Feeling pumped after that great Test Match?
I challenge all the cricket-loving Almanackers to come up with their top 5 cricket moments.
Criteria: must have attended the game.
[Give us a couple even if you weren’t there – Ed]
Top 5 Cricket Memories
December 13, 2014 by 13 Comments
In no particular order:
Australia getting to within one run of the still-mighty West Indies before Craig McDermott was given out – can’t beat this day for being gripping literally every minute, there was no let-up.
Rick Darling being hit over the heart by Bob Willis and being revived on the pitch by John Emburey after Darling had swallowed his tongue.
Ricky Ponting being dropped in the deep in front of me by an Englishman (Ashley Giles?) and going on to make a double hundred
Michael Hussey hitting the winning runs after England’s dramatic collapse on a fifth day I nearly didn’t go to because it looked so likely to peter out to a draw
Lance Cairns smashing the English to all parts in an ?early 80s one day triangular series game
Thanks Mark, I remember those, the Craig McDermott one was amazing day, was listening to it on the ABC
Lillee-Thommo charging through the English in 74 at the Gabba from side-on sitting on the dog track. (The good old days when Fridays were free for primary school kids and a teacher was happy enough to take a group of 12 rat bags for a day in the sun). Colin Cowdery, looking like my granddad, facing lethal pace was genuinely frightening.
Same place the next year watching the West Indies. Seeing the wicket keeper standing back so far…
Qld winning the Sheffield Shield Final for the first time
Watching my eldest son batting for the first time in an organised match hitting the first six of the game at Coolum.
Watching my youngest son sticking a hand up and taking a miraculous catch at Tewantin. And the look of amazement on his face in the millisecond after.
A 1980s AUS vs West Indies ODI would get a mention but technically doesn’t rate too much as a ‘memory’. At the time, I was peered by a group of louts. With little encouragement, I took to the challenge of smuggling 48 cans of XXXX’s finest into the Gabba. Preparations included wrapping the lovelies in foil, freezing a calculated number to act as chillers for the rest and finding a bag big enough, (ended up with a nylon cricket kit bag), to handle the task.
Wandered in through the Stanley St. State School gate and made it to the Hill by about 8:55am for a 10am start. The teams were warming up. At 9am on the dot, one of the said peers suggested we start drinking. As the bar didn’t open until 10, the sound of the opening ‘tshhh’ of the ring pull silenced the crowd on the Hill for the only time during the day. By the time the first ball was bowled, we were half cut. Subsequently, the only bit of the game that is recallable is AB getting hit in the goollies and Viv Richards pushing AB’s legs in and out for some old school winding resuscitation.
Jan 1971, Adelaide Oval, Ashes. Yelling out to Bill Lawry to ‘have a go ya mug’. His last test, my first.
Nov 1975, Adelaide Oval, SA v Qld. After an all night card game, five schoolmates decide to recuperate at the Shield game. Chappell G, c Chappell I b Jenner 99
Dec 1976, Adelaide Oval, Aus v Pak. Thomson collides with Alan Turner, busts shoulder. Marsh and Cosier pike out in simple run chase
Jan 1976, Adelaide Oval, Aus v WI. Michael Holding sooks it up mid-pitch after having appeal turned down. Hardens up from that day on. He also puts a return over the stumps at the Torrens end from the scoreboard boundary, huge throw.
Jan 1972, Elizabeth South, sneak one behind the legs, removing leg bail of future Australian representative. Later realise that I’d lobbed it on one of Lady’s fossilised faecal offerings, hence the sharp turn.
Tyson [of the Typhoon ] variety had the figures of 1 for not many overnight before the last day . Australia with a chance . I went with my sandwiches in on the train to the G to see Australia win. Tyson 7 for 21. Australia all out before lunch. Ate the sandwiches on the train home.
Being one of the drivers [of a Triumph Herald convertible] of the West Indies team’s ticker parade through Melbourne . I had Lance Gibbs & the wicketkeeper.
I WAS there when Hooksy smashed that bloody South African Grieg for 5 fours in a row.
I can’t remember his name but I was there when the West Indian batsman’s hat fell off & hit the stumps. OUT !
As a kid I can remember the hush that fell over the G when the first over of a test match was bowled. No clapping , no PA , nothing just spine tingling.
Being at the G when Denis Lillee got the then test record for wickets taken.
Seeing Rick McCosker making a ton in the Centenary test, broken jaw and all.
Watching Rodney Hogg knock over the English openers on the second day of the third test in 1978-79.
Being captivated by Franklyn Stephenson go through the Vics on a dodgy MCG wicket in the early 1980’s.
Moving away from the MCG , i’ll finish with a air of VCA encounters.
Footscray’s final two matches of the 1979-80 season. The fighting victory over Collingwood in the semi final, followed by the teams first premiership the following match.
Glen!.
I saw Barry Richards score 325 not out for South Australia on the first day of the Shield game against WA in 1970. Well, actually, I didn’t see it all because I was sitting my matric Biology exam that afternoon. I screeched off to school at lunch, did the exam in around an hour and only missed about 60 of his runs.
And I was at the last day of the Brisbane tied test in 1960 with Pop and my mum to watch my Uncle Ken, but I was only six and we left when he got out.
Thanks Pop. Thanks mum. Bloody hell.
Not in any order:-
Shane Warne bowling Mike Gatting in the Manchester Test. My first test match in England. Did I see it? Like most of the crowd NO!
