<p>He played for Australia but captured the cricket of India, in all its kaleidoscopic forms.</p>.<p>While delving deep into the world of cricket in India, Steve Waugh saw the game which is more a way of life here, being played by monks at the foothills of the Himalayas.</p>.<p>He saw the sport being played on the beaches, the deserts, the mountains.</p>.<p>The much-admired Australian great was swept off his feet by the sight of a disabled player, being supported by a bamboo on one side, "flying through the air like ninja warriors" while hurling the ball.</p>.<p>He was equally enamoured by dreamy-eyed youngsters playing on the dusty grounds of the famous Azad Maidan in Mumbai.</p>.<p>"This place reeked of cricket and I loved it," Waugh said of the Azad Maidan, according to abc.net.au.</p>.<p>"They're quite amazing, these guys, flying through the air like ninja warriors and landing on these bamboo poles," he said.</p>.<p>The book The Spirit of Cricket - India by Waugh contains over 200 photographs captured by the former Australia captain during his many trips to the cricket-mad country.</p>.<p>A collection of over 70 photographs clicked by Waugh will be on display during an exhibition in Sydney at the end of this month.</p>.<p>"India gave me lifelong memories, but life-changing moments," Waugh said.</p>.<p>"The concept of this book was to try and find out why cricket is a religion in India."</p>.<p>Over 18 days and with a camera in hand, Waugh toured across the country, from the streets of Mumbai and Jodhpur, the alleys of Kolkata to the desert in Rajasthan and the Himalayan foothills.</p>.<p>A documentary of his trip, titled Capturing Cricket, will be aired on the ABC on November 17.</p>.<p>Speaking of cricket in the country, he was quoted as saying, "It's hard to overstate the importance of cricket to a country like India.</p>.<p>"There's 800 million people living below the poverty line, but cricket gives them something to connect with.</p>.<p>"It's a sport that doesn't take a lot of money. I mean, I often say about cricket, all you need is a bat and ball."</p>.<p>In a country that loves the game so much, it was difficult for one of Australia's most well-known cricketers to go unrecognised, as he went from one place to another.</p>.<p>"I don't think I've met a person in India that doesn't know [I] play cricket," Waugh said.</p>.<p>"So, straight away you're recognised, which gives you a connection, and something to talk about. It was a little bit difficult getting some of the shots, because they want to be all around you and swarm around, get a selfie.</p>.<p>"One way I could manage that this time was to promise them a game of cricket after I took the photograph. So, it seemed to work out all OK for everyone."</p>.<p>The India experience reminded him of his childhood as he recalled the hours spent in his garage as a boy, hitting a ball that was tied to the roof.</p>.<p>"I loved the challenge of testing myself," he said.</p>.<p>"Every time I witness kids playing cricket in India, I sense the same love of the game, that pure, unfiltered genuine connection to the sport.</p>.<p>"If you've got a good attitude, if you've got energy, enthusiasm and imagination then it all comes together, and you can get a game with your mates. And that's what happens in India." </p>
<p>He played for Australia but captured the cricket of India, in all its kaleidoscopic forms.</p>.<p>While delving deep into the world of cricket in India, Steve Waugh saw the game which is more a way of life here, being played by monks at the foothills of the Himalayas.</p>.<p>He saw the sport being played on the beaches, the deserts, the mountains.</p>.<p>The much-admired Australian great was swept off his feet by the sight of a disabled player, being supported by a bamboo on one side, "flying through the air like ninja warriors" while hurling the ball.</p>.<p>He was equally enamoured by dreamy-eyed youngsters playing on the dusty grounds of the famous Azad Maidan in Mumbai.</p>.<p>"This place reeked of cricket and I loved it," Waugh said of the Azad Maidan, according to abc.net.au.</p>.<p>"They're quite amazing, these guys, flying through the air like ninja warriors and landing on these bamboo poles," he said.</p>.<p>The book The Spirit of Cricket - India by Waugh contains over 200 photographs captured by the former Australia captain during his many trips to the cricket-mad country.</p>.<p>A collection of over 70 photographs clicked by Waugh will be on display during an exhibition in Sydney at the end of this month.</p>.<p>"India gave me lifelong memories, but life-changing moments," Waugh said.</p>.<p>"The concept of this book was to try and find out why cricket is a religion in India."</p>.<p>Over 18 days and with a camera in hand, Waugh toured across the country, from the streets of Mumbai and Jodhpur, the alleys of Kolkata to the desert in Rajasthan and the Himalayan foothills.</p>.<p>A documentary of his trip, titled Capturing Cricket, will be aired on the ABC on November 17.</p>.<p>Speaking of cricket in the country, he was quoted as saying, "It's hard to overstate the importance of cricket to a country like India.</p>.<p>"There's 800 million people living below the poverty line, but cricket gives them something to connect with.</p>.<p>"It's a sport that doesn't take a lot of money. I mean, I often say about cricket, all you need is a bat and ball."</p>.<p>In a country that loves the game so much, it was difficult for one of Australia's most well-known cricketers to go unrecognised, as he went from one place to another.</p>.<p>"I don't think I've met a person in India that doesn't know [I] play cricket," Waugh said.</p>.<p>"So, straight away you're recognised, which gives you a connection, and something to talk about. It was a little bit difficult getting some of the shots, because they want to be all around you and swarm around, get a selfie.</p>.<p>"One way I could manage that this time was to promise them a game of cricket after I took the photograph. So, it seemed to work out all OK for everyone."</p>.<p>The India experience reminded him of his childhood as he recalled the hours spent in his garage as a boy, hitting a ball that was tied to the roof.</p>.<p>"I loved the challenge of testing myself," he said.</p>.<p>"Every time I witness kids playing cricket in India, I sense the same love of the game, that pure, unfiltered genuine connection to the sport.</p>.<p>"If you've got a good attitude, if you've got energy, enthusiasm and imagination then it all comes together, and you can get a game with your mates. And that's what happens in India." </p>