Boxing Day Test '11

What a test! Bringing this Aussie team back into earning the respect it should - well the all-rounder bowlers at least!

With Belinda delayed from Sydney on Xmas night cos of the crazy Melbourne storms, we postponed the airport pick up til Boxing Day, which made for an early morning start. All set for a start, with the earlier morning rain clearing, and Australia to bat first when we arrived to our AFL Members seats for the day with Cass and Flash and their big crew. A slight, silly momentary rain delay in the middle of the first session, we watched as Ponting started in building an innings. The day ended with the former captain out for 62, and debutant Cowan top scoring.

That night we headed to the Royal Standard for what in becoming a Night 1 Waving The Flag gathering tradition. Lots of catch ups with the ever-growing group, including people I have met in South Africa, the West Indies, and this year's Sri Lanka trip.

Decked in out chick pink, Belinda and I had breakfast on the way in through the city and then met Melissa and Springer for Day 2. Sitting with Luke and the small group on Level 4 of the MCG, we had a pretty fun and silly day. A decent dig by our bowlers with the bat then led to the beginning of the India innings, and the Swarmi Army's excited anticipation for Tendulkar's 100th 100...not to be here though.

After special water at the cricket, the sheilas in pink walked down to Richmond, and had a pint in the front room of the Corner Hotel, before dinner and sangria at Mexicali Rose. The night ended at a disappointing Swan, where a whole lot of nothing was happening. Very sad.

12 wickets fell on Day 3, with a stunning (not the worst) Aussie batting collapse seeing us at 4/27 at one horrific point. The day opened with a pretty exciting hour when the Aussie's had the ball, but it was the failure of our top and middle order batmen that was the tale of the day. Huss and Ponting managed to collect some runs, however, to hold the game in the balance at the end of the day's play.

The best day, of course, was the day I was back at the office, yesterday - with the radio in my ear, doing very little work, given how exciting it was. Australia in a shock win, by 122 runs!