The man who former England captain Geoffrey Boycott called ‘The Prince of Calcutta' has travelled the world throughout his record-breaking career. Sourav Ganguly is the seventh Indian cricketer to have played 100 Test matches, the fifth highest overall Test run scorer for India and the fourth Indian to have played in more than 300 One Day Internationals.

As the most successful Test captain of his country, Ganguly led India in a record 49 Test matches between 2000 and 2005. His teammates affectionately called him Dada, which means eldeer brother in Bengali, but constant touring meant Sourav was regularly away from his real family, often for long stretches of time.

Other great sportsmen and women have succumbed to the stress and lonliness of travelling for the job, so Sourav joins us in our live interactive web TV show to talk about life as a cricketer travelling the globe. Research from Vyke shows that 40% of people from British ethnic communities keep in touch with their families by calls and text, showing that you don't need to be an international sports star to face the problem of keeping in touch with loved ones abroad. Log in to ask Sourav about his career and how he copes with the challenges of staying in touch when he's away from home.

H: Kejal Kemani, host
S: Sourav Ganguly, cricketer

H: Hello and welcome to the Sport and Leisure Show, I'm Kejal Kemani and today I'm delighted to be joined by a man who really needs no introduction, international cricketing superstar - it's Sourav Ganguly. Sourav, hello, how are you doing?

S: Hello, hi

H: Welcome to Webchats studio

S: Thank you

H: And thanks for popping in and having a chat with us today. Now guys for those of you at home, remember we are streaming live today, so if you want to get your questions in to Sourav then type in the little box on your screen, click on the send button and we'll do our very best to tackle as many questions as possible. So Sourav, back from your recent test series against Sri Lanka – it was close, it was poised quite nicely, 1-1 after the first two games and the last test match could have gone either way. Fair result at the end for you then, what do you reckon?

S: Yes to be honest they played better cricket than we did, it was 1-1 after the first two test matches, we needed to pick runs up on the board at the third test match, we won a good toss and we were 150 for 3 at tea time on day one but obviously lost the way from there

H: Yes I mean at one point I thought the – you know India have got this one in the bag but I mean, going to Sri Lanka's always going to be difficult, especially with the Indian team at the moment maybe going through a transition phase, new faces, trying to get that right balance. How is that going at the moment?

S: Yes Sri Lanka is always a tough place to play cricket, they're a tough side at home, they have some good, young players now to be honest, they've got Ajantha Mendis along with Muttiah Muralitharan

H: What is that Mendis person like, I mean as a bowler. We've seen - heard about his actions – his fingers, he uses it as a caron flick, I mean what's it like facing him?

S: He's, he's different. He's different, he's got a lot more variation than other bowlers. He can bowl off-spin, he can bowl the leg cutter he can bowl the googly so he is different. You have to be on your toes all the time when you're facing him

H: Ok so the M&M combination obviously proving difficult for the Indians

S: Yes it is

H: I'm sure it's going to be difficult for most people who are going to be facing them

S: Yes it is, you need to get used to him.  Straight up front it will not be easy, but obviously you need to get used to his variations

H: Ok now looking ahead then for the rest of the year, November time, England coming over to India. I'm sure you've got one eye on their team as well. Again England going through a transitional phase, new faces, trying to get the right balance as well. How do you think the series is going to go in India?

S: it's going to be a good series. England are playing just two test matches which is a bit of a shame, hopefully they will –

H: Be strange just two matches as well

S: Exactly. They are a good team as well, they've got Harmison back whose bowling well, they've got Flintoff back from injury, Kevin Peterson I think is a great man to succeed after Michael Vaughan.  They're a young team but it will not be easy for them also because it's going to be a turning bowl. We've got two good spinners in Kumbli and Harbejan, so it's going to be a good competitive series

H: And Monty comes back to India as well

S: Oh yes

H: So a lot of hype around that

S: Yes he's a good bowler, and I played with him for Northamps, when I was playing as an overseas for Northampton, played against him in the last series here in England last summer. He's been pretty good, he's a good find for England, he's picked wickets for them, he'll enjoy bowling in those conditions

H: Yes he feels quite at home doesn't he really?

S: Yes

H: Alright so I mean with Kevin Peterson's appointment a lot of people have maybe sort of, you know not been too happy about it. Some say he wasn't the right man for the job, you've just said that you think he was a good decision. How much does it actually affect your batting? I mean in a way you know you can sort of – there's a comparison between Peterson and you, always up for hitting the sticks. How much did it affect you when you were made captain – you know, your batting?

S: I think it depends on the individual I think Kevin Peterson has started at the Oval. I think he will do the job very well because he's a guy who likes to take risks, he's a bit flamboyant, that's the way he bats, that's the way his nature is, and captaincy is hard work, it's a bit of gamble, it doesn't work the planned way all the time. I think he is the right man to succeed after Michael Vaughan

H: Ok, it will be interesting. It will be an interesting series ahead.  Couple of questions already coming through as well so there we go – let's start with this one. We've got Carlos who says that "how would you say the IPL has transformed cricket in India, and are you enjoying it?"

