Subcontinent cricket | Subcontinent cricket photo essay | The Australian

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Blue shirts and blitzkrieg? It’s just not #cricket | Ben Macintyre - Times Online

Adolf Hitler played cricket. He raised his own cricket team to play some British prisoners of war during the First World War, then declared the sport “unmanly” and tried to rewrite the laws of the game.
The Führer’s First XI sounds like a Spike Milligan joke, but this small nugget of history is true. In all the millions of words written about Hitler, his telling brush with cricket seems to have escaped the attention of historians.
The incident is referred to in John Simpson’s new book about 20th- century reporting, citing a piece in the Daily Mirror in 1930. I have the article in front of me. Sandwiched between advice on preventing mildew in chrysanthemums and an advert for Barkers’ evening cloaks, it is quite extraordinary, and extraordinarily revealing: about Hitler, the nature of cricket, and why the world’s worst tyrant and the world’s greatest game were never going to get on.
The Mirror piece was written by Oliver Locker-Lampson, an MP, decorated wartime veteran, right-wing zealot and fervent admirer of Hitler. It was published under the headline “Adolf Hitler As I Know Him” on September 30, 1930, as the Nazis’ brutal rise to power gathered pace.
In it, Locker-Lampson describes how in 1923, shortly after the Munich putsch, he met some British officers who had been prisoners of war in southern Germany during the First World War. By coincidence Hitler, then a lance corporal in the German Army, was recovering from his wounds in a nearby hospital.
“He had come to them one day and asked whether he might watch an eleven of cricket at play so as to become initiated into the mysteries of our national game,” writes Locker- Lampson. “They welcomed him, of course, and wrote out the rules for him in the best British sport-loving spirit.”
According to Locker-Lampson, Hitler returned a few days later, having assembled his own team, and challenged the British to a “friendly match”. As Simpson points out, Locker-Lampson infuriatingly failed to inform his readers who won, but we can assume that the British POWs thrashed Hitler’s XI, because he immediately declared the game insufficiently violent for German Fascists.
Hitler, it seems, had an ulterior motive for wanting to play the game: “He desired to study it as a possible medium for the training of troops off duty and in times of peace.” He also wanted the game to be Nazified.
“He had conned over [sic] the laws of cricket, which he considered good enough no doubt for pleasure-loving English people. But he proposed entirely altering them for the serious- minded Teuton.” Specifically, he “advocated the withdrawal of the use of pads. These artificial ‘bolsters’ he dismissed as unmanly and un-German . . . in the end he also recommended a bigger and harder ball.”
Locker-Lampson was not mocking Hitler. Far from it, he regarded Hitler’s “essential improvements” to the English game as a mark of his greatness. The British MP was the founder of the Sentinels of Empire, a blue-shirted group of rightwingers dedicated to fighting Bolshevism. Like many upper-class Englishmen (including Lord Rothermere, then the owner of the Mirror) he was besotted by Nazism, and the rest of the article is a dribbling paean of praise to Hitler: “The temperature of the room rises in his presence . . . He makes the humblest fellow feel twice the man.”
Locker-Lampson reported that Hitler had even devised a new motto for cricket, in German: “Ohne Hast, ohne Rast” — Unhasting, Unresting. To this starry-eyed disciple, Hitler’s determination to rewrite the rules of this most hallowed English institution was a mark, not of mad megalomania, but of his ambition and drive: “That is what makes him a legendary hero already.”
From a distance of 80 years, this forgotten incident demonstrates exactly the reverse of what Locker-Lampson intended, offering a small and unexpected window into Hitler’s brutal mentality.
Sport, in Fascist thinking, was merely a tool with which to forge good Nazis. “German sport has only one task,” declared Joseph Goebbels: “To strengthen the character of the German people, imbuing it with the fighting spirit and steadfast camaraderie necessary in the struggle for its existence.” That twisted attitude would find full expression in the Nazi Olympic Games of 1936.
Hitler, it seems clear, was simply unable to comprehend a game as subtle and nuanced as cricket. He wanted speed and violence. Not for him the gentle thwack of leather on willow, but rather the crunch of a harder, larger ball against unprotected shins. His rewritten rules for the game attempt to blend cricket and blitzkrieg: blitzkricket.
If cricket has a motto, it is probably “Play up! Play up! And play the game”, from Henry Newbolt’s poem Vitaï Lampada, which also extols cricketing manliness, but of a very different sort to that lauded by Hitler: “And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat, Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame . . .”
Cricket, of course, is the ultimate sporting fusion of mind and body: an intricate set of rules and tactics, involving minute gradations of physics, climate and psychology, requiring the broadest range of athletic ability and good manners. In its classic form, it takes five days, with set intervals for tea, and often produces no result. Try to imagine Hitler enjoying a truly thrilling draw, a totalitarian wrestling with the subtle uncertainties of the lbw law. The word “googly” has no translation.
The laws of cricket have evolved over time, and continue to evolve, the result of thousands of refinements and adjustments, not through the arrogant decree of one man. That, again, Hitler would have found impossible to grasp.
For anyone who loves cricket, there is something deeply satisfying in the knowledge that Hitler did not understand the game, and something disquieting in the thought that, had he won the war, we would all be playing without pads.
Sadly, the scorebook from Hitler’s first and only cricket match has not survived. We will never know how much his team lost by, where he batted in the order, and what score he made. But we can certainly speculate. His angry contempt for cricket, his attempt to invade the rules and alter them in his own image, and his inability to comprehend the complexities of the sport all point to one, inescapable conclusion: he was out for a golden duck.
Hitler has only faced one ball.

via timesonline.co.uk

Firing squad if you are out for a duck.

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Rewind: Bert Vance's 77-run over 0444664614106666600401 #cricket

via cricinfo.com

When people are asked what is the most number of runs to come off one over, thoughts turn to Tilak Raj and Malcolm Nash, who both conceded 36, to Ravi Shastri and Garry Sobers respectively. But in February 1990, Bert Vance went for more than twice that number in what ranks as one of first-class cricket's oddest overs.

The incident took place on the final day of Wellington's Shell Trophy match against Canterbury in Christchurch. It was Wellington's last game of the season and they needed to win to ensure that they secured the title. On the final morning they declared their second innings, leaving Canterbury to chase 291 in what turned out to be 59 overs.

Canterbury lost early wickets, and as John Morrison, the former New Zealand batsman and at the time Wellington's coach, remembers, they "put the shutters up very early in a run-chase that was very feasible and we just couldn't remove them in the normal way".

Although Canterbury had looked like losing when they slumped to 108 for 8, Lee Germon and Roger Ford had stopped the rot and seemed set to hold out for a draw.

Although when the penultimate over started Canterbury were eight wickets down, Germon, their wicketkeeper and no dunce with the bat, was still in and on strike. Morrison and Erve McSweeney, Wellington's captain-wicketkeeper, hatched a plan and Bert Vance, the New Zealand batsman who was nearing the end of his career and so had no bowling figures of any note to worry about, agreed to help them.

The idea was to feed Canterbury enough runs so that they would get close enough to the target and then perhaps risk their last two wickets going for glory. They began the over on 196 for 8 with Germon 75 not out.

Vance proceeded to bowl a succession of no-balls, and of his first 17 deliveries only one - the second - was legitimate. Full-toss after full-toss was lobbed down from two or three yards down the track - "Bert overdid it somewhat," recalled Morrison - and each one was cracked to the boundary past motionless fielders.

Germon brought up his hundred off the sixth ball, and in all he took 70 off the over, including eight sixes and five fours. Ford faced two balls midway through the carnage and scored five.

The real problems, however, were off the pitch, where the bewildered scorers and scoreboard operators lost track of what was happening and at one point resorted to consulting with spectators to try to resolve the chaos. Even the umpire was left bewildered, only allowing five legitimate deliveries before calling an end to proceedings.

The situation had not been resolved when Ewan Gray bowled the final over. Unbeknown to both sides, Canterbury had moved to within 18 of victory, and another 17 from Germon off the first five balls levelled the scores.

But with the scoreboard rendered inactive as the scorers still battled to make sense of Vance's over, Ford blocked the last delivery of the match. Only when the players returned to their changing rooms did the position become clear.

"I nearly had heart failure when I learnt a little time after the game that Canterbury only needed one to win and we had Vance bowling to a very leaky field John Morrison

The arguments continued long after the match. "There was all sorts of debate discussing this outrageous situation," recalled Morrison. "Howls of protest and the like, but in the end we were not docked any points, and through a couple of other very fortuitous results we won the championship. As you can imagine I copped a fair bit of flack, but winning the championship took most of the sting out of that... I quickly went from the outhouse to the penthouse!"

