The World Cup Diaries (Brisbane)

The World Cup Diaries

Brisbane

15/02/2020

 

We arrive at the Bupa National Cricket Centre (NCC) before 8 AM. It overlooks the picturesque Allan Border Oval, where will also play Bangladesh in our first official warm up match tomorrow. The facilities are world class. The sun is shining bright and the covers are off. The prospects of a game look good after today’s warm-up matches were called off.

 

But first things first. Today is all about signing bats, playing ‘crictionary,’ and being interviewed by ICC TV. ‘Crictionary’ is a real highlight. Sornnarin, Chanida, and Ratanaporn describe cricket-related terms by drawing them on a whiteboard. The others have to guess what they are. The drawings mainly consist of ovals with cricket pitches in them with arrows pointing at particular fielding positions or spin directions. Everyone is laughing.

 

We see India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. A ‘how are you’, a hug or two at the sight of familiar faces. Perhaps a sign of camaraderie and mutual respect. A small crowd gathers as the Australians emerge. This is starting to feel like the T20 Women’s World Cup.

 

Coach Harshal Pathak is quietly confident, as he was before the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifiers 2019 in Scotland. “We have prepared well,” he says.

 

We get a short burst of heavy rain, which drenches the outfield. It could be a race against time to get the oval ready for a 10 AM start. But we are hopeful. Sornnarin tells me she cannot wait to get out on the field. The excitement is palpable.

 

After a light lunch of sandwiches and fruit, we are off to the Gabba for an indoor net session. Queensland is playing Tasmania out in the middle in a Sheffield Shield fixture. We know because there are TVs in the dressing rooms. The facilities are, again, world class.

 

Everyone is focused and sharp. Chanida is steaming in and swinging the ball miles. Nannapat is timing the ball sweetly. One or two players have minor niggles, but nothing serious. Two hours and a team meeting later, the squad heads back to the hotel for an early dinner and bed.

 

Tomorrow’s game against Bangladesh is important for so many reasons. It will give us a chance to shake off any cobwebs from days of indoor training, and calm any nerves. It is also a chance to avenge a close loss to them in Patna.

 

Nishadh Rego

 (Photo: ICC)

 

 

 

Thailand T20 World Cup draw:

Date	Time	Opponent	Location
Practice matches
Sun 16 February	10.00am	Bangladesh	Allan Border Field, Brisbane (GMT+10)
Wed 19 February	10.30am	New Zealand	Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide (+10.5)
Round matches
Sat 22 February	3.00pm	West Indies	WACA, Perth (+8)
Wed 26 February	3.00pm	England	Canberra (+11)
Fri 28 February	3.00pm	South Africa	Canberra (+11)
Tue 3 March	3.00pm	Pakistan	Sydney Showground (+11)

 

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