Oh to be in India

Patel is a medium quick bowler who has progressed rapidly since his introduction to the Indian team some eighteen months or so ago. A Glen McGrath type, he hits the deck delivering with a high arm position and therefore gets some extra bounce. He also keeps coming back at you, never letting off even after bowling a loose delivery. India would be happy with his comeback performance.

India is an amazingly diverse and contrasting country in every sense of the word that the more a person visits the place the more intruiging and fascinating it becomes. Another sports tour, cricket of course, has brought me once again to this nation of a billion plus people. The first was way back in 1974. Then, (in the black market) a Sri Lankan Rupee was equal to an Indian Rupee – one for one. Today, is Sri Lankan Rupee is worth less than half of the neighbours currency. This country has grown and is growing at an unbelievably rapid pace!

The first signs were visible at the Bangalore airport – a hive of activity, both at the international and domestic terminals. Then onto the hotel in Kolkota, once a dominant city of the British Empire. Still many buildings and names of roads poses a reminder of the days of the Raj.

Eden Gardens is a special cricket ground for any cricketer to play at. Lords in London, England, is the ultimate and most rewarding venue for the “flannelled” individual to step onto. Thereafter, the vastness and the atmosphere of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (Australia), the Wanderers (Johannesburg, South Africa) and Eden Gardens (Calcutta (Kotkota), India) provides a hugely satisfying experience for any player.

The opening game was a huge disappointment for the players, administrators, officials and spectators alike. Nearly 90,000 spectators turned up to fill the gigantic stadium. Hugely partisan, they were baying for home team success from the word go. The skies were grey and cloudy from morning. There was plenty of rain the previous evening and night.

Out on the grounds it was sultry and muggy. Ominous signs that the rains were not far away. Un-seasonal, but when it did come down later in the evening, it was monsoon rain. .Sheets of water fell on the ground and in next to no time the surface was enveloped with water and resembled a lake.

There was only about a dozen ground staff, one Super Sopper, another manual sopper and four sheets of covers to do battle against this downpour. Totally inadequate and very surprising for a major international venue!

Two players enjoyed the short period of play which was just 18.2 overs. Sri Lanka’s master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya and Indian paceman Munaf Patel coming back from injury, had their share of success.

Jayasuriya is in tremendous form. He is playing to his strengths and really capitalizing on striking the ball square of the wicket both on the off and on side. He now knows exactly which ball he should hit in the air and then control the down swing of the bat so that the ball goes exactly to the intended place. He is also in peak fitness and above all desperately hungry to add the mountain of runs he has already accumulated.

Patel is a medium pace bowler who has progressed rapidly since his introduction to the Indian team some eighteen months or so ago. A Glen McGrath type, he hits the deck delivering with a high arm position and therefore gets some extra bounce. He also keeps coming back at you, never letting off even after bowling a loose delivery. India would be happy with his comeback performance.

Both team had plans of using the first and second games to look at some players before finalizing the squad for the World Cup. Sri Lanka have Russel Arnold and Upul Chandana as players who termed as on. Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan have to come into this side and two must go. The rain in Kolkota did not help. Whatever the performances in India the selectors must look at the recent form and the best balanced outfit when this all important squad will be named.