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boxing-day
Christmas cricket
By Will 3 years ago, at the end of December, 8 Comments »
Now that England’s misery has been put on hold until the New Zealand series in 2008, attention turns to the southern hemisphere. It’s probably the first Christmas for 10 years that I’ve not had Sky to watch Boxing Day Tests, so I was a bit peeved when I woke up this morning to see what a good day India had enjoyed against Australia at Melbourne. Peter English:
Groups of Australians spent the afternoon wondering whether they were being unpatriotic for smiling when India started running through the home team. For the first session those local supporters who demand nothing but dominance by Ricky Ponting’s men were satisfied with the direction of the game. Their disgruntlement when it changed in the second session was offset by the joy felt – and heard – at the ground by cricket supporters who are desperate to see Australia challenged. After the first day there is hope this series might be the fair fight fans have been craving since the 2005 Ashes.
It promises to be a cracking series between the best two sides in the world. Whether it will match or better the 2005 Ashes is impossible to predict (and unlikely, I’d imagine) but any team who can challenge Australia gets my vote of confidence. Even if it is India…
Several thousand miles away in Port Elizabeth, West Indies have raced to 190 for 3 on the first day against South Africa, with Chris Gayle launching a terrific 66 from just 49 balls. Have a read of his innings – he took Makhaya Ntini and Dale Steyn apart. Brilliant stuff and I can’t wait to see the video.
8 Comments »A farce waiting to happen
By Scott 4 years ago, at the start of June, 6 Comments »
Just a quick post from the Antipodes to put in my two cents on the Great Australian Ticketing Fiasco. Needless to say, Cricket Australia won’t accept a bar of responsibility for this; just as needless to say that they won’t learn from this if it happens in the future.
What I would have done is copied the system used by England; for all the faults of the ballot system, the UK ground authorities are well experienced in dealing with demand for tickets that well outweighs capacity. Cricket Australia has this ‘we know better’ notion when it comes to England and English cricket, which may have had some relevance in the 1990’s but certainly isn’t the right mindset in 2006.
I’m not concerned in the slightest that Australian grounds will be full of visiting Englishmen this summer; the tourist boom to the economy will be well worth it, and it will teach the good for nothing, fat, lazy, whining Australian public to appreciate Test cricket more. I’m fed up to the back teeth of going to half-empty Test grounds. And, yes, I do have my tickets, if not for my home Adelaide Test, but I did get tickets for Boxing Day. 100,000 fans on the MCG for an Ashes Test; a dream come true for someone like me that cares far more for Test Cricket, and Ashes Cricket as the pinnacle of Australian Test Cricket.
Australia v South Africa, 2nd Test, Melbourne, 2nd day
By Will 5 years ago, at the end of December, 13 Comments »
South Africa took the honours on the first day with a committed and pretty slick performance. Can they maintain it though for the remaining days? Chat away!
13 Comments »Nel rocks wobbly Australia
By Will 5 years ago, at the end of December, 2 Comments »
Andre Nel bowled very cleverly today, I thought; persistently aggressive, and within his own limitations, he was the wrecker-in-chief, ending with figures of 4 for 58. It was a pretty good toss to lose for Smith, and a damn fine day’s work for SA who left Australia stumbling at 8 for 239 at stumps.
Also: the origin of Boxing Day. So the story goes, it was when the gents and rich people collected all the odds and sods they didn’t want (or need…), “boxed” them up and gave them to their servants. Not sure how true this is, but it’s a nice story nonetheless! I wonder if the peasants got lots of socks and oranges and other bitterly disappointing “Oh Christ, not another [xyz]” gifts.
2 Comments »Australia v South Africa, 2nd Test, Melbourne, 1st day
By Will 5 years ago, at the end of December, 8 Comments »
Ah, the Boxing Day Test. Is there a better way to end Christmas for the cricket nut? After an invariably drunken Christmas Eve; a relentlessly gluttonous Christmas Day, Boxing Day is the dry, quiet come-down. The turkey demolished, the presents unwrapped – the complementary walk (I know we’re not the only ones who insist upon it. Perhaps it’s guilt, stemming from our ever bulging stomachs), and the more fastidious members of the family have been tidying up the sitting room as though their lives depend on it. It’s a day of reflection, of sobriety – and of cricket. Apart from the first Test of an English summer, it’s my favourite of the year. And it starts very soon (I’m writing this on the 23rd. See, fans? See the dedication, and honour my commitment!).
8 Comments »