Wahab's roar, and mad Maxwell
The Wahab v Watson subplot, a Geoffrey Edelsten lookalike and a clinical chase made for a great experience
The World Cup was last in Australia in 1992. I was 15. I had hair and my size 32 jeans fit, no worries. I didn't go to a game.
Not Pakistan.
Josh Hazlewood deserved his Man-of-the-Match award after bowling well and taking four wickets. Steven Smith stabilised the chase and Shane Watson got us home. Aaron Finch deserves a mention too. Not for his cool first name, but for his calm catching. They win matches apparently.
To borrow from Neville Cardus' wanting to see Victor Trumper score 100 out of Australia all out for 137, I felt similarly with Shahid Afridi. It would have been pleasing for his innings to have gone on a little longer. Oh well, he'll probably have another couple of comebacks in him yet.
Wahab Riaz venting his frustration - understandably. He was fast. He was angry. He was let down by his fieldsmen. He showed it. Roarrr…
Making our way over the new footbridge crossing the Torrens River and T's [my companion for the game] face light up seeing the ground for the first time and her unbridled joy as we cantered in. And I couldn't help but remember being nine years old and going for the first time with Pop.
T was keen to get an autograph to complete her cricket experience, but as I warned her, signatures are at a premium at 'big' matches where captains are less likely to let players hug the boundary and sign away. Eyes on the prize stuff. So, even though I spotted Andy Zaltzman and my brother saw Shane Warne sneaking a ciggie puff, we didn't get a signature. This time.
Glenn Maxwell played a few Glenn Maxwell shots that went to or over the boundary. I hadn't seen his show before. It is big.
There was the now traditional guy revealing way too much in a blue lycra onesie. A Geoffrey Edelsten look-a-like in garish yellow suit and two fella's in blow up green and gold sumo outfits. Of course.
Had a blast. Australia won. I saw cricket with fresh eyes. That doesn't happen every day - excitability aside, 8 out of 10.
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