Test humiliation not enough to ruin Finn’s birthday celebration

CRICKET Tasmania hopes to secure an international match against England next summer after being buoyed by good crowds at the Test match at Blundstone Arena.

Finn Karkoszka, of Pelverata, celebrating his sixth birthday at the cricket with his grandmother Melinda Dear. Picture: KIM EISZELE

CRICKET Tasmania hopes to secure an international match against England next summer after being buoyed by good crowds at the Test match at Blundstone Arena.

Despite rain and Australia’s poor batting reducing the Test against South Africa to little more than two days of play, 17,783 people attended.

This has given Cricket Tasmania the confidence to lobby for a one-day international or T20 fixture involving old enemy England.

It will be at least three years until another Test is played in Hobart but Cricket Tasmania chief executive David Johnston said he was confident the break would not be much longer than that.

Cricket Tasmania has already begun discussions with Cricket Australia about securing England to play in Hobart next summer.

Mr Johnston said he was pleased with the total attendance figure, after the weather that plagued the Test, with all play lost on Sunday.

Sophie Broomhall, from the Glebe, with Andrew Bryce, of Durban in South Africa, enjoying a day at the cricket. Picture: KIM EISZELE

“Very happy with that figure, the support of the Tasmanian public, the Cricket Tasmania members and the cricket fraternity was fantastic,” he said.

“Having rain before the first ball of the match on Saturday cost us some walk-ups and if the match lasted past lunch on day four we would have expected some more to come along.

“I think Cricket Australia were very pleased with the way it went under the circumstances, they thought the match went smoothly, the pitch was well prepared and the facilities were top notch.”

With the Ashes next season and Manuka Oval in Canberra given Test status in 2018-19, it will be at least three years until another Test is played at Blundstone Arena.

But Mr Johnston said he was confident the five-day game was not lost to Tasmania.

“After that I would hope and expect that we would be hosting Test matches again shortly,” he said.

“I think if we get a competitive match we will have some really good crowds there.”

The timing of future Tests in Hobart is sure to be debated with grey skies a constant over the week. But Mr Johnston said Cricket Tasmania was happy with the dates for the South African clash.

Test revellers, from back left, Tom Jones, Connor Castle-Lynch, Prestin Tsaoxnassiras, Josh Rowland, and Ed Cox. Picture: KIM EISZELE

“The Melbourne and Sydney Tests are not going to move so it’s very unlikely Tasmania would ever have a Test after Christmas,” he said.

One young fan who will be keen to support more international games at the ground is Finn Karkoszka.

Given tickets to Sunday’s washed out day as a present for his sixth birthday, the cricket-mad youngster still dragged his family along just so he could sit in his seat at Blundstone Arena.

Finn returned yesterday with his grandmother Melinda Dear and, even though Australia quickly slumped to an 80-run loss, he was happy to finally able to watch some Test cricket.

“We came on Sunday and sat in our seats in the rain because Finn just wanted to be in his seat at the cricket,” Mrs Dear said.

“So with that day washed out we came along today [Tuesday] so Finn could do what he wanted to do on his birthday and watch some cricket.”

Most spectators were shaking their heads at the brittleness of the Australian batting, but it helped make Andrew Bryce’s first week in Tasmania one to savour.

Originally from Durban, South Africa, the 34-year-old has just moved to Australia with girlfriend Sophie Broomhall –from Glebe – after the two met in London.

He said he was enjoying life in Australia.

“It’s been a pretty good start so far,” he said.

“Sophie actually hasn’t taken it as bad as you would think. I’m hoping to stay for the foreseeable future, especially if the cricket continues to be like this.”

Mick Apanah, of Glenorchy, enjoying a day out at Blundstone Arena with his daughter Sophie, 2. Picture: KIM EISZELE

Originally published as Test humiliation not enough to ruin Finn’s birthday celebration