But the hastily conceived plan had almost backfired. "I nearly had heart failure when I learnt a little time after the game that Canterbury only needed one to win and we had Vance bowling to a very leaky field," Morrison explained. "It was also very possible because of the confusion that he may have bowled yet another no-ball.

"I decided that the tactic, while being innovative, was definitely a once only! But it's now a noted game and lives on whereas if the conventional tactics had been used the game would have faded completely and anonymously into the past."

Much like Steve O'Shaughnessy's 35-minute hundred in 1983, Vance's over is consigned to being a footnote in the record books, although the 182-run ninth-wicket stand remains a Canterbury record.

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KP blasts the Aussies out of the Ashes 2005

I can remember watching this in the middle of the night, with England all but out of Ashes contention. I had forgotten just how many chances Australia dropped. Quite incredible counter attacking innings. It was a huge anti climax when Hayden and Langer were sent in to finish the day, with no chance to win.

Steve Waugh hits last ball of the day for four to score Century.

I can remember watching this not to long after I moved to Australia. It made me realise what a religion cricket is in this country.

The Poms won the test anyway.

Ponting Spits Blood

as the Poms grab the Ashes.

That's all

Emperor Ponting has no clothes (well not many)

Poor Rickie and the Boys have been found out by a disciplined and talented South African Cricket Team. Out thought and outplayed over most of two tests, especially when it mattered. 

The tables truely have been turned. The cricket kings of swagger and jabber don't look so good with some toothless bowling and some arrogant batting. This get out of jail stuff that we saw from the South Africans is what the Australians have been doing to all and sundry for almost 20 years. Not this time.

The days of sticking your collective heads in the sand and living with the memories are over. The fact that some of the all time greatest Australian test cricketers: Warne, McGrath, Hayden, Gilchrist, Ponting were part of the team this time last year, with only Ponting left, points to the gap. 

The fact that Australia remain ranked number one in the Test Rankings is testament to their long term success more than their current form. Clearly the rankings are not a true reflection of who is top dog in world cricket. 

Even members of the dynasty that was Aussie Cricket have a hard time facing up to the new reality.

Like the senior men on the field, the relatively recent retirees with the microphones expected the superheroes to arrive. All the Australian capes have disappeared along with Telstra phoneboxes.

And talking of attempts at world domination and train wrecks, I doubt we will be seeing new Telstra phoneboxes any time soon. "Operator Operator... have you seen any good cricketers lately?... Your call cannot be connected...... Please try again in five years when all the lawsuits have been settled ."

Next up for the Aussies after this series is a trip around South Africa before their chance to take it to the Poms as they defend The Ashes next northern summer. 

Talking of happy South Africans, no doubt Kevin and the boys will be getting a little cocky as they start their preparations for the big match in Cardiff. 

I wonder what the odds on the Ashes are? You can check here. Australia are slight favourites, although you can get similar odds for both teams.

Despite all this, in all seriousness, I would still expect the Aussies to be very competitive, especially given the English propensity to fail when things look good. 

Unusual Cricket Occurences

Image via WikipediaAndrew Symonds scored 8 runs of one ball by running four runs and then got four overthrows from sloppy New Zealand fielding during the first test in Brisbane between Australia and New Zealand.

Bummer to be out two balls later.

End of over 45 (3 runs) - Australia 124/4 MJ Clarke 48* (123b 6x4) DL Vettori 1-0-3-0 A Symonds 18* (28b 3x4) IE O'Brien 11-4-25-0
45.1	O'Brien to Symonds, no run, bangs in the bouncer and that sails over Symonds' arched back
45.2	O'Brien to Symonds, no run, Was that dropped? Can't tell for sure, Symonds clubs a short ball and the ball goes straight to Redmond at short midwicket
45.3	O'Brien to Symonds, 7 runs, Now Symonds clubs another short ball from outside off, the ball just falls short of the rope at deep midwicket and they run four, worse for N there are four overthrows as well as the ball beats the keeper. Due to scoring issues the ball is being scored as 7 runs for the moment. It's complicated and I really can't explain why
45.4	O'Brien to Symonds, 1 run
45.5	O'Brien to Symonds, OUT, what a dramatic over! O'Brien pitches it just a shade outside off and gets Symonds to poke at it, the edge is taken and O'Brien is really pumped up in his celebration
	A Symonds c McCullum b O'Brien 26 (33b 3x4 0x6) SR: 78.78
There's a lot of confusion about the 46th over. The scoring software doesn't have a provision for 8 runs so it was scored as 7 runs for one ball and 1 off the next. Symonds was indeed on strike for all three balls.
45.6	O'Brien to Watson, no run, wide outside off and lets it go
End of over 46 (8 runs) - Australia 132/5 SR Watson 0* (1b) IE O'Brien 12-4-33-1

And here is a 12 from Yuvraj at a Footy Stadium in Melbourne during the stupid World XI versus Australia Series a few years ago.

