Australia has special respect for Eden Gardens

It was with great excitement and anticipation that I took my first step onto the lush outfield of the amazing stadium known as Eden Gardens. It was our first training run here in Kolkata, after arriving on Thursday evening from Delhi.

I wasn't the only player in the side to feel the aura of this huge venue. For Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden, it was their first visit as well. Both these left handers being engulfed by the size of the ground as they stood near the wicket and gazed at the outfield, planning I'm sure, as to where they hope to score their runs during the Test.

Many of us had only read about Eden Gardens, or seen it on the television. When full to capacity, it looks to be one of the most intimidating grounds in the world for a visiting team. That is how many of the surviving players from the 1998 tour here by Australia remember it.

Having been bowled out in the first innings, the Aussies then spent many long hours in the field watching Azharrudin, Tendulkar and Laxmann amass a huge total in reply. I remember watching from my home in Perth and thinking how intense and massive the crowd was. It seemed as if there was an electric atmosphere, particularly when the brilliant Tendulkar, and home town boy Ganguly were in full flow. From that moment on, I put the name Eden Gardens high on the list of venues I would love to play a Test at.

Cricketers are a superstitious bunch and the players from that '98 tour are no different. As soon as we entered the changerooms for the first time, Shane Warne and company quickly made sure they didn't sit in the same seats as they did last time. The theory being a change of seating position will hopefully bring with it a change of luck and more importantly, a change in the result. But it's not all bad memories for the guys that have played here before. Captain Steve Waugh actually said to the team before training on Friday that this venue is the ``Lords of the Sub-continent''. That certainly shows the respect that this side has for the traditions of this famous ground.

If my memory serves me correctly, I think it was also here that Allan Border led Australia to it's first World Cup success back in 1987. Steve Waugh is the only member of the current side that was involved in that final, so it's no wonder he has such kind words for this ground. From a personal point of view, I can't wait for the Test match to begin. Having had a slight hip injury that kept me out of the three day match in Delhi, I feel fresh and fully fit again.

It has been unbelievable the amount of people who have inquired as to the state of my injury and if I will be fit to play in the second Test. The interest has ranged from journalists to ten year old autograph hunters. It's been quite flattering that so many people are concerned of my progress. My replacement for the match in Delhi was Brad Haddin from New South Wales. He has been a very consistent performer in our domestic cricket and did a fine job with both gloves and bat in the nation's capital against the Board President's XI. He has already played a one-day International for Australia and will no doubt be a name that cricket followers will hear a lot more of in years to come.

The Indian side selected for the second Test looks quite solid. There were obviously a few forced changes with Javagal Srinath and Ajit Agarkar being unavailable due to injury and illness. No doubt Zaheer Khan is thrilled to be given another crack at our top order, particularly after bowling so well against us in the Mini-World Cup in Kenya back in September. He looks to have great pace and also makes the ball swing, especially when it becomes old and worn. The return of Venkatapathy Raju isn't a total surprise to us. He bowled well in the '98 series and adds a balance of experience to what otherwise is a fairly young bowling line up.

The wicket looks to be a terrific Test cricket pitch, that will offer a bit early to the quicks and then provide spin to the tweakers latter in the match. I'm sure the batsman will also find it to their liking. So all is set for the battle to resume after we were able to go one up in Mumbai.

Our side had a few days off in between the first Test and the Delhi match, of which one was spent by a few traveling to the magnificent Taj Mahal. I wasn't able to make the journey to Agra, as I had to stay with our physiotherapist Errol Allcott and continue with my rehabilitation work on my hip. Fortunately I had previously visited the breathtaking monument on the 1998 tour, and can honestly say it is one of the most amazing sights of the world. All the guys were equally impressed, and will look forward to showing the rolls and rolls of film they snapped on their cameras with, their friends and family upon our return to Australia.

By ADAM GILCHRIST

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