He has seen the thunderous collisions of mate versus mate in State of Origin. But “the best sporting event” he has been to? The Sixers versus Thunder at the SCG last Sunday.
A disclaimer here; he’s a cricket tragic, has been known to listen to various cricket podcasts before he falls to sleep and he walked into the SCG with a pocketful of cricket cards to be signed.
He walked away with the Thunder’s gun batter Phoebe Litchfield’s signature, Sixers’ Ash Gardner’s and Maitlan Brown’s autograph. Then he got a bunch of others from the Sixers Big Bash squad on giant pink Sixers sign but could snare the helmet a batter had dished out to the crowd.
The whole experience was a reminder of how much sports-mad kids love the opportunity of meeting a star, and being allowed to linger on the SCG after is how dreams are made. And getting photographs with a hero or two? That’s a life highlight at nine years of age.
As he and his three mates chased autographs – the boys debated who had played the best game and how “Phoebe” was Australia’s best rising star – and called out “Pez” (Ellyse Perry) over the fence, it was a reminder of how far the game has come and where it might be going.
The injured Alyssa Healy, potentially Australia’s next captain, her teammates and opponents patiently signed autographs by the dozen for more than half an hour as hundreds of kids gathered on the SCG. Earlier in the week Healy had said how important it was that Big Bash’s women were finally being allowed to play on the SCG.
“The opportunity to get back in and play at the SCG and go back to the bigger stadiums I think is a really exciting move and I think it’s a great opportunity to continue to attract new fans as well,” Healy said.
On the eve of the season, Tahlia McGrath, said she and her Thunder teammates had “literally” circled their game at the Adelaide Oval on their calendar.
“Our home ground is Karen Rolton Oval and if we sell that out you get 2000 people and … who doesn’t love Adelaide Oval?” McGrath said. “You grow up as a kid watching people play on Adelaide Oval, it’s what you dream of.”
Healy in an interview said investment and promotion was key.
The crowd on Sunday at the SCG wasn’t amazing but it was a healthy 7118 - not the New Year’s Test but better than the Sheffield Shield.
It’s something to build on, because every player knows it’s in everyone’s interests that the competition thrives.
The Big Bash as a whole is a great product. Fast, loud, fun, family friendly and, usually, no lunatics in the crowd. My son and his three mates, after a taster at the SCG, are amped for the men’s season.
It might not be an Origin, a heaving Bledisloe (albeit the Wallabies losing again) or a jam packed, sold out SCG but sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference.
How Popovic turned Socceroos’ ‘impossible task’ into reality
Tony Popovic made the “impossible task” for direct qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup a reality for the Socceroos. ERIN SMITH uncovers the attributes which made him the man best suited to make the North American dream come true.
Olympic champion Chalmers eyes new event for LA Games
Olympic champion freestyle swimmer Kyle Chalmers has revealed he intends to race in the 50m butterfly at the 2028 LA Olympic Games after winning the national final.
My nine-year-old son has been to a few sporting events. He has witnessed the Bledisloe Cup slip from the Wallabies grasp – who hasn’t? – and Buddy kick goals at the MCG.