On eve of tour, Woolmer stirs a hornest's nest

It has been a practice for foreign cricketers, particularly those from England and Australia, to point out the poverty in India, to describe the ``unliveable'' conditions here. Though things have improved tremendously since these allegations were first made about half a century ago, opponents still make the charges, possibly as part of a psychological warfare.

The latest to join the bandwagon is former South African coach Bob Woolmer. Shortly before the South African team's departure for a tour of India, he has stirred a hornet's nest by criticising the conditions in India.

"For the western stomach, the subcontinent is a place where the word `runs' takes on a completely new meaning," Woolmer, now a consultant with the United Cricket Board of South Africa, was reported as saying on Sunday.

"The water there," he said, "is below standard generally, and you take ice in your drinks with trepidation. Everywhere we went, the question was asked, `is the ice filtered?'"

Giving his views on the tour, Woolmer said the touring players must take precautions both on and off the field.

"The other abiding memory is the sheer chaos on the roads and the wonder that there are not more accidents. It would seem that in order to pass the Indian driving test, you have to drive with your hand firmly attached to the horn - and because cows are sacred in the Hindu religion, you stop as they walk across the road.''

However, he said "while I denigrate some parts of India, the experience of India is such that no one should miss it.''