Expect the electronic media to get into full gear. The Australians have arrived and if recent past is anything to go by, each channel will be roping a player for an “exclusive” and a few others will be pursued by movie makers.
The Australians had an unexpectedly low key arrival into the city of Mumbai. Here to play four Tests, the Australians’ arrival did not last long in Mumbai with the team expected to take the domestic flight to Jaipur where they will enjoy a few net sessions arranged by the Rajasthan Cricket Association and apparently the BCCI had no hand in it.
The Australians will commence their official tour from the 29th of September when they reach Hyderabad. Though much has been made of the series and anticipation is at an all time high, even without Andrew Symonds, their arrival was also perhaps shrouded in keeping the recent blasts that rocked New Delhi. Even Ricky Ponting was unwilling to comment on the tour itself until two days ago. Now that they are here, the cricket world gears for one of the most anticipated battles to get underway.
But there will be plenty of time in between to sign new foreign endorsements in a country that embraces the foreign cricketers will just as much hospitality as it does its own. A few movie offers will undoubtedly be made; guitars will be strummed; Indian damsels will swoon and everyone will get a little byte out of every possible fair skinned lads.
The otherwise acrimonious tour to Australia last year-early this year would have a far more telling effect had not the IPL and mega bucks assuaged a little bit of the tension and helped the Australians peek a little more into the Indian culture. But all that was suggestive of thawing of the ice. But now the real battle resumes – the one between nation and nation that nearly tore the cricket world apart.
With the Irani Trophy only a couple of days away, it would be a safe bet to think not only Indians will be tuning into the domestic tie but also the Australians with a view to latch onto chinks in the armoury. They are baying for blood. Is India up for the sport? All shall be revealed when the series gets underway in early October.
Here’s hoping to all things clean, on the cricket field and off it.
Gear up for the most gruelling test series of the year. Rashid Latif was right in saying that from India-Pakistan it has shifted to India Australia because the Pakistani Cricketers don’t put up a decent fight anymore. The level of cricket played is not as severe as it used to be. Apparently it is the Indian-Australian series which generates more viewership than any other competition in world cricket, an exception could be the ashes.
