It’s a lovely three-hour journey by road — the landscape changes intermittently from vast plains to dense forests. The route is dotted with stoppage signs for kangaroo and bear sightings. For Team India the added pleasure was the magic of Munnabhai and Circuit — the movie being played in their luxury coach. Ironical perhaps as Kumble’s boys are on their own silent satyagraha as they left Sydney for Canberra.

The team left their base for the last nine days, but not without another little controversy —- their team bus brushed against a silver Mercedes outside the hotel and amusingly caught the attention of the entire Aussie media.

And they reached here this afternoon to be smitten by the capital. The astounding Burley Griffith Lake —- named after the man who designed this city —- and all other man-made lakes here are a sight to behold. Then there are the old and the new Parliament houses, the national museum, the art library, and the Manuka Oval.

That’s where the Indians play the Australian Capital Territory XI in a three-day match. A ground that is known to have earned the affection of Don Bradman to bring cricket to this ground, its rich tradition of hosting the Prime Minister’s XI each year since 1952-53, it’s credibility of having hosted a World Cup match between South Africa and Zimbabwe in 1992 and being a permanent base for the Vikings in Australian rugby championships.

The 15,000 capacity stadium can be rated amongst the most picturesque grounds in world cricket, and its wicket holds a lot of promise for the batsman.

... contd.