Where were you when...?

[Johnson#26]

I've always loved how sport can mark time in your life; a reminder of how old you were at a certain time, your interests, the stage of your life, etc, etc. Cricket is a great sport for this - you can remember things by series, tours, players and moments.

What prompted this thread was watching the Steve Waugh Johnny Walker ad, and his Jan '03 ton in Sydney. That was amazing. Can remember that so clearly. I had a mate over, we spent all day playing Cricket '97 on the computer while listening to the radio/running into the TV room to get scores/watch overs (that game is seriously good fun). I remember seeing Langer hole out to deep fine leg, and the roar when Waugh took to the field early. Then Martin Love came and went quickly, but all day, Waugh kept upping the ante. Remember how Ch9 didn't go straight to the news, and my parents came into the room when Dad got home from work as Waugh was about to enter the 90s. Remember shaking with nerves, wanting so much for him to reach that ton (used to read his tour diaries religiously, looked up to him so much). That feeling of relief and elation (and I've never even met the guy and was only a young kid) when he cracked that ball off Dawson through the covers and the roar/'he's gone for it! And there it is! That's his hundred!' from Bill Lawry is as fresh in my mind now as it is forever. I ended up nicknaming my cat after Richard Dawson; it didn't even make any sense as to her name, but it was all from that summer of 02/03 :p .

Another memory is a family holiday, stopping by in Port Fairy for a night or two. Sat up in the dark with Dad and my sister when India were cruising to victory in the 1st ODI of 03/04 at the 'G when Ian Harvey ran out Ganguly (?) with a direct hit off his own bowling. Brad Williams took a few key wickets, and Clarke took the winning catch before kissing the Aussie crest on his shirt.

One final one for now: the same summer, 03/04, when India and Zimbabwe came out. I spent the whole summer playing cricket out on the road with my neighbour, some incredible matches came out of that summer. On one occasion I'd struggled all day with the bat, but when we found the lost Swing King ball, for some reason I handled it better in the rapidly fading light than I did the tennis ball in the daylight. One of my finest ever innings.:thumbsu: That one came on the same day as Aus A beat Zimbabwe in an ODI at the Adelaide Oval. Marcus North opened with a ton, and I think Haddin, Thornley and Cosgrove all played. Poor old Heath Streak and Ray Price really carried the can for Zimbabwe that summer.

Can also recall where I was when S.Waugh played his final innings. I was emptying the dishwasher when he came into bat in the first innings, mixing between the TV and the ABC. For his 2nd innings, we dropped the bat and ball and left the stumps on the nature strip to get inside to watch as he slogged his way to 80 (came sooo close to the ton); Katich made a forgotten but very important 100 that day, too, batting at 6. From the same summer, the rain-affected Gabba Test vs India, I was hitting a ball around the house with my mini-Slazenger bat as Hayden rumbled towards another 1st Test ton. He got out sweeping Harbajhan straight to the man at a very straight square leg, from memory. Was in shock.

That's enough for now.:o:):thumbsu: It's prompted me to go in search of some Cricinfo scorecards.

[DT_fanatic]

I was at that India vs Aus ODI. I remember we got to the ground a bit late and Australia had lost a few wickets in the first innings, and soon they were about 50 odd for 4 IIRC. Symonds and Clarke at the crease. I thought, shit, I'm late as it is and it seems like the game won't be too exciting/won't last the whole distance. (I don't know why I was so naive to the Australian 'backs to the wall' mentality at the time). Anyway, they end up scoring 270 and India lost :o The roars when wickets started to fall after India were crusing were massive...haven't been to too many games but that was just incredible. ESPECIALLY when Ganguly was run out - I remember that very clearly as well. Amazing atmosphere and even though India lost I fondly cherish the memories from that day :)

Also remember various Ashes '05 moments. Can't remember which test/day but the night when Harmison yorked and bowled Clarke off a slower ball (it was at the end of the day, early morning here). School night and everything, I was listening to the TV on earphones cuz everyone else was sleeping. Infact I dozed off as well but for some reason I got up before Clarke was bowled. Was so glad I did because that was one amazing delivery.

The FIRST ever cricket memory I have though is the '99 WC. I don't have any memories of any cricket games before the India vs SAF contest in the group stages of that WC. And the first shot I ever remember seeing was Ganguly cover driving to deep cover point off Klusener (? I'm not 100% sure about this). This was after coming back from school. Don't know why but I can never forget that. I believe Cronje had some earphones on him on the field as well during that game, getting messages from the dressing room :o

[Bucking Beads]

I was at the Gabba the night Andrew Symonds dropped the streaker... It was brilliant...

[Cotchin 9]

Bevan's ton at the MCG, 01/02 VB Series when we looked gone for all money. What a game. What an innings.

[Bomber Bears]

Was at Waughs last day of test cricket, in the Doug Walters Stand near the Indian fans, remember clearly him getting out.

Remember sitting in my old living room watching Waugh get that ton as well.

Edgbaston 05, glued to my chair that last day

Still Remember the famous one dayer when Bevo got the 4 to win, asking dad 'Can Mcgrath bat?' (i was about 6 at the time)

[Bomber Bears]

That Steve Waugh hundred, Never seen the SCG like that on TV or in person, every single seat just about filled, every single person on their feet, that shot of the Members stand when he hits that four is brilliant

[HFF_07]

I still remember the day (or month) when Andrew Symonds came to the forefront of International Cricket.

After being left out of the world cup squad for the '03 tournament, Symonds was publicly backed by Ricky Ponting as a direct replacement for the then injured Shane Watson.

