Tour Diary
Here lie Trumper and Fingleton
Waverley Cemetery in the Bronte suburb in Sydney is a picturesque and peaceful resting place
Sidharth Monga
25-Feb-2013
Rest In Peace. That's what we say when people die. It is a wish usually meant for the soul, and whether a soul exists or not is beyond this space to discuss. When it comes to dead bodies, though, you will have done really well to find a more picturesque or peaceful resting place than the Waverley Cemetery in the Bronte suburb in Sydney.
On a clear day like today, in the background of the white marble of tombstones, two stunning hues of azure meet each other, the lighter one of the sky, and the darker one of the Pacific Ocean. The slope of the hill on which the graveyard is built adds to the beauty of it all. What brings me here is no morbid fascination with death or the dead, but a visit - on a slow day - to the grave of the great Victor Trumper, who died of Bright's disease at the age of 37.
There are various kinds of graves. Some grand ones, some poorly kept. Some tombstones have depictions of an angel, some of father time, some a mere cross. Trumper's, the third-most enquired-about grave at Waverley, after Henry Lawson and the Irish Monument, is as modest as we have read him to be, devoid of any pretence. It does have a small error, though, in that it says he died aged 36.
Full postTales of the Don
Neil Dansie was one of the last men to see Don Bradman get out from 22 yards away
Sidharth Monga
25-Feb-2013
Neil Dansie was one of the last men to see Don Bradman get out from 22 yards away. He is also one of the few alive who had played with both Bradman and Clarie Grimmett. Dansie, also known as Nodda for his habit of repeatedly nodding during conversations, was a 21-year-old when Bradman played his last game for his beloved club Kensington in January 1949, after which he played only two first-class games.
Dansie had cut his left index finger in a window accident when he was nine, which led to partial amputation, and later broke his right one while attempting a return catch, which he dropped. But it didn't affect his batting too much, because he loved the pull and cut more than the top-hand shots, unlike his hero Bradman, who didn't dissuade him from pulling or cutting. "Whatever you do don't stop playing that shot because you might get out sometimes, but you will score lots of runs," Bradman told Dansie, who scored 7543 runs in first-class cricket, but missed out on playing for Australia.
There are some lovely stories Dansie recounts about Bradman. The first one comes from that match he played with Bradman, his last for Kensington. "I was only a young boy then," Dansie recollects. "When I first played with him, I sat in a corner, I didn't say anything. Just sat there and listened to him.
Full postThe cricketers' chef
It is the high point of India's ugly tour of Australia four years ago. The teams have landed in Perth. Before the Test, they go for their respective group dinners. Turns out they are both looking to eat at Gogo's Madras Curry.
Sidharth Monga
25-Feb-2013
It is the high point of India's ugly tour of Australia four years ago. The teams have landed in Perth. Before the Test, they go for their respective group dinners. Turns out they are both looking to eat at Gogo's Madras Curry. They won't have it any other way.
So Gogo - Govardhan Govindaraj, a chef of Indian origin who now is the official team chef during Test matches in Australia - creates a temporary partition in his restaurant, which is actually an old house on Beaufort Road in Mt Lawley. One living room has one team, and the courtyard the other. The blinds are brought down, and the restaurant is shut to the public. Word spreads, news channels and reporters get a whiff, and want to know if the teams are kissing and making up at Gogo's Madras Curry.
Inside, Gogo is worried by the awkwardness of the situation. The staff continue to serve the teams, and Gogo calls up his Western Australian friend, Justin Langer, who comes and sits alternately with both teams to ease some of the awkwardness. It's a time when the two teams can't come together on any issue, but Gogo's food has brought them under one roof, even if there is not much camaraderie. Anil Kumble, India's captain, later left behind for Gogo the ball with which he took his 600th wicket, during India's win in Perth.
