Boxing Day Showdown

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5th January 2010, 01:31pm - Views: 808





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DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE



Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT

Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545



MSPA 003/10

Tuesday, 5 January 2010


BOXING DAY SHOWDOWN


Forget the current battle between the Australians and Pakistanis

at the SCG … the

“real” cricket match this summer has already taken place. Far removed from the green

wicket of the SCG the “battle for the Ashes” between the Aussies and the Poms has

been held at the Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.


The traditional “Boxing Day” match between the two fiercely competitive military

might

was held in front of a small but jovial crowd on a wicket which can only be

described as an “uneven, stony dirt surface” which appeared to be a bowler’s

paradise.


With the two captains facing off, the sun beating down and the crowd ready for

action, the coin was tossed with England winning and deciding to make the most of

the conditions and electing to bowl first.


For the first few overs it appeared the decision may have backfired with the Aussies

quickly piling on the runs and looking to score a big total. However a fine spell of

accurate bowling from the Poms suddenly had the Aussies in trouble.


A middle order revival restored some respectability to the score board for the Aussies

and after the 30 allotted overs managed to score a formidable 180 at an average of 6

an over.


After a quick toilet break, a cup of coffee and some stretching exercises it was the

Poms turn to bat and after the first over were in all sorts of trouble having lost two

early wickets for no runs.


The English team however dug deep and with only one wicket left and only four runs

required the atmosphere was tense and the crowd were on the edge of their seats. The

last English batsmen however couldn’t hold out and a simple catch to short mid-

wicket saw the Aussies cling to victory. The teams celebrated the great match in true

style with a barbeque lunch.


The ADF can only hope the “real” Australian cricket team can now find some of that

true Aussie spirit and like their military colleagues in Afghanistan mount a fight back

against Pakistan at the SCG.


Imagery will be available at:


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Media contact: 

Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664






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