As Australia entered the first match as world champions following an unbeaten 7 game winning streak to the 99 final (also against Pakistan), Australia started reasonably well, before a middle order collapse saw us move from 4/86 to 5/146 as Ponting was removed for a well compiled 53.

Enter Andrew Symonds who started of cautiously before upping the ante late with a flurry of lofted drives and combine with some very handy lower order runs with Ian 'the freak' Harvey and Brad 'Gearge' Hogg to get us from a precariously positioned 5/150 up over the 300 mark.

Thanks to a scintilating batting display from Andrew Symonds, which saw Australia take nearly 50 from the last 5 overs alone.

Riding the path of destruction left by Andrew Symonds, Australia duely did what they had to do with a ruthless bowling display that saw the Pakistani's bowled out for 228 falling 82 runs short.


One of the best innings of cricket I have ever seen however was in the same tourament, with Australia off to a flier with Adam Gilchrist setting the tone with a 48 ball 57, and some handy runs from Matthew Hayden (37) before falling to the spin of Harbajhan Ricky Ponting and Damian Martyn got together at the end of the 19th over, what proceeded this was some of the best batting you will ever see.

Ponting started off cautiously as ever, while Martyn cruised along, the pair adding a run a ball until the last 10 overs where they combined for a total of over 70 in the final 5 overs alone.

Combining for a record 224 run partnership at over 7 an over, Ponting set up the Johannasburg stadium alight that day with only 4 fours, and an amazing 8 sizes, while the unheralded Martin contributed 88 well compiled runs off only 84 balls.

As Australia coasted to the trophy with a rout of the Indians that day, that was one of the best days of cricket I have witnessed.

As for the Earliest memories was the infamous '99 world cup, with 'Flem' underarming the ball down to Gilchrist in the infamous Donald/Kluesener run out, in the earlier game, 'that' innings' by Steve Waugh against the proteas when he slog swept Allan Donal for six was something truly to behold.

I love my cricket and could talk all day about it, like the time Australia won 16 tests consecutively, in which Australia bowled Pakistani bowler Ajit Agarker out for 6 consecutive ducks, or the summer where you could simply not get Steve Waugh out and averaged something like 80 over the summer, or the game where Mark Waugh took one of the best slips catches I have ever seen to remove Inzaman Ul Haq which also was the game that saw Gilly step onto the world scene as one of the most destructive batsmen the game had ever seen at that stage.

God talk about highlights, anyone else for memories from pre '03?

[Bomber Bears]

I remember that Langer/Gilchrist innings, we were listening to the radio in my year four classroom and i had to go tell another teacher Australia had won

[Gough]

I was at Edgbaston for the World Cup tie in '99, most amazing one day I have ever seen, got the tickets through a mate who was a Middlesex member. Walking back to the car, he said to me what are you doing Sunday, he had a spare ticket for the final. Biggest anti climax ever, terrible game, most memorable aspect of it was Inzy's long, slow walk back to the pavillion. Should have sold my ticket to the Pakistani dude on St John's Wood High Street who offered me 800 quid.
First memory of cricket would be 1980, watched Ian Chappell get 50 in his last test batting with Bruce Laird in Melbourne. Start of a love affair that has been more enduring and memorable than any other in my life. Sad bastard that I am.

["josh]

I was at the SCG for McGraths last over in ODI cricket, huge roar when he got a wicket from his lat ball.

Gilchrist 2nd fastest test hundred, was playing backyard cricket with my friends, so we stopped to watch.

[SJ]

Sat up in the dark with Dad and my sister when India were cruising to victory in the 1st ODI of 03/04 at the 'G when Ian Harvey ran out Ganguly (?) with a direct hit off his own bowling. Brad Williams took a few key wickets, and Clarke took the winning catch before kissing the Aussie crest on his shirt.

I was at that India vs Aus ODI. I remember we got to the ground a bit late and Australia had lost a few wickets in the first innings, and soon they were about 50 odd for 4 IIRC. Symonds and Clarke at the crease. I thought, shit, I'm late as it is and it seems like the game won't be too exciting/won't last the whole distance. (I don't know why I was so naive to the Australian 'backs to the wall' mentality at the time). Anyway, they end up scoring 270 and India lost :o The roars when wickets started to fall after India were crusing were massive...haven't been to too many games but that was just incredible. ESPECIALLY when Ganguly was run out - I remember that very clearly as well. Amazing atmosphere and even though India lost I fondly cherish the memories from that day :)
I was there too, probably the most enjoyable cricket match/day I've seen live (apart from perhaps Boxing Day 2006 - Warne's 700th wicket).

It was the first ODI of the summer and 65,000 were at the MCG on a warm January day. India were 4/257 late in the evening with Yuvraj on 25 and Ganguly on 82, chasing 288 with 4.2 overs remaining. They looked home and hosed and the crowd was pretty flat, a few people had started to leave.

They lost 6/13 in 20 balls after Harvey (the only Victorian in the team) had Yuvraj caught and then the very next ball ran Ganguly out (backing up too far) with a direct hit at the bowler's end off his own bowling.

I spent the whole match in standing room with mates, and I remember when India were about eight wickets down, 65,000 started singing Waltzing Matilda. These two elderly women (who I assume were seated in another area and were on their way out) were standing next to me in the aisle loving it.

Don't think we'll see one day cricket like that again unfortunately.

[Hellgood]

Remember roughly this time four years ago listening to the opening day of the first Ashes test in the car, can remember hearing the first ball with someone yelling it's gone to second slip, and I thought England have come to play here. Then I realised that the ball never touched the bat, and just laughed.

