I am so glad we didn’t manage to get tickets to the Trent Bridge Ashes test which started today. It was a sell out so we didn’t stand a chance anyway, still…I am SO glad.
I had a Talking Newspaper today, Haslemere edition, and one of my readers arrived, crowing about the cricket score. Even someone who didn’t know a thing about cricket couldn’t help but realise that things were not good; that we had perhaps slipped into a Bizarro world of Cubist cricket balls and wobbly bats. At least it gave me something to add to my newspaper sports report.
You see, and this is so that in years to come I can look back and remember the worst cricket day of my life, Australia were all out for 60 before lunch on the first day. That’s in a pathetic 18.3 overs. In comparison, England’s worst test innings is 61 after 31.2 overs. Incidentally, Australia only managed 60 against England at Lords in 1888.
For as long as I can remember Australia have dominated world cricket. Okay there’s been the occasional slip but these have been blips on an otherwise smooth timeline of victory. I grew up with the Chappels, Dennis Lillee, Marshy etc, and all that followed them. The Glory Years, I like to think of them. Batting for less than a session, not getting into three figures and the highest scorer being the extras were all inconceivable…before today. It’s a sad day…unless you’re an England supporter.
Can the greatest cricketing nation in the world bounce back from this catastrophic event? I sincerely hope so…but it’s not going to be easy.
Like you all the men in Australia were crying, heard tonight on the news Clark is retiring as the captain after the Ashes has finished. He looked so devastated.
Love mum xx