Full postThe perils of being an England fan
It may have taken over two weeks but we have finally witnessed an English victory in the Emirates
Richard Kemp
25-Feb-2013
It may have taken over two weeks but we have finally witnessed an English victory in the Emirates. Sadly it didn't come from our cricket side that had a proud recent record before a crazy two hours on the fourth afternoon. Our English victory came in the shape of Robert Rock who was victorious in the Abu Dhabi golf tournament on Sunday afternoon.
The day out at the golf was a bonus that has ensured my tour ended on a positive note. I wasn't the only one watching another sport to forget about the disappointment of the cricket. As I watched Tiger Woods just miss a bunker from the fourth tee, I found myself surrounded by half the Sky Sports commentary team. David "Bumble" Lloyd, always keen on a chat, quipped, "There are worse ways to spend a day off than this!"
I certainly wasn't in a positive mood whilst watching our chase. Watching from the stands as wicket after wicket fell, you had a sinking feeling that this was going to go down in folklore as one of England's worst displays. I expected a backlash after the Dubai performance, which Stuart Broad and Monty Panesar gave us, but sadly, our batsmen let us down again. It's a strange feeling watching your side capitulate under pressure, and by the time Jimmy Anderson was caught on the boundary to end the misery, I knew it was time to go home.
Full postMatty or Trotty?
The last few days summed up why I watch the England side abroad. Not only has the cricket picked up from an English point of view, but perhaps more importantly there is also a feeling in the air that the tour has finally started.
Richard Kemp
25-Feb-2013
The last few days summed up why I watch the England side abroad.
Not only has the cricket picked up from an English point of view, but perhaps more importantly there is also a feeling in the air that the tour has finally started. After the disappointment of Dubai and its fairly soulless surrounds, the Sheikh Zayed Stadium has provided three brilliant days of spectator happiness.
The stadium, albeit in the middle of a desert (like everything here), is close enough to a major highway to make it reasonably accessible for both locals and tourists. With its grassy banks and seated ends, one covered and one open to the elements, all preferences are catered for. Happily the English support has respected local customs asking us to keep our shirts on during the cricket.
Full postAbu Dhabi: plenty to do
It's the eve of the second Test and I cannot wait for it to start.
Richard Kemp
25-Feb-2013
It's the eve of the second Test and I cannot wait for it to start. We've tried our best to get the most out of this extended break between matches but after five days of non-cricket related activities, I'm ready to spend my time in the UAE on the grass banks of the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium hopefully watching a famous English victory.
This feeling is reflected among my fellow supporters - slightly twitchy from the lack of cricket, and ever so slightly uninspired by our surrounds. It's not that we aren't enjoying being on tour - the takings in the hotel bar reflect that - it's just that the UAE has never been on any of our "must-visit-places-before-we-die" lists.
For many, Dubai, just like England's batting, was a bit of a disappointment. The ground itself was comfortable enough, but like so many new purpose-built sporting arenas, it was in the middle of nowhere. Surrounded by incomplete buildings, the place had a slightly soulless feel to it. It was a world away from Adelaide or the Antigua Recreation Ground in St Johns, where people can walk up to the ground from the city centre as they please. I guess everywhere needs to start somewhere, and perhaps in time Dubai Sports City can build a history of its own - after all this was only the third Test it has hosted.
Full postThe upside of a three-day finish
If I am honest with myself I secretly hoped the Dubai Test would be wrapped up inside four days
Richard Kemp
25-Feb-2013
If I am honest with myself I secretly hoped the Dubai Test would be wrapped up inside four days. With just a day's build-up in Dubai before the Test started and a short taxi ride booked down to Abu Dhabi the day after what was scheduled to be day five, I considered the chance to have time to explore the sprawling metropolis a bonus.
However, what I did not wish for was the toothless, formless batting display from England on the third day that reminded me of being at Sabina Park, Jamaica, back in 2009.
We will always support the England team wherever we go, but sometimes watching batsmen after batsmen gift their wicket to the opposition is pretty hard to stomach. I had thought England would repeat their efforts in Brisbane, where they trailed heavily after the first innings and batted properly second time around. KP's dismissal, caught on the boundary for 0, summed up a pretty grim few days inside the Dubai Sports City Stadium.
