QF WP’s First Test v Pakistan TR - live

[QF WP]

As usual, I down tools to attend the First Test in Brisbane - as I have done for the last 30 years. Enjoyable to spend time in the Cricketers Club, have silver service lunches and beers/wine flowing. There has been a group of us going to the match together - whittled down time just four today

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.

Also taking a guest as usual and they may also be posting here

 

[QF WP]

Okay, first photos of the day, the usual ground photos:


Hi Mel McLoughlin and Michael Slater:


The Aussie huddle before they go out and the Pakistani batsmen in the foreground


First ball with beer in hand

 

[Captain Halliday]

That first ball was quick...



...almost as quick as the first beer for @QF WP

 

[CaptJCool]

Black Armbands today for the famous Mann

WA’s best all-round cricketer dies after cancer battle

 

[Katie]

Thought of you, @QF WP. Mr Katie said on the way into work this morning that if he has a bad day at work, I might just get a text message that he's off to the cricket.

No worries, I thought, but how the heck do I cook the dinner you've planned for your parents??
[Mr Katie is the main cook of our household, and he's sous videing lamb for dinner, to be finished off on the barbie]

 

[CaptJCool]

Finally

 

[QF WP]

Well, lunch was as usual, a splendid affair. Firstly the menu:









Oh my, a Torbreck first day. Really going to be a tough day, isn’t it @Captain Halliday

Thankfully we got the Restaurant Manager to ensure there were some Run Rig put aside for us

 

[QF WP]

Yes! Not just one wicket, but 3 in quick succession, including the captain and arguably their best batsman Ali. 3/77

 

[QF WP]

Famous people walking through the Bradman Room - firstly was Adam Gilchrist and secondly Darren Lehmann

 

[Captain Halliday]

Well, lunch was as usual, a splendid affair. Firstly the menu:

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Oh my, a Torbreck first day. Really going to be a tough day, isn’t it @Captain Halliday

Thankfully we got the Restaurant Manager to ensure there were some Run Rig put aside for us

Do you mean this?

 

[QF WP]

Yes, the first bottle was good, the second sublime and we’re waiting to sit back down for the third

 

[QF WP]

Another wicket, about 10 mins ago. 4/90 currently

 

[moa999]

What a change. Everyone gets a wicket.

At lunch I was a little worried that with the slow yet unbroken start, Pakistan were at risk of being able to bat us out of the game, as the Gabba pitch typically goes benign after lunch.

 

[QF WP]

The conundrum - shall we buy this and settle in for a session? $1,400. Damn, we should have bought this first this morning and had it all day @Captain Halliday

 

[QF WP]

We lost out - the table behind us at the second sitting of lunch just bought it. 10 of them will enjoy their afternoon.

 

[QF WP]

The benefits of being long term premium red wine drinkers - we were given a spare table at the second sitting so we can inbibe our third bottle of Run Rig. It’s not what you know...

 

[QF WP]

Then again, we could have bought this bottle - but I would have been excommunicated:

yes, that’s an 18L bottle that costs $22K

 

[QF WP]

We’ve been doing too much talking and not enough posting @Captain Halliday. Pakistan now 6/171

 

[QF WP]

An update (now old I suppose), as currently 6/197

Edit: but finally we get a wicket. 7/227, Shah our for 26

 

[QF WP]

How about that one. Another wicket on the next ball. Starc on a hat-trick. 8/227