The circus has left town

The circus has left town. The players are long gone. Most of the commentators, reporters and fans flew out today, leaving me and a handful of others. The tourist bars and restaurants are suddenly empty and silent. Nagpur’s cash bonanza is over.

Still, that’s good news for some. According to the local papers, on February 27th police arrested two local waiters at the Hotel Hardeo. An indignant English tourist had lost his camera and suspected it stolen by someone at the restaurant he had just visited. However, after spending time in police detention, the waiters were released next morning when the tourist woke to find his camera safely in his trouser pocket. It was not revealed whether alcohol was in any way involved.

Those who flew this evening to Chandigarh now have 48 hours or so to get ready for the next helping. Time was when the few tourists who followed England in India – even a few players – could fit in a couple of side trips, tiger-spotting or sightseeing. Many years ago in England, the touring Australians even used to go on country walks together. Now you’re lucky to get time to catch your breath, let alone track a tiger.

That was in the days of Tests separated by about ten days, enough time to breathe a little. It allowed teams to mull over what went before, adapt and plan. To root around. Even find out a bit about the place they’re visiting. Of course it’s understandable that players want to get home to their families, perfectly reasonable that they push for short tours. But there is a natural rhythm to a Test series – and it’s not three days between games.