Love for Test cricket brings English fans from UK to India-SA contest

Guwahati: If you chance upon some foreign fans during a South Africa Test in India, it’s quite natural to take them as Proteas supporters. But when you get to know they are English people from the UK, and not rooting for South Africa, it’s your time to be a little surprised.

On a bright, sunny November Sunday morning, as the visiting South Africa piled on runs much to India’s agony, five English fans in the crowded South stand of Barsapara Cricket Stadium – India’s newest Test venue – revealed it’s their common love for Test cricket which brought them to the gateway of northeast India.




If you search on the internet how far is Guwahati from London, the dotted line on the world map will show it’s more than 8000km. However, joining the two far away locations is the love for the purest form of the game, as the old school fans say.

“We love Test cricket, which has taken us to different grounds, different cities and different countries across continents so far,” said Andy Newton, a 62-year-old retired English national from London. “It gives us a chance to meet new people and experience different cricketing atmospheres. We are having a good time here in Guwahati.”

As you reveal your astonishment of seeing an English fan in a South Africa game in India when the Ashes is going on in Australia, Newton reveals, “Australia is far off from London, so it takes a lot of time to travel there. Also, Australia is very costly for us, retired people. Though India lost the first game badly (in Kolkata), for the lovers of Test cricket, India vs South Africa is a pretty good series to watch. And look, here it is turning out to be a proper Test match.”

However, he could not hide his disappointment about losing the first Ashes Test to Australia. “It was so poor on England’s part, their shot selection was horrible. You cannot win a Test playing less than 68 overs (both innings combined),” was Newton’s simple assessment.

For his friend Danny Byrne, 65, it’s been close to five decades since he first travelled to the country, albeit with a different purpose. “I was just 18-year-old when I first travelled to India. That time it was to meet a friend who was teaching Tibetan refugees in a school in Dharamsala. Though I have lost touch with that friend long time ago, my connection with India grew stronger over the years,” said Byrne, who works as a part-time curator for cricket pitches and bowling green in Hamstead Heath, North London, in summer.

“We are not supporting India or South Africa. We just want to witness a great contest. And Guwahati pitch is great so far,” said Byrne, who attended the first Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, too.

Byrne will be travelling to Kaziranga National Park to watch birds and the famous one-horned rhino once the Test is over while Newton will go to Imphal to witness history through various war memorials and Kangla Fort. However, their other three friends – David and Deborah Marcus from Worthing, Sussex, and Chris Watts from London – will go back home.

Soaking in the warm weather over here, Byrne was pleased to see smaller centres in India hosting Tests. “This gives fans a huge opportunity to watch the stars in action over four-five days in new places. It will surely help in the growth of Test cricket,” he assured.

Showing his support for Queens Park Rangers FC by wearing their colours to the cricket field, Byrne was surprised to learn about football’s popularity in this part of the country. “Oh, is it so?” he said in jest. “I would love to know and explore more about it.”

“Cricket takes you to places you may have never planned to visit. That is the beauty of it,” he said before scribbling some match notes on a pad which helps him in writing cricket blogs for his friends back home, who connect over the game.

They may be old school in every sense, but they are keeping a tradition going.

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