High Tees

“We are well-prepared. We hope to win this tournament,” said Clarke,aware that they lead the list of favourites. Australian High Commissioner to India,

Peter Varghese,pointed out,“Cricket has always been a great frame of reference for relations between India and Australia. It has transcended cultures and geographical distances,and unified,even as passions divided.”

Rajeev PI,Resident Editor,The Indian Express,Ahmedabad,praised the cricketers for fitting in with Indian sides in the various IPL teams,overcoming language and cultural barriers. He presented copies of Harsha Bhogle’s Out of the Box,a compilation of the commentator’s columns in The Indian Express.

Captain Ricky Ponting could not make it to the poolside do,but his team-mates filled in with their quintessential Aussie spirit. Lee appeared to be a favourite with guests,with senior bureaucrats and other officers making a beeline for him with pieces of paper to be autographed. “This is for my son who could not make it here,he will be thrilled,” said KPS Raghuvanshi,DIG,Indian Coast Guard.

Former Gujarat DGP SS Khandwavala sauntered up to Lee and introduced himself as “a retired cop”. “Oh,so no more bang-bang ?” Lee winked and laughed,mimicking firing a revolver. “No,I never used a gun,only a stick,” responded the former copper,“but I love watching you go bang-bang with the ball”.