Everyone works -- and each has been given specific workloads tailored to meet specific needs. Thus, I spot Ajit Agarkar and Zahir Khan doing endless laps of the ground -- apparently, to build up leg strength and stamina.

Ajit jogs steadily on, while Zahir slows down a touch. John Wright jogs across on an intercepting course and, in his soft way, drawls, 'Zahir, make the effort, catch up with Ajit or you will be running around the ground all day.'

Zahir didn't, or couldn't, catch up. Ajit finished his rounds -- but Wright, who seemed to be focussed on something else, quickly turned around and signalled to Zahir to keep running. Zahir did -- for most of the morning.

He probably improved his stamina a touch. He for sure learnt that Wright means what he says.

"John is very mild-mannered, but he is one tough taskmaster," says Andrew Leipus, who in his short stint with the team has already seen his share of coaches. "The thing with him is, he takes whatever decisions he thinks are right, even if they are harsh decisions. Some of them may not please the guys, but hey, tough -- the man is doing his job, he is not worried about pleasing people. The thing about him is, he just won't take no for an answer."

The subject of our conversation, meanwhile, has spun off on another tangent. He walks over to the nets, where Sridharan Sriram -- not one of the probables, but he has been asked by John Wright himself to attend the camp -- is batting. Apparently the coach has spotted something about Sriram's technique that he does not like -- so the Tamil Nadu player is given a quick, pointed talk about the importance of addressing the ball with the full face of the bat, and not opening the face to slice the ball. "Maybe you can consider opening up your stance a little bit," Wright tells the batsman, "It might cut out a few mistakes on the off side. Just a suggestion."

It may be "just a suggestion" -- but having made it, the coach keeps his eye on the batsman, to make sure it is being followed.

Men to boys