The Definition of Commitment

Definition of Commitment:

Playing cricket all day Saturday, and having to back up Sunday morning for an hour and a half of backyard cricket, complete with catching drills. And the threat of more to come before the ODI starts this afternoon.

The body has held up better this week, though mostly due to the fact that we only fielded for about 18 overs or so, and not much batting to be done. 

Josh just keeps on improving. He's counting the seconds until he can play a real game, but is also excited that he will get to play against Jack Yates next Sunday. 

Adelaide Day 2

Day 1: Adelaide Test Match

I can honestly say that it was a great feeling getting up this morning on my way to yet another Test series at a ground I had always wanted to go to. Yes, it was early - a 4.30am alarm call to be picked up by Dad just after 5.00am, to also get Dan and then catch the 5.30am train from Oak Flats for the journey to the airport. Yes, it was the beginning of a very long but enjoyable day.

At the airport we met up with Bono and eventually worked our way in to the inner sanctum. Through a rookie error, both John and I were pulled over by airport security to have our bags searched again, because we had decided to pack aerosol sprays in our carry-on luggage. Great job us.

After that it was time to enjoy a couple of pre-flight beers - otherwise known as breakfast.

In honour of Phil Hughes, who had died exactly one year previous. his initials and Test number

In honour of our mate Tim Davies, his initials and his Kiama cricket Club 1st Grade number

Ready and excited for the 90 minute flight to Adelaide!

Bono lasted about 20 minutes before the inevitable snooze.

Having arrived and wended our way through the usual path to the taxi rank, our driver took us to our place of residence for the next four nights, the Adabco Boutique Hotel. Though it was 2.5 kilometres from the Adelaide Oval, I wanted it that way so we could walk through town every day to find a pub or bar to frequent, both on the way to the ground and on the way home. The walk wouldn't hurt any of us either.

Having stowed our gear (as it was only 11.30am and we couldn't get into our rooms yet) we walked into town for lunch, which we found in the food court off Rundle Mall. It wasn't long before Dan was already delving into his funds.

The walk up to the Adelaide Oval is picturesque indeed. It is even better once inside. I had bought tickets for the concourse in front of the old scoreboard for all three days, and it is even more spectacular in person.

Matador BBQ Cup Final: New South Wales vs South Australia

Dan, Bono and I decided to warm up for our Adelaide trip by heading to North Sydney Oval for the final of the domestic one day series. With all of the Test players available after the cancellation of the Test tour to Bangladesh it was a star studded arena full of great cricketers.

Dan and I brought Josh up with us, and once we were inside the ground, he was asked if he wanted to go out and stand with the players for the National Anthem, which he obviously agreed to. He received a medal from Tim Ludeman, and got to shake hands with Tim as well as Alex Ross. Tough gig for boys.

Josh is on the far right

Once play started we moved down to the old stand where the old crew used to frequent in our days attending games here. Having watched Mitch Starc cleaning up Travis Head, there was a huge shout next over for LBW from Josh Hazlewood, but it was turned down. He came down to fine leg, and I said "Looked plumb from here Josh!", He turned and smiled and indicated it was swinging down leg. A nice bit of by-play there. The Blues bowlers dominated, and even though a good partnership between Callum Ferguson (61) and Tom Cooper (105) of 154 at least got their total over 200, no one in living memory had ever defended 221 on North Sydney Oval to win.

Josh Hazlewood became our friend and ground confidante

Dan with Chicken Esky

And so it proved. After Nic Maddinson had slapped 44 off 29 balls including a couple of big sixes over the grandstand we sat in, Ed Cowan and Steve Smith settled. Smudge had 19 off 35 balls, and 33 off 51 balls, and 50 off 61 balls before he went ballistic, finishing with 84 not out off 72 balls. Cowan had 88 not out off 78, and the Blues won with 9 wickets in hand and 20 overs to spare. Some of Smith's straight hitting to the south of the ground was just massive. Josh had a ball watching it.

The end result meant that even on a Sunday evening, we were home before 6pm, and not over tired for the following day's work.school day.

