Australian State Cricket

Today was spent, for the second day in a row, at the Adelaide Oval. And, for the second consecutive day, the sun was conspicuous by its absence. At least there was no sign of the sweeping rain that kept interrupting play on the opening day, sending the spectators in the open areas - all three of us - scurrying for cover. Like the first day, the crowd numbered just under one hundred, and they were witness, at regular intervals, to Tasmanian batsman returning to the pavilion. Only a rearguard half century from the Tigers wicketkeeper allowed Tasmania to reach 236. In reply, South Australia had progressed serenely to 190-2, including a century from one of the opening batsmen, by ten past six. At this point I left, as it was only going to get colder, the rain was beginning to arrive, and I didn't want to have to wait ages for a train, as after 7 they revert to one an hour.

As a ground The Adelaide Oval is beautiful, though at present an entire side of the ground is under reconstruction, meaning noise throughout the day, including one machine that, when moving, made a sound remarkably like Chewbacca when he is upset. Different to the MCG, which is an epic ground that can hold 110,000, and from the Gabba in Brisbane, which though only 42,000 could be a very daunting place to go out to bat. Phil Tufnell is a hero there, after once dropping Allan Border three times in two overs.

I shall be back tomorrow, weather permitting, to see Day 3.

Meanwhile, I am working my way through The Return of Sherlock Holmes apace, today listening to 'The Six Napoleons.' Even after listening to them for years, Clive Merrison and Michael Williams are still my favourite Holmes and Watson.