Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers @ ANZ Stadium

This morning we drove down to Epping for our biggest adventure of the trip. Epping was the venue for Tex's birthday. A beautiful park where the kids had a blast and we got to catch up with Reggae & Phil, Barnes, Matt, Creany & Katy, Robbie and his folks (another we hadn't seen since I left Oz in 2000).  

Katy, Creany, Me & A

Thought we'd run the boys ragged and they might relax as we drove to Reggae and Phil's for a barbie lunch.  But there was no stopping them.  Even Tex powered through with a couple of buddies to run around the backyard with.  It was great to have just some alone time with Phil and Regs.  They've been great friends over the years and nearly 3 years since we'd seen them.  Not quite the same as before, now that there are 3 kids between us, but great fun.

After lunch we drove to Robbie and Linda's, where we are staying tonight.  A and Linda are staying at home as the boys are off to the cricket with a large crew.  I wanted A to come, but she didn't want to leave Linda to fend for herself, but any excuse for her not to go to the cricket.  We went to the 20/20 match (my first - this format has only come about in the last few years) at ANZ Stadium between the Sydney Thunder and The Sydney Sixers.  Thanks to Paula we have the luxury of the Commonwealth Bank's private box, right behind the bowler's arm.  The irony of being in the best box, owned by Commonwealth Bank, in ANZ Stadium, is not lost on me.  The most phenomenal seats with an awesome crew - Bob, Dave & son, Mick & Lara, Brooke, Adam and Mrs Summers, Buddha and Panos, and Philby.  The Sixers won by 16 runs, which didn't matter because both teams we're from Sydney so we couldn't lose.  Was a great game (11 sixes in a game is pretty impressive), but it was more about the company.

Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder, ANZ Stadium

Australia vs India @ SCG

Australia 463 & 7/401 dec defeated India 532 & 210 by 122 runs

Day 4 of 5 End Of Day

Australia 2nd innings 282/4 (MEK Hussey 87*, A Symonds 14*, 83 ov)

Crowd: 20,301

Australia

Phil Jaques, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Brad Hogg Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark

India

Wasim Jaffer, Raul Dravid, Venkata Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Rudra Singh, Ishant Sharma

Me @ The Bradman Bar, Member's Stand SCG

THE Sachin Tendulkar @ SCG

What I remember (in 2024)

Went with Craig's mate.  He was supposed to come as well, but dropped out that morning.

We sat in the Member's Stand.

The Australian crowd continued it's hate against Harbajan Singh.  I think this was the test he had a run in with Andrew Symonds.

After the lunch break, I went to where the dressing rooms were.  Everyone wanted to see the Aussies and no one was near the Indian room.  That's how I got this awesome picture of Sachin Tendulkar.  Also got one of Ishant Sharma.  Big lad.  And boy was he bowling fast that day.

New South Wales vs South Australia @ SCG

Day 3 of 4

South Australia 397 and 181 beat New South Wales 296 and 255 by 27 runs.

What I remember (in 2024)

Went with Reggae & Saffa.  

We went to the Randwick Ritz afterwards and saw Crackerjack.

Stayed at Reggae's in Randwick that night.

Australia vs Pakistan @ Sydney Cricket Ground

This was a Christmas present for Mum. I had bought her tickets to the one day cricket second final at the SCG between Australia and Pakistan. It was hard to imagine that she had never been to a game. We sat in the Upper Messenger Stand, facing west. As you can see below we got a great view of the sunset as the lights cam on at the SCG. Australia blasted a quick 337 after 50 overs and had the crowd entertained. In response, Pakistan could only manage 185 , leaving Australia to win the game by 152 runs and take the finals series 2-0. I'm pretty sure Mum had a great time

 

Sydney Cricket Ground 

The SCG - Australia v Pakistan

Toss: Australia, who chose to bat.

Result: Australia 7/337 (50 overs).  Pakistan 185 (36.3 overs).  Australia won by 152 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead, in the best of 3 finals.

