Cricket tragedies

Last Wednesday Monash University’s Centre for Policy Studies (COPS) defeated LaTrobe University’s Department of Economics and Finance in our annual cricket match. Conditioned as we are to defeats it still hurts - particularly when Monash bats poorly and scores a total of only 126 – not even batting out all of its 30 overs - and when LTU responds by 'snatching defeat from the jaws of victory' by posting a total of only 115. LTU's run chase was too slow - too many missed opportunities.

Monash’s amiable boss Professor Peter Dixon looked ruffled as LTU’s score approached that of his team but smiled broadly as, yet again, the almost inevitable happened. A review of last year’s defeat was posted on this blog. I didn’t play myself this year but, after learning from Peter that my bowling had terrorized him in the past, I might get back into training for 2008.

Yesterday I went to the First Final in the One Day Commonwealth Bank Series between Australia and England. The outcome was disappointing for Australia since it lost. But England celebrated its third consecutive victory and deserved congratulations – despite the close apparent margin with England winning with only 3 balls to spare – it was by far the better team.

Australia started brilliantly being 1-170 at one stage with superb batting performances by Ponting and Hayden. But they were all out in the 48th over for 252 which did not look enough on a very even pitch. England started disastrously and were 3 for 125 at one stage and then responded as the Aussies usually do. They fought back brilliantly. Paul Collingwood’s 120 was a solid innings that won the game for England. Apart from Brett Lee‘s 3 for 41 the Australian bowling didn’t look good. McGrath looked old and out of it.

The Mexican Wave survived despite warnings that were regularly screened stating that it was banned. There is a loutish stupid adolescent element who damage the game – I thought those who booed Collingwood on getting his century (pictured) need to be sent to re-education camps in a Gulag - but I agree with Yobbo that banning the wave is not the way to go. The wave is a bit of fun.

The crowd was small for the MCG at under 40,000. The banning of the Mexican wave may have played a minor role as may the expectation (proved false) that England would not be competitive. But I also think the facilities at the MCG are appalling – at least for the average mug like me who is not an MCG member. The seating is uncomfortable, the electronic reporting systems are 60% advertising and the food and beverage services are beyond belief. The food is expensive and genuinely disgusting. Not a great deal for the $60 I paid for my ticket.

I enjoyed the cricket but the drones who banned the Mexican wave seem to also lack much business sense.