The Cricket: a live account

12:59 Jan 7, 2009 21

Thanks to the wonderful folks at NZ Cricket I'm off to the game today with a bunch of "cultural attachés" to help me fit in with cricket fans.

I was planning for this to somehow be a live blog (with a richer account tomorrow) but I wasn't able to get internet access at the stadium. So unless some very kind and generous person lends me an iPhone (I'll give you a kilo of coffee) then it'll have to be Twitter updates (@hadyngreen) and occasional web updates.

I popped down to the Railway station and saw a few of the keener fans already getting cash, drinking beers and eating lunch. A fair amount of beige and black, but also some grey (with colourful shoulders) and aqua as well. I have decided to wear my royal blue NY Mets Johan Santana shirt. Baseball is pretty much like cricket, isn't it?

Anyway if you see me, say hello. We're all about community.

21 responses to this post

Geoff Lealand, 13:23 Jan 7, 2009

Maybe you could start a new tradition, in a cricket equivalent of the seventh innings stretch.

Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report
Emma Hart, 13:30 Jan 7, 2009

Remember to wave a lot, cause we'll be watching on the telly and if I don't see you my suspicions will be roused...

Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report
Richard Irvine, 14:22 Jan 7, 2009

Woah - Adidas access and cricket freebies... you're making me think my blog needs to be less crap.

Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 242 posts Report
Ben Chapman, 16:32 Jan 7, 2009

Woah - Adidas access and cricket freebies... you're making me think my blog needs to be less crap.
Surely the point is to be more crap, at least the crickety bits. (No reflection on Haydn's blog.)
Looking like the Windies will barely break a hundred. Wonder what Haydn's making of it.

Wellington • Since Nov 2008 • 135 posts Report
Hadyn Green, 09:08 Jan 8, 2009

Well here is a very basic run down of what I thought of it (in reverse chronological order)

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report
Caleb D'Anvers, 10:02 Jan 8, 2009

I can also report that town after the game was absolute carnage. I blame Jesse Ryder.

London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report
giovanni tiso, 10:16 Jan 8, 2009

What, that's it? A dozen twitter entries? After you got free entry, I'm expecting nothing less than an Ernst Hemingway-like account of the heroics at the Cake Tin, full of sentiment and pathos. Get to work, Green.
(Although, I must say, of all days you could spend at a cricket game, you chose one concurrent with the conclusion of a truly magnificent test at the SCG. I doubt that many local fans of the game were focusing on the conclusion of the Wellington rubber while Smith padded up with a broken hand to try and save the game for Sourth Africa. What a giant.)

Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report
Emma Hart, 10:30 Jan 8, 2009

Although, I must say, of all days you could spend at a cricket game, you chose one concurrent with the conclusion of a truly magnificent test at the SCG.
Good gods, yes. And let's not forget Ntini too, who to be realistic cannot bat and yet survived 91 balls yesterday to come within ten deliveries of saving the draw for SA.
And with absolutely nothing at stake. They'd already won the series, they already couldn't win the game, it was simply a matter of pride.

Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report
Russell Brown, 10:32 Jan 8, 2009

And with absolutely nothing at stake. They'd already won the series, they already couldn't win the game, it was simply a matter of pride.
Yup. I felt kind of cheap for watching the one-dayer just because my side was playing, when there was something like that going on on the next channel.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Naly D, 10:59 Jan 8, 2009

Ugh, what was up with Ryder. 'Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah boooooooooooooooooy!'
It wasn't that good a wicket, jeez.

Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report
Megan Wegan, 11:39 Jan 8, 2009

Yup. I felt kind of cheap for watching the one-dayer just because my side was playing, when there was something like thatgoing on on the next channel.
Two TVs, Mr Brown, two TVs.

Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report
giovanni tiso, 11:44 Jan 8, 2009

And let's not forget Ntini too, who to be realistic cannot bat
Not out in both innings. A rock, a darker, clean-shaven WG Grace he was.

Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report
giovanni tiso, 11:44 Jan 8, 2009

Two TVs, Mr Brown, two TVs.
One TV, one TV on the game at the SCG :-)

Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report
Ben Chapman, 12:25 Jan 8, 2009

Yup. I felt kind of cheap for watching the one-dayer just because my side was playing, when there was something like thatgoing on on the next channel.
Heh. I feel cheap watching other teams just because the cricket is better.
The SCG match was one of those good ones to follow on Cricinfo – constantly updating to see if he survived the next ball.

Wellington • Since Nov 2008 • 135 posts Report
Hadyn Green, 13:03 Jan 8, 2009

After you got free entry, I'm expecting nothing less than an Ernst Hemingway-like account of the heroics at the Cake Tin, full of sentiment and pathos. Get to work, Green.
I am, I am! Had paying work to do first.
I was using the Tweets as a reminder

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report
Hadyn Green, 13:05 Jan 8, 2009

And at the Caketin they were announcing the Aus/Saf scores over the PA. And that Smith has a broken hand

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report
giovanni tiso, 13:12 Jan 8, 2009

I am, I am! Had paying work to do first.
Remember: Hemingway-like. If you can do Nadine Gordimer, we'll take it at a pinch.

Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report
Naly D, 13:18 Jan 8, 2009

And let's not forget Ntini too, who to be realistic cannot bat
What about his two fours off successive balls? Let's face it, we just want Ntini in our own team.

Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report
Megan Wegan, 13:23 Jan 8, 2009

What about his two fours off successive balls? Let's face it, we just want Ntini in our own team.
At, what, about #4?

Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report
Tom Beard, 14:18 Jan 8, 2009

I'm expecting nothing less than an Ernst Hemingway-like account of the heroics at the Cake Tin, full of sentiment and pathos. Get to work, Green.
He promised us a Gonzo account, and I'm holding him to it: "We were near Thorndon on the edge of the Caketin when the G&Ts kicked in ... Look out! This is bat-pad country!"

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report
Tim Michie, 12:15 Jan 9, 2009

Dunno if you've seen this but thought you'd like...

Auckward • Since Nov 2006 • 614 posts Report