* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * S12 * * * SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2012 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH THE DAILY TELEGRAPH SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2012 * * * S13 CRICKET INTERACTIVE Review all the day’s Twenty20 action CRICKET live with our Hawk-Eye tool telegraph.co.uk/cricket &I@Q@M @Q@M OCJPBCO&]?C@<MHTI<H@NPIB<O"?@I$<M?@IN "S>GPNDQ@1JPMDIB&I?D<R<NHJM@OC<IEPNO>MD>F@OAJM "IBG<I?=<ONH<I+D>F JHKOJI RCJF@KOOCDN?D<MT<I? OJJFOC@KCJOJBM<KCNAMJH<I@SK@MD@I>@JA<GDA@ODH@ I will never forget the story of my grandfather’s Being able to get right forward and right back first visit to India. He was playing in the Ranji is key because it gives you time to score (off Trophy final at the Cricket Club of India in the back foot) and can nullify the spin on the Bombay. It was the height of summer and, just front foot. It is a hard balance to strike because before he was due to bat, an Indian on slow wickets that turn you need to give businessman approached him and offered a yourself enough time to get used to the bounce rupee for every run he made. or lack of it but at the same time you cannot With dollar signs in his eyes (cricketers were just defend because spinners can get on top of paid very little back then) my grandfather you and subsequently changing gears can be strode to the wicket focused and hungry. tougher. At times I was guilty of this but I Almost seven hours and 249 runs later, trusted my defence. Sadly it didn’t work out for dripping with sweat and on his knees he us and we lost the first Test comprehensively. crawled back to the changing room to find a folded letter on his bag. +JQ !@>*PH=<D Expecting a handsome cheque, he unfolded Arriving in Mumbai was the highlight for me, the paper but nothing fell out. Instead were the not only because there is more to do but my hastily scribbled words: “I’m sorry Mr family came over to watch. Staying in the Taj Compton but I had to attend a very urgent Palace Hotel also made things pretty good as meeting in Delhi. Very, very well batted!” well. I am often asked what we do in the India was a country Denis adored. He felt evenings on long tours. India can be tough such a strong bond with a people who were so because there are not always many chances to passionate about the game he loved that for get out and it can be quite claustrophobic. me to go there with England promised so Even when you leave the hotel people swarm much. Unfortunately, I was not approached by around you to take a snap. any rich businessmen! It does make you laugh, especially when hanging around Monty Panesar. He soon ,>O !P=<D became a hero and hearing him talk Hindi and Tough training conditions with Graham Gooch acting silly, often taking the phone and then a putting us through our paces. Netting for six photo of them, did make me chuckle. balls and then sprinting back and forth We did manage to get to the cinema to watch between overs, weighed down with bricks. the James Bond film but when we had to stand Clockwise, from top Then in to face another over followed by 10 up and sing the national anthem it was not like left: Checkmate With burpees (similar to squat thrusts). Forty your ordinary visit to the local Odeon. Monty Panesar at the minutes of this in searing heat was great The wicket for the second Test turned and orphanage, on way to preparation. bounced early and we hit the ground running defeat by a small child by being really aggressive. Monty took Sachin’s ,>O +JQ*PH=<D wicket with perhaps the ball of the decade. I National obsession The deluge of flashes from hundreds of mobile can remember the goosebumps that ran I found a huge field phones and the Indian media hit us as soon as through me. Monty was on fire, you could see with hundreds of people we set foot off the plane. “Welcome to India” I that look in those big bulging eyes coming playing cricket thought, but actually it felt pretty cool being alive with every ball. He later said to me, “Bro escorted to our coach like some political figure. I’ve never bowled better”. You could see how Land of contrasts Straight off the plane and into a coach not much he was buzzing. The Montstar was back. We were never far having to wait for bags and transfers and Watching how KP got out in Ahmedabad and queues. This is a life I can get used to. then play what is the best knock I have ever from poverty in India Our first warm-up game and the first chance had the privilege of being close to said a lot to slip on an England shirt. Questions of about his character. He is tough and says it Well-earned break whether I belonged or was good enough to play how it is. He has been a huge help, talking Our on-pitch lieutenant with guys I have watched and looked up to about the game, watching him practise and Matt Prior enjoys 40 went through my mind. In some ways it was mentally how he analyses his own winks in Nagpur surreal and, without trying to sound too performance. He sticks to his guns and moves clichéd, it was something you dream of. on very quickly. Local knowledge The Setting ourselves up as a unit to get We share the fact we were both brought early-morning light, big first-innings totals is something up in Durban so we had a bit in common. colours, expressions we prioritised, especially Cooky, who He is a funny guy and never ceases to take and clothes in Mumbai led from the front. His clarity and the mickey out of me and my strangely capture the eye execution were noticeable shaped elbows. immediately and his emotional balance Going out there and smashing it in the Risky business on and off the field was even more second innings really pleased me. I Workers near Mumbai impressive. This is a man who is knew from the night before there train station grab a lift comfortable with himself, who would be a run chase of some respects hard work but is very sort and I had to go out there, We had three days off to relax and enjoy old so we left the classroom to play hockey on I have been out there to savour the moments. I is impressive. It can be hard work having to in that second innings. Cooky made sure we pragmatic when it comes to his not give a s--- and just winning our first Test. I have always found the roof, which was more like how to bruise even heard the Barmy Army singing my name move a metre or two and occasionally I was did not look forward further than the over we cricket. There are no frills. I found smash it. To be out there for India fascinating and it is a great place to get and batter your shins. It is obvious but doing as we had two runs to knock off. I’m not sure caught napping, much to his dismay, but you were facing. After every over we made sure we it very calming and helpful. my first Test win with my out the camera. I also managed to visit a coach things like this does give you perspective, of the words but the sound of Compton realise that being precise can be the difference regrouped and focused on getting through the parents in the stands was I met years ago. He took me a couple of hours keeps feet on the floor and takes your mind off &R<N>C@>FH<O@DI<=JPOADQ@ resonating around Eden Gardens was between a wicket or not. Every over, every next over. Suddenly 30 overs had gone and +JQ CH@?<=<? incredibly special. away to a field where he helps out. Again it was the game or thoughts on yourself. HJQ@N &R<N?JI@ ?PNO@?<I? something I never thought would ever happen. session is crucial, no let-up, a diving stop, a tap while it was painful watching at times, it gave It was clear the Board of It was the first time I an early start driving through busy streets and I also did some work for Frank Water, a on the backside to keep the bowlers going. us a platform and tired their bowlers. Control for Cricket in India had been in a changing out into the suburbs. Suddenly out of nowhere charity that supplies fresh water to remote NCJRIPK=T<T@<M JG? !@> +<BKPM The pitch was dry and this time we won the Jonathan Trott and Bell produced their best was not going to give us room after a Test match this field appeared and there were about 50 parts of India. Millions of people die each year The last Test was always going to be a battle. It toss. We were batting. I edged a ball early from innings on the tour and played beautifully. any real competition to victory and witnessing children of different age groups diligently going from diseases caused by poor drinking water It was tough because I really did not feel in is easy to think about the flight home and Sharma [to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni].