Sunday February 20, 2011

We arrived in Dhaka on a bit of a high after things fell into place in our last warm up game against Zimbabwe. It was the first time on the tour that our batting and bowling both clicked in to place on the same day and it was great to get a win under our belts. I believe there were signs of things coming together in the New Zealand game - however I couldn't really comment as I spent the whole of that day and the next in my room with food poisoning.

I can honestly that being sick in India is a very unpleasant experience. So the fact that it only took me two days to get over it was something to be thankful for. Against Zimbabwe we started with a bang taking three early wickets with Trent getting two and Boyd one. The two of them with the new ball are going to be so important for us in this World Cup because if they hit their straps its going to be difficult, no matter who you are, to get them away. Zimbabwe ended up getting at least 40 more than they should have, we dropped their skipper when he was on 50 and he went on to get a hundred, taking 50 from the last 4 overs. Our innings started in the worst possible way when we lost Paul Stirling in the first over, however Andre Botha and Alex Cusack both batted solidly and had a good partnership before Kevin O'Brien came in and took the game away from them.

It's safe to say that there is not much to do in Nagpur apart from watch a bit of television in your room and I never thought I would be in the position where I was looking forward to getting to Bangladesh. To be fair though, since I was here seven years ago for the Under 19 World Cup the country has come a long way. It is a lot cleaner for a start and this was evident even when we were on our way to the hotel from the airport.

On our first night we attended the opening ceremony which was done in typically Asian style and you really got a sense of how important this tournament is to the region. We have had two days training since we arrived here and it's about getting used to the different type of wickets that we are going to be facing, a lot different to that of Nagpur.

On our day off we visited Plan International and Plan Bangladesh, a charity that takes kids from the streets of Dhaka and gives them a sort of safe haven to enjoy Arts and Crafts and play games and offer counselling. The figures floating around here are ridiculous - Dhaka has a population of 68 million (Ed - are you sure, Gary?), of those 300,000 are children that are living on the streets and of those 300,000 Plan Bangladesh have taken in 9,000. That is still a lot of kids living on the street. To be able to go there and see them was very humbling and they were very happy to have us there. It almost puts into perspective what we are doing.

In the afternoon, Mooney and Wilson took on Stirling and Joyce in a game of golf. Mooney and Wilson came out well on top after Sirlo had started like an absolute train. He tries to tell you that he should be a 20 handicapper … no chance. Like everything he turns his hand to he just happens to be very good. He faded away after about the 12th and we were able to cash in, all the same a very enjoyable round at a lovely course.

It was back to the serious business today with a net at the main ground, the same again tomorrow before a day off and then two practices before Friday's game. Bangladesh are under serious pressure to perform from everyone out here, and that may well just play in to our hands. We have to play with freedom, No one in the press out here, written or tv,is giving any of the associates a chance, We have heard that before and hopefully they will be proved wrong - that will be sweet.