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March 19, 2006

It really is rather warm, mother

Mumbai is without doubt the hottest of the three Test venues that we’ve encountered on this tour. It’s staggering. We might be just by the sea, but there’s no way that any breeze can find its way into the cauldron-like atmosphere of the Warkhede stadium.

The stadium, with its steeply tiered rows of wooden benches, is also by far the busiest of the Test venues. It was packed today, and not just with Indian fans. There are said to be about 6000 English supporters who have made the trip, swelling the numbers of the Barmy Army.

The Barmy Army have already been busy in Mumbai. Prior to the Test they held a cricket match and also had a sponsored one mile run through the city streets, all to raise money for Sport Relief.

They’ve also been in fine voice and have brought with them a brass band, who let rip every now and then, especially to signify bowling changes. When Freddie Flintoff comes on they play Meet The Flintstones. Rather more whimsically, Yorkshire man Matthew Hoggard is greeted with the theme from Last Of The Summer Wine.

Not every player has his own theme yet, but I’m sure they all will have by the end of the Test. We’ve been discussing possibilities in my area of the Stand. Shaun Udal’s nickname is Shaggy so perhaps the theme from Scooby Doo might be the trick although someone suggested, perhaps a little unkindly, that his bowling could be accompanied by Pulp’s Help The Aged. It would be a little harsh as Udal probably isn’t even as old as Jarvis Cocker.

Someone working particularly hard in this match is Ian Blackwell, the twelfth man. he seems to be getting more exercise than in the match he played in. Yesterday he had to sprint on and off the field practically every over to bring our batsmen fresh gloves, a towel to mop their brows with or a drink. By tea time he looked knackered, and in the last half hour he was replaced by Matt Prior. It must be hot if the twelfth man needs a replacement. Either that or he’d picked up an injury and was receiving physio.

Posted by Miles.Jupp at March 19, 2006 1:02 PM

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