Picking Player of the Tournament with Pistol and Roshan
And other glamorous outings for a reporter covering the Under-19 World Cup
Had gone to watch New Zealand practise ahead of the semi-final against India the previous day. Struck up conversation with a man watching them train from outside the nets. Turned out to be Kim Littlejohn, only a very important man in New Zealand Cricket. Was nice to put a face to a name. Talked about challenges facing cricket in New Zealand. One of the few teams without a sponsor logo on their shirts.
Australia are training at Brothers Cricket Club in the silent suburb of Thuringowa two days before the final. It's a large field bordered by a white picket fence with a clubhouse. Immaculately maintained. Wonder if that's routine practice or because the facilities are being used for the World Cup.
Have been asked to be part of the panel to pick the Player of the Tournament. Go to a meeting with match referee Roshan Mahanama and umpire Paul Reiffel at the Holiday Inn on the eve of the final. Roshan calls Paul "Pistol". Realise they played against each other in the final of the 1996 World Cup. Roshan won that. Paul won the next, three years later. Feels a bit odd to be shortlisting the Player of the Tournament with them when all I've won are block-cricket tournaments in college.
The final. Grandstand is full, tents pitched all along the grass banks, about 2000 people at Tony Ireland Stadium. The atmosphere is passionate and friendly, the air full of rival chants from the Indians and Aussies. The Indians are better equipped, with drums.
Suddenly, Townsville is empty of the people I've been seeing and meeting for the last two weeks. Feels strange, like the morning after a wedding and I'm the last guest to leave. I'm restless to leave too. One final day of stories to write. The home stretch is the hardest. Take a walk along The Strand in the evening, aware that I will probably never be here again.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo