| Roll on
Boxing Day Monday, 24 December, 2001 South African batsman and BBC Sport Online columnist Neil McKenzie eagerly awaits one of cricket's biggest events - the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Melbourne has good memories for me because we were here last year for the in-door Colonial Stadium one-day series against Australia and were quite successful. We managed to draw the three-match series and take the six-match home and away contest 3-2. I'm really looking forward to the contest that this traditional Boxing Day Test match will dish up. As a team we've got our backs up against the wall and we have to simply improve and play better all round cricket if we want to be competitive against Australia. Today we had a good practice at the MCG, or should I simply say the "G" as the locals refer to it. This is my first visit to the "G" and it certainly is a very impressive stadium to say the least. We will, of course, be playing cricket in front of 80,000 screaming Aussie fans. Spectators sure get value for money during games and the few that pitched up for our practice had first class seats behind the net area. Today is another special day in the life of most team members - the long-awaited arrival of the wives and girlfriends club. Some players left practice in a hurry - scuttling back to the hotel to meet the ladies or better still, make the bedroom nice and tidy ahead of their arrival. But those of us in the team who are without partners will be heading out to a restaurant in the popular Lygon Street area to bond with each other and discuss single tactics. The five days we've just had in Sydney were great as I had the match off and had an opportunity to sample some of the delights that this beautiful city has to offer. On day two of the game Jacques Kallis and I went down to Bondi beach for the afternoon to get in some sun on the bodies, some sand between the toes and a bit of the old salt water in the hair. But as soon as we arrived at the beach than it began to cloud over and it was raining within the hour. Not to be outdone by the weather, Jacques and I headed for the nearest beachfront café and had a late afternoon lunch and a few beers to wash it all down with. Sydney also proved to be great for the team on the social front. Back to cricket, though. Melbourne for us is the make-or-break of the tour and hopefully we can pull one back and make it a series decider for the New Year's test in Sydney. So... Until the next time, this is Neil McKenzie from the city of Melbourne for BBC Sport Online. |