Full postA tribute to a cricket lover
In Dubai the feeling among the several dozen stalwart England supporters was slightly different to the usual "let's act like a child on Christmas day morning because we are watching Test cricket abroad again" syndrome that I've become accustomed to over t
Richard Kemp
25-Feb-2013
Day one of a Test series is always an exciting time. In Dubai the feeling among the several dozen stalwart England supporters was slightly different to the usual "let's act like a child on Christmas day morning because we are watching Test cricket abroad again" syndrome that I've become accustomed to over the years.
I wrote in my first update about the recent passing of one of our own, George "The Podge" Summerside.
The first time I met Podge was back in 2007 on the outfield of the SSC Cricket Ground in Colombo. I'd manage to convince a couple of security men to let me into the ground despite the fact the gates weren't open for some time yet. It was early AM; at least two hours before the start of play. Sunil, my favourite tuk-tuk driver in the whole of Sri Lanka, had dropped me off at the ground particularly early in order for me to beat the rush for prime "flagwatch" position. Flagwatch is a race against time. The mission is to get your flag in a position where every time the TV camera focusses in on a batsman concentrating hard on the bowler running in, your flag magically appears in the background, giving the watching world a view of your team or town.
Basically, anywhere just behind the bowler's arm guarantees coverage every other over.
Full postWatch out Dubai
We've finally arrived. After months of anticipation, research and hype, the England cricket fans have checked into our Dubai hotels - many of us a few dirhams worse off thanks to the lure of cheap alcohol in the airport's duty-free.
Richard Kemp
25-Feb-2013
We've finally arrived. After months of anticipation, research and hype, the England cricket fans have checked into our Dubai hotels - many of us a few dirhams worse off thanks to the lure of cheap alcohol in the airport's duty-free. The best news from the first 24 hours in Test cricket's newest destination has been the successful deal struck between a few of the Barmy Army lads and our hotel manager to lower the beer prices in the bar. Twenty-five dirhams a beer might not be the cheapest tipple on the international circuit, but it's still cheaper than anything located during last winter's open wallet surgery tour that was Australia.
After a few reunion beers last night we soon decided it was time to warm up the vocal chords and have a sing-song. Several minutes in, a local guy got up from his seat at the bar and walked up to us. Fearing he was going to ask us to quieten down, we lowered the volume. He instantly looked disappointed, before encouraging us to start singing at full volume again.
Now everyone's attention has switched to the first Test. After a tour round the world's biggest building site, also known as Dubai Sports City, we retired to the local golf-course restaurant for the traditional pre-series supporter selection meeting. The general feeling that England would go into the opening game with the usual seven batsmen-four bowler line-up was confirmed after a chat with BBC's Test Match Special commentator, Jonathan Agnew. Word got round that England were having afternoon nets which a dozen or so of us ambushed, getting the opportunity to speak with Aggers and a few of the England backroom staff to get some inside information on the make-up of the final XI.
Full postThe other side of Jacques Kallis
As it began to drizzle over Buffalo Park in East London, Jacques Kallis stood in a circle with six blazer-clad schoolboys
Firdose Moonda
25-Feb-2013
As it began to drizzle over Buffalo Park in East London, Jacques Kallis stood in a circle with six blazer-clad schoolboys. At first they were reluctant to say too much, but he prompted them. "Any questions, or is everyone too shy?"
One of the boys piped up. "How much of a role does fitness play now?"
Kallis was in his element. He puffed his chest out and spoke to them in the voice of a gentle older brother. "You guys are playing three times the amount of cricket that I played, so fitness does play a role," he said. "Gym work becomes very important to prevent injury. There's no shortcut, you've got to put in the hard work and you'll see the results. Mentally, it's good to do that kind of stuff. It does help your other cricket skills."
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