Boxing Day Showdown

Boxing Day Showdown

Forget the current battle between the Australians and Pakistanis at the SCG … the “real” cricket match this summer has already taken place. Far removed from the green wicket of the SCG the “battle for the Ashes” between the Aussies and the Poms has been held at the Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan.

The traditional “Boxing Day” match between the two fiercely competitive military might was held in front of a small but jovial crowd on a wicket which can only be described as an “uneven, stony dirt surface” which appeared to be a bowler’s paradise.

With the two captains facing off, the sun beating down and the crowd ready for action, the coin was tossed with England winning and deciding to make the most of the conditions and electing to bowl first.

For the first few overs it appeared the decision may have backfired with the Aussies quickly piling on the runs and looking to score a big total. However a fine spell of accurate bowling from the Poms suddenly had the Aussies in trouble.

A middle order revival restored some respectability to the score board for the Aussies and after the 30 allotted overs managed to score a formidable 180 at an average of 6 an over.

After a quick toilet break, a cup of coffee and some stretching exercises it was the Poms turn to bat and after the first over were in all sorts of trouble having lost two early wickets for no runs.

The English team however dug deep and with only one wicket left and only four runs required the atmosphere was tense and the crowd were on the edge of their seats. The last English batsmen however couldn’t hold out and a simple catch to short mid-wicket saw the Aussies cling to victory. The teams celebrated the great match in true style with a barbeque lunch.

The ADF can only hope the “real” Australian cricket team can now find some of that true Aussie spirit and like their military colleagues in Afghanistan mount a fight back against Pakistan at the SCG.

ENDS

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