Krikkit

[cosmolinguist]

The other day Ali, one of my WI chums, messaged me and another one, Tas, to remind us of something we'd forgotten about: at one of our first committee meetings this year we got chatting about cricket and I mentioned the tickets to the Women's World Cup final that I have (only a few weeks now! can't wait!). Ali looked into other matches from that, to see if we could go see something at Old Trafford or whatever, and Tas asked if we could see Sri Lanka because she's from Sri Lanka.

"They are playing...in Taunton," Ali said, and Tas clapped her hands in anticipatory delight before asking where Taunton is.

"Somerset, I think?"

"Far away, anyway!"

And then, probably not entirely coincidentally, it dropped off the radar for all of us.

Until now! Ali not only reminded us of this but had looked up ticket prices (only £10; it's criminal that tickets sell for so much less if it's women playing sports than if it's men, but it's handy for me because I'm poor, so I'm conflicted...) and best of all she's willing to drive there and back on the day.

In America a hundred years is a long time, and in England a hundred miles is a long way. While I would've grown up thinking nothing of a road trip like this -- it wouldn't happen all the time, but it wouldn't be hugely remarkable either -- here, people don't drive to somewhere 200 miles away and back in the same day. So I feel really lucky that Ali is willing to do this, especially as I of course can be no help with the driving and I don't think Tas drives either. So for the price of admission and chipping in for petrol, we're suddenly having this amazing day out.

I was so excited as we were planning this that I was chair-dancing. Tas is so excited because she's planning to bring her Sri Lankan flag to wave, which my Anyone But England self couldn't be happier with (though I think that applies more to men's cricket; I've never felt such animosity to the women's team...). I think Ali has an English flag to bring, anyway. Also she's bringing a friend she used to play cricket with (she plays cricket!) and when Tas said the one time she's seen cricket she got on TV because she and her Sri Lanka flag were with a British friend of hers with a British flag, Ali said "If any of my friends who are current/former women's team players are going, they can get a bit raucous too! We've been mentioned on the Sky Sports a number of times..."

So yeah, I guess, look out for me on TV on Sunday?

Comments

[angelofthenorth]

That sounds incredibly cool!

[cosmolinguist]

Surprise adventure road trip! I'm so looking forward to it.

[haggis]

Ooh, exciting! Have a great time!

[cosmolinguist]

I'm really excited. :)

[diffrentcolours]

That does sound awesome, but I would personally see if you know anybody along the route (Birmingham, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bristol, maybe overshoot to Exeter) who can put you up for at least one night - that'll be a hell of a drive in one day even if you don't hit a rush hour.

I'd offer my Mum's place in Birmingham but my sister + family are staying there right now while their house is renovated.

[cosmolinguist]

It's a kind thought, anyway. I have Brummie friends, not sure about the others but I can ask on Facebook or something. :)

[samanderson]

That sounds like so much fun, I hope you have a wonderful time

[silveradept]

Yay, cricket! Yay, women's sport. (Boo, nobody coming to see them.)