As we approached the stadium in Chennai on the morning of the first Test there was almost a sense of anticlimax. With the way people had been talking we had half been expecting a battalion at every corner, but outside the ground there was nothing unusual about any police or army presence. Could this really be the Test which had been under such threat?
Getting in the ground itself was something of an issue although we'd actually got past the bit where you buy tickets and show them to get in the grounds by this time. Then came the searches and the moment I knew was coming as they attempted to take my camera. I politely refused and sweet-talked someone into allowing me in although the original security guard was not impressed.
Apart from that, our presence here has been warmly received. One kid had gone to the effort of creating a banner to thank us and on the main scoreboard there were messages texted in appreciation of our attendance. In our hotel there was much excitement about the fact we had come over.
But now the cricket has started it is immediately obvious why this tour should have gone ahead. Instead of discussing recent events, today became about Paul Collingwood's rather questionable decision; about the performance of Andrew Strauss and everything cricket. In a world where life must move on, cricket helped it today.
Its an interesting and good decision on the part of the ECB and the English players. It remains to be seen whether England and other countries show the same empathy and reach out to the people of Pakistan as well by accepting the security arrangements being provided the GOP. In short, the war on terror has turned this world into a very dangerous place and there is a price which everyone has to pay. whether we like it or not.
Posted by: Aditya Mookerjee on 12/13/2008
I agree with the banner in the photo. England are the barmy army, because they are going to get drubbed. They did not stay put in England, but have come to loose the test matches, too.
Posted by: Akash on 12/14/2008
I for one am cheering the UK team as much as the Indian team. KP's words at the time of the Mumbai attack and the solidarity shown by the British team, have not gone unnoticed.
Thank you chaps!
Posted by: vidushi on 12/22/2008
really..hats off to english team n barmy army for coming back!!!!
we are really glad..at the end o the day there was something "good" to see in the television
n i must say ...had it been australia..they would hav never dared to come back!!!
and this makes me respect ebgland a bit more
Posted by: vidushi on 12/22/2008
really..hats off to english team n barmy army for coming back!!!!
we are really glad..at the end o the day there was something "good" to see in the television
n i must say ...had it been australia..they would hav never dared to come back!!!
and this makes me respect ebgland a bit more
Paul Winslow is the Barmy Army's web and magazine editor, a role that allows him to turn an unhealthy and expensive addiction into something vaguely productive. No-one is quite sure how he's managed to combine a career as a sport, travel and motoring journalist with so much travelling to watch cricket but he's blagged it somehow, although he will remain unfulfilled until 2012 when England tour Bangladesh and he will have seen them play in every Test nation.
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