Loved remembering those obscure ODI's from summers long ago (for me anyway). I can remember Australia losing to NZ at the MCG of the first ODI of the tri series. Can also remember that India game, definitely remember someone skying the ball of Agarkar to third man.

[Beth]

I'm a fairly casual cricket fan, but I remember back in 95 sitting at the G, at the boxing day test while a young Sri Lankan fellow was called no ball more times than I can remember. Only a few people around us had radio's so while one the biggest stories in cricket was unfolding in front of us we speculated he kept putting his foot over the crease, then went back to drinking too much, getting sun burnt and reading the papers.

I was there and I had no clue, sums up my cricket knowledge really :o

[Mr_Smooth]

i had just made my first 50 when i came into the pavillion to see glenn mcgrath on about 30 at the gabba against the kiwi's. both sides were glued to the tv and the unison of cheering when he slog swept his way to that famous 50 is something i'll never forget

i was on the hill for the final 2 hours of the previous adelaide ashes test - the sort of atmosphere that i've only experienced at an AFL grand final, was just so electric!

steve waugh's last ball 100, i was driving home from the in-laws in coober pedy, between glendambo and pimba is where tugga scored a majority of his runs, and i sped my ass off to get to pimba to see him bring his 100 up. got there with 4 balls to spare :thumbsu:

[Johnson#26]

I was there too, probably the most enjoyable cricket match/day I've seen live (apart from perhaps Boxing Day 2006 - Warne's 700th wicket).

It was the first ODI of the summer and 65,000 were at the MCG on a warm January day. India were 4/257 late in the evening with Yuvraj on 25 and Ganguly on 82, chasing 288 with 4.2 overs remaining. They looked home and hosed and the crowd was pretty flat, a few people had started to leave.

They lost 6/13 in 20 balls after Harvey (the only Victorian in the team) had Yuvraj caught and then the very next ball ran Ganguly out (backing up too far) with a direct hit at the bowler's end off his own bowling.

I spent the whole match in standing room with mates, and I remember when India were about eight wickets down, 65,000 started singing Waltzing Matilda. These two elderly women (who I assume were seated in another area and were on their way out) were standing next to me in the aisle loving it.

Don't think we'll see one day cricket like that again unfortunately.

Awesome memories. Thanks for that SJ. That summer produced some very, very underrated matches (think this, the one where Lee hit a six in the last over to win after Hooksey died, and the Indian win at the Gabba where Laxman (crunched Harvey for 4 off the last ball) and Hayden both made tons).

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/2854618.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF878921F7C3FC3F69D929FD3D6E8E24F8AD364C5AFD48D240 7501FA99E54F036F1260F590F55034CEB503EE

[Johnson#26]

Remember when the one-day series really commanded so much more fanfare and excitement?

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/931279.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF878921F7C3FC3F69D929FD3D6E8E24F8AD364C5583EF6DBC E873261FE93D0EE9A0D1654E9C89C783688B46

They had laps of honour, a bigger buzz, etc.

When did it all start to fade out? IMO 04/05.

[SJ]

Remember when the one-day series really commanded so much more fanfare and excitement?

http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/931279.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF878921F7C3FC3F69D929FD3D6E8E24F8AD364C5583EF6DBC E873261FE93D0EE9A0D1654E9C89C783688B46

They had laps of honour, a bigger buzz, etc.

When did it all start to fade out? IMO 04/05.
About then. The stars aligned with the emergence of Twenty20, a few dud teams coming out to play in triangular series and not winning a match, etc.

I would say the peak (in my lifetime) was the series in the summer of 1997/98 (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa). Loved every bit of it, including the uniforms.

[Beth]

About then. The stars aligned with the emergence of Twenty20, a few dud teams coming out to play in triangular series and not winning a match, etc.

I would say the peak (in my lifetime) was the series in the summer of 1997/98 (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa). Loved every bit of it, including the uniforms.

You must be too young for the sartorial peak of one day cricket. The Windies in pink. Now those were the days!

[The Falcon Strike]

Most of my great memories of cricket happened whilst wandering around the WACA either as a kid with a bat in my hand, or as I got older with a beer in my hand.

BJ's 100 in a session in the shield final. (Against Tassie i think)

Gillies ton against the Poms - the barmy army were right in front of me and every 6 went into their section. Damn sure Gilly was trying to knock them out.

The first T20 in Australian with Ronchi and Campbell annhilating Victoria - Ronchi got out to Warne stumped off a bouncer. I can honestly say I've never seen the WACA rock like that in the 25 years I have gone to the ground.

Shoaib Akhtar destroying the Aussie top order with some of the best/quickest bowling you'll ever see - to then see JL knock up 190odd and Gilly a quickfire 50+. Gilly almost bowled from a yorker but kept it out with the toe of the bat

Saw Marsh/Veletta put on a massive stand against SA i think.. Marshy knocked up 350+

A great memory was sitting in the Prindiville stands with the players boxes behind me - I remember looking into the QLD dressing sheds and Greg Ritchie had a porno on.

[oobee007]

Steve Waughs 100 in 2002/03 ashes, my dad rang me from the ground when waugh got to 20 and said something special was about to happen, couldn't believe my eyes.
Earliest cricket memory was watching langer and gilly win the match against pakistan in late 1999.
first game i saw was Courtney walshes last game in Australia.
other memories include:
standing in the ladies stand at the SCg that was packed full watching langer, warne and mcgrath retire.
watching the waugh twins finish their first class careers at 7 at night in a rain affected sheffield shield game.
and finally the deafening silence that fell across the SCG when everyone bar the umpire heard Symonds nick it against India, who knew he would save the match.

