da blaze casino： Adelaide is a throwback to old cricket-watching days.Television news bulletins encourage people to get tothe ground and make a celebrity out of the curator
da pinup bet： Roving Reporter by Peter English at Adelaide26-Nov-2004
Matthew Hayden: roasting the Kiwis in Adelaide’s furnace heat© Getty Images
Adelaide is a throwback to old cricket-watching days.Television news bulletins encourage people to get tothe ground and make a celebrity out of the curator.Eskies are still allowed; terry-towelling hats areoptional. The confiscated drink and sandwich coolersat Brisbane looked like a parking lot, but at theVictor Richardson Gates containers are checked at theturnstiles and taken to the hill.Wayne Phillips, the South Australia coach, and DavidHookes used to plop balls over that entrance in the1980s, but left-hand batsmen must aim more carefullynow to clear the Chappell Stands of Richardson’sgrandchildren. Justin Langer quickly woke thosespectators with four boundaries from James Franklin’sfirst over. In a garden fountain behind them asulphur-crested cockatoo cooled off while pelicans stayedclose to the River Torrens. It was tempting to joinin.The morning was so hot it was possible to burn beforethe completion of New Zealand’s national anthem, andmembers’ voices echoed under the rust-coloured roof asthey Advanced Australia Fair. Rising to 37 degreestoday, the heatwave will continue through the weekendand any sessions under 35 will be toasted. Australiaalmost topped 100 by lunch. New Zealand’s playerswalked back slowly through the George Giffin Stand tothe dressing-room. Few things can sap a touring teamas much as the thought of two days’ fielding in windsblowing from the northern deserts.Walking around the ground, flies buzz around eyes andgive lips annoying tingles. In this match theAustralian wave will probably replace the Mexican tobrush away the pests. It is a week for cork hats andcrowd calls along the 1932-33 lines of "Leave ourflies alone, Fleming". The only thing that seems to bemissing is Ian Chappell from the television commentaryteam. A South Australian favourite, Chappell has beenrested for the match in favour of England’s MarkNicholas.Everything else is in place from the corporate marqueesto the crowd beach ball. Jamie Siddons, another greatSouth Australian batsmen and a state assistant coach,knows plenty about Les Burdett’s pitches and isimpressed with its hardness. New Zealand have pickedtwo spinners and the amount of turn is in doubt as heleaves the lift for the SACA offices. It is definitelya day for air-conditioning.Peter English is Australasian editor of Wisden Cricinfo.
