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A tour of India....Is it an opportunity or is it
only a hindrance?
This is usually the question which English players
end up asking themselves before they begin a series
in India. The answer to this question determines
the fate of the team, as the challenges this
passionate, vast and diverse country poses to
visitors cannot be taken lightly. The test of a
touring player's temperament begins way before he
steps onto the field. In fact, it begins right from
the time the team lands on the Indian soil, when
the prospect becomes a reality.
The whole feel of India, itself is so different for
'westerners'.
Nowhere else will they witness such a passion for
the game. Cricket fanaticism is very common in this
part of the world, and when you belong to the land
of sophistication like England, you may well find
it insane. The English cricketers are not used to
public glares and being mobbed back home. Many of
them may end up feeling claustrophobic. To deal
with such public scrutiny, one has to be very
tough.
The next hurdle is the food. Though the likes and
dislikes of the players are taken into
consideration these days, it may not always be the
case. Indian food is diverse. A touring side has to
be able to cope with different types of foods, as
it traverses the length and breadth of the land.
India is probably the only country where the food
patterns vary to such an extent within its borders.
Another aspect is pre-conceived notions. Many a
time, players touring India have already made up
their minds that it is a boring place with nothing
to do in the evenings. So they tend to lock
themselves in their hotel rooms. No moving about,
rigidity in accepting the culture and indulging in
comparisons with other countries are some of the
pitfalls.
Getting accustomed to the atmosphere and climate is
one major difficulty that a touring side encounters
in India. More often than not, some of the players
will experience sickness like a stomach upset or
viral fever or something as common as common cold.
Injuries due to the pressures and stress of
international cricket happen subsequently.
If and when a team manages to overcome these
off-the-field difficulties, they have to contend
with problems on the field as well.
There is no respite in the middle. Indians are not
known as tigers in their territory for nothing.
When the Indians play like a team at home, they
seem invincible.
The crowd support is deafening for a foreigner.
Imagine a young fast bowler standing on the ropes
hearing the chants of the crowd. When the senior
pros feel intimidated, the rookies are bound to
succumb to the pressures.
Then, there are the hassles involved in bowling to
the likes of Tendulkar and Dravid on flat,
batsman-friendly tracks. It is a proposition that
will send a chill down a player's spine if he isn't
mentally tough.
Batting on spinning tracks may be child's play for
the Indian batsmen. But spare a thought for the
English colts!
The situation is compounded by the extremely hot
and humid climate, which will greet the visitors at
every venue at this time of the year. One or two
players are bound to break down halfway through the
tour. In fact, some already have!
Having said that, it has to be said that life will
become a lot easier for the English players if they
look at the Indian tour as an opportunity to learn
and gain experience. There is no limit to the
maturity that a tour of India can instill in a
player, both as a cricketer and as a person. It's
up to the players to make the most of the
opportunity given to them by the England Cricket
Board.
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