Wednesday February 21, 2001

Coach John Buchanan went against traditions and rather than giving the birthday boy and his mates a nice easy day to celebrate turning 31, we instead trained for three and a half hours in the humid Mumbai air. It has been noted that adapting to the varying pitch conditions will be crucial to our performances on this tour of India. Of equal importance will be our ability to acclimatize to the higher temperatures and draining humidity, two factors sure to have an influence over the next few weeks. With this in mind, 'Buck' decided a heavy stint in the practice nets would help us toughen our bodies and minds to the elements.

"Ironically, our admired coach became the first casualty of the tour"

Ironically, our admired coach became the first casualty of the tour, not from the heat or humidity, but resulting from one sprint too many in the fitness part of the session. The big man who joins in every session we do, pulled a hamstring and had to finish the training run with an ice-pack bandaged to his right leg. Not one for shirking the issue, he looked a picture hitting catches and throwing balls to the batsmen, with a plastic bag full of ice strapped to his injured leg.

Dripping in sweat and our clothes soaking as if we had just fallen into the swimming pool, our hosts here in Mumbai, lifted the energy levels by presenting 'Slats' with a birthday cake in the changing room. After working hard for three and a half hours, our dietician back in Australia wouldn't have been too impressed watching the guys slipping into huge slices of chocolate cake. Probably the last thing we felt like on such a hot day was chocolate cake filled with cream, but it would have been rude not to share in the moment with our aging opening batsman. Knowing 'Slats', he will hate me calling him aging, but I have to get in the little jibes because I am not far behind him.

Celebrating more fully our teammate's birthday could be hard in India, but from what we are experiencing, you could be anywhere in the world here in Mumbai. Our hotel is so westernized we could be staying in the Hyatt in Perth, the Dorchester in London or the Plaza in New York. It is a magnificent hotel, with cuisine in the restaurants second to none in the world. Although we start the second of our practice matches tomorrow, a birthday party for our dynamic opening batsman should be on the cards.

From Mumbai

JL

You can also read:

Wednesday February 20, 2001: A sad reality check
Tuesday February 19, 2001: Invaluable exposure
Monday February 18, 2001: A tough day in the field - Day 2 Vs India A
Sunday February 17, 2001: Kaspa or Kimbo?
Tuesday February 13, 2001: Pre-tour preparations
Sunday February 14, 2001: Getting the run-down
Tuesday February 11, 2001: Leaving Home