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It’s almost unAustralian. An orderly hill at the cricket. Looking more like a carpark than the spiritual home of the Aussie larrikin. But given the year we’ve had, it was just “bloody brilliant” to have crowds back at Manuka Oval. The first time since the women’s cricket World Cup in February. Yeah sure, you might have to sit in carefully marked rows on the grass and douse yourself in Cricket Australia’s official brand of hand sanitizer every time someone looked at you. But that wasn’t going to stop a sold-out Canberra crowd – reduced down to a COVID-safe level of about 5850 or 65 per cent capacity – from enjoying the cricket. The coronavirus meant the usual cluster of AFL games didn’t happen at the picturesque Canberra ground this year so it’s been a long, lean year. Adam Bailey, a regular on the Manuka hill, didn’t mind the designated sitting spots because it stopped people from hogging the real estate with their blankets. “Bloody brilliant,” he said when asked about having crowds back. “It’s so good. Super stoked for it. The games at the start of the year when they were playing in front of an empty stadium, even on TV it didn’t look right.” University student Jarryd Rowley couldn’t agree more. He’s been hanging out for the cricket – the sport he feels truly unites Australia. But it’s also bringing mates from other backgrounds together. Especially in that age-old tradition of mates wearing Hawaiian shirts together. The Steve Smith fan was lucky to get there though. He missed out on tickets when they first went on sale for a capacity of 5000. But they were quick on the uptake when news broke the ACT government had eased restrictions – albeit only by 850 tickets. That was enough though. “I missed it. Footy’s fine and all, but nothing unites Australia like cricket and having all different mates here,” Rowley said. “We’ve got friends from India and Bangladesh coming to watch. Nothing does that like cricket. “It’s good to see [crowds back]. We didn’t think we’d get tickets originally. “It sold out in like 15 minutes and it wasn’t until they announced the crowd capacity lift so we thought, ‘We’ve got to get on it’. “It’s good to see fans finally. Nothing is more boring than seeing sport without fans in the ground.” While it wasn’t a big crowd, a lot of them were wearing the blue shirts of India. And they brought their distinctive cheering and chanting with them. Hemant Upadhyay was born in India, but now lives in Canberra with his young family. He loved the chance to see part of the shortened Festival of Virat Kohli before he returns home for the birth of his first child before Christmas. “I’m a big fan of cricket from the Australia side and the India side as well. When the cricket is coming to your home town it’s very easy to watch and enjoy with family,” Upadhyay said.
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It’s almost unAustralian. An orderly hill at the cricket. Looking more like a carpark than the spiritual home of the Aussie larrikin.
But given the year we’ve had, it was just “bloody brilliant” to have crowds back at Manuka Oval. The first time since the women’s cricket World Cup in February.
Yeah sure, you might have to sit in carefully marked rows on the grass and douse yourself in Cricket Australia’s official brand of hand sanitizer every time someone looked at you.
But that wasn’t going to stop a sold-out Canberra crowd – reduced down to a COVID-safe level of about 5850 or 65 per cent capacity – from enjoying the cricket.
The coronavirus meant the usual cluster of AFL games didn’t happen at the picturesque Canberra ground this year so it’s been a long, lean year.
Adam Bailey, a regular on the Manuka hill, didn’t mind the designated sitting spots because it stopped people from hogging the real estate with their blankets.
“Bloody brilliant,” he said when asked about having crowds back.
“It’s so good. Super stoked for it. The games at the start of the year when they were playing in front of an empty stadium, even on TV it didn’t look right.”
Fans of India Dharti Upadhyay, Hemant, Upadhya, Dhyan Upadhya, Nishit Thakkar, and Mitali Thakker. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos
University student Jarryd Rowley couldn’t agree more.
He’s been hanging out for the cricket – the sport he feels truly unites Australia.
But it’s also bringing mates from other backgrounds together. Especially in that age-old tradition of mates wearing Hawaiian shirts together.
The Steve Smith fan was lucky to get there though. He missed out on tickets when they first went on sale for a capacity of 5000.
“I missed it. Footy’s fine and all, but nothing unites Australia like cricket and having all different mates here,” Rowley said.
“We’ve got friends from India and Bangladesh coming to watch. Nothing does that like cricket.
“It’s good to see [crowds back]. We didn’t think we’d get tickets originally.
“It sold out in like 15 minutes and it wasn’t until they announced the crowd capacity lift so we thought, ‘We’ve got to get on it’.
“It’s good to see fans finally. Nothing is more boring than seeing sport without fans in the ground.”
While it wasn’t a big crowd, a lot of them were wearing the blue shirts of India. And they brought their distinctive cheering and chanting with them.
Hemant Upadhyay was born in India, but now lives in Canberra with his young family.
He loved the chance to see part of the shortened Festival of Virat Kohli before he returns home for the birth of his first child before Christmas.
“I’m a big fan of cricket from the Australia side and the India side as well. When the cricket is coming to your home town it’s very easy to watch and enjoy with family,” Upadhyay said.
