Royals are up for the game tonight - Damien Martyn
Thursday, March 18, 2010 12:44:03 PM
We are two games into the IPL-3 and the excitement keeps moving at such a pace that it's hard to sit back and take a breath. Obviously, it's not the best of starts. Two losses tests the team resolves and character but these are challenges which can bring out the best in people, so I'm looking forward to the next week and see what happens.
One of our stars, South African Graeme Smith has broken his finger again in the game against the Delhi Daredevils and is likely to miss the rest of the IPL which is a huge loss. But we are crossing our (unbroken) fingers he might be back at the end of the tournament.
Personally, I'm batting well. All is coming back to me now after a couple of years away from the crease. It took me a little while to get up to speed but now I'm really enjoying getting back out there and batting again. So I'm hopeful I might get the nod soon and help the Royals produce a win.
But in the mean time we will have to stay in twitter contact while he is lying on a Cape Town beach. Within the camp, the company of Shane Warne is always a laugh but, as I have said in previous columns, I really enjoy meeting other players and can I say getting to know Smithy has been an eye opener. The big fella if a great man.
When we played in Test and one-dayers as country vs. country so much goes on and there is a lot of pushing and shoving so you only see someone in a competitive light. But out of that environment you get to know these guys for who they are. Hats off to the IPL for that and a lesson to never judge a book by its cover.
In the meantime, I will have to stay in Twitter contact with Smithy while he recovers in Cape Town. This IPL competition has been quite amazing to see up close. I have been lucky to be part of a great era of Australian cricket with some terrific memories but this tournament is something different. There is energy around the place that you don't get anywhere else in cricket. To experience it is a huge privilege. This now is literally the biggest cricket event in the world by all measures. It outdoes anything else you will see.
Part of that is simply due to the fact that it is played in India. With the local crowds' passion and enthusiasm for the game, every venue is full and pumping from hours before a ball is bowled.
Like all tournaments things move very quickly. We play seven games in 16 days which includes five travelling days so there is no time for looking back once a game is over. It has to be assessed quickly; points made; then move on and focus on the next opponent. So as a unit it is very important to keep believing, keep focusing on the simple things which make you the cricketer you are. I feel as a team, we are close to getting our cricket spot on, even though we've had this slow start I feel things will change around the corner. It's been exciting to be back in the team set-up and what that brings.