Cricket at Newlands
For the last few Newlands tests, I’ve always attended the match with one of my friends for the first day.
There is absolutely nothing in the sports world like being in the ground on the first morning of a test match.
Everything feels new and the excitement is contagious!
First you have to finde your spot in the stands or on the ground, greet your fellow fans, check out the teams warming up.
Sometimes the players come around and banter with the crowd while going through their paces.
And then the toss!
It’s always nice when the home captain wins the toss and bats, but not so nice when your favourite players gets out before you’ve properly checked out the field settings.
It happened once when my favourite cricketer of all time, Gary Kirsten, went out to bat one sunny Cape Town 2nd New Years Day. I was still looking around the field, when he headed back to the pavillion. A first ball duck.
Our Cape Town boys seldom perform on the first morning on my trips to Newlands 
One way to put a damper on the morning.
One of my friends liked Herschelle Gibbs, most times he scored a quick 30 or 40 and our test viewing was all but over. Not really, but we had our favourites.
This test match I’m not headed to Newlands. I have to be at work today, Friday and Monday and the weekend I have long training runs in my sights.
But I will be back!
I look forward to the English coming at the end of the year!
.jpg)
