Friday, February 23, 2001

It is 9:30pm and I have just returned to my hotel room after what you could call a very long day at the office. Anyone who thinks playing cricket for Australia is all glamour and bright lights should think twice. While I have absolutely no complaints, days like this make every cent I am earning worthwhile.

After leaving for the ground at 7:45 this morning, it was business as usual when we arrived. A solid warm-up preceded a hit up in the nets and a few catches and throws to warm up the shoulders and hands. For the next seven hours we played a tough day's cricket against a very competitive and determined Mumbai outfit, who are teaching us a few lessons about how to play sub-continent style cricket. Where once stumps at the cricket meant a few beers and yarns in the changing room, we were ordered to the swimming pool for a couple of laps and a stretch.

"Where once stumps at the cricket meant a few beers and yarns in the changing room, we were ordered to the swimming pool for a couple of laps and a stretch"

On arriving back at the hotel around 6:00pm it was up to the team room for a preparation meeting for the upcoming Test series. By the time we had been through some housekeeping issues and thoroughly investigated and studied our opposition, the clock had turned over to 9:00 pm. Because of the late finish, dinner consisted of two minute noodles and a tin of salmon I had packed into my suitcase from home. Now with my eyes falling out of my head, my mind is straining to keep my fingers typing on this keyboard.

One of the reasons for the success of the Australian cricket team has been in the relentless preparation that goes into each Test series. This series will be no exception. John Buchanan leaves no stone unturned and although we haven't played our best cricket over the last few days, we realize that these practice games are a good opportunity to adapt to the new conditions. The results may not look great on paper but we are going through a process of working out our best means of attacking India on their home turf. The two practice games have almost been experimental so that we can establish a sound game plan for the Test series.

Our captain Steve Waugh used his time in the middle to his best advantage, hammering yet another brilliant first-class century. When he gets settled at the crease, there are few bowling attacks around the world that can contain the world's number one batsman. He is a class act who is extremely determined to have a successful series, both personally and as a team. Publicly he has announced his desire to finish off a triumphant summer with strong results here in India.

A name to look out for in the future is young Mumbai opener Vinayak Mane. Only eighteen years old, he looks to have moulded his technique on batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar. In fact, at the nets the day before this game, we were fielding in the outfield when one of the guys asked whether the batsman practicing in the nets was Sachin. This wasn't an odd suggestion because Sachin also plays domestic cricket for Mumbai. As it turned out the batsman was look-a-like Sachin, Vinayak Mane who is playing against us during this game. Standing only a few inches over five feet tall, the young opener took as many bruises as a heavy weight boxer in the first innings. His courage then, has been rewarded in this second innings as he played some magnificently effortless cricket strokes. Hopefully, we can dismiss him early on day three but whatever happens he looks to have a very bright future. If he scores half as many runs as his obvious batting hero then he will be a fantastic player in the future.

From Mumbai

JL

You can also read:

Thursday February 23, 2001: A day of casualties
Wednesday February 21, 2001: Slats turns 31!
Tuesday February 20, 2001: A sad reality check
Monday February 19, 2001: Invaluable exposure
Sunday February 18, 2001: A tough day in the field - Day 2 Vs India A
Saturday 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