The banners in the Indian crowds are makeshift – texta on cardboard. They pen them as the game moves on to respond to the state of play. These cards make up a sort of haphazard ball by ball commentary, full of the game’s pathos and wisdom.

GILLISPIE FREE
HAIRCUT HERE
IN NAGPUR

Is Parthiv Patel
plays for Aussies?

(This one made me sad. The poor little guy gets a lecture from Dravid at first slip every time he misses a chance – as if he isn’t heartbroken enough)

not quite sure what articulation of pleading this next one expressed – somewhere around desperate pleading hope or resigned frustrated pleading:

KUMBLE
DO
SOMETHING

& there were many variations on this theme:

RAIN GOD
PLEASE