Eight runs is obviously quite unusual because the Cricinfo scoring software does not allow it.

Curious how often that happens in a Test Match.

Go you Kiwis! Stick it to the ArrogantAussies. Interesting that the betting has hardly moved. People must think that if second rate Kiwi bowlers can do this then New Zealand will be bowled out for about 50. It is just like the stock market. Who knows? Entertaining all the same.

Australians hate to lose to the Kiwis. It would be worse than losing to Bangladesh.

India See Through Emperors

Emperor Ponting, Minister for Controlled Aggression Hayden and the boys taken to the cleaners in Mohali.

I told you Amit, No Clothes!

Up the wicket with no paddle

Canoe Paddle

Cricket Paddle?

Fraternity Paddle

Baseball Paddle

It seems that Forbes, American journalists need to do some background checking before diving in to the world of cricket. Their ignorance speaks volumes of the chance of selling cricket to the Yanks. Not much hope I would say, despite the enthusiasm of Allen Stanford a billionaire developer trying to sell cricket to Americans.

Twenty years ago Stanford, 58, who grew up in Fort Worth, Tex., couldn't tell a cricket paddle from a baseball bat.

I'll bet he still doesn't. Unfortunately, yes it looks like a paddle, but it is a bat.

This speaks volumes of the cultural divide. Nobody in America has ever heard of cricket. When I lived there in the 1980s and 90s, it was one gigantic cricket free zone. It was like it didn't exist. The Twilight Zone of Cricket. Fair enough there were plenty of American sports and football (soccer) was barely on the radar screen. Both football and rugby have done a much better job of promoting themselves and are now quite established. Cricket on the other hand seems to be taking a whiz bang approach with big ticket events, rather like the original Major League Soccer with big stars and no real grass roots support.

Whether cricket will take in the U.S. remains to be seen. In February Stanford dispatched a marketing group, armed with instruction manuals and broadcasts of the Stanford 20/20 tournament, to Fort Collins, Colo., with orders to turn the town, picked for its lack of exposure to the sport, "cricket crazy." The $3.5 million mission was a qualified success: After five weeks of being bombarded with ads and promotions, 6% of those surveyed said they would be willing to order cricket on pay-per-view. Fort Collins has a population of 125,700, implying that Stanford spent around $464 on each convert.

Based on this calculation it would take about a billion dollars to make a small inroad into the saturated US sports watching market. Why would you bother?

Cricket is a very small sport outside enthusiastic support in a small number of countries. Even here in Australia, only test matches and other international matches are well supported. Who has the time to sit and watch cricket. All the national matches are staged for pay tv with about a hundred people in to watch.

So cricket and your stuffy administrators in Dubai, get out your bats and get paddling if you want to make some inroads into some other markets. I think that the American one is a bit too hard.

Braveheart versus The Ego and Friends

Image via Wikipedia The Scottish Nation stands as one as the Scottish Cricket Team takes on the Auld Enemy for the first time in a Cricket One Day International in Edinburgh. As always, the weather looks like it will be the winner.

Scotland are good at this, with an honorable rain assisted no score draw against the Indians in the Twenty20 World Cup in Durban and in a One Day International against the Aussies in Edinburgh in 2005, notable examples of the fortuitous intervention of the elements and a lot better than the humiliations of the like of Argentina 1978. Better an honourable rain assisted draw than a shellacking I say.

That said, I was intrigued by the weather in Adelaide, mid winter and Scotland mid summer.

Come on Down. At least we can count on playing cricket in the summer.

See what I mean.

10.45am So we were meant to get underway at 10.45am, but obviously this isn't going to happen. There's more chance of a nuclear-free world than getting any play here at the Grange. But we have some parachutists landing on the ground - I presume they're part of the entertainment and not part of a foreign coup to overthrow the country - and plumes of orange smoke drift across the ground. More news when we get it.

