I know what you’re thinking. Cricket? Ew. It’s boring, the men are fully-clothed, and it goes on forever. Why on earth would you want to see that? Well, aside from the fact it’s one of Australia’s biggest sports, here’s why the cricket can be a great girls day out.
1. It’s relaxing: We all love a day out in the sun, where we can kick back with a cold beverage and chat the day away. With Spring Carnival many of you might be thinking that the races trump cricket as the perfect time to do all the above but you’d be terribly mistaken. What with those thousands of dollars spent on fashion, those heels slowly beginning to feel like hard rocks digging into the balls of your feet, and the constant hordes of people and massive queues, the races really isn’t that relaxing at all. How about popping over to your local cricket ground, throwing your thong-happy feet over the back of a chair, and relaxing with a glass of wine that only took five minutes to get? Ahh, Australian summer bliss.
2. It’s really quite exciting: For the uninitiated, a test match may not be the best place to start, but I can assure you the two other versions of the game are easy enough to get into. The 20/20 may not be a purists first love, but if big hitting and fast-paced action are your thing then this is the version for you. Each team get 20 overs to slug and smash their way to as many runs possible, leaving tact and precision on their wake. It makes for a fun, loud, and often close game of cricket.
For those after a more relaxing day with the possibility of an edge-of-your-seat finish, one day cricket is as good as it gets. The 50 over game is slower-paced but fiercely competitive. You’ll witness a range of cricket from the comfort of your sun-filled seat. For those not wanting to spend a whole day in the sun, a day-nighter gives you half and half. As the match heats up, the sun goes down and the atmosphere becomes less chilled out and more electric.
3. It’s… Fashionable? Ok, it’s not quite tennis with its thigh high dresses and dangly earrings, and the men don’t run about in muscle-shirts either, but there is something infinitely cool about cricket. Perhaps it is that as a country we are laid-back, down to earth, sun loving beach bunnies, and cricket reflects that. Breezy summer whites? Check. Casual afternoons watching one of sports most chilled games? Check. Having a go yourself when feeling active at the beach? Check. A fun and relaxed game that can be enjoyed with a barbie and beer on a hot summers day? That’s cricket to a tee. So really, girls, what could be more quintessential Australian than cricket? Give the sport a go this summer and leave your prejudice behind; you can be assured you’re in for a treat.
