How to enjoy a day at the cricket
Between all the BLACKCAPS, WHITE FERNS and Burger King Super Smash, cricket will be happening near you shortly. Your favourite weekly sporting links and jokes newsletter is obviously very biased, but there's not many more relaxing / enjoying days out than being sat on a grassy bank enjoying both a match and life's rich tapestry playing out all around you.
We've got the greatest grounds in the world - I've been lucky enough to go to grounds all around NZ over the last few weeks for work and fun, and our 'boutique' grounds can't be beaten. You can sit in the shade, or sit in the sun. If you find bogans amusing you can enjoy the craic, or move to the family area instead. The big stadiums are great too, but the uniquely NZ sporting experience of sitting on a grassy bank has been embraced and perfected, we do this very well. Give it a go!
The food and drink are generally fantastic - Don't worry, if you want to keep it hot-dogs-and-chips-basic you'll be looked after, but I've seen craft beer in Wellington, Southern BBQ at the Mount and GF fare in Hamilton.
Someone will be having their stag do - Why stage your outdated humiliation ritual in the privacy of your own home when you can share it with thousands of people? At Bay Oval, there was honestly a bloke in drag being forced to complete shame rituals every 40 metres or so. Like this guy. He's probably dead now.
Photo via @beigebrigade Instagram
Be prepared - I've got the greatest respect for folk that rock up to the gate with a singlet and shorts, but these days Sport Review newsletter's trips to the cricket require more planning and equipment than scaling the Andes. Hat, sunscreen, something warm, something rainproof, a drink bottle, a FULLY CHARGED phone and maybe even a battery pack. The truely organised take their own radio for the commentary and the magnanimous turn it up for everyone else around them to enjoy.
Don't leave early - seriously, how bad is the traffic going to be? A close finish in the cricket is more nerve jangling than waiting for that speed camera ticket in the mail, and if you miss something amazing, you're going toil rubbish. Just stick around.
You might be part of the action - everyone has their own plan for catching the ball if it comes your way. One handed, in the beer cup, snaking your mate's chance. I wish you the best of luck if fate comes your way, but for god's sake keep your eye on the ball at all times, and keep an eye on the kids.
Thanks for reading - Richard
The week's best NZ sport writing
Bit of a holiday break wrap up for you here team.
Dylan Cleaver on review fatigue, or how we coped with all the lawyers, press conferences and recommendations 2018 threw at us [NZ Herald]
Kiwi FC offers NZers in London a game of football with yer countrymen, and several pints no doubt - this sounds like amazing fun [NZ Herald]
Sportsfreak takes a long view on the 15 players we'll take to England to win this year's Cricket World Cup [Sportsfreak]
Expect to hear loads more about this Eden Park review in the coming weeks and months [Stuff]
Alex Braae reckons it's time to bin the technology and bring back the stories in sport [The Spinoff]
The Spotter on the smoother-than-butter-on-butter Peter Williams, featuring some golden archive content [Sportsfreak]
Video nasty
One Australian tennis problem child beats the other win an underarm serve. You might need to watch a couple of times.
Long read
The Hotel hacker - never leave valuables in your room again [Wired]
Selected weekend fixtures
Right, so there's BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka at Eden Park in a one-off T20 tonight at 7pm, and Firebirds v the table topping Knights in the BK Super Smash tomorrow, they're both on SKY
On Sunday, we'll know who's joining the Blaze in the women's BKSS final, the Magicians need to win, and they need the Hearts to lose. The Hearts need to win. Get all the deets
Tennis is happening in Auckland - here's the draw, it's on SKY too
Bring back the gif
Happy to be back at work?
