If I get to Heaven’s gate (which in itself is a doubtful proposition) and Saint Peter says, “Before you enter, Jim, you’re going to need to choose between watching baseball or cricket for eternity,” it would be a tough decision.
I’ve always been a baseball fanatic, but I guess this means that I’ve become a real cricket fan, too. Some people think cricket is boring, but as a newly-minted official cricket fan, I can say with great authority that they are wrong. It’s fascinating, sort of the bastard love child of baseball and chess.
The top-level international game is played in only twelve countries —England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Ireland, and Afghanistan. (Yes, the game originated in England back in the 1700s and spread across the British Empire.)
You have to feel sorry for the poor Pakistani team, which just got demolished in a two-game series by Australia‘a team. As a result of a terrorist attack in their home country, the international cricket organization has refused to schedule any games there for ten years. For a decade, its team has been forced to roam the world, perpetually the visiting team, never able to play in front of a friendly home crowd, never able to sleep in their own beds.
What a sad situation for any athlete in any sport. I hope they win every game they play except when they play Australia.
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, oi, oi!
And Jim. It is our cousin’s son, Justin Langer, who coaches Aussie!!!! OI OI OI. And we’re all off to Melbourne to watch the Boxing Day Test.
I’m so jealous. We were in Western Australia when the Pakistanis played in South Australia and then we’ll be back in South Australia when they play in Western Australia. But we’ll be watching it on TV. All these years and you’ve never mentioned that you’re related to cricket royalty.