Punting, Picnicking and Jet Lagging

Sunny Christchurch and watching Bumrah

    Christchurch is a remarkable and beautiful city. Most of the city’s residential redevelopment after the earthquake in 2011 has been limited to single and double-storey buildings, cost and safety providing similar incentive, but commercial buildings and the hospital are still five storeys.

    My last visit to Otago was a year after the calamitous earthquake on Feb 22. Thousands of people were still living in temporary accommodation, and small communities had been established in repurposed shipping containers which had been converted into shops and dwellings. A year later there was still a sense of shock and mourning, but also determination.

    More than a decade later there are few signs of the devastation, unless you’re looking for them. Indeed, the city appears to be prosperous and thriving. The famous Cathedral remains a rebuilding work in progress, shrouded in scaffolding.     

    The ‘small city’ aperture is caused by the population figure alone. The style is undeniable and any city with Porsche, Jaguar and Maserati dealerships can’t be struggling too badly. Some say New Zealand resembles the best parts of England – although Scotland is closer to the truth on the South Island. Still, where else do you see tourists punting? Or being punted in this case.

    Hagley Park is a vast oasis of lush grass and trees, enhanced by the sunshine which has made the first 48 hours so pleasant and dulled the throbbing jetlag. The Hagley Oval, venue for Thursday’s first Test, wins the award for unpretentious modesty amongst the world’s Test venues. It is a manicured field with grass banks and a single stand/pavilion.

    Five more cricket fields sit to one side, all populated on Saturday by XIs proudly attired in their school colours and caps and watched by parents, friends and other family members, a sort Kiwi ‘maidan’. It was infatuating.

    Thousands of England supporters are wealthy enough to enjoy hospitality suites wherever they follow the team, but in New Zealand their pounds only extend to a nice rug, a cut-down deckchair and a luxury picnic box with salmon, lamb and a delicious Sauvignon Blanc in a plastic glass. To be honest, why would you have it any other way?

    The first Border/Gavaskar Test in Perth has also provided intoxicating viewing in between the jet-lagging, a double reason for the eye-rubbing. Australia’s 104 all out came from 51 overs. India’s 150 spanned almost 50 overs. Mitchell Starc faced 112 deliveries for the highest score in the innings, a less-than-jaunty 26. Really?

    Golden rule for sensible commentators is to avoid passing comment on fellow professionals, but a little too much time was spent focussing on Jasprit Bumrah’s unusual action for my taste. As if that is the reason for his brilliance, rather than his brilliance. Perhaps I just caught the coverage at the wrong time. The same thing used to happen with Lasith Malinga.

    If the Durban weather is kind, South Africa and Sri Lanka will continue the entertainment on Wednesday with New Zealand hosting England on Thursday. If those games are half as intriguing as the Perth Test, the golden month or so of Test cricket so many have been looking forward to will have delivered. Over-delivered. What a prospect.