Professionals don't need to warm-up

While commenting on the Ford fiasco, Harsha Bhogle also brings up other concerns in his column in the Indian Express.

India's captain has asked for three games before the first Test in Australia, a perfectly valid request since India have always struggled with the bounce when they go there after having played in our conditions just before. Instead, the captain has been told by the secretary that, being professionals, they should be able to adjust with the one they have been provided.

I am flabbergasted. If I was Rahul Dravid I would have bowed and said "excuse me sir, I play for India. Whose side are you on?" I suspect Dravid is trying harder to win in Australia than the secretary! India are in Australia for more than seventy days and it is difficult to keep the intensity up for so long (talking of which, how come Australia don't come to India for seventy days?). If they lose the first Test, it will be a very very long tour.