S: I am enjoying it. I won't say it has transformed cricket a lot in India because in India even for test matches and one day cricket there is to be a lot of crowds watching, stand to be full, there's to be huge demand for tickets and it's a similar thing with IPL, so in terms of people turning up to watch cricket matches and the importance and the attraction of watching cricket matches is the same. Obviously it's a new concept, new form of cricket

H: Ok. Jake's emailed in and says "what is your favourite ground in the world and who is the bowler you least like to face?"

S: Well the favourite ground for me is Lords, that's where I played my first test match

H: Really?

S: Yes

H: Beats anything in Australia?

S: Yes I played my first test match at Lords so obviously it's a bit special to me. Sydney's very good in Australia. It's a beautiful ground, and also the place where I come from, Calcutta, the Eden Gardens

H: Of course, massive arena, massive

S: Yes

H: And so who's the bowler that you'd least like to face?

S: It depends on form, it depends on how well I am playing and it depends how well the bowler's bowling, but Glen McGraw was a pretty good customer

H: Ok. I mean there's so much to talk about and try to squeeze in today, I want to talk about sort of technology as well, I've got a question here from David who says "how has technology changed over the last 30 years, and over the course of your career?" Has it made a big difference?

S: In terms of cricket?

H: Yes well you know it's coming in, it puts you under a bit of a spotlight as well, for a start there's a lot more cameras on you as well

S: You know it's different from what it used to be 10 years ago, a lot more cameras, a lot more people watching, media has increased enormously so there is a lot more spotlight, a lot more minor details taken out of your game. I must say the modern day cricketer is under a lot more scrutiny than what it used to be in the past

H: Yes a lot more pressure. Now earlier this week we heard about Marcus Trescothick who I'm sure you know of as well, he's come out in the newspaper saying that it was homesickness that led to his depression and obviously withdrawing from the England test team. How difficult is it being on tour, and how much do you miss your family when you're on tour?

S: It's tough, especially when you have children and they're going to school it's not easy for them to travel with you, you're away for months sometimes, two months, three months – an Ashes tour to Australia would be three months. Last time we toured Australia in the month of November we were there for 3 ½ months, so it's a pretty long time to be away from family, especially when you have a young family, children, your wife – it's pretty hard work

H: Ok, so I mean how do you keep in touch with your family?

S: Obviously things have improved, technology has gone a long, long way forward. I can still remember the days when I had to book trunk calls

H: Really?

S: And wait in queue for my turn to come

H: International cricket superstars?

S: Yes. Then obviously we went into a phase when we used to make calls from the hotel which used to cost a fortune, but obviously technology is improved immensely.  Vyke is such one which obviously I have access to, and it's, it keeps me in touch with my family frequently and much more easily

H: Just explain this about Vyke exactly, for people that don't know I believe the website is vyke.com. What is it all about?

S: It is called the Vyke.com, you just need to log on to Vyke.com and get all the downloads. The best thing about Vyke it is a mobile site. There are a lot of facilities where you need also the laptop but Vyke you can use the mobile you are using. You just have to download the Vyke data from Vyke.com and have Wi-Fi. So the best bit about it is that it has mobile connection.

H: So obviously you do miss your friends and family when you are on tour. What else is the most thing you miss, you miss your friends and family but what else do you miss most when you are on tour? Maybe food?

S: The home bed.

H: Really the home bed.

S: When you are away on tour you sleep in different hotels. You play in different cities, different venues, so you are literally in a different hotel once every week. It is a different bed every time.

H: I have got a question here from Heena Dijani who has asked "If you didn't become a cricketer what career would you have had?"

S: Obviously I had to study like any other normal person. I wanted to become a doctor.

H: He's got the look of a doctor, the glasses, I could imagine you being a doctor.

S: I didn't know whether I was good enough to be one. We have a family business. Probably any one of them a doctor or into the family business.

H: You are pretty hot on your football as well. You actually prefer watching football than cricket don't you?

S: I have been born and brought up in a city where football was the major sport. Obviously cricket is as important now. I turned up at football matches straight from school. It is still a huge passion for me.

H: Going back to being on tour and keeping in touch with your family. Did you actually miss the birth of your daughter? You were in South Africa at the time. How did that happen, did you manage to see anything?

S: I was in South Africa and I was captain, so I couldn't leave the team and go in the middle of a test match. Obviously we got the photographs the next day but it is never the same.

H: Ok. Like it, like it. If it was today you would have a live streamed link as well so it would have been much easier. Let's move on to another question from one of our viewers. This one here is from Alistair says "What was the best game of cricket that you have ever played in?" For me I know what I reckon your best game is but go on I want to hear what you think.

S: I think the test match against Australia at Eden Gardens where we came back from nowhere to win the test match and obviously the series. We were down, we had to follow on after the first innings at Eden Gardens, it was my home ground.

H: Is this 2001 we are talking about. The famous series.

