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March 5, 2006

But it's from here isn't it?

England’s cricketers have suffered all kinds of misfortune so far on this tour; illness, injury, personal difficulties and emergency last-minute call ups to name but a few. Four of England’s key players are already missing.

But in Nagpur, members of Sky’s commentary team were not just missing the likes of Simon Jones: they were finding it absolutely impossible to get their hands on any so-called Indian tonic water. Botham, Gower, Hussein et al. like to return to the media hotel at the end of each day’s play and have a gin and tonic to help them take the edge off, but for days they struggled to find their beloved mixer.

All they kept getting offered were varieties of isotonic drink, but they turned their noses up at the idea of drinking any kind of turbo gin cocktail. Their travel operator even sent a man out into town with strict instructions to find the mixer at all costs. And all he managed to do was return with about a bin liner’s worth of yet more isotonic drink.

The Sky boys have kept a lid on their frustrations so far, but if they’re still thirsty by the time we all reach Mumbai then it might be a different story.

Posted by Miles.Jupp at March 5, 2006 11:30 AM