Scorecard

World Cup 2015 Cricket Tour - Match 38 Afghanistan vs England - Sydney

When we all decided that we were going to venture to a World Cup game during this tournament, this was the one that came up on our radar. I also decided to take the opportunity to get tickets in the new Victor Trumper Stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground, so we could experience the view behind the bowler arm at a match that was vaguely affordable. The tickets were $38 each, pretty good value in this tournament. Of course, if we hadn't purchased them ahead, and just bought that day's Daily Telegraph, we could all have gotten in for free. Of course. The best laid plans etc etc.

There were also big black clouds looking north from Oak Flats Railway Station, which is a pretty typical event for when we are going to the cricket. Still, as we said at the time, if worse came to worst, the pubs would be dry and the beer would be cold.

Jason at the ready with Chicken Esky in hand.

Six of us made the journey - Dan, Jason, Bono, Dad, Dave Martin and myself. We caught the train to Central, and then snuck around the corner to our first pub on circuit - the Kippax Lounge on Kippax Street. It was a good choice. A reasonable patronage, good tables, cold beer. Excellent. We actually had a couple of beers there before we struck out again to find the next port of call.

It was a poor decision.

We came to a place called the Dove & Olive. Which, while decked out nicely with World Cup paraphernalia and having the cricket from New Zealand about to start on the main TV, only sold craft beer. Now, let's be clear. I do not like craft beer. The vast majority is rubbish. But they literally had nothing else, so we gave it a crack. And it is pretty close to the worst beer I have ever had. Seriously. I finished it, but to be honest I could have happily walked out without doing so. It was dishwater. We did not stay long, and vowed never to return.

The Dove & Olive. Possibly the worst beer of any pub ever.

After a very quick escape, we found the Shakespeare Hotel, and we were back in business. Carlton on tap, a ripping lunch menu, and tables near both the cricket and the races. It was a win/win situation.

Thank goodness for the next pub up the road

By 1.45pm it was time to head to the S.C.G, and it was a bit morbid walking across Moore Park with more people volunteering to help direct the crowds than the crowd itself. Still, given England had by now found yet another way to fail to make the knockout stages of a World Cup and the relative newness of the Afghanistan team on the international stage it was not unexpected.

Security fighting back the huge crowds

Dan and Jason fight their way through the masses on the way to the SCG

Dan trying to work out who Tibby Cotter is. Or was.

The merchandise fiends of the group decided that they had to have World Cup merchandise, and thus they got themselves their Afghanistan supporters caps. By the time I got home I knew that I should have splashed out myself. Maybe in the future... well... I really have too many caps already.

The boys with their new Afghanistan caps

The warm ups, while Dan, Jason and Bono try to work out where their seats are.

The Three Amigos

The game itself was more of a disappointment than we were hoping for. We had high hopes for an entertaining contest, though when England won the toss and bowled there was always going to be the chance of a short sharp jab. And so it proved to be. Anderson, Broad and Jordan scythed their way through the top order, robbing the contest of any great chance. Brief recoveries were shut down just when they could blossom, and the drizzle began to increase which gave the air a morbid scene.

Afghanistan looking to put England to the sword

Finally the umpires had no choice but to take the players from the ground at 4/62, and though they were able to return, the eventual climax of the innings came with Afghanistan 7/111 off 38.2 overs.
Dad and Dave made their exit not long after, while we hung around and watched the conclusion of the exciting New Zealand vs Bangladesh match from Hamilton on the big screen, where the Kiwis managed to scrape home with 7 balls and three wickets to spare.

And the winner is... rain!

By 7.30pm the prospect of any further play seemed completely remote, and so we made our way back towards Central via taxi. Of course, once we were halfway there it was announced play would recommence with England batting, requiring 101 runs from 25 overs. Oh well, such is life.
We found the Central Hotel accomodating, and found more alcohol while watching the conclusion of the match on the screen, with England unfortunately ensuring their victory for the loss of one wicket and with seven overs in hand. Jason then dashed for the next train, while Bono, Dan and I contemplated more alcohol until the later trains were our final chance to return home.

Despite the lackluster day weather-wise, cricket-wise and alcohol-wise, we all had a great day. Let's hope it isn't the last World Cup fixture we can go to.

Final drinks at the pub near Central Station