Harmer needs more time

I think this has been just the start for John. He didn't really know what he was letting himself in for, he didn't know what level we were at.

After this he's got a pretty fair idea - he's upbeat about it and he has this infectious way of making everybody else feel upbeat as well.

I think the Indians will be quite surprised when they come to England in the summer. I don't think it will be as easy for them as it has been this time.

Memorable visit

The team decided unanimously that the televisions won at the Lucknow Test should be donated to two charities.

Manager Jane Powell took one to a Mother Theresa's orphanage and I took the other to the Lucknow leper centre.

We drove down a rough track, scattering pigs, chickens and cattle, and I have to admit to being a little apprehensive as I didn't really know what to expect.

The centre was a quadrangle of buildings around a central temple and the people slowly came out and surrounded us. The memory of how their faces lit up with genuine pleasure will stay with me forever.

Watching cricket from the MIG balcony

After that we moved on to Mumbai (Bombay) where he had more salubrious accommodation at the MIG Cricket Club.

Breakfast was served on the players balcony overlooking a very green and pleasant ground - we even had red double decker buses passing, � la The Oval.

Tendulkar practises at MIG and with its excellent gym and pool facilties and lightning fast outfield, it's clear to see why the man is so talented.

The fan club

The final leg of the tour took us to Pune - a four-hour drive from Mumbai and our first real chance to see some of the Indian countryside.

There was a big road-building programme going on. The work is very labour intensive but that is one commodity of which India is not short.

Our very own 'Barmy Army' reduced to one - Mr Phil Long. But it has been great having some Pommie support here and listening to their stories about life on the road following cricket around the world makes me a little envious.

This was my third visit to India and it never ceases to amaze.

Loading up the team bus

The hospitality and generosity is unbelievable. They've got a lot of poverty on the doorstep but you're looked after like royalty.

It's always good coming here, but it's very hard work because Indian minutes aren't like Indian minutes.

English minutes are what they say they are - 10 minutes is 10 minutes - but an Indian 10 minutes can range from 10 to a couple of hours, so you've got to be pretty patient!

I'll be 37 this summer and if the youngsters get their fingers out, they'll be pushing to take my place off me, so anything I play from now on is a bonus.

But I still feel I've got something to offer from an experience point of view. Even if I'm not in the starting eleven, I still think I can give something to the team.