Category Archives: Cricket

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A concrete cricket story

• The Marian concrete pitch. Photos by John Lloyd.

Test cricket moves to Queensland this week when Australia takes on Bangladesh in Mackay. 

I decided to feature pitches from that state on the abandoned cricket pitch site on Instagram and went to the vaults where I found the pitch at Marian nicely located West of Mackay. The photos came to us via John Lloyd via Spirit of Cricket.

A quick visit to Trove to get some historical information unearthed a gem. A story about the revamped pitch at Marian in which the word concrete is used six times. It’s from the Daily Mercury and was published on 21 April 1922.

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Abandoned cricket pitches milestone by Les Everett 

• Shackleton: the original abandoned cricket pitch. Photo by Les Everett

The idea was hatched at the Western Australian Wheatbelt town of Shackleton in October 2019. Forty or so years earlier I’d played cricket at the place. The pitch was still there along with the practice nets and even the footy goalposts but live sporting action had long since ceased.

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Not the Boxing Day Test at the MCG by Les Everett

I’ve been to an Ashes Test at the MCG. It was the third Test of the 1978/79 series played during the World Series days with the weakened Australian team captained by Graham Yallop and England by Mike Brearley. World Series didn’t seem to have much of an impact on England. Can’t remember why. I just ignored WSC and had great affection for those who played for the real Australia team.

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Fifth Test: that was quick by Les Everett

• Miling Primary School cricket pitch. Photo by Les Everett https://www.instagram.com/abandonedcricketpitches/

The Melbourne Test was so long, so hard, so dramatic we need something less taxing in Sydney. The Harbour City has tended to deliver in recent years by being rained out. This time it delivered a pitch ensuring a early finish.

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Konstas craving and turning Pants by Les Everett

•Darsee watching on Kayo as the partnership that mattered grew.

The Boxing Day Test: twists and turns

I wasn’t alone in being astonished by the batting of Sam Konstas on Boxing Day. The fact we’d almost forgotten about it by day five showed how great this Test match was. Embarrassing behaviour from Kohli had us wondering.

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Third Test – six long wet days by Les Everett

• Duck on a wet pitch. Kuljak Island, Perth Western Australia. Photo by Les Everett

A Test even making it into the fifth day seems a rarity these days. For me this one was even longer. I settled down on Friday morning to watch the first day only to discover it didn’t start until Saturday. Still took a bit of effort.

We were promised rain and got it. 

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