Wednesday 19 February 2014

Cricket report

We came to Australia and New Zealand for lots of reasons....we've been to Oz before and loved it, we have interesting family connections here..... And we like to combine travelling with the occasional cricket match. So, alongside the successful retention of the Ashes this last summer, the England cricket team set off for another Aussie tour last November. We decided to time our trip to take in a one day match in Perth and 2 x 20/20 matches, one in Hobart and one on Melbourne.



All the hype was that England would retain the Ashes easily, having beaten the Aussies in England 3-  0 in the summer. A whitewash was anticipated.

Well, it happened, only the Aussies beat England 5-0. We were disastrous....they slaughtered us.....we deserved to lose ! So by the time we joined what was left of the rabble gaggle Barmy army, there had been no joy for England.

Mitchell Johnson's bowling was incredible.....and our batsmen never really got started....and then Graham Swan went home, and the rest of our bowlers ...well, just, never found their form.

Oh well, that's the way it goes. The Ashes were lost.


We went to the WACA expecting defeat......and determined to enjoy the occasion, the atmosphere, the company, ( we went with friends) and the beautiful Perth sunshine.


Amazingly... We won. Out of all 12 matches played during the tour, it was England's only victory.....but we were there. The Aussies surrounding us in the crowd didn't mind us beating them at all... They felt sorry for us ! Most conversations we had with fans took the view that it's all swings and roundabouts and it just happened to be the Aussies turn to win this year. Banter was friendly, and as we have always found, both sides appreciated good play, no matter which side was involved. 


Stuart Broad, however, took some serious flak from the Aussie crowds. After he failed " to walk" when he was out at a key point in a match last summer, he has become to butt of Aussie "sledging". Stuart Broad seemed to relish the chants and boos that went around the ground whenever he bowled, fielded or batted. The chants were pretty  damning at Perth, but less crude at the 20/20 matches where a more family  orientated crowd  attended.  At Perth, " Broady is a wanker" could be heard very clearly and very loudly every time he was the focus of attention.


We arrived at the beautiful Hobart ground, right next to the beach, hoping for great things... And we saw great things. The England women's team played to a much smaller crowd than the men.... But won their match and retained the Ashes. Needless to say it did not make as much news as a men's victory would have done. 


Both the women's team, and the men, were staying at the same hotel as us in Hobart. It was a little disturbing to get out of the lift on one occasion to meet some of our incredibly tall England male team. The hotel staff said they loved having the teams staying, and they were all lovely ! I guess the days of Freddy Flintoff's antics are over.


The men's 20/20 was good fun.... Dancers, clowns, trampolinists, kids wearing KFC buckets on their heads and lots of people  enjoying themselves as they watched a close match.....which we lost again, despite Ravi Bopara's best efforts. 


Hobarts ground is beautiful, right next to the beach....and with a capacity of 13,500..... A little different from our final cricket experience.



The MCG in Melbourne holds 100,000, and there were 60,000 at the 20/20 match we attended.
The ground is spectacular, the crowd was huge, and the cricket was awful. It was a completely one sided match and England just looked as if they couldnt wait to leave the pitch. We found out that they actually flew out of Australia and headed back to the UK straight after the  match, not even waiting for the next day.

A model of the MCG, in the brilliant sport museum that is part of the ground
My Melbourne photos are still awaiting transfer.......so this is all II can manage today !

So....cricket wise, not good.....experience wise......fabulous. We sat with some great Aussie fans.... One lad I sat next to in Hobart made me laugh when he said to me
" Stuart Broad may be able to run... But he can't walk. "

I suppose my indifference to them winning or losing ( I suppose, honestly, I do prefer them to win), means I am not a real fan...... I just enjoy the chess like aspects of the match.....not so apparent in the 20/20 format, and I love the crowds.


I am  sure we will continue to combine travelling with cricket... It helps us make decisions about where to go. Mark is talking about the West Indies next year..... I think I could cope with that .

