Goodbye from the team and others
Well we are on way home now. Well almost, just Sharjah to conquer and another 5 one-dayers against India and Pakistan. Winning that series will be the icing on top of a very big cake we baked ourselves at the beginning of the season.
Nagpur turned out to be a good hunting ground for the final one-dayer in India. It sure was a good way to end the tour on a wining note especially with posting 320 and then defending it, after Tendulkar smashed it around early on during their chase.
A few words from the boys to end off the tour, paint the picture and thus preserve forever the Passage to India, 2000.
Hansie Cronje - different!
Nicky Boje - unbelievable, smashing, lovely, beautiful, tremendous, an experience to behold.
Shaun Pollock - thank you India! Alanis Morrisette was right!
Pieter Strydom - I never thought people could be so fanatical about cricket.
Gary Kirsten - I'm looking forward to getting home; the travel has been over-the-top, no Delhi belly and not a single club sandwich. I did not get on the golf course but the fact that we had such a brilliant manager made the tour and winning the test series was a major achievement.
Neil McKenzie - it's hot, put the A/C on!
Henry Williams - my first and hopefully not my last.
Nanty Hayward - it was a pleasure.
Steve Elworthy - I'm glad it's taken me 35 years to get here; definitely my top holiday destination!
Dale Benkenstein - it's great to be back in the fold.
Mark Boucher - Hurricane Hindu.
Lance Klusener - 'n toe bek is 'n heel bek. (A closed mouth is a healthy mouth) - I thank you for your conscientiality, baby.
Jacques Kallis - Welcome to Pittsville.
Herschelle Gibbs - if ever there was a need to experiment.
Derek Crookes - I have not got sick on this tour. Believe me, this is quite an achievement!
Goolam Rajah - This is my swansong!
Graham Ford - A great learning experience. You gotta pick the right team at the right time, horses for courses.
Corrie Van Zyl - I'm definitely sending my wife here for a holiday.
Craig Smith - A good walk spoiled by such exuberant hospitality.
Dr Pregi Moodley - Thank goodness for Pieter Strydom and Nanty Hayward otherwise I would have had nothing to do on this trip.
Awie Viljoen (Technical Assistant)- Dis a lekker plek die, man (it's a nice place this, man.)
Duif Du Toit (Touchline Media) - I'm a photographer. Leave me alone!
Luke Alfred(Sunday Independent) - I always wanted to steal Tony Greig's hat, but he's taller than I am and I never had the courage.
Johan Esterhuizen (Rapport) - my toer het nie so goed gegaan nie want ek het op 'n sitplek met 'n vol koppie koffie gesit het (my tour never went so well cause I sat on a seat with a full cup of coffee on it)
David Isaacson(SAPA) - thank god it's over.
Until the next time India, perhaps for some and not for others.