It is well known that they take cricket seriously in India, and Bangalore is the focus of attention as the 1st Test vs Australia starts here this Thursday. There is additional interest as Sachin Tendulkar is within a reasonable knocks worth of Brian Lara’s world record for Test Runs, and Tendulkar loves playing against the Aussies. Even in the rather effete pastry shop in the hotel the Australian warm up game was on TV continuously.
The press and media attention is almost completely in contrast to the local advertising – passing by the ground you would never guess there is a Test on this week – compared to Chester le Street where after a ODI earlier this year the streets were strewn with distressed superheroes (in costume) bemoaning that they were not blessed with KPs talent with the bat. His talent with his mouth is less assured.
I am sure it will be very vibrant on the day – I still remember the noise (and the Tendulkar century) from a ODI vs Sri Lanka on the Padang in Singapore more than 10 years ago. I have also experienced intense Aussie national interest in cricket – having been in Australia working as a student during all of the 1981 ‘Botham’ Ashes series but I have to say the hoarding I saw coming out of a very comforting bookstore yesterday stopped me short. Just glancing at I though it must be something promoting road (or industrial) safety – but No just cricket.
If the cricket is as tasty as the build up I might just pop down the road and watch – strangely whilst moving halfway round the world I am still living less than a mile from a Test ground ??
It is well known that they take cricket seriously in 
2 comments:
Bet the tickets for the test cost about 50p each as well. Wish i could go, but i'll have to make do with a quick 10 mins before I go to work in the morning.
Looks like your getting about plenty and doing a fair bit of investigating. How Rachael's job going?
Tickets were in fact £2-50 for the posh seats!
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