10.40am We have news: it's still raining, and a little harder too. Super bagpipes, though. There's a thought, however vain, that it might clear up at 1.00pm for a brief while. So it's not a complete washout just yet.

10.30am The rain's falling I'm afraid, and more covers are being dragged onto the pitch. This is not good news at all - the clouds are heavy and dark, and it looks thoroughly miserable.

 Catch more commentators misery here.

South African Boy Makes Good

Ego Pietersen has been crowned King by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Lke a city whizkid or a great captain of industry, Pietersen is ambitious for ambition's sake, which does not sit easily with those who misconstrue his motives. Englishmen in particular, with their ingrained love of the underdog, find it hard to accept those who aren't content merely to bumble along in life and settle for second-best. And yet, the basic premise of sport is the quest to be the best, a challenge that Pietersen has embraced as if he were Roger Federer or Tiger Woods. He has no interest in being anything less than the greatest player who has ever lived, but unlike so many wannabes who mouth off and then vanish, he has consistently shown the talent, chutzpah and audacity to back up his promises with deeds.

Doesn't sound too English and it certainly seems very radical for such a stuffy organisation like the ECB. They are only slightly more progressive than the International Cricket Board and there must have been some tortuous discussions as the prince was coronated.

I wonder if that will be enough to get Shane Warne to come out of retirement for the Ashes next year?

Eddie the Eagle debuts for England

Dave Darren Pattinson (who?) debuted for England today at Headingley against the South Africans and is at the batting crease as I write. He must be good, since he moved Monty, who makes Glenn McGrath look like a top order batsman up the batting order. Batted behind Monty is hardly a ringing endorsement, but then he is there to bowl.

He was optimistically announced by the Cricinfo Commentary team. They obviously have high hopes for him as England offer up a sorry excuse for a cricket team yet again.

It's a procession, and now, into the fray comes the debutant Grimsby-born roof-tiling medium-pacer from Melbourne. The Chris Powell of England cricket selection? It's not tea after all, incidentally.

Who are those guys who are playing a test at Cardiff next year? Perhaps they are looking for his Aussie sledging experience to unhinge Rickie and the boys when they show up this time next year.

And why do I still support them?

Update: Two slogs and he is out. Eight more than the Captain and Monty combined. England all out for 203. Time to go to work Mr Pattinson (and Mr Flintoff).

Sheffield Shield Big In Australia

The Intra State Australian Cricket Competition and major loss leader for Cricket Australia in their quest for world dominance in the land of the Silly Mid Off, Point and Square Leg has had a face lift and is set for new life as the Sheffield Shield again. Many Australian traditionalists have been unhappy with the retirement of the shield and its replacement by Pura, a milk brand.

The history of the shield goes back to 1891-92 when Lord Sheffield was in Australia as the promoter of the English team led by WG Grace.

At the conclusion of the tour, Lord Sheffield donated pound stg. 150 to the New South Wales Cricket Association to promote inter-colonial cricket in Australia.

His generous contribution would have gone unnoticed if there had been just one vote different at a meeting of the newly formed Australasian Cricket Council, which met at the Oxford Hotel in Sydney.

The council, made up of NSW, Victoria and South Australia, voted 6-5 to put the money towards an annual trophy. The five dissenting votes wanted the money simply divided equally among the three colonies and spent.

With such a huge focus on money and razmataz, it is reassuring to see the return of this 107 year old trophy, which was restored for free by a Queensland Jeweller. There are some things that money can't buy. I have been to a few games here and they are most noticeable for their being about as many players on the field as people in the crowd. South Australia have been pretty abysmal since I arrived here, despite having Jason Gillespie, Darren Leamann and that tall skinny kid who bowls fast (Shaun Tait) available for most games.

In the photograph from 1991, the tall guy at the left is James Sutherland, current CEO of Cricket Australia, who was a fast bowler for Victoria when they won it that year. He will announce the return of the trophy with new sponsor Weetbix today.

How many did you have for breakfast?

Meanwhile back in the Old Dart, the Old Farts Rule the Roost. Tradition wins out in the shaping of the New English Premier League, Cricket that is. Let's hope it doesn't rain on their parade. Wouldn't want to see anything radical old boy.

Living in the Shadow of Warnie

Even when he announced his retirement, Stewart Chardonnay MacGill, doing it easy with the Cadillac Aussie Cricket team in the West Indies was upstaged by Captain VB for Me Razzmatazz and his beat up Rajasthan Royals in winning the IPL Tonk Contest in India.

