A long way from Masterton

Cricket legend John Wright, who opened the batting for and captained New Zealand in the 1980s and early 1990s, still remembers playing against Wairarapa, in Masterton, in the early 1970s.
Then he was a young man playing for Canterbury at the start of what would be a long and illustrious career in the game, and yesterday Wright was back, this time having been probably as far from provincial cricket in Masterton you could get, to chat about his latest book at Hedley's Bookshop.
John Wright's Indian Summers, a memoir of his time as the first foreign coach of the Indian national side, charts the time from his retirement as a player, for New Zealand and English side Derbyshire, through to his appointment and time as the coach of the most loved, supported and controversial ? as far as its fans are concerned ? team in the game.
The Times-Age caught up with him yesterday to talk about some of his sub-continent experiences.
Wright's stint with the Indian team drew to an end last year after what can be considered a long spell for a coach at international level, and since his return to New Zealand his life has resembled something quite different from what it was in India.
"I lived in hotels. We used to go there and most of the time we were touring with the team. It wasn't unusual to spend seven, eight, nine months away from New Zealand.
"It's a wonderful country, and to be a part of the Indian cricket team was amazing. It has its own unique passion."
This passion was generated from the fact the country has a population of over a billion, a lot more venues than anywhere else, and grounds that could hold 90,000 fanatical people.
Needless to say, "cricket is important to India".
"If we won, they'd burn the newspapers, and if we lost badly there could be a reaction. It was very noisy and colourful, with fantastic fans to play in front of. It's never quiet."
Today he is in the lull part of the cycle any international coach goes through between gigs, waiting and watching to see what opportunities arise, and looking forward to a return trip to India.
Which he said he would encourage any New Zealander to do, and if the opportunity arose while they are there to go to a game of cricket, snatch it.
"It's a great day out."
He said in his time with the Indian team, it was, somewhat ironically, New Zealand that proved one of the hardest to beat, the green wickets and lack of home cooking taking their toll on the Indians' comfort.
And the crowds, compared with those in India, didn't pack the same punch.
"It's very different. You don't have the huge passion of the crowds behind you."
With next year's World Cup looming on the horizon, Wright believes both the international teams close to his heart are in with a good chance of taking the spoils.
"A New Zealand/India final would be best for me."