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Cricket can be a tremendously exciting game. Smash a tonne for your club or country for example or
take a rip-snorting catch while suspended in a mid-air - arm outstretched or belt a four to win off the last ball in front of a
packed stadium. Not a great comparison to the 2016 – 2017 Sheffield Shield final that
surprisingly was held at Traeger Park in Alice Springs (Mparntwe in the local Indigenous language). The Victorians had
long ago crushed the South Australians by batting them into submission. Eight
hundred runs, a mighty task to achieve, within a five day time frame. The last
day, as far as the game goes, was for the pure cricket tragics or diehard
Victorian supporters who may have experienced some ever increasing sense of euphoria as their team came closer to a winning draw.
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| The South Australian players were not doing too well |
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| Cricket can be a lonely game |
After four days of hard toil in more than 37 degree heat day five was the launch of the cooler autumn weather in the centre of Australia. A breezy 27, cold for recently summer-baked Territorians. The lush green oval that is nestled between the Todd River and the Central MacDonnell Ranges – a stone throw away from the gap - is a beautiful spot to bring a classy game of cricket. The combination is truly a cracking sight.
With approximately 50 others spectators, I watched a
despondent captain Travis Head knock the ball around with ease all day long. He greeted his tonne with almost disdain, barely
raising his bat to acknowledge a subdued applause from the meagre crowd. The opening photo of this blog is taken of Travis Head scoring a single to reach his 100, almost cleaning up short leg in the process.
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| A light wave of the bat |
There is something about elite sportsman in full flight. Fast
bowling was on display at its best with Patto (James Pattinson) steaming in and
ripping the ball across the pitch - it was hard to pick up the cherry from side
on. Fawad Achmed’s spin bowling had the South Australians in all sorts of trouble and was
a pleasure to watch. The Pakistani born leg
spinner had the tormented batsman surrounded
by fieldsmen as he took 3 for 81 in the Bushrangers push for victory.
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| Patto steaming in |
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| A lone spectator chilling out in the private box |
With Travis Head unbeaten on 137 and the match going nowhere at 6
for 236 the South Australians declared the match as a draw, half an hour before the end of play. Unable to reach the
huge target, the draw meant that Victoria won the Sheffield Shield for the
third year in a row. A great accomplishment in a tough competition.
Celebrations started immediately with the Victorians
slapping each other on the back, shaking hands and bear-hugging all in sight. The
Melbournian victory song reverberated out of the change rooms and across the
ranges.
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| The Bushrangers walking off the field victorious |
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| The classic Sheffield Shield, a donation to the NSW Cricket Club by the Earl of Sheffield |
The shield is no longer lifted in the air as they do in other sporting codes due to its sheer weight and occupational health and safety risks. The victorious Victorians gathered joyfully around their Sheffield Shield. They will spend the weekend in the magical dead heart, rejoicing the spoils of battle while the ancient Northern Territorian natural walls of grandeur as ever remain silent.
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| Winners once again |
Grey Bits
I found the following article an interesting read
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| The Aussie, Northern Territorian , Indigenous and Torres Straight Islander flags flying high in a stern desert breeze |
Find the complete score card on the following link:
http://live.cricket.com.au/#/1884/40673/overview
This one's for you Peter!
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