First Ashes Test - live TR

[QF WP]

As usual, I down tools to attend the First Test in Brisbane - as I have done for the last 25 years +. Enjoyable to spend time in the Cricketers Club, have silver service lunches and beers flowing. There has been a group of us going to the match together - my father, uncle from Sydney and clients.

I will give live updates, photos and general commentary over the next three days - alas, being a father and husband has curtailed my previous full attendance.

 

[QF WP]

Last night I went to switch cards in my wallet - where is my QCC card? I searched until 1am. Damn, next thing is a phone call to QCC to get a replacement organised.

Day 1 of an Ashes Test is Members only and a long drawn out affair as everybody is collecting their tickets for the match. So I got an hour early bus this morning.

BCC runs free buses for attendees who need only flash their ticket to the driver. I had the website up in by phone and flashed that instead. He wasn't interested - waved me on board

 

[QF WP]

Phew, first crisis averted. The receptionist has passed on my details to the Member Services Manager. I'm hoping that she might be able to re-print my card before play starts.

 

[QF WP]

BCC runs free buses for attendees who need only flash their ticket to the driver. I had the website up in by phone and flashed that instead. He wasn't interested - waved me on board

For those that are attending and weren't aware of the free buses, here is the screenshot from the translink website:

 

[QF WP]

First story of the day

http://m.couriermail.com.au/sport/c...ail&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=engagement

Brilliant - revenge could be sweet if we win the toss, send the Poms into bat and sub in Chris

 

[QF WP]

Got off my bus at Brisbane Transit Centre and this is the line for the free Gabba bus



Good 250m long. Popular place to be going today

 

[QF WP]

Finally...



Here we go.

Haven't seen any Barmies yet - must still have hangovers

 

[anat0l]

My course supervisor should be there. We had to rush marking and final grades calculations in the last few days so he could make the test today. He's supposed to go for an examiner's meeting, but he's negotiated his way out of it - "business meeting"

Even though he claims he hasn't missed a single Brisbane test since he was 18 (except for one which he doesn't count because he was involuntarily overseas), I don't believe he's exclusive enough to be in the QCC, so he'll be sweating it in the regular stands with the plebs.


On an unrelated note, the postgraduate students in our institute have their annual conference today. I don't think we have a cricket-mad contingent of any appreciable size, though I imagine there may be a few who will keep cricinfo open on their mobiles for score feeds during the day.

 

[QF WP]

Finally, arrived at the Ground. Bus was half Aussies and the others were Poms

 

[QF WP]

Practice wickets look good:

 

[QF WP]

My view:


We won the toss and chose to bat - good.

Hot and steamy wicket which will swing in the first hour then flatten out to a good batting track.

Qantas choir, teams and Aboriginal blessing

 

[QF WP]

Thunderous applause for the two teams.

First ball.James Ansreson to Rogers:



First drink;

 

[QF WP]

Stuart Broad announced to the crowd for bowling the second over. Huge boo from the Aussies whilst the Poms break out into song.

First ball to Warner dispatched to the boundary in front of where I'm sitting.

Good start

 

[QF WP]

Damn, Rogers out for 1. Caught at gulley off Broad.

Watson now in. 1/12

 

[samh004]

Good start

Rogers out for 1

 

[QF WP]

But then Warner and Watson have taken charge and 10 came from the last over IIRC. Streaky shot by Watson almost caught by Carberry at point. Kerry O'Keeffe says he looks like Wesley Snipes.

Beautiful shot by Warner guiding a shoulder high ball to the boundary, over the head of the keeper - what Rogers should have done

 

[QF WP]

Drinks 1/42, last ball 4

First beer tasted good after a couple of waters. Hot work this watching cricket

 

[QF WP]

I think I'll have another:

 

[QF WP]

Ahhh, lunch time in The Bradman Room.

 

[markis10]

Not often Telstra is slower than Optus, but its the case at present near the Gabba, you spectators are killing the Telstra cell next door!