Fabian Cowdrey’s Indian tour diary: part two
Monday 16th February 2015
All-rounder Fabian Cowdrey and three academy scholars are out in India on a ten-day tour of Andhra Pradesh.
The party was invited by the Andhra Cricket Association to use the state's facilities and work with local youngsters as they step up preparations for the 2015 season.
Teenagers Zak Crawley, Marcus O’Riordan and Ben Stock join 22-year-old Cowdrey in Visakhapatnam, the state’s largest city on the east coast of the cricket-mad nation.
Here’s the second instalment of Fabian Cowdrey’s tour diary…
On day three, we all had our earliest wake up of the tour. A 6am alarm rang rudely and we all stumbled down weary-eyed to breakfast.
Lentils and curry obviously was in force again, and so was baked egg smothered in a spicy aromatic sauce.
What's also made itself clear is Jimmy's obsession with mango juice. So much so, the simple glimpse of his face and waiters scurry towards him presenting his beloved chilled beverage. Astonishing service!
The bus then picked us up and we briskly retreated into the onslaught of mopeds and the bizarre open-back three-wheeled taxis.
Arriving in one piece we began practice with two centre wicket nets, one for the seamers and the other for the tweakers.
The Indian seamers have a stamina I've never seen before. When asked to fetch a drink for themselves in 30 degrees heat, they look in disgust at the coaches, just for the fact their spell is halting!
I do genuinely believe they'd bowl all day without complaint if they could, or at least until they collapsed… These lads were a captain’s dream.
The wickets were dry and used and it offered a stiff challenge in both nets. The pitches weren't far away from the occasional wicket we may face this LVCC season, so all in all it was top practice, and both Zak and I left fully content with our morning’s work!
The afternoon arrived and after a quick dip in the famous Novotel pool we braved the road again and this time we had a net practice on what must have been the flattest, most batter-friendly surfaces I have ever witnessed! Never mind the indoor school, just get a plane to Vishakhapatnam!
The net lasted an hour, by which point the bowlers were floored and the batters had just celebrated their maiden double hundreds.
Despite his lower-order status, academy scholar Ben Stock was one of the batters and was struck by a vicious bouncer, or as head coach Jimmy Adams called it a "long hop, man".
Despite this, his confidence grew so no doubt it was valuable for all him despite the pain in his shoulder that he keeps reminding us about.
Nonetheless this practice introduced to the bowlers the tough toil of dealing with a surface that suited one suit substantially more.
The day ended with fielding, and the Kent lads led by example which was great to see. Days are long and tiring here, but no doubt the toil will be worth it going into this very important county season.
See Fabian Cowdrey in action this summer with a Kent Cricket Membership.
Tickets to Kent v Australiaon June 25-28, the first game of the Ashes Tour, are free for all Kent All Rounder and Championship Plus Members and an option for Six Pack package holders.
Members can also buy up to six guest tickets before the fixture goes on general sale next month.