These Indians can’t play the short ball,” I kept repeating to myself as I was tossed an old Kookaburra ball by coach Greg Chappell. But when I saw the stocky batsman who would face my first delivery in the nets, I knew that no amount of positive thoughts could save me today.

Sachin Tendulkar had already taken his mark and he was now looking straight at me as if to say: “Let’s have it.” I took my first tentative step with only one thing going through my mind: “I am in trouble”.

As I approached the crease, I wanted only one thing: a quickish away-swinger outside off, so that the little maestro would be merciful and let it go. I ended up bowling a whole lot fuller and straighter than I had hoped for — and it ended up being a near perfect yorker.

Of course, Tendulkar had no trouble in just gently knocking the ball back to me, but what he said caught me totally off guard. “Well bowled, mate.” There I was, a journalist — after a failed cricketing career — and arguably the best batsman the world has ever seen had just given me a compliment.