Cricket Match

Johnny and I got to go to our first cricket match last week, and we got to go in style! The Australian Consulate was kind enough to donate some box seat tickets for a match between the Chennai Super Kings and the Cape (South Africa) Cobras. Three of my co-workers, Johnny, and I were lucky enough to get the tickets. The box had plush leather seats, a great view of the field, and all-you-can-eat drinks, snacks, hors d'oeuvres, and a 5-star quality dinner. We shared the box with an Indian family who found our new interest in cricket to be highly amusing, and they were more than happy to explain all of the rules to us.

Now, those of you that know me well know that I enjoy good food, and you won't be surprised to learn that both Johnny and I had no problem helping ourselves to immense portions of the delicious food (again, to the amusement of our wealthy Indian box mates who were probably wondering why we were acting like we had never seen food before; clearly they do not have the formerly-starving-musician mentality). Those of you that know me well also know that I'm not one for watching sports and might be wondering what I thought of the game. Well, the verdict is.....super fun! The crowd was suitably bonkers for our home team. There was fun music booming so loudly that the stadium was shaking. The best player for the home team is named Dwayne Bravo. And there was a scantily clad (but not too scantily clad) squad of cheerleaders called "White Mischief." And it's not tongue-in-cheek. It's for real. India is so cool!

Proud father and son, just before the match started and the waiters started bringing out the food.

Cricket is similar to baseball, only more fast paced and without all of the boring dead time in which nothing happens (I guess I just gave away how I feel about baseball). Here you can see the Super Kings' bowler (in yellow, right in front of the referee,who is dressed in black) throwing the ball at one of the Cobras' batters. The team in the field gets a point if the bowler knocks over one of the 3 wickets behind the batter or if a fielder catches a fly ball. The batting team gets points if the ball is hit into the field and touches a wall (4 points), goes over the wall (6 points), or gives the 2 batters enough time to switch spots (1 point for each swap in position). It was a close game. Chennai won by 4 points.



Several members of the crowd were waving yellow flags, the color of the home team. I found it interesting that the crowd was happy to cheer and wave their flags for a good play by the opposing team as well. Everyone seemed to love the game and was just happy to be there having a good time. I never heard a single boo. Chennai really is a strange and marvelous place.