Daisy and Sally gave me my birthday present a couple of months early yesterday – tickets to the first day of the first test of the upcoming Ashes series in Cardiff.
I don’t know how she got them. And I’m loathe to ask how much they cost. But I am super excited. I went to the last two days of the 2nd test in Edgbaston in 2005 and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Even though the Aussies lost.
I don’t expect to ever see a match like that again in my lifetime. But I’ve always felt that the first day of the first match of an Ashes series always gives a pretty good indication of what lays ahead. Harmison’s first ball delivery to second slip at the Gabba in 2006 perhaps the best example.
Anyway, I’ve got the ticket. All I have to figure out is how I’m going to get there. And decide on my perfect first day of the Ashes fantasy.
Australia batting first and Phillip Hughes scoring his maiden Ashes ton?
Or the Aussies bowling and Mitchell Johnson giving Kevin Pietersen a Graham Smith style work over?
I think I’d be happy with either scenario.
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I’ve got tickets to day 4 at Headlingley.
I am flying over for a long, long weekend in Yorkshire and am paranoid about either rain, or more likely, an early conclusion to the Test.
Either way, we’re on the beers!!