A little bit of luck

For the baby of four girls brought up in a central Queensland country town, watching Test cricket was THE most boring thing in the entire world. It was SOOOO slow, even grass grew quicker than what happened in the centre of the field. OK… I was too young to appreciate Dennis K Lillee’s hairy chest, gold chains and high pants, or Thomo’s amazingly fast, fire balls. I probably didn’t appreciate The Ashes battles but I certainly have grown to LOVE them now! 

Then an amazing person called Kerry Packer (who also must have been bored) –but he was also thinking of how to financially capitalize on 20million Aussies being totally bored and introduced the white cricket ball. And the concept went worldwide.

With my nextdoor neighbours, we had THE XI of Jessie Street! We were THE guns! The first white cricket ball in the steet. Cricket then became exciting… not that I remember a lot but men in funny colours, quick one day games that drew the crowds back into the stands for some beers and bikinis! Yellow was not a flattering colour (unless you were Dennis K)!! hehe

So today I’m off to my first Twenty20 match. But what’s wrong with me? I’m not excited. In fact, I’m a little apprehensive. I now have grown into a Test girl… yes, a girl who likes cricket, loves the 1^st day of the 1^st test at The Gabba. For those reading  & scratching their heads.. The Gabba stands for Wooloongabba (yes it’s spelt that way! A suburb in inner Brisbane, sunny Queensland, Australia. And a bit more trivia for those playing at home.. juts around the corner from the recording studios where Powderfinger started jamming about 20 years ago).

One day games, fine… and my dear Dad’s Xmas present (again) are One Day tickets for next year. I’m even taking my 14 year old girls today, and you guessed it, they are NOT impressed! They didn’t like One Day-ers!

But I am not a fan of the Big Bash games. I haven’t been to one… but the idea of smashing the ball to Kingdom Come (where is that place)?? Just doesn’t excite me.

I have read many a cricketing newspaper article about how this has destroyed the game. I realize and understand that you can’t be everything to everyone, and maybe that was the hardest thing for the cricketing lads to work out. They didn’t have to be in ‘every’ team to be a success. But maybe this game has brought the crowds back. Created excitement where no excitement was, says Yoda. There was a great article in The Aust Financial Review Magazine, Summer 2011. http://www.afr.com/afrmagazine 

That’s what marketing is all about isn’t it? Cricket Australia have seemed to created a war between the States, put sexy back with cool names, including Melbourne Stars (a bit gay), Sydney 6ers and Thunder (don’t mind those), Brisbane Heat (sexy), Hobart Hurricanes, Adelaide strikers, Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Renegades (bit American). And funky coloured outfitting!

Well… I’m sure that my girls’ and my experience will a fun one tonight …  I’m not a Shane Warne fan, but I am looking forward to seeing his facelift debacle and you can’t deny it, seeing him bowl in such a game like this will be fantastic!! Stay tuned! I’m a little bit excited now! 

Tags: Australia, Cricket, Cricket Australia, Gabba, Kerry Packer, Queensland, Shane Warne, Test cricket, The Australian Financial Review, The Australian Financial Review Magazine, Twenty20