Postcard from Sri Lanka: `Meat lovers from the Free State'
Boeta Dippenaar - 6 July 2000
The first thing that struck me over the few days we've been here
in Sri Lanka is the close similarity to India, having just toured
there a few months ago. The temperatures are about equal and the
humidity is the same as we experienced in the one-dayer in
Cochin, really hot and humid. The coastal surroundings have a
very tropical and Caribbean look to them, with real pretty white
sandy beaches and nice looping palm trees in an abundance
everywhere.
Our practices have gotten off to a pretty slow start because we
had to wait for our luggage to arrive from the cargo compound.
Doug, our manager, spent the whole of Sunday trying to clear the
cargo and by the match day, not all of our Energade had been
released yet. One thing that will really test our patience is the
fact that the practice facilities are not the same as we
encounter back in SA and we'll have to ensure that this deficit
does not get to us. The bottom line is: we'll have to make do
with what is available to the team.
From a personal point of view, I feel that I have been hitting
the ball pretty well and can't wait to get the chance to take
this confidence out into the middle and make the most of the
opportunity when I'm given it. By the look of things, the wickets
tend to be fairly similar to those in India but it should assist
the seamers a little bit more than the Indian wickets did. True
to the sub-continent though, there will be some turn in them for
the spinners towards the end of the innings.
We drove down from Colombo to Galle yesterday, a 3 hour bus trip.
One thing is for sure though; the Indian drivers are definitely
better than their Sri Lankan counterparts. You really have to
experience it for yourself but overtaking on solid lines against
on-coming traffic and missing each other by millimeters is not
the kind of road sense taught by the AA school of driving back
home. Least of all in Bloemfontein!
We are currently at the one-dayer in Galle and looking out from
the pavilion is quite a unique and very picturesque sight in
world cricket. There is an old fort, which I'm sure you have seen
on TV, with most of the crowds camped up there watching the game.
The setting here is quite fabulous for cricket, the ground being
right next to the sea, this old statuesque fort surrounding the
bottom of the field and persistent music being played by a band
on the far side of the field.
The crowds in Sri Lanka are as passionate as those who support
the game in India. They are very keen to support their side, but
unlike in India, when the SA team pulls off an amazing fielding
move or takes a wicket, there is absolute silence from the
spectators.
The food has been pretty good so far, probably more variety than
what we had in India. This definitely helps us real meat lovers
from the Free State.
This is Boeta "dipstick" Dippenaar signing off for the time
being, until later...
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