'I don't have a favourite Aussie'

	Doug Bracewell: knows the truth about butter chicken © Associated Press Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Doug Bracewell Teams: Delhi Daredevils | New Zealand

Which Doug are you named after - your uncle Douglas William Bracewell or Doug Walters?
Doug Walters. My dad was a huge fan and knows him quite well, and he's come out to NZ a couple of times and helped on my Dad's academy. Dad's loved him as a cricketer and a good bloke and he's named me after him. The last time he came out to New Zealand and saw us when I was in high school, I was about 16 - about five-six years ago.

Did he call you after Hobart to say well done?
No. I haven't heard from him for a while.

Is he your favourite Aussie?
I don't have a favourite Aussie.

Is there any man in the Bracewell clan who hasn't played cricket?
There's only one - Uncle Richard. He hasn't had much sporting background. The others have played rugby and cricket. My uncle Mark played first-class rugby, and also my Dad. I played rugby until high school and I had to choose.

How come you chose cricket?
Well, in high school I liked rugby more. But I broke my ankle, which ended my rugby season, and then in cricket I got selected for my associate and I started getting paid, so rugby kind of fell off the list.

How many Bracewells have played in a match together? All six at any time? At any level?
No, never. My uncles played against each other a couple of times. There's good stories there. I played with my cousin, who is my age, at the Under-19 World Cup. Two of my uncles played on the same rugby team, I think.

Where were you when the All Blacks won the World Cup?
In Zimbabwe on a cricket tour. We could only see the first half because we were on the bus - we stopped and watched the first half and then had to leave. One of the guys was Skype-ing his girlfriend and she had her computer up to her TV, so we were watching that. There was a bit of shouting in the bus, and we were very happy. A couple of guys were asleep and tired from the night before, but most of the boys were watching.

What was the hardest exercise at your Dad's academy?
There were a few. There was a park - my Dad called it "Get Hard Park" - it was down the road from the academy and he would make us do sprints up a very steep hill. Good for you, but tough. That was the hardest.

Tell us about your tattoo. Does it mean anything?
The one that's on my forearm doesn't mean anything - it's just a design I like. The one that goes up my shoulder is all family-oriented, all my brothers and sisters, mum, dad, nephews and nieces. It's just family and where I was born. It is called korus - each wave represents a family member.

What's your biggest weakness?
There's a few things. But probably fast food. Pizzas. I've eaten about 20 here already.

Andy Roberts or Glenn McGrath?
Glenn McGrath - he was awesome.

What about the IPL has freaked you out?
The crowds are crazy. It was so loud. I don't think I'll get a crowd that loud. It was an eye-opener. It was a great feeling, being out there and entertaining so many fans.

We believe you were told that you don't get much butter chicken in India?
I heard from a few friends back home. They haven't been to India, so they don't know what they are talking about.

How do you find the situation on the ground, then?
I have had a few nice curries, and murgh tikka is the closest to a butter chicken, isn't it?

The closest to a butter chicken is about half a kilometre from the Kotla.
Well, I do like a good butter chicken. The food here is definitely more spicy. I don't do well with spicy - mild medium is enough for me. But I've had a lot of hotel food, and the curries are very, very good at the ground.

Who's going to win the Under-19 World Cup this year?
New Zealand.