Day 35
Auckland: New Zealand beat South Africa by four wickets
The dress code for today’s eagerly anticipated cricket World Cup semi-final is anything goes, as long as it is black, beige or orange.
Black is readily associated with so much of New Zealand’s national sport: the All Blacks and these Black Caps, for starters.
Even Spider-Man, who is spotted on his way to the ground, speaking absent-mindedly on his mobile phone while riding a unicycle has his black outfit on, rather than the usual red and blue one.
The beige celebrates New Zealand’s old one-day kit and retro replica shirts are readily available.
The orange relates to a wildly successful marketing campaign-come-competition by a local drinks provider. Catching a ball in the crowd one-handed, while wearing one of the orange T-shirts, earns a place in a pool to win a million dollars.
Auckland is abuzz about this game. At the main entrance to the ground, there are bagpipers playing and gymnasts in cricket kit doing one-handed handstands.
They seem rather superfluous, though. If there was ever a day when the sport entirely sells itself, it is this one.
Day 36
Auckland
Officially, there were a shade over 41,000 fans at last night’s epic at Eden Park. That figure is guaranteed to balloon. It was the ultimate “I was there” moment for New Zealand sports supporters.
Those who missed the final throes as they were hiding behind their sofas, too scared to look, or those who just want to relive it all again, have ample scope today.
Surfing the sports channels, happen upon the highlights. Once that is finished, the running order for the evening’s programming is shown on screen.
It reads: 8.30pm, Highlights, New Zealand vs South Africa; 9pm, Highlights, New Zealand vs South Africa; 9.30pm, Highlights, New Zealand vs South Africa.
On another channel, an irreverent sports show has clips of people watching Grant Elliott’s match-clinching six.
One has a set of New Zealand rugby players tuning in to Eden Park on a car radio at training, then breaking into manic celebration.
Another has one of Elliott’s club colleagues watching online. He breaks down in tears when his mate hits the winning shot.
Day 37
Auckland-Melbourne
Near the end of the early morning flight to Melbourne, the plane’s captain said: “We hope you have enjoyed flying Air New Zealand, and to everyone heading to the cricket, have a fantastic weekend – and to one special passenger in particular, Mr Grant Elliott, good luck. We are very proud of everything you and your team have done.”
A couple of days ago, Elliott was a journeyman cricketer who would be good for a sidebar in the sports pages, at best.
Now, after his Eden Park epiphany, he is front and back page news. Today’s New Zealand Herald splashes on the fact he is to miss his sister’s wedding this weekend to play in the final in Melbourne.
The fact he is on this flight at all, rather than one the day before with the rest of his team, is because he was given special dispensation to spend an extra day with his family, in lieu of missing the wedding.
Not that everyone on the plane will be sharing the captain’s sentiments. There are several Indians, wearing the blue of their national team, en route to the second semi-final in Sydney against Australia. They are hoping they will see Elliott and Co again on Sunday.
Day 38
Melbourne
Melbourne often tops polls judging the ultimate sport cities of the world. It is likely to be in full bloom this weekend, despite bracing, autumnal weather, with more than 90,000 set to descend on the MCG for cricket’s showpiece.
As an hors d’oeuvre to the sporting carnival, attend an evening A-League fixture between title-chasing Melbourne Victory and mid-table Central Coast Mariners.
Football is supposed to be a tough sell here, as it vies for attention with Australian Rules football, the main obsession in the state of Victoria, among others. Yet, the evidence of a bouncing Aami Stadium, a modernist arena just across the train tracks from the MCG, adjacent to the Rod Laver Tennis Arena, points to a game in rude health.
Any Arabian Gulf League club would be envious of the 18,205 paying customers Victory get through the turnstiles, let alone the atmosphere they create.
Kevin Muscat, a noted former hard-man defender who plied his trade as a player in England, is their manager.
The ultras-style supporters who base themselves at the northern end of the ground are definitely cut from the same cloth as the manager and they create a substantial din.
The 2-1, comeback win means Melbourne are just one point off Wellington Phoenix at the top of the table.
Pictures from the World Cup final, Australia v New Zealand
Day 39
Melbourne
Cricket is not a popularity contest. If it was, New Zealand would already have tomorrow’s final wrapped up.
If there is any more likeable character in the world game than Brendon McCullum, then they must be sweeter than honey.
New Zealand’s captain laughs his way through his final press conference before the biggest match of his life, cracking jokes, flashing his perfect white teeth, praising his teammates, and thanking the world for its support.
The contrast to his opposite number, Michael Clarke, is vast. Before a question is asked, Clarke announces he is to retire from ODIs after the final.
The curious logic he offers for making his news public at this precise moment is that tomorrow is a special occasion and he wants it to all be about the team.
The effect is entirely the opposite. As he might well have known.
Day 40
Melbourne: Australia beat New Zealand by seven wickets
The World Cup final and even though it is the two home teams playing in it, the world is well represented.
Three hours before the game, which is still an hour before the gates are opened, the outside of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is already teeming with supporters. Obviously, fans in yellow or black dominate, but supporters from elsewhere show their colours, too.
Spotted as follows: South Africa, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, England, West Indies and Nepal from cricket; Crusaders and Gloucester from rugby union; and a T-shirt celebrating “The Hairy Javelin,” which is Grant Elliott’s nickname.
Even the United States has a presence. Quite a notable one, too. Derek Jeter, the celebrated former New York Yankees shortstop, is among the record 93,013 spectators.
Day 41
Melbourne
Down in St Kilda, a hip beachfront suburb south of Melbourne’s CBD, tourists while away the morning after the heady night before.
For all but Australians, it is fair to say yesterday’s tournament climax was a damp squib.
New Zealand were overawed, more or less from the moment Brendon McCullum departed in the first over.
At the end of St Kilda Pier, an American tourist strikes up a conversation with a passing Indian, who is wearing a black cap with a silver fern on it, and offers his commiserations.
If McCullum could just have those first three balls back and try again, they agree, it might have been a different story.
The ICC have today termed this the “most popular” cricket World Cup in history. The tournament attendance aggregated more than a million.
The Cricket World Cup smartphone application, meanwhile, has been downloaded 4.5 million times, which represents quite a mark up on the initial target of one million. Amazingly, it has been the No 1 sports app in 48 countries.
The ICC are right to celebrate that. It is curious, then, that the sport’s governors are still happy to limit the next World Cup to just 10 teams.
Which brings us back to where we started.
pradley@thenational.ae
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