Over the last 10 days The Poona Club has been the home of the Global Cricket School where seven players from Leinster in hot and humid conditions have trained hard under the tutorship of GCS Head Coach Umesh Patwal and Mumbai U.22 Coach Nandan Phadnis. Also working hard over those ten days have been a group of club members who have ran in hour after hour in an attempt to test the Irish men's batting skills. Then when the gear has been packed away and we head back to our hotel the ground staff have got to work on the grass nets, repairing and preparing for the next days practice.

On Friday night last we thought it appropriate to give a little something back in appreciation of all that humbling Indian hospitality. With energy reserves low after a hard days netting the Leinster players dug deep and showed real enthusiasm while they ran a number of drills for around 30 of the clubs most promising 12 to 14 year olds. Dressed in their full whites, as all members do at every practice night, the youngsters fielded, caught and threw with an accuracy and skill that had many of our lads both surprised and delighted. One particular drill resulted in no fewer than 13 direct hits of a single stump while elsewhere the balls rocketed into the gloves from 30 yards out. The politeness and attentiveness of every boy was a real joy to experience and certainly epitomised their undoubted love and respect for the game.

Following the junior practice we were invited to a dinner at our hotel by Rahul Patil, (Hotel owner, Poona Club President and former Bangor C.C. player), where a visit was made by Chandu Borde, former Indian Captain and Chairman of Selectors. Many thanks to Rahul who has put at our disposal his hotel cars, which have ferried us to and from practice each day. He has also ensured our every need has been met both in the hotel and at The Poona Club.

Well done and thanks to the lads for taking part in the junior practice after a hard day, and a week that has been full of tests and trials of many different aspects, all of which are I'm sure are part of the process in making them better and more able cricketers.

Nigel Pyne