Field Theory by Hadyn Green

I think there are a lot of people who miss the bad old days of one-dayers at the Basin (I couldn't sit on the bank then as the crowd were too disgusting) and are trying to recreate some mis-spent youth.

Some days there really is no wisdom to be found in crowds and people take advantage of the relative anonymity to slip the leash. The Sevens is the same. Ghastly.

I played a lot of cricket and can assure you that, unfortunately, the men on the field are likely to be no more gentlemanly (just less drunk). That aside, there is no greater sporting contest than a good 5 day test.

5 day tests, in the arse-end of March. Every year, NZ Cricket schedule something at this time, and every year, the weather gods respond with "what the hell were you thinking? Here, have some rain."

Love that last photo of Rudolf the red-nosed
wicket keeper...

Blitzkricket...

Adolf Hitler played cricket...
... 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.

in case you missed this great article by Ben Macintyre ( The Times ) in The Press on Saturday here it is from The Australian .
Interestingly The Press chose not to run the very last line...

5 day tests, in the arse-end of March. Every year, NZ Cricket schedule something at this time, and every year, the weather gods respond with "what the hell were you thinking? Here, have some rain."

horse, friday on the bank was as warm and calm as any random day they could have chosen to start a test in january or february, and while saturday and sunday were windier, they were dry and occasionally quite bright. today was pretty horrible, but despite the wind they played for several hours (to quite good results for our lot). i'm not necessarily a fan of tests in march, but it's better than no tests at all. tomorrow should be ok too, so i think you're overstating things a bit.

from what i can tell, it was much more civilised round our part of the bank (square leg) on friday. i say from what i can tell, because what with the sun and a couple of preparatory pints of strong IPA at the malthouse, i was a little dozy on it.

Having been at the opening day of the Pakistan test at the same venue in mid Dec reaffirmed my belief that March is the best month for a Basin test. And that includes the over-rated Boxing Day test.

HG; I wasn't sitting that far from you but I didn't actually notice the boorishness. But, like Dan Slavin, I remember ODIs (and even tests) from the 90s so perhaps I'm a bit immune to it. Plus, I was more in the transistor radio part of the crowd.

The only person I noticed getting some lip was when the Director of Strategic Finance arrived (good on him for turning up).

One thing that really struck me was how many more Aussies crossed the ditch for this compared to previous series. A reminder that sporting tourism is a growing business.

If it's of any consolation, some fans at the SCG are just a pathetic. My sisters-in-law no longer go to cricket as they're sick of homophobic gits. Annoys me no end. The Hill, as it was called at the SCG, was where this bunch of blokes would hang out. I made the mistake of getting tickets there once, never again and it's gone now. It's not a cricket-thing, it's a length-of-time-drinking think.

Some days there really is no wisdom to be found in crowds and people take advantage of the relative anonymity to slip the leash. The Sevens is the same. Ghastly.

I think the difference with the Sevens is that they're drinking to have a good time. The guys at the cricket were drinking to get drunk (as they proudly yelled to one another at one point). The Sevens did surprise me with the lack of real drunk arseholes compared to folks drinking and having a good time.

But as Paul said:

It's not a cricket-thing, it's a length-of-time-drinking thing.

Which in turn makes it a cricket thing I suppose (and a Sevens thing and a thing for any all-day event that serves alcohol).

I will admit that they weren't arseholes the entire time and that their return fire at the Australians at the top of the hill was funny at times. I suppose I was a bit surprised to find that at the cricket rather than at other supposedly more "yobbo" sports.

I'm glad you (and others) called those assholes on their behaviour, Haydn. Because it's not good for anyone if women feel too intimidated to get along to games. I remember going to a one day game at Eden Park when I was much younger - about 18 or 19 - and too timid to stand up for myself, and it was just so unbelievably hideous for women that it put me off going back to a game for about 10 years.
When I finally did get back to a game I sat in the family section with friends and it was really delightful. Imran Khan, Martin Crowe, sandwiches and a thermos - what's not to like?

I really enjoyed cricket on the bank and weather for first 3 days was as good as welington gets .I sat near sonny as his mates and one thing i can say is that they dont drink at the cricket un like many other middle aged wellington men who spend most of the day going for more beer or the loo.How come the beige guys werent at the test ,the aussies had more support than the black caps ,come on kiwis get those flags and voices out .