Cricketers' recipe for a ton

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">KOLKATA:</span> Ever wondered what Sachin had for breakfast before he hammered Dillon and Co, treating a Sunday crowd at Eden to some spectacular strokeplay. Or for that matter what Ganguly has for lunch or a hungry Hooper as his after-match meal? <br />Contrary to popular belief that cricketers "simply gulp down a banana or a sandwich during breaks, the likes of Pachu da and Bapi da who look after the food served to VVIPs and players, confirm that "the West Indians eat a lot" and that "Indians even though very particular about what they eat, like their food too".<br />Bijoli Grill which has for some time been the caterers at Eden test matches and one-day internationals, served a plethora of items on all five days of the match. On Sunday as the curtains came down on the third test, they were at their gastronomic best. <br />The menu for the players was nothing short of mouth watering. <br />Here''s what the Indians had since morning: At breakfast they had a choice of Upma (without sugar), boiled eggs, tea, coffee or horlicks, biscuits, fruits, toast and jam, idli, dosa and cornflakes. At lunch they could choose from tomato soup, steamed rice, chapati, dal, mashed potato, rajma, mixed veg, fish tikka, chicken reshmi kebab, cauliflower roast, 4 kinds of salad, curd and ice cream. <br />Hooper''s men had even more. "They really love to eat," recalled a manager who was deputed to look after the players'' food. The Windies had soup, pineapple rice, lemon rice, dal, salad, nan, chicken tandoori, roast potato, baked fish and ice cream for lunch. <br />"After the match both teams will come together for the after match meal. Today''s meal has been specially prepared and we have kept the Windies players'' request to serve Chingri Macher Malai curry for them," a senior manager from the caterers said. <br />Apart from Malai Curry the special meal includes chicken reshmi kabab, a favourite of the Indians,Veg Manchurian and Palak Paneer. With such wonderful food on all five days it is a small wonder that five batsmen went out and scored centuries while the bowlers found it a little difficult to run! </div> </div>