On arriving at the hotel I was asked if I was English. I said no, Scottish. He looked a little dissapointed, but asked me anyway if I could play cricket.
Next thing I know I'm on the dry river bed beneath the bridge introducing myself to ten other English, Australian and French people who had been similarly drafted in to the international 20:20 match between hotel staff and guests.
There were about 3 of us who had ever played cricket before, and another 2 who had ever watched cricket, which meant that over half the team had no idea what they were doing.
The press turned up, gave some interviews, took some pictures.
We got thrashed.
I was opening batsman. Got caught out on the first bowl I faced.
Another guy for some reason got changed out of casual clothes to smart clothes for the match, only to chase a ball straight into to the muddy river and come out with the bottom of his trousers and deck shoes covered, much to the enjoyment of the rather large crowd which had assembled on the ghat steps and along the bridge.
After the match there were trophies and a man of the match award, and free coke and tea at the owner's cafe. A bit later on they kept the roof top restaurant open all night for us and we sat and had drinks with the rest of the "cricket team".
I met almost all of them the next day, Udaipur being a small place, and went on a little trip with two of the guys who I got along with. We were in two newspapers and a national news channel. Can you belive that?
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