Date:13/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/13/stories/2006021311261800.htm

Sport - Cricket

Indian tour is the toughest: Vaughan

LONDON: Heat, craze and the splendid home record make an India tour perhaps the toughest of them all and according to England skipper Michael Vaughan, his team will be tested to the hilt as it leaves for a full series against Rahul Dravid's men.

"I think it's one of the toughest tours around. If you look at tours around the world, I think Australia and India are the two toughest you can go on," he told the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) website.

"With the conditions you get in India and the heat and team's home record, you could even argue that it's the hardest of them all," he said.

Describing India as a fascinating place, the England skipper said the fans make the whole experience of touring the country unbelievable.

"In India, they love you all the time no matter what you're doing because they just love the game of cricket.

"Everywhere you go, there is fanatical support and the way you get received as cricketers is unbelievable," he said.

Vaughan said he was quite surprised at the knowledge of fans, the last time he visited. — UNI