[stmookeyj]

I was there too, probably the most enjoyable cricket match/day I've seen live (apart from perhaps Boxing Day 2006 - Warne's 700th wicket).

It was the first ODI of the summer and 65,000 were at the MCG on a warm January day. India were 4/257 late in the evening with Yuvraj on 25 and Ganguly on 82, chasing 288 with 4.2 overs remaining. They looked home and hosed and the crowd was pretty flat, a few people had started to leave.

They lost 6/13 in 20 balls after Harvey (the only Victorian in the team) had Yuvraj caught and then the very next ball ran Ganguly out (backing up too far) with a direct hit at the bowler's end off his own bowling.

I spent the whole match in standing room with mates, and I remember when India were about eight wickets down, 65,000 started singing Waltzing Matilda. These two elderly women (who I assume were seated in another area and were on their way out) were standing next to me in the aisle loving it.

Don't think we'll see one day cricket like that again unfortunately.

I was at that game too (my first ODI in about 12 years). The big image for me was that until the Ganguly run out (to this day, I blame his partner Sanjay Bangar who called yes and no), and the Indian fans started to leave en-masse.


Some other memories...

- Boxing Day test 1992 vs West Indies: Before Warne's heroics in the 2nd dig, I remember sitting in the Southern Stand as the Windies Innings started. Merv got 2 quick wickets (Richie Richardson was one, think it may have been Phil Simmons the other) and the crowd went nuts (Bay 13 was rocking). Then the rain came.....

- Gabba ODI 1993/94, NZ vs RSA: Another rain interrupted game. Saw Chris Cairns tee off to give NZ a chance but then the rain came. The old man and I took shelter under the old Clem Jones Stand, then sat in a vacant area. Whilst Peter Kirsten scored 91 in the middle before a South Africa collapse, a couple of South African squad members came up behind us. An autograph opportunity MISSED (I was 9).

- Boxing Day Ashes Test 1994/95: Everyone remembers the Warne hattrick. I went on Day 3, which was strange considering it usually was Day 2 but the game did start on Christmas Eve and had a rest day on Christmas Day (that hasn't happened since). Anyway, about to pull into the car park we had the radio on, and the first ball from Craig McDermott to Graham Gooch........Billy got Gooch Caught and Bowled! Funnily enough it happened again last summer, standing in the ticket queue getting tix for the Windies test in Brisbane, missed Shane Watson getting a quacker (I blame Dad for that one, he didn't know that there were free buses from Roma Street Station)

- Got to see Steve Waugh's last test innings at the MCG against India. Hit on the elbow on 13 by The Duckman (Ajit Agarker), few groans from the crowd. Like the champ he was Tugga got off the canvas and scored a few. Think Ponting got 250 (Saw Langer get 250 in the Ashes Test the previous summer).

- For Tugga's ton, I was eating Spaghetti Bol at my Grandmother's with the TV on listening to Aggers and Skull on ABC Radio. In fact a number of classic moments were on the radio for me, including the Pakistan debacle from the SCG this year (I was sorting Return to Sender Mail with the radio on), Gilly's Ton (McDonald's), Amazing Adelaide (on BF at the same time giving the equations), Harmison's Wide, the 1997 Ashes Series when we collapsed on Day 1 and got pounded by Nasser Hussain before Tubby's ton.

- On a personal level, I also remember topping the batting averages at my junior club in the Under 12's opening the batting. By the end of the season I was opening the batting with a hearing impaired partner, so calling was a nightmare and mix-ups plentiful. I also took 8 catches from first slip.

- 1997/98 ODI Series, NZ vs RSA, Gabba: One of the best aspects of the tri-series was watching the games between the 2 visiting sides, they were usually more intense and closer than the games involving Australia. This night South Africa scored 300 (Gary Kirsten scored a ton, Cronje and Klusener who opened the batting I think got a few), and NZ were in trouble. But then Cairns and Adam Parore blasted a few. Needed something like 7 off the last 2 balls. Dion Nash then lapped Shaun Pollock to fine leg and was a whisker away from a 6 off the 2nd last ball (hit the back of the rope - would be a 6 today) in front of the old Qld Cricketers Club. Last ball Nash sky's it to deep mid wicket, Klusener makes a heap of ground to take the catch and win the game for the South Africans.


And some other games like...

1994/95 ODI Series: Zimbabwe beating England at the SCG & Australia A almost knocking off Australia at the Adelaide Oval

2001 Ashes 1st Test: England struggled before a last wicket stand got them back into it. Then Michael Slater belted 16 off Darren Gough's 1st over, Damien Martyn got a ton and Gilly getting 50 then racing to a ton with McGrath at the other end.

1997/98 Mercantile Mutual Cup: Adam Dale's speccie in the outfield to remove Phil Emery off Scott Prestwidge

[strauchanie59]

Favourite game I've been to live was early '04 i think. Aus vs India at SCG. Tendulkar I think made 200 odd and it was a majestic innings. Cracking shots all round the ground. We left 2 hours before stumps as we were getting bored.:)

Same summer at GABBA, same teams. Binga hit that massive 6 to get scores level and needed 1 run off the last ball. Lee hit it straight to the Gavaskar junior boy at cover and dropped it and Lee won us the game with the single. At a friends house in QLD we were celebrating madly as we though we had lost.

