IPL Diaries
BBQ stories for the rest of your life
What’s the IPL like
Dirk Nannes
25-Feb-2013
Have to wear a tweed hat and glasses while eating a bowl of pasta? Why, you must be an IPL star, then
I’m often trying to describe the IPL experience to people. I’m asked “What’s the IPL like?” at least 100 times a year.
The trouble is, I still haven’t answered that question myself. I can never find an accurate answer. There’s an X factor with the IPL that you can’t quite put your finger on. There are just so many aspects to this competition that you must simply be a part of to understand.
And so started my journey to IPL5. Boarding the flight to Bangalore were my wife, two young children, myself and Ludo. Ludo has joined my family as our “peace and sanity technician” – a special role designed to keep our high-octane kids from driving us insane in the hotel, and to get them to sleep when cricket gets in the way.
Full postWho's the best cricket quizzer at KKR?
April 4 We're in the gym at 9am for skin-fold testing, Brendon [McCullum] and [Chirag] Jani are in notably great shape, and in the event of any underwear shoots popping up they have been nominated as our representatives
Ryan Ten Doeschate
25-Feb-2013
April 4
We're in the gym at 9am for skin-fold testing, Brendon [McCullum] and [Chirag] Jani are in notably great shape, and in the event of any underwear shoots popping up they have been nominated as our representatives. I realise that I've hit the age where my sweet tooth and the odd beer can no longer be hidden in my test results. The late arrival of the various players has caused the cancellation of the dreaded fitness tests. It is evidently a very popular announcement in the team meeting.
We're in the gym at 9am for skin-fold testing, Brendon [McCullum] and [Chirag] Jani are in notably great shape, and in the event of any underwear shoots popping up they have been nominated as our representatives. I realise that I've hit the age where my sweet tooth and the odd beer can no longer be hidden in my test results. The late arrival of the various players has caused the cancellation of the dreaded fitness tests. It is evidently a very popular announcement in the team meeting.
I've decided to go for a haircut, inspired in no small part by Sunil Narine. I've been trying to convince myself that the exaggerated mohawk will suit my image, but I end up bottling it and going short back and sides. I think Sunni can manage the team’s coolness-load all by himself.
April 5
It is match day and I will admit that the selection of the team has been playing on my mind. I've come from a very poor campaign for Impi (franchise) in South Africa, yet, I feel like I'm playing as well as I have since making a few small changes to my setup. I've quietly done my business without setting the world alight when I have played for the Kolkata Knight Riders, but my gut is telling me that I won't be in the starting line-up this evening.
Full postIt is match day and I will admit that the selection of the team has been playing on my mind. I've come from a very poor campaign for Impi (franchise) in South Africa, yet, I feel like I'm playing as well as I have since making a few small changes to my setup. I've quietly done my business without setting the world alight when I have played for the Kolkata Knight Riders, but my gut is telling me that I won't be in the starting line-up this evening.
'Are you Ryan ten Doeschate?'
March 28 It is ridiculously exciting to be back in Kolkata for IPL 5
Ryan Ten Doeschate
25-Feb-2013
March 28
It is ridiculously exciting to be back in Kolkata for IPL 5. After missing the connecting flight and having to spend a full day poolside in Dubai, I'm back at the team hotel and catching up with old friends. I've already seen some of the familiar sights that are so Indian to me, boys swimming/washing in the lakes, street shops selling sweets, soap and flowers, and the colourful fruit carts doing trade with the mass of people filing along the side of the busy roads. Oh, and the hooting culture hasn't changed either.
Trevor Bayliss and Rudi Webster are two new faces, and along with their respective cricketing expertise, they both are full of cricket stories. Trevor, having shared some successful yet harrowing times with Sri Lanka, and Rudi, well, being a cricketer from the Caribbean in the ‘80s. Enough said.
March 29
Apart from training we've spent a lot of downtime in the hotel. The team room has a table tennis table, and rivalries from last season have already resumed. The support staff seem to think they dominate in this area, but our player representatives are looking sharp and I can't see us giving up our title any time soon.
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