Boxing Day Test Match

Boxing Day and we wake up at the Perry's, excited about seeing our first cricket match at the MCG - the Boxing Day Test Match between Australia and Pakistan.  Well, Darren was excited about the cricket, I was excited about a day at the MCG!  We thank the Perry's for a great Christmas, although Emma had enjoyed a little too much Christmas Spirit so we didn't get a chance to thank her properly that morning!  With High Fives from the kids, Mark dropped us off at Sandringham station where we caught a train to the MCG.

A short walk from Richmond Station and we arrive at the hustle and bustle of the crowds going into the MCG.  Luckily we had got our tickets in advance so we didn't have to queue and we're in!  The MCG is massive and it's quite impressive as we enter, and we're in time for the first ball to be bowled.  To be honest I was more interested in getting my strips and chips for breakfast, but after that it was great to take in the atmosphere of the whole thing.

We made our way to what looked like a bay where the crowd were really getting into it.  A steward let us sit in the disabled seats and from there we had a great view of the cricket, and the crowd!  The crowd was quite rowdy and one by one they were getting taken out by security.  Inflatable balls and kangaroos were being batted back and forth, until a security guard could get at them and then they were taken off them - but they still kept inflating more!  There were many chants of 'Aussie, aussie, aussie' and 'C'mon Aussie c'mon' and many more besides, along with attempts at mexican waves around the stadium.  There was also a Tiger Woods 'lookie-likey' there and everytime he did anything there were chants of 'Tiger, Tiger....'.  People were even having their photos taken with him!

The steward that had let us sit in the disabled seats came over to ask if we were soaking up the Aussie culture, and he explained to us that we were in the notorious Bay 13.  Aparently this is the bay where all the yobbos congregate!  It hadn't been intentional that we mingled with the bogans, but I'm glad we did!  There was cricket going on in the background, but I was more than happy people watching!  I had even brought a book with me incase the cricket was too tedious but I shouldn't have bothered, it was a great day!

A cap and souvenir mini-bat bought, my first four-and-twenty pie (meat and gravy pie with ketchup squirted on top!), a couple of VB Golds and all too soon it was time to go!  Our first day at the cricket, and I have a feeling that it won't be our last!