Gilly vs England at WACA 2006/07 Ashes. One of the best innings I have EVER seen. Loved it when he hit 22 off the Panaser over. My dad and I were just in awe of him on the couch. Then bloody Matthew Hoggard bowled the wide ball that denied Gilly of the fastest Test ton.

[Wicked Lester]

For me it was the Sydney test match, Australia v Pakistan early 1984. If ever a test match marked the end of an era that was it. During the match Australia's premiere batsman of his era, Greg Chappell called a press conference and announced his retirement at the match's conclusion. Following his announcement he duly signed off with a score of 182 in his final dig.

The following day Dennis Lillee also called it a day. He took 4 wickets in each innings. Marsh played the subsequent one day series but it turned out to be his last test too.

At the time you just knew the end of a great era of Australian cricket had ended.

[patsmith]

I was at the Rottnest Hotel (or Quokka Arms) when the Aussies came from behind in the Adelaide Ashes test in 2006. Had just got off the ferry with a couple of mates (one a mad-keen Englishman) after keeping myself updated by mobile the whole trip over.

Great way to start a Rotto trip!

[flamethrower]

I was at VFL Park the night Wayne Daniel hit Mick Malone for 6 to win the game.

I was at the MCG when the Australians were 9 down and held on for a draw, with Mike Whitney survivng the final over facing Sir Richard Hadlee.

I was at the 1992 World Cup final at the MCG to see Pakistan beat England.

[worbod]

The Boxing Day Test against West Indies in 1981-82. After being bundled out for 198 despite a Kim Hughes century, watching Dennis Lillee bring us back into contention by bowling Viv Richards last ball of the day (West Indies 4-10), as a youngster, that was inspiring.

Then later in the Test he took his best ever bowling figures and broke Lance Gibbs' Test wickets record. And we won.

[legend166]

I was at Steve Waugh's last test.

We'd previously gone to day 2 of that test, where we had the pleasure of sitting in 35 degree heat and watching India make their way to 7-705(dec). Probably the worst day I've ever had at the cricket. Brett Lee got a wicket off a no-ball (what a surprise) and it was just all downhill from there.

Then we went to day 5 which was better, because it wasn't as hot. I remember sledging Martyn because we needed to score 443 in a day and Martyn was scoring so slow. Also, the people behind us were smoking weed throughout the day and were incredibly annoying. There was a guy that keep singing "Heeeeeeeey, hey baby, oh, ah, I wanna knoooooow, where's another four."

So bad.

Here's one that's (semi) interesting. I was at the ODI where Ryan Campbell made his debut. It was against New Zealand. The reason I remember this so well is that at the time the company my father worked for were working out some sponsorships with the Swans. So we got invited to watch the game in the Swans private suite. And, being the beginning of 2002, we had just signed Barry Hall. I was 13 at the time and whilst followed the Swans and went to all the matches, didn't really have much knowledge of other teams so I didn't really know who Hall was. They brought him up to the private suite and introduced him to everyone. He stuck around for awhile then left.

Australia ended up losing by 30 runs. That was part of a streak of ODI games I went to where we lost all of them. A previous one was a game against South Africa. It was the infamous game at the SCG where they threw roast chickens in the air during a mexican wave. The Saffers looked in trouble early so my sister said "I hope they at least get to 200 so it's a game." We ended up losing and people around us blamed my sister. At least we got to join in the 'Symcox's a wanker' chant.

[Jascave]

The Boxing Day Test against West Indies in 1981-82. After being bundled out for 198 despite a Kim Hughes century, watching Dennis Lillee bring us back into contention by bowling Viv Richards last ball of the day (West Indies 4-10), as a youngster, that was inspiring.

Then later in the Test he took his best ever bowling figures and broke Lance Gibbs' Test wickets record. And we won.

Probably one of the two best Test matches the MCG has ever seen (the other being the 1977 Centenary Test). Australia won the toss, decided to bat on probably one of the worst Test pitches of all time, were 4-25 at one stage including Greg Chappell out for a duck-his worst run of scores in his magnificent career. Then Kim Hughes stepped up made 100 out of 198. Enter DK Lillee. Lillee got 3 wickets-and who could forget the final ball of the day, plus the reaction from the 50,000 fans that went to the MCG that Boxing Day-when he bowled IVA Richards out for a duck to leave the West Indies at stumps, 4/10.

Bear in mind too, that Melbourne viewers on Channel Nine only got to see the after-tea session live, which meant they saw not just Kim Hughes getting his 100, but also Lillee bowled Richards out for a duck on the last ball of the day.

[Belnakor]

Was standing outside the WACA waiting to get in when Mcgrath took his hattrick :)

The biggest was definately the '99 semi final. I was watching it about 3am, noone else in the house was up, just about to turn it off and avoid those yarpie bastard celebrating, when Kluenser loses his mind.

[worbod]

I was ten years old when my dad took my brother and I to a Super Test at VFL Park against the West Indies in 1978-79. It was the day Lawrence Rowe scored 175. I remember the section of the crowd we were sitting in had been playfully booing every time a new West Indian batsman came in to bat. When Clive Lloyd came out, I decided to join in, only to have my dad tell me, "You don't boo the captain."

In spite of Lloyd's nickname of "Supercat", my dad always called him "Papa Bear".

[The Falcon Strike]

Was standing outside the WACA waiting to get in when Mcgrath took his hattrick :)

The biggest was definately the '99 semi final. I was watching it about 3am, noone else in the house was up, just about to turn it off and avoid those yarpie bastard celebrating, when Kluenser loses his mind.

