Kiwi Cricket

Ben lost a bet to Alexis a few weeks ago. Ben paid Alexis with his cricket ticket. Alexis sold this ticket to me. And so two Sundays ago I participated in a true cricket experience: The Australians versus the All Blacks at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It was a great day but there were a few too many kiwis flapping amongst us. We met up at Bar Cleveland in Redfern for a few critters (Little Creatures) before heading over to the official grounds. Somehow we made friends with some other rowdy groups and next thing you know the game is on TV. This is a "one dayer", a short version of cricket, so we better hurry! Not quiet. While a true cricket match, called a test match, lasts up to five full days and can still end in a draw, a one dayer is not short. A typical one dayer lasts about eight hours. Yeah, short version. After breaking free of the (other) rowdy bunch we hiked over to the SCG and settled into our seats. The SCG was first set aside for recreational use in the mid-1800s. In 1882 Australia beat England in the first Ashes test match played on the grounds - the sixth Ashes. I think this set the base for a tremendous future of Australia destroying England in the game the English invented. It's a beautiful stadium, and I appreciate the design of the Members' Stand (1878) and Ladies' Stand (1896). The game was great fun, but we couldn't seem to separate Glenn & Simon. Oh and the free Daily Telegraph hats provided excellent shelter from the sun. Thank you Daily Telegraph.

All kiwi cricket photos here.

*Note: Australia beat the All Blacks but barely. My brother, Ricky Ponting, embarrassed us with an early LBW. Shame.