This is Cricket

A big round of applause and a warm welcome to the English Cricketers and the team staff!
No praise is too high for these courageous warriors. They are not just brave of heart and thoroughly professional, but very kind hearted souls, too.
Alistair-Cook "The English player Alistair Cook, read out a prepared text, "The England players will donate half of their match fees from the first Test match to the families of those victims of the Mumbai attacks. Our sincere sympathies to the families who lost loved ones in the Mumbai tragedy."
Another round of thundering applause!
What they might have seen on live television, while still in India— the horrific images of death and destruction, heart rending stories - that may haunt them for a long long time - would have, in all likelihood, made them lose any hope of playing cricket in India, on the tour.
That the English cricketers collected themselves and took a pragmatic decision to return to India for the 2 Test series is something that will be a lasting testimony to their sense of duty.
Having arrived here, almost the first thing they do is to announce they will donate their match fees to terrorist victims. These cricketers have really gone way up in our esteem. May their tribe increase.
Did we hear anyone asking, 'what about our players'?
Those of us die hard cricket fans will remember that some 3 years ago when suicide bombers attacked London, the Aussies who were then touring England, were on the verge of packing up, but decided to go on with the tour itinerary. Not only did cricket not stop, but we were all witness to one of the best test match series, in recent times - the Test matches were as exciting as ODIs. May be the unusual circumstances and all the pent up stress was the reason for some truly memorable performances from players of both sides.
Let's hope the current series - though only 2 matches - will produce cricket of the highest quality; cricket that is competitive; where no quarter is asked for or given, notwithstanding that India are overwhelming favourites.
For all their professionalism, sense of duty etc., the English cricketers may be disappointed to be playing in front of sparse crowds. The MA Chidambaram stadium is a veritable fortress and one wonders if the security personnel will outnumber the spectators!
Whatever be the ground realities, let the series begin and let us hope none of our players (will) follow the example of this batsman:
In a country town match, the batsman was out first ball. 'Not like last week,' said the wicket-keeper.
'No,' said the batsman. 'Last week I stayed in and got forty and when I got back all the beer was gone!'