Key caught out in India

John Key at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, India. Photo / Claire Trevett.

Prime Minister John Key managed to meet a childhood hero and notch up some runs in his international cricketing career after taking to the cricket pitch in India yesterday.

Mr Key batted an over against former Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming, with tertiary students from slum backgrounds fielding.

Mr Key and Mr Fleming were at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium to announce the launch of a new scholarship scheme for Indian students to study sport-related qualifications at New Zealand universities.

They followed it up by taking to the pitch.

Mr Fleming had helped 'coach' Mr Key before he faced an over from Shane Warne at the Christchurch Earthquake fundraiser at Wellington's Basin Reserve earlier this year.

Mr Key managed to hit three fours on that occasion.

He was not so lucky yesterday - although he belted the first three balls well over the heads of the fielders - none made it to the boundary.

He was caught out on the fourth ball by a delighted student.

Mr Fleming was gracious about Mr Key's performance, saying although it was too hot to actually run between the wickets, Mr Key had undoubtedly notched up a few.

He said he was wary of "making the Prime Minister look silly," but added Mr Key's batting had improved since the Warne over and was probably better than his own bowling.

"I think that was the second wicket of my career. He won, no doubt about it."

Mr Key also took his turn at bowling.

It wasn't until later that night that Mr Key confessed he might not have been the novice he claimed to be, telling those gathered for a reception at the New Zealand High Commission that he had met his childhood hero, Indian Bishen Bedi while at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.

"I didn't have the courage to tell him I used to watch him when he was playing cricket in New Zealand while I was growing up and I used to pretend to be Bishen Bedi in the backyard when I was bowling."

The pair were helped by students from slum backgrounds whose education was being funded by the Asha Foundation. The Foundation's director Dr Kiran Martin said the students at the launch were the first generation of children the foundation had helped to make it to tertiary study since it began in 1991.

"There was nothing to stimulate them or give them any hope that their futures might look any different from what they saw around them. We have spent the years since on the massive rescue operation of delivering these children from slave labour and into primary and secondary education.

"Now they stand before us as the first in their families, villages and slum communities to step out into the world of higher education."

One of those children, 19-year-old Mahesh, said the foundation had taken him on when he was seven years old and provided a private education for him. He was now studying engineering in nanotechnology at the Delhi College of Engineering.

He said his father had died when he was young and his family of six lived in a one room house. His mother was a labourer on a very small wage who picked sand and dirt out of fresh produce.

Mr Key spoke to the students for some time.

The primary reason for his visit - a bilateral discussion with India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will take place tonight(NZT).

The free trade negotiations underway between India and New Zealand are expected to dominate the talks, but the pair are also expected to announce new measures on cooperation between the two countries on issues such as filmiing.

The sport scholarships, which Mr Key said were aimed at deepening the links between the two countries through sport - are part of a wider Education agreement which the two Prime Ministers will announce full details of tonight.