Random thoughts and observations
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar dined at a popular Thai Restaurant in Adelaide last night. I know that because my wife works there and she served him.
He was with some older men she didn’t recognise, possibly team management or local supporters.
India plays Australia in a one-day international tomorrow at Adelaide Oval.
I attended Test cricket this week to see Australia play India at Adelaide Oval. It was my first time at a game since October 2005 when Australia played the ICC World XI at the SCG.
As far as I know, that game is considered a Test for statistical purposes.
Australia won by 210 runs, with Matt Hayden scoring 111 in the first innings and 77 in the second, while Stuart MacGill snared nine wickets.
I’m at a loss to understand why Cricket Australia has scheduled the KFC T20 Big Bash in the early stages of the summer and between Test series. With Australian cricket at arguably its lowest point for 25 years, players have no time to prove themselves, prepare or find form in the Sheffield Shield before the major Test series against India. I quite enjoy T20 cricket myself and believe there’s a place for it in the modern game, but not at the expense of traditional cricket or player performance.
I rate New Zealander Sir Richard Hadlee the best bowler I ever saw, along with West Indians Curtley Ambrose and Joel Garner. Hadlee wasn’t express pace, but he was fast and he moved the ball through the air and off the seam. He spearheaded a successful New Zealand attack that included Lance Cairns, Ewen Chatfield and John Bracewell. I first saw Hadlee play for New Zealand against a Victorian Country XI at Traralgon on November 5, 1980 and obtained his autograph. I either had a day off school or took one, because I remember the match quite well.
I was pleasantly surprised at the price of tickets for the 20-20 state game between South Australia and Victoria on Saturday. It was $40 for two adults and one child. The general admission price to see the international game on Wednesday would have been $97.
×0
