So I went to the SCG today for any raging against the dying of the light or just to hold their hands at the end. It seemed the right thing to do, it's close by and, erm, it was free, which is a bittersweet blessing because that only happens when the end is expected to come soon: the ground PA kept reminding us during play how we could get our refunds if we had bought a ticket. And I'll admit I didn't pack a lunch.
On the way to the ground in the bus I was overcome by a feeling of dread only comparable to a recent occasion when I had to eat tripe. Kerry O'Keefe has been extravagantly bullish all series and usually exhorts Sydneysiders to come to the ground on difficult last days but even he had fallen silent on this point.
At the ground it was easy enough to avoid the "out" Poms draped in flags, only to find myself surrounded once again by "sleeper" Poms activated to standing position when the English team came out onto the ground. Never mind.
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One of the features of both days at the SCG has been overhearing very knowledgeable and civilised conversations about cricket between Englishmen and Australians, and feeling a bit ashamed of both my ignorance and chauvinism. Today I swear I heard a boy next to me, who could not have been more than 10, remark to his companion of a similar age: "... a Mike Holding sort of ball..." Quite!
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I haven't seen a batsman walk off so slowly as Peter Siddle this morning. I would have thought the trip back to the dressing room is one you want to get over and done with, but he took baby steps like he would only be truly out when he went through the gate and could extend his time at the crease just a bit more by staying on the field. Maybe he wanted to soak up the pain properly and soberly before having to face the barrage of sporting homilies in the dressing room. That's sort of why I was there. Not the not getting into the dressing room bit of course.
Good on you for pitching up at the SCG today, Batsy, & for blogging about it.
ReplyDeleteIt was magical, if surreal, listening under the duvet to Aggers & co describing the events as they unfolded. The authentic twang of Chappelli & Jim Maxwell have added to the local colour, but it's the infectious chuckle of Slater when in the box with Agnew that has been most affecting throughout the series.
Talking of Aggers - after Brisbane, he promised to perform the Haka, erm, Sprinkler at the SCG should England win the series...& he was as good as his word: http://www.twitvid.com/BZGWO
It was a more impressive performance on radio!
All the best
m
You know, I had my binoculars trained on Aggers when he was talking to Graeme Swann after the match because I'd heard about the sprinkler dance promise and I thought he would have to do it then or never, but then he sneakily pulled it out after I'd packed everything up so it was a mostly audio experience for me as well. He looked like he enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI think the BBC commentary doesn't quite overlap the ABC - we only had Chappell and Slater on TV here. I do think Slater has settled into his comentating role over the last couple of years - he was initially a bit clammy, like he thought he might get dropped at any moment...
Enjoy the celebrations, B.
Aggers interviewed Swann as they were walking round in front of the crowd - Swann said the players weren't going to be doing the Sprinkler - & words to the effect that it had been of its time & place (retaining the Ashes at MCG), but that to do it again at the SCG would be to gloat, & that's not how the players wanted to celebrate their victory.
ReplyDeleteA surprisingly dignified moment from a person not normally associated with humility!
m
Yes, I heard that too, that's why I thought the deal was off... (radio AND binoculars at the SAME TIME: no skimping on the multi-media at the cricket for me).
ReplyDeleteI think too much is made of alleged "gloating", very much in the eye, and possibly the generation, of the beholder.
B.
Slightly odd atmosphere here today, B - degree of self-satisfied smugness, natch; degrees of analysis of just how, & why, what happened, did happen; but, most of all, battlingly suppressed disbelief that the Poms really did get these results - this extent of ruthless effectiveness is just not programmed into the English psyche.
ReplyDeleteBut most of all, there's a quiet joy, a pervading pleasure in something very special, achieved by a special group of athletes.
Socially, & politically, it's a miserable time in Britain...but these long, improbable, days, wending their way through the ether to our snow-clad nights, accompanied by the excitedly disbelieving commentary of Agnew et al, have created a remarkable bubble of shared (if absurd) collective happiness.
Batsy,
ReplyDeleteGreatly enjoyed reading you throughout the summer, from the Johnsonian lows to the highs of David Gower having a chair dropped on his foot.
Also enjoyed the egg sandwiches. Made a batch for the family in the days after the sprinkler dance and before it hit that the one-day series went for seven whole games.
Belated thanks from another Sleeper Pom.
Matt
Thanks Matt, I am only just coming around after the summer TKO (I mean of course Total KO, not Technical). There will probably have some Thoughts on the current series (eg. why, Australian Team, are you winning NOW?). In any case I am so glad you made the Egg Sandwiches and enjoyed them.
ReplyDeleteSee ya later,
B.