Christmas feeling than the intimidating MCG
like Australia might pull off the improbable.
The crowing crowd didn’t help yet just as desolation was about to take hold, in runs Beefy for his first ball and delivers a long-hop, or at least, Thommo shaped to cut as if it was a long-hop.
What happened next seemed both quick and slow, as Thommo nicked to Chris Tavare at second slip. Tav must have felt the game had gone, too, as he seemed surprised the ball had come to him.
His instincts meant that while his hands were not right to catch the ball, he parried it gently over his head where Geoff Miller, fortunately alert to all eventualities at first slip, stopped to conquer by pouching the rebound.
Thommo was distraught but there was none of that touchy-feely hand on the shoulder consolation stuff from Beefy. Instead, he roared off towards the dressing-room (my direction) whooping like a dervish. I intercepted him just before the boundary boards and it was like being hit by a rhino.
The emotion, principally relief that we had at last won a Test, stirred synapses I didn’t know I had. Somewhat ungraciously, I flicked a double Vee to the Aussie supporters, which got me a b*****king from England’s management after it was caught on camera.
We’d all been provoked to breaking point that match and while my feeble response had made me feel better, it was nowhere near as satisfying as winning a Boxing Day Test at the MCG. A memory I’ll always treasure.