Man of the Match: Ricky Ponting (Australia)

Crowd: 38,123

Australia vs Pakistan @ SCG

Toss: Australia, who chose to bat

Result: Australia 199 (47.1 overs).  Pakistan 6/203 (45.3 overs).  Pakistan won by 5 wickets with 4.3 overs to spare.

Man of the Match: Shane Warne (Australia)

Crowd: 37,476

Australia vs West Indies @ SCG

What I remember (in 2024)...

Went with Benno, Jane, Luvvo and Ashley (Luvvo's American girlfriend).

Beautiful day in the sun.

We sat in the seats by the boundary in front of the Hill / scoreboard.

Day 1 of 5

Toss: Australia, who chose to bat.

Australia 5/244 at the end of day 1.

Final Result: Australia 331 and 4/312. West Indies 304 and 215.  Australia won by 124 runs.

Player of The Match: Glen McGrath (Australia).

Crowd: 8,429

Australia vs Sri Lanka @ SCG

Match details

Toss: Sri Lanka, who chose to bat

Result: Sri Lanka 9/255 (50 overs). Australia 5/257 (49.4 overs).  Australia won by 5 wickets.

Player of The Match: Mark Taylor (Australia).

Crowd: 28,301

New South Wales v Queensland @ North Sydney Oval

Match details

Toss: Australia, who chose to bat

Result: New South Wales 8/273 (50 overs). Queensland 262 (49.4 overs).  New South Wales won by 11 runs.

Player of The Match: Michael Slater (New South Wales).

Crowd: 15,870

Australia vs India @ SCG

What I remember (in 2024)...

I don't remember exactly who was there, but I assume it was the Coasties

We sat in the Brewongle Stand and were in line with Mike Whitney when he ran forever to take a catch in the outfield.

Match details

Toss: Australia, who chose to bat

Result: Australia 9/208 (50 overs).  India 7/202 (50 overs).  Australia won by 6 runs

Australia won the best-of-3-finals series 2-0

Players of the Finals:  David Boon (Australia) and Geoff Marsh (Australia)

Crowd: 34,470

Australia vs West Indies @ SCG

What I remember (in 2024)...

Went with Aunty Trish, Uncle Greg & Andrew Tate

2 large rain interruptions.

Sat in the Don Bradman Stand.

Chanted " We want our balls back!" after beach balls were played with during rain interruptions, and the West Indies had minimal work to do afterwards to win.

Match details

Toss: Australia, who chose to bat
Result: Australia 4/236 (38 overs).  West Indies 2/111 (13.2 overs).  West Indies won by 8 wickets with 4.2 overs to spare (under Duckworth/Lewis Method)

West Indies won the best-of-3-finals series 2-1

Players of the Finals: Allan Border (Australia) & Desmond Haynes (West Indies)

Crowd: 31,900

Sydney Morning Herald Report - 19 January 1989

Australia vs New Zealand @ SCG

What I remember (in 2024)...

1st ever cricket match.

Went with Uncle Rob & Michael

Sat in the Hill Stand, but Michael and I were down on the boundary for the whole match.

Kim Hughes picked up nuts and bolts off the field and gave them to Michael.

Rodney Marsh breaking a bat off Lance Cairns bowling.

Geoff Howard copping it while fielding by the boundary. ("Hello Howard.....How are you?")

Australia hit a ball to the boundary and a spectator jumped the fence and threw it back to the keeper.  Australia only ran 2 and the umpire did not signal 4.  It cost Australia the game.  (However this was not reported in the next day's paper, so I could well be wrong).

Match details

Toss: New Zealand, who chose to bat
Result: New Zealand 8/220 (50 overs).  Australia 7/219 (50 overs).  New Zealand won by 1 run.

Players of the Match: Jeffrey Wright (New Zealand)

Crowd: 20,855

Sydney Morning Herald Report - 14 January 1981