| Scores | Upcoming | Results |
Barbados: The Windward Cricket Club is located in the south-east parish of Barbados, just over 27 kilometres from the Kensington Oval. As Team India set upon the journey through green pastures and the stray residential colonies for an optional practice session today, the team members were aware of the hustle awaiting them in such tranquility.
The Windward Cricket Club is located in the south-east parish of Barbados, just over 27 kilometres from the Kensington Oval. As Team India set upon the journey through green pastures and the stray residential colonies for an optional practice session today, the team members were aware of the hustle awaiting them in such tranquility.
Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Yusuf Pathan and R Vinay Kumar trooped in for a late-morning workout, and the focus was clear from the start as fast bowlers from the club geared up for the start of their domestic season while having a go at the top of the Indian order.
The horizontal blade was a clear option while dealing with the bounce and carry that these fresh wickets delivered on punching the seam down with some effort. Team India, thus, got their first taste of the lively wickets in Barbados in the outskirts.
Gambhir, who has recovered completely from the stomach bug, took on a few furious throwdowns from Gary Kirsten before squaring up to the faster bowlers, trying to spend maximum time in the middle and find the sweet part of the bat at the same time.
Knocking around.
Raina, the in-form batsman and a known suspect against the short ball, preferred to turn his arm over and opted for some heavy shuttle-running instead. He soon settled for a light knocking practice even as his teammates spent nearly an hour inside to take the rust off the pull and hook shots.
Carl Boom, an old-timer at the club and former Barbados cricketer, had seen some of the current India players during their 'A' tour a couple of seasons before. He said the wicket has generally improved from then on.
"The people in Barbados are traditionalists - for them grass at the wicket is important to a game of cricket," he said. "Unfortunately the grass at Bridgetown is imported, and I can tell you if you are enjoying this bounce, you will be a very disappointed man."
For India, though, that might be good news. The team is not leaving anything to chance in their preparation even as the players watch the Australians with great interest playing against Bangladesh before updating their details ahead of the Super Eight match.
