ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
A Betoota Heights city worker has today admitted he is not sure what moment he most wants to witness when the Second Test begins in Brisbane tomorrow afternoon.
The man reached this conclusion while riding the D45 electric trolleybus into the French Quarter during the morning commute, staring out the fogged window and drifting off into a vivid daydream about cricket and mid-week schooners with his boys.
He told The Advocate he was mostly thinking about tomorrow evening, when he and a few mates plan to clock off, walk straight to the Three Legged Goat Hotel and enjoy what he described as a gentleman's Thursday. He said this allows a man to be hungover on company time on Friday and then be fresh for the family on Saturday, which he believes is the correct way to structure a working week.
Somewhere between Daroo Street and the Old City stop, his thoughts drifted to the Test. He said he could not decide whether he would rather see Mitchell Starc clean bowl an English opener first ball, sending the Gabba into chaos, or watch Australia cruise to none for 200 at dinner, Travis and Jake travelling in the fast lane with the cruise control set to 119 kilometres an hour.
He said both fantasies had been playing on repeat in his head since Monday, and he had not fully committed to either one. He also said he respected each vision for its own merits, with a Starc thunderbolt offering immediate adrenaline and a smug, wicketless first session providing a slower and more satisfying joy.
The man said he hoped to finalise his preference by the time he orders his first schooner of Betoota Bitter tomorrow evening, but acknowledged he may still be torn right up until the first ball is bowled.
The match begins at 2pm Standard Queensland Time tomorrow, lesser time zones work it out yourselves.
More to come.