S: It was my first test as test captain at my home ground and we were down and out and we came back and won the test match after being asked to follow on. That is probably the best test match I have ever played. In terms of the one day game I think the NatWest Final will still be special. We had to chase 325 and we did it.

H: That game at the NatWest trophy, to be honest with you, I didn't think India had a chance especially after England scoring such a huge total. There was so much emotion there for the English Players as well. I remember Nasser Hussein pointing at his bat telling the commentary team he was going to be England's number 3. The passion all irrupted beautifully. Talking of the one-day game we have a question here from inthenews.co.uk "Do you foresee all three cricket disciplines, the Test, the One-day and the 20-20 surviving in 10 years time? Or do you think the rise of 20-20 is going to basically make one-day cricket obsolete?"

S: No I don't think so. I honestly feel that the three forms of the game will survive on its own. Test cricket will always be the most important for of cricket because that is what the players want to play. For the players it is the most important form of cricket.

H: But do they? I know you are part of the old school of cricket now. There is a lot of new people coming, a lot of money being flashed around.

S: That's fine but you will only get a good 20-20 contract if you are a good test player. So test cricket will always remain the most important.

H: Talking of great matches recently. England Vs South Africa was nail biting. If you love cricket.

S: In Edgbaston.

H: Did you manage to catch any of it?

S: I watched a bit of it. Graeme Smith gave an outstanding knock in the test match.

H: Excellent. Right so we have got another question here from Neesha and she says her parents are moving back to India. They moved here as children. She is not sure how to keep in touch with them. Obviously you mention Vyke.com. She asks "how do you manage being away from your family for such long periods?"

S: Yes it is tough. There is no doubt it is tough. Being on the road for 13 / 14 years it has really been tough but then you find out ways such as Vyke to get connected and be as much as close to them when you are away.

H: Let's find out a few things about you when you are on tour. Who is the messiest person that you are with?

S: Jeez that's a difficult question.

H: You can name names if you want.

S: Yuvraj Singh.

H: Yuvraj Singh really! Ok interesting one of the young ones. Who is the last one to wake up?

S: Ajay Jadeja was the last one to wake up. He has got up 5 minutes before the bus is about to leave.

H: No way! And who is the person who used to make you laugh a lot?

S: Sreesanth.

H: Really! Ok fair enough. Who trains the hardest on tour?

S: There are a lot of hard trainers. The fast bowlers train differently. Obviously we have a fitness level to maintain. So we have to stick to the fitness training regime which has been given to us.

H: We have mentioned Kevin Peitersen, backing him as the English captain. We have got a question here from Fazeer who says "do you think Kevin Pietersen will make a good English captain? – You've answered that – "What do you make of him as a batsman and as a person?"

S: Fantastic. His record proves his abilities as a batsman. It is just the way he gets runs. He dominates.

H: People are saying that this man in a couple of years time is going to be compared with the greats of cricket. Can you see that happening?

S: Yes I think if he is playing like this. You cannot predict what is going to happen a few years down the line, but if he keeps on playing like this of course he will be.

H: India are currently battling it out with Sri Lanka in the one-day series. How do you think this series is going to go? There is a game going on at the moment, we haven't got the latest on it at the moment. It was a low scoring game again. How do you think the series is going to go?

S: As I said playing Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka will never be easy. They are a good competitive side in Sri Lanka. Obviously India has lost the first game; hopefully they will win the second one. It is going to be tough competitive next 3 matches.

H: Ok we just had a poll up today in the newspapers. It was to see who was the greatest sports person ever. Muhammad Ali was top of this poll. Who would you put on the top?

S: I would say Muhammad Ali.

H: Really and if you had to go for the ultimate cricketer who would that be?

S: I haven't seen Donald Bradman, I haven't seen Sir Gary Sobers but in terms of contribution to a team Lara would definitely be one, Kallis as an all rounder, his record is phenomenal, as an all rounder Sachin. These 3 would definitely be the top of my list.

H: Excellent it is interesting to know. Can we see if we have got one more question here. From Thomas, we believe, and he says "You are one of the very few batsmen that managed to get the advantage over Shane Warne. How did you manage to do that?"

S: Well we obviously as Indians grew up playing spin. We obviously read the ball out of the hand much more than a lot of other non-Asian teams. It is just the way we are brought up. Obviously I picked Shane Warne well, I picked Murali. It is not just me other Indian players had a lot of success against him. It is just the confidence of playing spinners.

H: We are running out of time here. Do you still see yourself playing in the Indian Premier League for a few more years?

S: Oh yeah. Definitely for the next 2 years then we will see how it goes.

H: Excellent. It has been a pleasure Sourav, chatting to you and we have learnt so much about you and how you managed to sort of hang on in there when you are on tour for all those months away from the family. Thank you very much.

S: Thanks a lot.

H: So that is all we have got time for today. Thanks for joining us and as Sourav has mentioned his preferred method of keeping in touch with friend and family is Vyke. So if you want more information on this service check out the website Vyke.com. Until next time we will see you then.

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