Ashes began yesterday. Last time around, I watched some fantastic cricket as England played brilliantly, competed with the Aussies and actually won the Ashes. Etched in memory is that exciting second test, as Lee and Warne fought back to almost win the game. Since then the Poms have regressed and this series will probably not be competitive. Still, I look forward to catch a couple of games on TV, hopefully beginning with the Boxing Day test match.
Ashes are cool for another reason. They produce good cricket writing. There is no greater thrill than watching Warne bowl. Imperious Ponting, destructive Gilchrist, explosive Flintoff and precise McGrath make watching cricket worthwhile. Yet, what I love about Ashes is simply reading Peter Roebuck, Gideon Haigh, Mike Selvey and others reconstruct each day’s play and comment on it.
Sometimes I wonder. Do we like sports? Or do we like the chatter about sports, on TV, newspapers and Radio, in stadiums, bars, chai stalls and other assorted places.
Speaking for myself, I love sports talk. In all forms and forums. Reports, both audio and written, columns, blogs and photos. If you too share that, here is are some places where I get my Ashes fix: Sydney Morning Herald and Guardian.
Also this new blog, Ashes Poetry, offers me a new goal: to emulate poet David Fine, someday. Fine will write daily postings, both in verse and prose on each day’s play. Not to be outdone, SMH provides a forum for amateur Aussie poets to compete.
I dig the idea.
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