My first match Australia v India 1947 at the MCG. On the Saturday we went to see Bradman bat but he retired hurt overnight and only walked out on the ground and back again. Lindwall’s fiery bowling.
MCG 1955 Frank Tyson skittling Australia before lunch while I pondered the result of my Intermediate results in The Sun (failed)
A Testimonial match for Lindsay Hassett at the G where a pint sized Ian Craig hit Ian Johnson for 4 successive sixes to bring up his hundred. Tried it again only to see Keith Miller take the catch and drop kick the ball back to the centre.
Sachin Tendulkar ducking a bumper at the Adelaide Oval and given out LBW. Warne dropping a catch in the same game that would have given Damien Fleming a hat trick.
Doug Ring 32 n.o and Bill Johnston 7 n.o at the MCG against the West Indies in 1953 when the Windies had Australia on the ropes. They put on 38 for the last wicket and showed real Tiger spirit (s0ething missing from the present day Tigers!)
Dave,
My top 5 Test Match cricket memories from matches I have attended(in chronological order):
1. The 1977 Centenary Test. What a Test at which to make my debut (as an 11 year old). I attended all 5 days, and it was just a brilliant celebration of cricket with many incidents now written in cricket folklore: Lillee’s 11-wicket haul, McCosker’s courage, Hookes’ cameo, Marsh’s ton, Randall’s imperious 174.
2. 1978 Melbourne Ashes Test: Rodney Hogg bowling Boycott then trapping Brearly lbw…I swear that I have never heard a louder roar at the MCG since! An undermanned Australia went on to knock over England.
3. 6 Jan, 2004, Sydney. Holidaying in Paddington, my 8 year-old son and I ran up to the SCG to catch Steve Waugh batting for the last time. He didn’t get the fairy-tale ton, he made 80 (caught Tendulkar, bowled Kumble), but the emotion in the ground was something to behold.
4. 2005 Boxing Day Test: Mike Hussey’s brilliant 122 while batting with the tail. He put on 107 for the last wicket with Glenn McGrath and took the game away from Sth Africa. It was an innings of total control.
5. 2013 Ashes Test in Manchester: Whilst watching Michael Clarke’s dogged 187, I was struck by the thought that Australia would not be in the doldrums for too much longer – and, indeed, Australia would have won had rain not intervened on the final day.
Australia v India at the Gabba about ten years ago.
My mate Andy smuggled in a bottle of JD in his shorts.
He had to waddle through security. The bottle stuck out like a bottle.
It was empty before the first session was over.
We took lunch at the Aussie Nash and bought another bottle which Andy smuggled in again.
Don’t remember much about the last session.
Saw Matt Hayden hit 197 against England at the Gabba.
That day JD was absent. I was able to appreciate the majesty.
Saw Peter Siddle take a hat-trick against the Poms in 2010/11.
Andy was there that day too…
TEST MATCHES
– Travelling across the country for what turned out to be the last hurrah Ricky Ponting, knock over Seth Efrika then lose a couple in the chase. Crowd stands anticipating the arrival of Ricky….and Nathan Lyon comes out as night-watchman.
– 1994/95 Boxing Day test Day 3. Arriving at the car park as the first ball is bowled. Craig McDermott was bowling, Graham Gooch was on strike…..we all know what happened next. Strangely enough it happened Day 1 at The Gabba of a test against the Windies. I was purchasing tickets and Shane Watson gets out LBW AGAIN.
– The simple enjoyment of lazing on the old Adelaide Oval hill next to the Bradman Stand before redevelopment. Helps that Clarke and Ponting scored plenty and Sehwag (skipper because Dhoni was rubbed out) had less ideas than a Federal Government.
– Saw Stephen Roger Waugh’s final test knock at the MCG, both parts in fact after Ajit Agarker (duckman to Aussie audiences) got him on the elbow.
– Day 4 last seasons Ashes test at The Gabba. I can assure you fans ran for cover in the upper deck food outlets as the storms passed. England showed rather less intensity as they folded in fading light.
HONORABLE MENTION
– Day 3 of the first test of the South African series which was Pontings last. Look hard enough and there’s a report on it.
And while we’re at it….There’s the Tsunami Match as well. At the time who would have thought Chris Cairns would be a match fixer as he tonked a random Asian bowler into the newly built members stand.
the top 5 for me centre around Adelaide and Sydney in chronological order
61 test in Adelaide when Kanhai hit two lightning centuries and was run out in one innings by Gordon rorke I think on his follow through and then came slasher mackay and Lindsay kline. death, taxes and an immediate kline dismissal are all inevitable. my brother and I and mates were playing out the back near the vic Richardson gates when the old man came down and said you had better come and watch this. WI bowlers were ruching their overs said the dad and as we stood perched on 26 oz er tin cans ( very empty) slasher took the last in the ribs.
63 when MItcham primary won the WJ Gunn memorial shield against payneham and we clobbered them
2013 at new Adelaide Oval having lunch with poms from a a company called Mott Macdonald who were project managers for the renovations. They were hopeful as Australia went to 520 odd and said that if you could do it then England could too. Enter Mitch and poms on and off field were catatonic. No return invitation was proferred from hosts.
move to sydney 78 I think against the WIs, McCosker and Lille and thommo and spent the day with Jack Mundey and MIck Tubbs watching the hill crowd cheer him as much as the players.
like smokie in 2004 did a runner with son in school uniform to watch Steve Waugh hole out on boundary for 80 to kumble and the celebration of his final and graceful departure.
nank