5kms inland from Bondi at the Sydney Cricket Ground another 40,000 people have no interest in the beach. They are packed into the Sydney Cricket Ground watching Australia take on England in the 1962-63 Ashes series. The last test in Sydney was two years previously when the West Indies tour galvanised cricket.
All eyes are on the Australian fast-bowling spearhead Alan Davidson as he licks the first two fingers of his left hand fingers and holds them up to test if the nor-easter has arrived. Yes, he decides, and tells the umpires he will bowl from the northern or Members’ end of the ground to take advantage of the nor-easter coming from behind, blowing over his left shoulder.
Ten minutes earlier his Australian team’s 1st innings series had finished – with a 40 run lead. The England team are not unhappy, a decent performance in their 2nd innings and they might well have the Aussies on toast.
