We have just arrived in Ahmedabad on the third leg of our tour to India (my first) for the champion’s trophy.  Unfortunately we have lost our opening 2 games against India and Australia which means we will be flying home on Monday after our game against the West Indies.  Modern day tours are very efficient and completely functional. We are shipped around the country without really having to lift a finger which is nice but also leaves you feeling that you haven’t seen much of the country itself.  Unfortunately for security reasons you are advised not to go wondering around the cities that you end up in. 

On this trip we have been to Delhi, Jaipur and now Ahmedabad all three places have been very different Delhi by far the busiest and most modern, Jaipur the pink city because of the colour of the stone used for all the buildings, is the most picturesque and now Ahmedabad which from first impressions looks like it is a very poverty stricken place.

It makes you realize how lucky we are to live in England.  Some of the things we have we take very much for granted.  The simple things are the most striking like running water when you turn the tap on, electricity at the flick of a switch and fresh food in the fridge when you get home.

We of course are put in the best hotels in fact some of the best that I have stayed in the service of the highest quality and the facilities first class.

With the ashes ahead of us a lot of the focus has been on fitness and training sessions have been extremely intense and the competition for places has been fierce.  Who knows what lies ahead in Australia but I know for sure that this England teams will be extremely well prepared because of the work that we have been doing here.

Just to give you an insight on how much goes into an England tour these days.  Whilst there are 14 lucky players selected there are also 12 support staff or the management as they prefer to be called.  There jobs range from security, press officer, doctor, physio, fitness trainer, massage therapist, manager to all the specialist coaches.  The guys ensure that we are completely prepared to take the field when the time comes then it is down to us.

This tour is nearly over but the team leaves 3 days after they arrive home for the most eagerly awaited series in recent history.  I don’t know what is going to happen but cricket fans are in for a treat this winter and to play some part of that is what we all dream about.

Enjoy the cricket.