Just as well that this is a time of year when many people neither know nor care what day of the week it is – a look at the racing fixture would hardly help. This weekend offers an unusual cast of meetings. The regular Saturday afternoon habit is delayed to a NYE under lights at [Read more]
Collapse, followed by Collapse
December 29, 2011 by 1 Comment
Boxing Day Test Match. Australia v India. Day 3, December 28, 2011. At 9-30 sharp, I am outside the Stag’s Head Hotel waiting for Holty and Elliott, two of our club’s Pommy cricketers who are over for the summer. I have decided to drive in today: I’ll get home more rapidly and I’ll be sober. [Read more]
Top Australian Albums of 2011
December 28, 2011 by 12 Comments
by Andrew Fithall Last year I wrote about my top ten albums for the year, but there were no geographical boundaries. For some reason (probably the influences of my radio station of choice) this year my music perspective has become a bit narrower. This list is following that trend. My top twelve (couldn’t settle [Read more]
Vics to the rescue
December 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Australia v India; 1st Test; Day 2; 27 December 2011 by Ben Jensen My brother joined me today on the train trip up from Geelong, the train only about half full with cricket fans, about same as day 1 but we wonder if the Aussies were in better form would it have been full, [Read more]
Standing on the outside looking in
December 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment
by Tony Robb Greetings to all. The past 12 months have seen a change of career for your Canberra correspondent. It has resulted in an increase in writing output but sadly in the form of reports about injured workers and not about sport. There are only so many ways one can describe the ebbs [Read more]
A different rhythm
December 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment
There is a different rhythm watching test cricket in WA. It isn’t because of the weather or the people or even magnetic anomalies caused by large hunks of underground iron – it’s because it starts at 7.30 in the morning. I grew up here, so there is a familiarity to the experience. I can’t say [Read more]
Born again cricketer
December 26, 2011 by 1 Comment
Footy in winter, cricket in summer. Quintessential. Time honoured. The way it should be. Like most Victorian kids growing up in the 90s/00s I would spend the cold months living and breathing football and then when the place would finally warm up it was backyard and club cricket. And then like many other youngsters, I [Read more]
Long Day’s Journey to the ‘G
December 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment
This would have to be the most eventful first day I have encountered for a Boxing Day test match. I arrived at the Mildura airport on Christmas Day en route to Melbourne via plane for the big game. Total travelling time of 1 hour and five minutes. I kiss the ground at Tullamarine seven and [Read more]
Crio’s Q: Sports “Objectivity”
December 26, 2011 by 5 Comments
“I just call it as I see it”. The mantra of a commentator – sports, politics, whatever. But that’s not always the case. As Richie would say, “Welcome back to the cricket”. Bill’s pumping up the Vics, Tony’s stirring couch Aussies and the watchers whinge of blatant bias. Who would have thought? Remarkably, though, they [Read more]
Boxing Day Blog
December 26, 2011 by 12 Comments
Play is under way at the ‘G. Gloomy skies but no substantial rain. Will Australia’s questionable batsmen get the better of an Indian attack with several question marks of their own hovering? Fire away sports fans.
Cricket: the post-Christmas lunch form of the game.
December 25, 2011 by 10 Comments
It is heading towards midnight here in Brisbane. The kids have carefully laid out Santa’s smoko in front of the fireplace; it seems Santa prefers mince pies and water served in a Dora the Explorer cup. We have been to the Christmas Eve service at St Andrews on Wickham St in the city where we [Read more]
PRE-SEASON RECESS
December 24, 2011 by 1 Comment
We all read in the newspapers about the clubs gradually coming back from the mandated breaks from the club to return to formalised pre-season training every year. How players are dreading the hard slog of endurance running, fitness testing and a smattering of skill which won’t kick into gear until shortly after the last strains [Read more]
Spotted
December 24, 2011 by 6 Comments
I’d just like to say a word or two about the Christmas rush, if I may, keeping in mind that I am an eighteen-year-old check-out chick so it might be a little tainted. Just a little. I wish I could say I rub my hands with glee and watch and wait for that first customer [Read more]
I AM PEEVED
December 23, 2011 by 6 Comments
I am a forgiving and tolerant man. I forgive easily, turn the other cheek and all that other rubbish. However, as much as I am a stickler for tradition and the 5 day white outfit form of our summer game, I am also one who appreciates good manners.
BOXING DAY
December 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Boxing day, aah! Official rest, Blissful relaxation, I’m going to watch the Test. Christmas recovery is underway Time to put my feet up and watch the Aussies play. No orders, demands or chores from the boss Why, I was even asked, if our captain won the toss! The kids are outside, occupied with new [Read more]
Thai-king Footy
December 23, 2011 by 1 Comment
THAI-king Footy Sawasdee Mister Floreat Picans and Mister Almanackers. The last place I expected to be talking footy with the locals was in the faraway tropical land known for its sporting pursuits of Soccer, Boxing and a derivation of the game we know as Table Tennis! But, you could have knocked me down with a [Read more]
The 2011 Boxing Day scoreboard quiz
December 23, 2011 by 5 Comments
Photos by Les Everett The classic old manual scoreboard at the city end of the MCG stood for many a year. It told the story of a cricket match from beginning to end, and was probably photographed by many a footy fan just after the Grand Final siren. It has also been immortalised in a [Read more]
Crio’s Racing: Christmas ‘Stocking Fillers”
December 22, 2011 by 17 Comments
A long, long time ago, our family sat around the kitchen table on Christmas Eve. 5DN (Adelaide’s racing station) was doubtless droning in the background. Mum and Dad were quietly and totally tuckered and my siblings and I restless, when Mum suddenly soliloquized; “Of all nights, how could people even consider running, let alone going [Read more]
Lion to Demon
December 22, 2011 by 6 Comments
With Fitzroy’s existence under threat for most of my childhood, being a supporter of the Roys was never easy. But when the end came, it still felt like someone had died. The mourning period lasted a long time.
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