Post Card from India: `It's one-snap please and autograph hunter everywhere'

The SAA flight from Jo'burg to Bombay was probably the best flight I've ever had. Business class was a nice change; plenty of leg room, good company with the boys, a never ending flow of drinks and champagne from the air-hostesses and plenty of excitement looming with my first tour with the SA cricket team.

I tried to find out as much as I could regarding the ins-and-outs of touring India. There weren't too many positive things said but this being my first tour abroad, I was helluva keen to test out the conditions and see them for myself.

We arrived at the airport and immediately I could see what the guys meant. We waited 3 hours for our luggage to arrive and with so many people milling about, official and unofficial, one was never to sure just whom was who in the Bombay airport zoo.

The one thing I've realized about the Indian community is that they are very friendly people but they tend to crowd your space and this makes you feel claustrophobic. The autograph hunters are very keen to get everyone's signature on a piece of scrap paper or on their 19voetsak bat and if possible, a quick click of the camera for a "one-snap please" photo.

We eventually arrived at the hotel at 3am and I was relieved to see the standard was superb. We are situated right opposite the gateway to India, the monument built in memory of one of the English King's trips to India. Who? I'm not sure. The saving grace for the team will be that there won't be too much inter-city travelling and we're able to stay in the hotels for a longer period of time. This helps a lot to limit the amount of tedious packing and un-packing of our luggage.

My first practice session was spent in temperatures of 38 degrees and so not only do I have to get to grips with the slower wickets, but the heat is also proving to be a problem. However, this is not a problem for me, as I prefer hot to cold weather. One thing the fizz never told me was to put suntan lotion on under my playing shirt. After spending a day in the field during the warm-up match, I took a shower to find my back burned red and looking like the lobster I'd seen on the table next to me at dinner the night before.

Our team meeting before the night before the test and I was obviously thrilled to be included in the test team. I think the guys had some good batting practice in the middle during the 3-dayer, and we are pretty positive about the way we are playing our 5-day cricket. So hopefully we can continue in our winning ways and take the series, an achievement rarely accomplished by touring sides to India.

And on that note, this is Pieter Strydom signing off......from India.