A tribute to Andrew Symonds 1975-2022

Christian Cricketers-A discussion on Christians in sport

Can the Poms win the 4th Test in Sydney?

It's Not Cricket! It's Human Nature!

Such a tremendous disturbance in the cricket world over some cricketers doing something to a cricket ball they are not supposed to.

Bewildering to the non cricket fan.

A common lament is that these guys were role models.

What do we tell our children?

It just shows what happens when sports idols and any other idols fall.

They fall because non of us are perfect.

Non of us are without sin.

We are wrong to promote people as sports idols and advertisers are wrong to exploit them.

The Bible says "he who is without sin, cast the first stone" in the well known story of the woman caught in Adultery about to be stoned.

Jesus reprimands and challenges those who would stone her.

They all slink away.

See the attached link to an opinion by Natasha Moore.

She says so eloquently what I am trying to say.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-01/easter-jesus-australian-cricket-steve-smith-warner/9605028

I for one love sport and cricket but many of us  make a mistake to let sport take the place of true religion in our lives.

It is not sustainable.

These guys need to be forgiven if they ask for it, ------Smith,Warner and Bancroft.

Let them continue to do what they are good at.

C T Studd one of 3 cricketing English brothers, tossed in wealth and fame, (he probably would have captained England), to become a missionary to spread the Gospel where it had hardly been heard of before.

There is life before and after cricket.

Underneath the Fig Trees

Over the years I have spent many pleasant days at the Adelaide Test Match, usuually in December each year.
My favourite thing was to sit under the fig trees at the scoreboard end with my usual props.
Camera
About 10 rolls of film.
Sometimes a small unobtrusive tripod.
Binoculars
The day's newspaper
A magazine
A can of coke
A meat pie.
My idea of a great day out.
I still go to the test matches and I reckon that is still the best spot in spite of all the grandiose changes to the ground.
I am inteneding to put together a book on Adelaide Test matches,State Games,One day matches and also local club cricket from my photographic collection.
Many shots were taken on film and more recently digital.
Cameras I have used are Pentax Super A,Pentax MZs,Pentax 645,Pentax Kr and Kx,Pentax *iSTD,Canon 400d and Canon 600d.
Here are a few pics from a test match between Australia and South Africa in December 2001.
Scanned from 35mm prints.
All these shots were taken from my favourite spot sitting on the grass underneath the fig trees.
To all my readers and accidental visitors to this blog have a wonderful celebration of Christmas and the Birth of our Savior and a Happy New Year for 2015.

Australia v India Thursday 11/12/14

Yesterday I had a day out at the test Cricket between India an Australia at the Adelaide Oval.
An absorbing day's cricket.
It was full of tension due to the psychological barriers all players have been facing since the recent death of Australian player Phillip Hughes.
I came away having enjoyed the cricket but uncomfortable about where the game is going and the demise of what was the world's best Test Cricket Ground in the Adelaide Oval.
Nonethe less I took my usual share of pictures and a few are here.

Death of Phillip Hughes

It was  sad day today with the unfortunate and tragic death of young Australian Cricketer,Phillip Hughes.
He was hit on the head by a cricket ball in a Sheffield Shield game two days ago at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
He was playing for South Australia against NSW.
He was to turn 26 in a few days time.
I was agreat admirer of his cricket skill and believed he should have been a consistent member of the Australian Test Team.
He also appears to have been a great role model and encourager of other cricketers.
I remember with much pleasure the partnership he played with Test debutante Ashton Agar about a year ago.
I thought at the time how great a support he was for the young man who almost brought up a century in his first test innings.
They broke records for the last wicket partnership in test matches.
Below are some pics I have taken which I post as a tribute to him.
Our family's prayers are with his family,friends and team mates.
Below is a short video tribute to Phillip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHL-qiz9y8Y

Hughes hitting his 200th run v Western Australia,Adelaide Oval 2013.Coincidentally of
the bowling of Ashton Agar.

The scoreboard says it all

I would think Ashton Agar will forever cherish this partnership with Phillip Hughes

How it used to be-Adelaide Oval

For those like me who lament the loss of our wonderful Adelaide Oval as it used to be here are a few glimpses from my archives.