A casual chat

It isn't often you can chat casually with an international batsman waiting to make his nervous way out to the middle. In fact, for "often", read "never", unless you happen to be another batsman waiting.

After a brief chat with Colin Wells, the former England and Derbyshire allrounder now coaching UAE, Raees Ahmadzai was keen to show me his ridiculously-light bat. I didn't see the makers' name, but it was like a feather. And small, too, for someone of 6ft, but it felt perfect in my hands.

So while I shadowed some particularly elegant on-drives, the like of which probably haven't been seen since Mike Atherton last picked up a bat in anger, he stole my camera to take a few snaps. He is not the photographer or journalist he wishes but, clearly, there is untapped talent in my batting.

The UAE and Afghanistan sides are sat almost next to each-other here at Vanderbijlpark, and the cacophonous cries of "shabash" come from both teams and for all eventualities. Be it a wicket, a four, a dropped catch, a comical piece of fielding, a fifty or a hundred, the only plausible response is "shabash" ["come on"].

Shouting it as a neutral and western observer elicits an occasionally unpalatable response of respect and confusion. I am briefly part of the belief and hope. I can't compete with the consistency of noise though. My reserved Englishisms of nodding and applauding politely - seal-clapping is for the IPL or a Lara-esque 400-plus - come deferentially to the fore.