I went to my first ever cricket match yesterday. The scene for this milestone event was day 3 of the Boxing Day Test Match, Australia versus South Africa.
I went with Kate (also a cricket match virgin) and her boyfriend, Avi. Avi was my patient guide through the cricket maze.
“Avi, what does R/M/B stand for? What are ‘extras’? Under what circumstances do they swap batspeople? Was that a ‘six’? How come all the rowdy people are over there (in Bay 13)? Why is everyone getting up?”
Everyone was getting up because it was time for ‘drinks’. The strangest thing about the game was this oddly regimented series of intervals throughout the match. There was drinks (I think at 11:30 AM), lunch (12:30 PM), drinks (again, at 2:30 PM) and tea. It was all very civilised.
It was hot and I was losing interest. I kept missing the exciting bits, which happened maybe every 10 minutes. I would be talking to Kate, eating or staring into space, then suddenly there would be a collective stadium gasp or cheer. I ended up watching more of the match on the replay screen than on the pitch.
That night, I met Joel and Vera for some salsa dancing. Joel said, “I heard you went to the cricket, Joan. What was the score when you left?”
I looked at him blankly.
“How many wickets and runs?” he added, helpfully.
“Erm. There are 11 batspeople, right? They were up to Mister 8 or 9. I think they had about 275 runs. Something like that.”
Joel nodded kindly.
Fifteen minutes later when Tony and Karen arrived, Joel said, “You’re probably a more reliable source, Tony. What was the cricket score?”
“It was 175 for 2 last I heard.”
Joel looked perplexed. “What did Joan say?”
I realised the source of confusion. “That was South Africa’s score,” I explained.
“You left before Australia batted? You must have left before tea!” Tony was incredulous.
I shrugged. “I left a bit after Drinks Part 2, actually. Didn’t get to find out what time tea was.”
Tony says that next time I should go to a One Day Match. They are reputedly more exciting — although Vera tells me that she fell asleep at one once.
Crowd swarms towards the MCG on a hot day.
Great Southern Land, er, I mean, Stand.
Escaping the heat.
It’s just a game where people use it as an excuse to get out of work, stay in the sun and drink beer all day, really.
Take that back missciper! It is no such thing! As Joan said, it’s all very civilised. And yes, you *should* go to a One Dayer – way more exciting – unless you saw Day 4 of the test. Woo. Anyways.
Happy NY!
I agree with the person above me whole-heartedly.
One dayers in Melbourne are the 13th, 20th of Jan, and 3rd of Feb (from memory). Go to one, they’re much less sleep-inducing than a day at a test match.
I thought the whole point of the cricket is the sleep-inducement? That’s why it’s on in the scorching heat, and if that doesn’t yet knock you out then you just need to turn to the beer.
Yeah, it’s all about sleeping. That’s right, I was asleep for the entire time the other side was batting when I went to a One Day match last year. Zzz.
You people! Is nothing sacred?
I mean, when it comes down to it, cricket is like many other sports in that the object of the game is to hit a ball with a stick. But it is so much more.
Day 2 of the boxing day test was actually my first live cricket experience ever as well, but I used to play alot of cricket as a kid. So, not only did I actually know what was going on most of the time, but I was also enthralled at watching the world’s premier cricket team in action.
My suggestion Joan, is that we should all play a bit of cricket. It doesn’t have to be über-competitive, it can be of the backyard variety. Playing it will help you develop a better understanding of the rules and an appreciation of the challenges of the game.
my 2 cents
You’re right, Daniel. I know I appreciate the Dancesport Championships (yawn) more than the layperson does. I also know a good debate when I hear one.
Okay, you’ve sold me. If you organise a cricket match, then I’ll play. I’m warning everyone, though, my hand-eye coordination is not very good.