Passage to India

My outlook on life was certainly affected by my cricket tours to India and I know of many others who feel exactly the same way. Apart from the many wonderful friendships you end up forming, touring India also opens your eyes to what I like to describe as the real world. We, from the so-called West, take so much for granted and have little or no understanding of the way the majority of the world lives and what makes them tick. India, more than any country, makes a cricketer feel good about the game and about being part of it.

You feel an entertainer the moment you step off the plane. On match day it starts with the difficulty associated with getting out of the hotel foyer and onto the team bus. Far too many friendly, hero-worshipping policemen hang off the side of the bus in order to get into the ground - all in the name of security. My natural instinct was to give something back to these wonderful people who loved my game so much. I found myself responding to the crowd, doing things on the field that they enjoyed.

Having said all that, it's not easy touring India. Before this current England team left home, they would have been confronted by a lot of talk by past players about just how tough a place it can be. The moment they set foot in the country they will be reminded of their poor record against India. When I first went there, for example, they wasted no time in pointing out that the last time England won in India was under Douglas Jardine in 1933-34.

In my time, there was also a major factor that we described as the `years BB' - Before Bisleri. The days before bottled water were not easy; people underestimate how important it is to remain healthy during a Test match, let alone the whole series. The food-and-tummy stories were handed down and unless you were oblivious to such talk, there was reason to worry. I've seen so many teams go down the same course before a trip to the subcontinent. This England team is no different. They get all paranoid before they leave and want to be protected at all times, but after a while they realise that it's not that bad and they find themselves enjoying themselves and wanting to go out to one of the many excellent restaurants and bars or to play golf. There will be the usual problem: those who have been charged with the responsibility of keeping them safe will be reluctant to relax because of the undertakings they have been forced to give the visitors. It's my view that all this will happen to Nasser Hussain and his team. They'll comply with the security for a while, but I'll bet my bottom dollar they'll soon be begging them to ease up.

Making friends in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is never difficult. The hospitality is superb. My team were extremely lucky because we happened to meet the Godrej family very early on and they really did lay out the red carpet for us. Whenever we felt a little down there was always someone, somewhere who was prepared to throw a party. And you can't get better parties than the ones the Godrej family threw for us at Juhu Beach in Mumbai. Then there are the functions and the receptions. They're not like any others in the world. You are invited to so many and you've got to tell yourself to take two hours out of your life to do the right thing - sign every autograph, pose for every picture, speak to people even when you would rather be sitting at the bar with a couple of mates, sipping a beer. That's all part and parcel of being an ambassador in cricket these days, and it can be quite enjoyable.

Ultimately, teams must understand what is needed from a tactical point of view. India can be bloody miserable if you get it wrong. You can't beat India with spinners - they just play them too well. You can, however, beat them with fast bowlers. This tour will be interesting - I can't see England winning the series, but they have everything to play for. And if they do win, they'd have achieved what even the mighty Australians couldn't. And that would be a real feather in their cap.