Post Card from India: 'Thankful to be alive after traveling in a 1903,

This is my third trip to the Asian sub-continent but only my first trip to India. My previous tours have been to Sri Lanka (with the under-24's and the 'A' tour of '98) and Bangladesh where we won the inaugural ICC tournament and I played in the final with a broken toe.

We are currently playing in Jamshedpur and I am thankful to be alive after traveling in a 1903 prop-job, 16 seater antique plane from Calcutta. The team songs for this trip were 'free-falling' by Tom Petty and 'Bye-Bye American Pie' by Don Maclean, the legendary Eagles singer. Trips like these should rather be left to those who enjoy flying as opposed to those who have to. And we still have to do the return leg Monday lunchtime.

I have found the hotels here very good and comfortable. The Indian people are very friendly and cricket crazy, putting it mildly. The noise around the cricket stadia is deafening, especially when India get a wicket or hit a boundary. Sometimes, even just a single is enough to send them into raptures.

Cricket-wise, opportunities are a bit scarce at the moment and I'm hoping for a break into the team and then to make the most of it. I feel the conditions do suit my style of play and I'm looking forward to facing some of the Indian spinners.

So far though, sanity prevails with the thought of Dubai only one week away and this is keeping the boys going, not to mention the forty channels of Indian TV, of which the French Fashion TV channel, with its showing of the Rio Carnival, has been the most popular.

My roomie, Nicky, sleeps all day long and if he ain't sleeping he's reading the latest John Grisham or he's in the Fizz's room having treatment on his shoulder. Our roomie-ship has been extended from our first trip to New Zealand last year where he was also my night vicecaptain. However, on this trip he has become the best number 10 batter in the world (according to Neil McKenzie). Macca has now taken over his vacated role as night vice-captain and his performance so far has not been near that of Nicky's. His idea of a night out for entertainment in India is home videos in the team room. However, Macca's good value and a laugh a minute and he's often the bloke who keeps us smiling with his sharp wit so we'll give him a reprieve and a longer opportunity to improve his socializing skills.

Socially, and with me being the former night captain, there is really not much to do so my duties in this respect have been held over till we get to Dubai. Then again, we'll be meeting up with the loved ones and the social activities may be brought to a complete holt as 4 weeks in India definitely makes the heart grow fonder!!! Jackie, I hope your ticket to Dubai is confirmed for the 25th.

Well done to my brother Boyd, who works for O&M in Jo'burg who won an annual award in his first year for his copy-writing skills.

I'll be seeing you all back in SA definitely.