18 comments:

  1. I love cricket, having been brought up around it. I continued as a mum with cricket teas, lifts and finally scoring. This requires supreme concentration!

    My claim to fame is that Tom kept wicket at Headingly in the finals of the school U15 Bunbury Cup Final. They were walloped by Millfield School but still a great achievement for a small town comprehensive without a cricket wicket!

    West Indies sounds like a plan. Will you be joining the Barmy Army?

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    1. It been ages since you commented here Gaynor, my only excuse is jet lag...and life in general ! I'm impressed by anyone who keeps score . I've always been fascinated by score boards, but prefer the old manual ones to the computerised things that the big pitches have these days.... much too much information in one go !
      We always enjoy observing the barmy army from a distance....but prefer to be seated amongst the enemy usually.....it makes for great conversations...usually friendly. Jx

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  2. As cricket has entered a world of analysis and statistics I think I've come up with a sure fire way for England to beat Australia next time round...

    You saw them win at the WACA.
    My brother in law - the nice one, not the one living under a stone, was there as well, his Irish blood thirsting for an England defeat.
    He complained afterwards that this always happens when he goes to watch an England/Australia match.
    Together you could assure victory for England.

    So, for the next tour downunder, the ECB must arrange for both you and him to attend all matches - staying in the team hotel of course - which is about the only hope England have of winning anything with Cook as captain.

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    1. This sounds like a plan.... it was good to see Cook looking something other than dejected when they won in Perth. Sorry its taken so long to get back to you... I am now on course for catching up on all missed blogs ! It may take some time. jx

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  3. Well I have absolutely no interest in cricket at all, nor have I ever understood it..not that I have tried! However, you clearly had a good time so I'm happy for you! xxxx

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    1. For someone who cant catch a ball... I have found that my lack of sporting ability does not stop me enjoying being a spectator. I really enjoy international cricket......but have never liked the local village stuff, and never supported Mark when he played ! Jx

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  4. I used to be a real fan of cricket but it seems to have fizzled out over the years. However, I think I would have enjoyed sitting and watching a few games with you out there in Oz, Janice.
    You've had such a wonderful time, it seems like you've been out there for ages! How can you even start thinking of where to go next! Safe journey home.
    Axxx

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    1. Annie, we would have had such a good time ! I would love to sit and watch a cricket match with you... or just watch anything, where we could natter away for hours in the sun. Jx

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  5. I haven't watched live cricket since I lived near the Edgbaston ground in 1978 - but I wouldn't mind travelling out to Oz to see if I still enjoy it.

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    1. I think you would somehow. Not much has changes since 1978 ! Jx

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  6. I'm afraid I have a complete blind spot where cricket is concerned, Janice, much to my grandfather's disgust when I was young. :-) However I love your photos and am glad you obviously had a wonderful time. Following the team to the West Indies sounds like a plan!

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    1. I surprise myself with my interest in watching sport....as no one is less sporty than me. The spectacle fascinates me, and I love the crowds. I do actually like the cricket as well though. Jx

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  7. I'm a bit late to the match(s) here, Janice, but enthralled just the same. What fun! I'm especially imagining the beauty and warmth of Hobart's grounds. You certainly bring the experience of cricket, which isn't played much hereabouts, to new heights. Thank you.

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    1. Hobart was particularly lovely...a small ground, and right next to the beach. In between the women's victory and the men's defeat, we walked for miles along the wonderful clean sandy beach. Jx

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  8. The problem with England winning anything, is that they then sit back on their very fat laurels, and get thrashed. QED.

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    1. p.s. My oldest used to go Barmy-Armying to Oz. All beer and chanting; I don't think he saw much cricket.

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    2. You said it..... the Melbourne 20/20 was really shameful.
      However, the West Indies ODIs look to have seen some improvement. Swings and roundabouts as the Aussies kept telling me. J

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