Post Card from India -

Goodbye from the team and others

Well we are on way home now. Well almost, just Sharjah to conquer and another 5 one-dayers against India and Pakistan. Winning that series will be the icing on top of a very big cake we baked ourselves at the beginning of the season.

Nagpur turned out to be a good hunting ground for the final one-dayer in India. It sure was a good way to end the tour on a wining note especially with posting 320 and then defending it, after Tendulkar smashed it around early on during their chase.

A few words from the boys to end off the tour, paint the picture and thus preserve forever the Passage to India, 2000.

Hansie Cronje - different!

Nicky Boje - unbelievable, smashing, lovely, beautiful, tremendous, an experience to behold.

Shaun Pollock - thank you India! Alanis Morrisette was right!

Pieter Strydom - I never thought people could be so fanatical about cricket.

Gary Kirsten - I'm looking forward to getting home; the travel has been over-the-top, no Delhi belly and not a single club sandwich. I did not get on the golf course but the fact that we had such a brilliant manager made the tour and winning the test series was a major achievement.

Neil McKenzie - it's hot, put the A/C on!

Henry Williams - my first and hopefully not my last.

Nanty Hayward - it was a pleasure.

Steve Elworthy - I'm glad it's taken me 35 years to get here; definitely my top holiday destination!

Dale Benkenstein - it's great to be back in the fold.

Mark Boucher - Hurricane Hindu.

Lance Klusener - 'n toe bek is 'n heel bek. (A closed mouth is a healthy mouth) - I thank you for your conscientiality, baby.

Jacques Kallis - Welcome to Pittsville.

Herschelle Gibbs - if ever there was a need to experiment.

Derek Crookes - I have not got sick on this tour. Believe me, this is quite an achievement!

Goolam Rajah - This is my swansong!

Graham Ford - A great learning experience. You gotta pick the right team at the right time, horses for courses.

Corrie Van Zyl - I'm definitely sending my wife here for a holiday.

Craig Smith - A good walk spoiled by such exuberant hospitality.

Dr Pregi Moodley - Thank goodness for Pieter Strydom and Nanty Hayward otherwise I would have had nothing to do on this trip.

Awie Viljoen (Technical Assistant)- Dis a lekker plek die, man (it's a nice place this, man.)

Duif Du Toit (Touchline Media) - I'm a photographer. Leave me alone!

Luke Alfred(Sunday Independent) - I always wanted to steal Tony Greig's hat, but he's taller than I am and I never had the courage.

Johan Esterhuizen (Rapport) - my toer het nie so goed gegaan nie want ek het op 'n sitplek met 'n vol koppie koffie gesit het (my tour never went so well cause I sat on a seat with a full cup of coffee on it)

David Isaacson(SAPA) - thank god it's over.

Until the next time India, perhaps for some and not for others.