Giving the Geoffery Boycott, Sunil Gavaskar and company a run for their money is this Indian representative. With his no nonsense attitude and straight face, Apple Singh epitomises the average Indian cricket freak who analyses every match. And once he is through with his ``critical comments'', even Harsha Bhogle cannot help but smile.

The man advising the best cricketing teams in the world is Patna-born Sanjay Mishra. He worked his way through the National School of Drama (NSD), passing out with batchmates Nirmal Pandey and Navneet Nishan. After doing his staple of plays, he landed a part in the TV serial, Chanakya: he played one of Chanakya's three pupils, Nipunak. Then came Sorry Meri Lori on El TV, followed by advertisements and films. You probably don't remember his appearance in Satya or Dil Se, but there is no way you could have forgotten his first appearance on Star Sports.

Standing with his fruit cart, 35-year-old Mishra made his debut as Apple Singh two years ago when India toured South Africa as part of the Safari series. On his debut appearance as Apple Singh, he told the small audience standing around his cart that everything Anil Kumble knew was his doing. He was poker-faced when he picked up an apple to explain the nuances of Kumble's bowling and then he did another one giving Nayan Mongia a few tips. Then he disappeared from view.

Until the World Cup happened and the `apple' man was back in business: ESPN-Star Sports decided to give him a second lease of life. Director Jonathan Siniguers and head of programming Rick Dovey sat down in their office and gave Apple Singh a ticket to England.

``The channel decided to make Apple Singh an icon,'' explains a STAR Sports-ESPN spokesperson. ``He represents the average Indian cricket fan who is passionate about the game and loves giving advice on it. He is an armchair expert.''

For Singh, cricket is a ``funny game, bhaiya. Udhar, World Cup do full start and idhar, India come to full stop?'' Funny man. But the real people behind the whacky Apple Singh's one-liners are Siniguers, Dovey and P.V. Ramdas, creative director at HTA, who is working on the print ads. ``I am a rabid sports follower and have a decent knowledge of the game,'' says Ramdas. Putting words in Apple Singh's mouth takes the pressure off me when I see the matches.''

Mishra is having a good time in England. The only time he needs to be Apple Singh is when Bhogle has a question for him. Otherwise it's party time.