick’s Olympic cauldron petal to the president of the Indian Olympic Association, Vijay Kumar Malhotra. He looked a little taken aback when Mr Malhotra told dignitaries he had been apprehensive about London’s “chaotic” transport system ahead of this summer’s Games.

Several hours later — and after a car journey through Delhi’s notorious traffic — Mr Johnson, who arrived on a trade mission yesterday, was greeted at the Amity University by an army cadet guard of honour and a 100ft red carpet.

The Mayor has attracted plenty of attention, being mobbed by curious locals at both the Akshardham Hindu temple and the India Gate. They might have mistaken him for Prince Charles, Boris Becker or Richard Branson rather than the Prime Minister — as some suspect he hoped — but they were at least enthusiastic.

Later this week he will host a drinks party for the England cricket team.