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 .

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. 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. 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 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

 

[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

 

[Yoda_]

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.

 

[HeavyPop]

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 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

 

[Smoooothy]

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

 

[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).

 

[Johnson#26]

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

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?

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.