It must be tough to be second best over a decade. That said, he still got over 200 test wickets. Not bad for a wine afficionado.

Ta Ta Shane

Shane Warne has retired from First Class Cricket to pursue a life of gambling, smoking, celebrity cricket, drinking, galavanting, getting rich, commentating, whatever.

I have only seen him once up close and personal. He was walking down North Terrace in Adelaide mobile phone glued to his ear. I wonder if he texted his resignation to Hampshire.

Ths Shane Ta Ta CU in th bar

What a great competitor and good luck with whatever you do next.

Is Mark Nicholas Unctuous?

Important issues such as whether Mark "GQ" Nicholas passes the mark as lead cricket presenter for Channel 9 here in Australia. I had to look up unctuous, but it would be hard to describe him better. Australia would have to be nine wickets down with 50 runs to get in the last two overs of a one day match for Nicholas to call the match as "in the balance".

I always thought it was a bit odd having the most polished pommy accent being the main media cheerleader for the Aussie Cricket Team on television. Sort of Richie Benaud, who was the voice of television cricket for me when I grew up, with a lot less class. That said, the resident Brit on the ABC Radio commentary is Peter Roebuck, who, more knowledegable, is still very annoying. He only has a cameo role however.

This person knows how to gauge Aussie opinion on this one. Not saying he is biased, but I have to agree with a lot of it. Aussies are passionate about the cricket team, but I doubt that they are looking for a cheer squad of one to state the bleedin' obvious. Insincerity does not go down too well here.

Adam Gilchrist Supreme Entertainer Bows Out

Adam Gilchrist has been one of the most entertaining cricketers for some time. You just never knew what would happen when he came to the crease. Sometimes, like today, in likely his last test innings, when he was dismissed for 14, he still managed to almost take the umpires head off before departing in another typically unselfish innings, where he would either hit or miss.

Peter Roebuck sums him up nicely in this piece. A great cricketer and a great person.

Like Warne, he knew when to leave. Right at the top of his game. OK, maybe just a little after, but you never knew with those two. Still a potential match winner and only the nit picky would have complained if he had planned to play another few years. Always a potential match winner if he was at the crease. He was without doubt the greatest wicket keeper batsman ever.

His last international matches will be the one day series against India and Sri Lanka , coming up.

At the Cricket

Tendulkar and Laxman Batting. Laxman is the tall guy in the middle.

The Adelaide Famous Score Board documents the progress of Tendulkars innings, while the Barmy Aussies play with beach balls (and drink beer).

The latest style of Baggy Green Caps. Modified Sombreros. Excellent for Sun Protection.

Adelaide Oval was at its glorious best yesterday for the fourth test between Australia and India. This year we have seats in the Chappell Stand in the shade. Much nicer than being sweltered and drowned out by the Barmy Army under the scoreboard. The only down side is that they are only serving XXXX beer. Thanks Darren. More than made up by lunch at the Lions Head, one of the best pubs in Adelaide. They have Coopers Pale on tap, so you can recover your taste buds. Oh well can't complain. A fun time was had and back again today. Bounteous thanks to my wonderful employer.

Bigger Better More Tour Down Under

This year the Tour Down Under professional cycling event held here in South Australia is higher profile with official UCI accreditation. This the first time that the professional tour has held an event outside Europe. All the big teams are here with their outrageously expensive carbon fibre contraptions and well honed human speed machines to pilot them.

I still wonder about cycling. All that expensive gear just to haul your way up the hills, weave through traffic and generally exhaust yourself. Not for me, lazy person that I am. My colleague is doing the amateur race tomorrow on sections of road that to my way of thinking are really designed for powered vehicles. Good luck to him. One of my other colleagues is going to watch it on Friday. I asked him why he would give up a day of work to see a bunch of young athletes whizz by in 30 seconds. That is what his partner did yesterday. At least it is free to enter.

I love the Tour De France, which they show live late at night here in Australia. So scenic. Great to participate in the event from afar and on the couch.

It reminded me of one of my first blog posts, which still holds true. I am those people except without the bike and the skin tight clothes.

Adelaide has many great sports events and the Tour Down Under is just one. Tomorrow is the fourth cricket test between Australia and India. My work task for the next two days is to drink beer and watch the cricket with some clients. Now that is my kind of sport.