The Ashes – Third Test, Adelaide Day 1: Arise King Carey
Adelaide Day 1
ARISE KING CAREY (with aplogies to no one!)
A bright and sunny, rather brilliant day here in Adelaide and the crowd was already a couple of thousand deep before the gates were open. Just ideal for a Test match particularly here in Adelaide where the home state are supplying the openers and the keeper for Oz. SA would have to be the most parochial of sporting aficanados when it comes to sport .
John Williamson began the day with his signature tune ‘True Blue’. There was a sombre moment to start the day in respect to the people who died in the Sunday massacre at Bondi. A very emotional moment in sport and life encapsulating a sad, sad tragedy.
A gloomy start for Australia when Steve Smith was ruled out through sickness from a knock he got at training. Whilst the pundist were saying the Uzzie was finished he gets his chance again but this time he will be batting down the list at four.
The Croweaters would probably be outdone by the number of Albions in attendance. They walked all over me on the way to the ground at 8.a.m. Premier Pete will be happy with another succesful sporting event.
Now Aida, thats another story but you could say it is a sporting event seeing that is ‘supposed’ to be ON the Adelaide Oval elephants and all. So where is my $700 sitting at the moment?
Cap’in Pat wins the toss and has no hesitation in having first dig. The wicket looks fine for batting.
The Piping Shrikes look comfortable for the first 40 minutes but then mayhem strikes with both of them gone. 2/33. Hmm shades of the Crows.
Weatherald 18 and Head 10. Weatherald hooking caught behind. Head to a brilliant catch by Crawley.
The sun has got to the members early and they have vacated the Chappell stand for the cool of ‘outback’. I must go over there if there is room at lunch time.
The plebs will get it in the afternoon in ‘The Roo’, Jack Oatey, Fos Williams and Max Basheer stands. Let’s not mention tomorrow when the temperature reaches the high 30s.
Khawaja is, well Khawaja, serene and confident. Another chance to get the scribes searching for their poison pens. At the other end Marnus fidgets. The complete opposite.
Lunch is taken with Australia 2/94. Game even not that it matters at this stage.
Bookies backing Australia might be having SPD wobbles at the moment as Joffra gets both Marnus and Golden Boy with no addition to the scores. What do these guys eat for lunch or do they spend time looking at replays?
Joffra’s discussion with SPD is starting to pay dividends.
The sun is well past the yard arm and the members are starting to dribble back to their seats. Some actually are.
Uzzie and Alex are are stroking far better than Rembrandt ever did or Stuart Mackenzie for that matter. They are playing delightful cricket. If I was looking for a genuine hero in Australian sport and one who ticks all the boxes it would have to be Alex Carey. Hope that is ok Rulebook?
It is really warm now, or should I say hot, and the residents in the outer are starting to move under cover. ‘Give us a day-nighter” they are saying. About 40 degrees tomorrow people. Now that’s hot!
Uz sweeps on 82 and Tongue takes it in his hands. Lovely catch and Jacks, of all bowlers, has a castle. UZ is now right for his farewell in Sydney.
Albion take the chocolates for the session despite some sweet strokes from Uzzie and my pin-up boy.
Oh dear, here are all the lemmings out on the ground taking photos of themselves and swanning around as if the oval belongs to them. Any paying an extra dollar too!
Is not getting any cooler and the players are struggling.
The days not over people! Thousands are streaming out at tea time. Reminds me a little like the Crows during September.
Carey is struggling in the heat inside that helmet. Wonder if anybody has ever worked out the actual heat factor inside helmets on a hot day?
Another question. Why doesn’t M.Starc bat in front of Cap’in Pat? He certainly looks a far better prospect of late. Besides he would have a longer break if he got out early.
MPUB (my pin up boy) contunes to enthrall his home crowd and is nearing another century to add to his curriculum vitae which is getting more expansive each day. He is the best Carey I have ever seen in more ways than one.
Carey, Carey, Carey, I need say no more. Everybody rises to the King!
They rise for even longer and curtsy when his innings comes to end for 106. As Richie would say., ………… Marvellous.
It has been a wonderful day of Test cricket. Ebb and flow throughout the day. In the end Oz on top.
As for the weather? Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun! Weather bureau forecast for tomorrow 39 degrees
Just can’t wait for Dan Lonergan analytical appraisal of today’s play.
More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.
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About Bob Utber
At 86 years of age Citrus Bob is doing what he has always done since growing up on a small farm at Lang Lang. Talking, watching and writing sport and in recent years writing books. He lives in Mildura with his very considerate wife (Jenny) and a groodle named 'Chloe on Flinders' and can be found at Deakin 27 every day.
read read, CB
We were in high up in the “Skin cancer stand” (to quote Jim Maxwell) – only in the sun from 4:10pm onwards
wonderful moment for Alex Carey
safe to say my brother enjoyed his first day at Adelaide Oval
more tomorrow for day 3
RITV
Excellent work, Citrus.
I hope they print a few copies of your pinup boy, as I’m certainly in the queue for one.
Citrus Bob – a colourful read of a terrific day. While I think both sides underperformed this was punctuated by some notable moments from individuals in each camp.
I knew it would be a massive crowd when my party of three (sister, son, self) arrived at nine and could only secure seats in the top deck of the Riverbank Stand. The audacity of the SACA is terrific: sell more memberships than you have seats, knowing that at any point a decent number will be ‘out the back.’ Genius.
Hope to see you about!
MR AHH these so called “clubs” become more and more corporate every day. Still passed of about our Aida tickets. What do they do with all the $$$ they make. Think AFL,MCC…
Dont know how long I will be here but certainly tomorrow if you are going again.
MR – That should read PISSED. Has more eimpact by itself anyway!!
MR – have had an ordinary start to my day except my Uber driver (see Day 2). I wrote PISSED not my wife!
EUCALYPT – what an ornament he is to both cricket and sport. I will try and get a full size poster for you. They are hanging everywhere ! BOM today ” bloody repeat bloody hot. No “feels like” from me.
MR – no outside for me today I,my afraid.
CB I was at The Queens Head when Kez bought up his ton I knew straight away re the look to the heavens and yes was a tad emotional as well-Gordon was a great man extremely well respected with in cricket they are a awesome family.
MA – I wondered where you had got to! I rote somewhere that “if every mum had a son like Alex Carey the world would be a better place”. Obviously a wonderful family to boot. Wonder if K.Sheedy had some influence when he was with the Giants?