I was at an irish bar in Copenhagen for the '99 semi - it must have been the only place showing it in the city.

I was on my own going nuts - and the chef kept coming out every 5 minutes to get the score and watch a ball or two with me.

By the time patrons started coming in later that afternoon I was smashed.

That followed on from watching the previous saffer match at an irish bar (a theme perhaps?) in Prague. Had a mate with me then - we waited to the last minute when Waugh and Moods got us home. Made our bus to Berlin by about 3 minutes.

[stmookeyj]

One more memory I have....rain delays in a test match and ODI's were almost must see on 9. In those days Richie would crap on a bit about what happened before the rain and classic catches, then they'd go to a Classic Match (not the previous day's play or normal programming as they do now). It was in that instance that I first saw the 1984 Tied ODI final against The Windies at the MCG.

[trevorbyers]

I was there too, probably the most enjoyable cricket match/day I've seen live (apart from perhaps Boxing Day 2006 - Warne's 700th wicket).

It was the first ODI of the summer and 65,000 were at the MCG on a warm January day. India were 4/257 late in the evening with Yuvraj on 25 and Ganguly on 82, chasing 288 with 4.2 overs remaining. They looked home and hosed and the crowd was pretty flat, a few people had started to leave.

They lost 6/13 in 20 balls after Harvey (the only Victorian in the team) had Yuvraj caught and then the very next ball ran Ganguly out (backing up too far) with a direct hit at the bowler's end off his own bowling.

I spent the whole match in standing room with mates, and I remember when India were about eight wickets down, 65,000 started singing Waltzing Matilda. These two elderly women (who I assume were seated in another area and were on their way out) were standing next to me in the aisle loving it.

Don't think we'll see one day cricket like that again unfortunately.

I was there too mate. my first live cricket game, I don't think you'd even get a crowd of 65,000 odd nowdays. Australia were gone, The Freak was on fire and turned the game. like we've said on another thread. need to get a copy of that game on dvd. I'll never forget that moment when Sanjay Bangar said no to Ganguly and Harves threw the stumps down. the crowd went off :thumbsu:

[Illinois Nazi]

Was at the WACA (unlike my brother who was stuck in the queue outside!) when McGrath took his hat-trick - the batsmen were the West Indian #3, 4 and 5 which is a pretty good hat-trick! Lara was #4 and was also McGrath's 300th. Can't remember who the other two were.

Was there for the first 180 of Hayden's 380 v Zimbabwe (day 1).

Was there when Mark Waugh hit a six onto the roof of the Lillee-Marsh stand.

I remember watching the Langer-Gilchrist partnership in Hobart at work. There was a TV in a locker room one floor above where I was working, and I kept popping up there to check on progress.

Warne's first ball in Ashes, 1993 (on TV obviously, I wasn't actually there). They talked him up a fair bit when he came on to bowl, and I remember my reaction when he delivered that first ball - "oh, ****ing brilliant start Warne, a leg-side wide". Then it pitched and turned a little bit...

The 99 World Cup semi - my first son had just been born and I was at the pub with some mates. The pub closed with about an hour or so of the match to go, so we went to one of the guys house to watch the rest. In that last over, Klusener hit a 4, then a 4, it was all over, then the power went out. A minute or so later the power came back on and they were showing a replay of a very very close missed runout. I still can't believe what happened the ball after that.

The agonising loss to the WI in Adelaide...

And finally, the McGrath/Gillespie partnership against NZ where McGrath got his 62*. We were down at Eagle Bay for the weekend, those two came together (with Australia on a pretty crappy score from memory) and we went to the beach for a bit. Came back and they were still batting! Saw both chalk up their 50s before Gillespie got out and denied McGrath a certain ton.

[Oscarman]

Bevan's ton at the MCG, 01/02 VB Series when we looked gone for all money. What a game. What an innings.

Also his 78* off 88 balls to beat the Windies on New Years Day 1996. We were 6/38 chasing around 190 (EDIT: 173) and he hit a 4 straight down the ground off Roger Harper on the last ball to win.:thumbsu:

[stmookeyj]

Was at the WACA (unlike my brother who was stuck in the queue outside!) when McGrath took his hat-trick - the batsmen were the West Indian #3, 4 and 5 which is a pretty good hat-trick! Lara was #4 and was also McGrath's 300th. Can't remember who the other two were.


It was actually batsmen 2-4-5. Sherwin Campbell, Brian Charles Lara and Jimmy Adams. Wavell Hinds batted 3 and was down the other end, Daren Ganga opened with Campbell.

[aneale]

for me, I remember listening to Steve Waugh make that hundred driving back from a friends place and then off to the gym. I was sitting on an exercise bike under a bank of TV's like a whole lot of other people who don't usually sit there.

The other big memory was sitting in a bar in Darwin watching Symo become a test cricketer when he flogged the Poms for his first 100, magical day that started out looking a bit dicey.

As a kid at school, our teacher (who was a cricket nut) wheeled in the TV and we watched the cricket from Perth just so we could see Flipper make his debut and then go on to make a century in huge partnership with Graham Yallop.

For in the flesh moments, I left work about 4pm and walked down to AO when it appeared there was something special going on the last time the Ashes were in town. Hussey was mazing and I haven't really witnessed that sort of atmosphere in an AO game before.

Most amazing innings, Kim Hughes absolutely putting India to the sword for 213 when I was about 10 I guess. I'd never seen anyone dance down the wicket like that it was amazing to watch and still lives with me, it was a pity that his audacious talent never saw him convert starts into more 100's and his inability (bar this innings) to make big hundreds. He probably didn't deserve his career end by being mauled by the Windies in his last 2 tests.

