Reserved For Families

Pakistan 523-8 declared
v England 56-0
close on Day 2

Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Wednesday 14 October 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

Dry Day #5
All Balls. No Sup.
Drink of the Day - Date Lassi

I dearly love all my England Cricket Supporter fellow travellers. From the get pissed in the sunshine, hostel dwelling backpacker. To the MCC tie wearing Gent in the hospitality box. But, I like seeing their Cricket Culture Shocks.

Just before the start on Day 1. Some fella turned around to me as the batsmen walked to the crease. "Have they had the National Anthems yet?". Tee Hee.

Mate, there is no public address system here. No team announcements. No toss. No bowling changes. No keep off the pitch. No throw a ball into a skip challenge at Lunch. Nada. Even if they had a PA, there'd be no Tape Recorder to play the Anthems on.

And hell yeah. This morning a voice boomed out across the stadium. Ah, a working PA. No. No. Overnight, someone had turned all the TVs in the hospitality boxes to maximum volume. Why would you do that? Welcome to the Abu Dhabi Culture Shock.

Later in the day, some cultural bad form from some of the oft seen Barmy Army regulars and other male only groups. Shifting into the area of seats Reserved For Families. To preserve dignity & modesty of ladies, etc. They should know better. A "what does it matter" attitude.

Anyway. Day 2. Brighto Paints are back in the room on the sightscreen at the North Stand end.

Well. How do you stem the flow at 400-4? And in the heat/circumstances, you'll have a spinner on at one end. Cook went Buttler standing up to the seamers. Presumably so they don't use their feet. Three man on-side funky field/Yorkshire Wall. Bowl at the stumps. Everyone on their toes. Deny the single. He dispensed with the single Slip at times.

I'd have been tempted to put the dreaded Third Man in. And maybe someone finer down the leg.

For Moeen the offie, a slip, bowl full. Three men tight on the Off. Sweeper out at Cow Corner.

RashidWatch at 440-4. Long On. Deep Midwicket. Slip. Short cover. Sweeper on the Off. Maybe he's looking to bowl full. But, it comes out how it comes out. Looks easy runs behind square if he misses his line & length. Look it up on the Internet. He didn't bowl too badly. But didn't create pressure & chances. No wickets for plenty.

221/449