Witnessing a riveting Test match in a unique land
I was intrigued by the final day of the drawn first Test between Pakistan and England in Abu Dhabi earlier this month when England needed 99 to win in the final hour of play with around 19 overs available, before bad light halted proceedings prematurely.
Being a cricket fan, supporter and player in my more than half-a-century on this planet, I decided on the spur of the moment that I’d love to witness a Test match for the first time.
I had never been to one before, despite over many years in my career meeting many fine individuals who have represented their respective counties, provinces and at international level.
My journey started in the early hours of Thursday morning with a flight by Oman Air firstly to Muscat, then a connecting flight to Dubai. I wanted to reach the Dubai Sports City Stadium as soon as possible to watch the second Test.
On arrival I bought an all- day ticket costing 22 UAE Dirhams (BD2.200) and went straight to the Dubai Metro from the airport and down to the Mall of the Emirates station. Then I hired a taxi to the ground 12 kilometres away.
On reaching the Test match venue, I picked up a ticket, which was surprisingly cheap at BD2 or BD8 or you had the option of a VIP ticket, which was around BD60 if you could afford that!!! The stadium was impressive and on arrival I chanced upon a couple of gents from Yorkshire, England who follow the English team around the world.
Steven, who I first met, said he had been to all the Test playing countries except Pakistan. He had been to 25 England Test matches. Steven was in the UAE for the first time and wanted to notch up another venue of his ever- expanding places to watch the English team.
With around six hours of play during the first day, both Steven and I had plenty to chat about cricket over the years, and as a Lancastrian and big rivals in the local scene, we had plenty to talk about while watching in what was essentially a boring first day of cricket and rather hot as well.
Andrew on the other hand, sitting the other side of Steven revealed he was a sort of statistician and had attended 67 England Test matches and kept statistics of every match he had been to. He said the current England captain Alistair Cook had scored the most runs according to his records he had recorded.
Watching a Test match in the UAE is quite unique. After the lunch session, Mushtaq a Pakistani origin, who lives in Blackburn just outside of Manchester in Lancashire, England joined us. He along with his wife, son and daughter was enjoying the game.
This UK-based family said they had come to UAE for a holiday, but seeing their Pakistani compatriots and England was a great opportunity and something they never thought of when going on holiday. Mushaq, who spoke with a thick Lancastrian accent, had lived in the UK all his life. He said he and his wife loved the T20 and ODI’s at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Mushaq found the Test match rather boring, but enjoyed the experience of seeing a first- ever Test match in Dubai.
Any England Test match always has its characters, surprisingly the very vocal “Barmy Army” that follows the England team were rather quiet on the first day, though this was supplemented by number of Pakistani supporters who dressed in their national colours.
I met a man having a white beard. He was known as The Cheerleader. He told me that he had been to over 500 matches, while I said meekly this was my first ever international match of any sort.
On the way back by bus to the metro, I came across a British couple. They were on a holiday to meet their daughter, who had flown to Dubai from Saudi Arabia. According to them, it was quite amazing to watch a test match involving England in Dubai.
The only regretful thing for me is that England held on to 6.3 overs yesterday to the end and lost by 178 runs. But overall the best team won over five days and congratulations to Pakistan.
Despite 36 hours without any sleep, four flights, two metro runs, a taxi and a bus, it was an incredible experience. It will always be etched into my mind. Bring on the third and final Test in Sharjah on November 1, and England, please square the series!
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