[trevorbyers]

Also his 78* off 88 balls to beat the Windies on New Years Day 1996. We were 6/38 chasing around 190 (EDIT: 173) and he hit a 4 straight down the ground off Roger Harper on the last ball to win.:thumbsu:

I can uploaded the full match highlights of that game to youtube if ya want mate. and bevan's other knock of 102* v NZ from 01/02

[Stats Man]

bump4thememories..

[damochandler]

i was there the day day ian healy changed world cricket. stumping brian lara and the icc finally acted

i was there when siddle took his hattrick last year

[dumb]

I would say the peak (in my lifetime) was the series in the summer of 1997/98 (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa). Loved every bit of it, including the uniforms.

probably one of my favorites as well. and

DCOhT_9sOk8

made 54 in the next test, then 79* in the boxing day test 2 tests after that.

[W.C. Fry]

First proper memory of international cricket and i can't really remember the game at all. 92/93 Perth test against the West Indies. They destroyed us in 10 sessions. Remember Haynes getting smacked in the head to a bouncer and Ambrose just taking aussie wickets for fun.

Haynes, Simmons, Richardson, Lara, Bishop, Ambrose, Walsh. What a side.

My brother had won some competition on the back of a milk carton for guessing where the missing ball was on a picture. 4 nights for 2 at the same hotel as the Windies were staying and tickets to the game. Our parents changed it to 2 nights for 2 plus us 3 kids. Good thing they did as the test hardly went into the 3rd day.

All the players were so awesome and accomodating to us kids. Photos and autographs and joking around with us. Loved the windies more than the aussies after that.

Plus i got into the lift one evening and Richie Benaud was in it.

For a kid it was the most amazing thing ever :)

[NSWCROW]

Warney's hat-trick - Adelaide
Just woken up , out front having my smoke chatting to mate who lived across the street.
Hear my Dad and Brother cheering...then again a minute later...then pandemonium , they both come running out WARNEY's GOT A HATTY !!!!!! "...spewin

STEVE WAUGH's TON - In Adelaide at home , it was almost the " car-crash element " when you tune in fully expecting a mans career to be over if he failed.
Stevie Wonder shows everyone watching what the term " Aussie Grit " means.
Coverage finishes then 9 news go straight to the press conference and i weep tears of pride.:thumbsu:

THE 454 GAME vs STH AF
Sydney
Spend 3 hours sitting there with my old dear pissing ourselves laughing at what we were seeing....capped off by a camera shot of a dejected saffer mascot sitting alone over the back of the grandstand ( would love a screencap of it but never found one )

Anyway , Mum goes to bed joking " Oh well , got this one in the bag " , i tell her i'll eat the tv if we lose.......

[Jimthegreat]

I was there to see Sobers score the first 139 of his 254 for the World XI in 1971. Aussies were on top, looking for the world to 2-0 up in the series when Sobers just completely changed the game with what I'd say, was the best innings ever, at least in my memory. Peter Pollock (Shaun's father) hung around with him for 54 enabling Sobers to go on his rampage.

Other highlights were going to every day of the 1976 Boxing Day Test against the Pakistanis watching the equal 2nd best innings I've as Gary Cosier plundered Imran and Co for 168. On the 2nd day he got 90 in the session but after a slow first hour where he got 20 he smashed 70 in the 2nd hour to lunhc in as brutal display of batting as you would see. He then made 28 in 10 minutes after lunch before losing his wicket as, I think, last man out.

Same game, when the Pakis were about 2/350 and a dead flat wicket, Lillee took the 2nd new ball and let go with the most fearsome spell of fast bowling imaginable taking 6 wickets in 8 overs as the Pakis crashed all out for not much more than that 350.

An equal inning I saw Kim Hughes make as good a 100no as you'd see on a rotten green wicket against 4 brutal WI fast bowlers. Amazing performance of courage and brilliant batting. Funniest part was seeing him smashed in the nuts then literally staggering up the other end as an unsympathetic Bruce Yardley called him through for a run. Apparently he a had a nut caught in his box after the ball that smashed into it caused a crack. Tears to the eyes stuff. Then to top the day off I saw Lillee run through the WI top order bowling Richards on the last ball. I then turned up the next day to see Lillee break Lance Gibbs world wicket-taking record.

Those two above innings are on a par with Gilly's decimation of England in Perth in 2006.

I was at the 1975 Boxing Day Test. With the series tied at 1-1 I saw Jeff Thomson decimate the WI with a brutally quick display of fast bowling taking the first 5 wickets and rolling the Windies out cheaply on the way to a big victory. It was the first time I saw Thommo live. Sh1t it was real fast. I wondered if Marsh was going to keep from the crowd he stood so far back, that was amazing in itself, and they still come through head high off a length.

[dan warna]

I think about 94? 95? when Warne held out atherton's team for what seemed like hours and nearly 7pm at the SCG with rain delays, light delays, a bit of gamesmanship, and marshalled the strike for what seemed like hours to deny england a victory and pull off an unlikely draw when the top order had capitulated quickly.

I was late for dinner as I got lost on the way back, but was captivated by every minute and enjoyed the rising frustration of the english fans as warne blocked ball after ball and every appeal by the english was turned down.

---

97 again when Australia looked like they had the test won and S.Waugh batted past the allotted time in the boxing day test, 4th day after day 1 was rained out. We lost the test match in the time it took me to walk to the car when the last 3 wickets fell for nothing.

after 3 days of taunting the brits, I got to avoid their jubilation after snatching an unlikely victory at our costs.

---

Mervyn bowling the last over of an ODI at the MCG with 90,000 people chanting mervyn mervyn mervyn to deny a potent west indies of victory.

[stmookeyj]

BOXING DAY TEST MEMORIES (seeing as though it's Boxing Day)

- I've already gone through Windies 1992 and England 1994 in previous posts so I won't go over them again.

- 1997 vs South Africa, sat in Ponsford Stand for Day 2. Ponting batting at 6 made a ton, Pistol got 50. Think Cullinan got run out with the pro-Warne crowd baying for blood. Listened to parts of Day 3 on the Radio at Luna Park just to get out of having to ride the ghost train (Matty Elliott went cheaply). Game was saved for South Africa thanks to a Kallis ton.

- 2000 vs West Indies, went Day 1 which was the first Boxing Day I attended despite attending the test on other days. Tony Schibecchi (ground announcer, SEN's own) made a **** up when the Windies entered the ground (we won the toss and batted), stating that Brian Lara was their captain when as we all know Jimmy Adams led them to a whitewash loss. Windies surprisingly competitive but Tugga got a ton and Dizzy stonewalled in support. Win match easilly as their bats failed.

- 2003 vs England, Day 2. The Ponsford Hole was in operation, but unlike an earlier ODI that summer no balls went into the hole itself. Langer got 250 (after he and Haydos got tons on Boxing Day), a lot of which were hit to fine leg and 3rd man where Steve Harmison was fielding and lumbering after it. Martin Love got 50 on debut. Barmy Army too busy singing song reminding us that they beat us in a Rugby International a month or so earlier at Twickenham by 32-31. Stu MacGill made a quacker, and then got a Warney chant from Bay 13. Most people though would remember Day 5 when England made us sweat a little for the win.

- 2004 vs India, Day 2. After watching some of Sehwag's 195 on the tube the previous day, India collapsed. Ponting got 200 to wrest momentum back our way. Vividly remember S.Waugh getting hit on the elbow by Ajit Agarker, having to retire hurt. Then he returned to make a 50. We had a bits and pieces bowling attack (Lee, Bracken, Williams, MacGill)....

- 2008 vs South Africa, Day 2. Clarke scored 93 despite struggling to hit it off the square. Only small contributions from others. Siddle then knocks over Neil McKenzie with a ripper (top of off) and tears through the top order. It all went pear shaped after that. Got about 150 photos of the day stored on the external HD.

- 2010 vs England, Days 1 & 2. Turn up as the Australian Anthem is played. One of those batting collapses that we are so much used to seeing now (unfortunately). Couple of Barmy Army chants would stick in the memory, such as "He's got more runs than you" (to the tune of one of those songs from Pavarotti) and a chant aimed at Mitchell Johnson who was bowling like Mitchell Johnson "He bowls to the LEFT, He bowls to the RIIIIIIGGGGGHT, that boy Mitch Johnson, Your Bowling is S****."

[PunyHumans!!!]

Can't really forget that SCG test between Australia and South Africa in 1994...had been out for the morning and thinking Australia would do it after been 4-64 at stumps on day four and come back to see them nearly cooked.

I saw Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh annihilate a West Aussie attack that included Alderman, Reid, McLeay, Moody and Matthews to the tune of 464 runs at the WACA in 1990.

I think it was mentioned just before that SCG test between Australia and England in 1994 where England were making a charge for victory but Warne and May stopped them in their tracks. Clearly recall Darren Gough scything through the Aussies after his half century and watching that utter spud Devon Malcom clobber Warne for one or two sixes.

[Plugger35]

I was at an irish bar in Copenhagen for the '99 semi - it must have been the only place showing it in the city.

I was on my own going nuts - and the chef kept coming out every 5 minutes to get the score and watch a ball or two with me.

By the time patrons started coming in later that afternoon I was smashed.

That followed on from watching the previous saffer match at an irish bar (a theme perhaps?) in Prague. Had a mate with me then - we waited to the last minute when Waugh and Moods got us home. Made our bus to Berlin by about 3 minutes.

Watched the 99 WC semi final in a cinema in Falls Church Virginia when I was over in the States. Was one of the few places you could watch it live as it wasn't live on any of their cable sports channels and there was no live streaming then.

The cinema was run by some Indian cricket fanatics and there was only me and a mate of mine who I dragged along, a couple of the Indian owners and some other bloke who I think was South African watching it. Also watched the final against Pakistan there too and the place was packed with Paki supporters, they were going apeshit early on but then they all went pretty quiet when they knew they were going to get smashed.

[Punchy Bassett]

SACA member so haven't missed an Adelaide test match in a long long time. 2006 Ashes test match is easily the best I will ever witness in person, the last day was funny, place was empty at the start of the day and it just got fuller and fuller and fuller!

[The Reaper]

An equal inning I saw Kim Hughes make as good a 100no as you'd see on a rotten green wicket against 4 brutal WI fast bowlers. Amazing performance of courage and brilliant batting. Funniest part was seeing him smashed in the nuts then literally staggering up the other end as an unsympathetic Bruce Yardley called him through for a run. Apparently he a had a nut caught in his box after the ball that smashed into it caused a crack. Tears to the eyes stuff. Then to top the day off I saw Lillee run through the WI top order bowling Richards on the last ball. I then turned up the next day to see Lillee break Lance Gibbs world wicket-taking record.
.

The old man has always told me that this is the best innings he ever saw.