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Good knock ... Read Geeves' unique perspective on day one of the Hobart Test. Source: William West / AFP
Former Australia and Tasmania player Brett Geeves reflects on day one of the Hobart Test between Australia and Sri Lanka, where he returned to commentary duties in the ABC radio box.
1. Day one of this Test has a strange feel to it. Driving to the ground this morning, I felt like I had left something at home.
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You know that empty feeling you get when you've left home without your pants on?
I was got that exact feeling but my pants were on, albeit tightly (I've gained weight of late and am in need of some sort of shake diet and an abmaster/stair-master combo).
The keys are obviously in the ignition because the car is moving and I have triple checked my backpack for lunch.
I am yet to leave home without my lunch, ever. This is a fact. So what was plaguing me? When I arrive to the ground, I check the team sheets and chat with Jim Maxwell about the pronunciation of players names.
The Sri Lankans are a tough mob to master. HIlfenhaus will no doubt cause me some grief later in the test also.
I then walk, with Jim, down to ground level and chat with folk about the game. As we make our way through the media scrum, Jim says "I feel sad and empty today".
I ponder that statement for a moment and come up with two things. The first, Jim shouldn't feel empty as his pants cover at least 86% of his body. He should, in fact, feel quite full and proud to be flying the flag for high pant wearers the world over. The second was to ask him why? "No Ponting today, sad day" replies Jim, adjusting his pants to cover his nipples.
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That was it. Jim had just identified why I feel lonely and abandoned. It's the realisation that one of the games' greats is now lost to the "real world".
For me that is 9-5 working for a recruitment agency, drinking six cups of coffee a day and four trips to the toilet, just to kill some time. Jim is right. It is a sad day.
What is your Top Five from day one of the Hobart Test?
Cricket Australia shove Ponting in a Toyota ute and give him a lap of honour around his home ground, Bellerive, during the lunch break.
I pop out on the ABC balcony and clap lovingly. Emotion overwhelming me and I blow Rick a kiss in memory of his double hundred against India at Adelaide, 2003.
Fortunately for me, he did not see this and my dignity is kept in check. Congratulations Ricky Ponting for your enormous contribution to Australian Cricket. I hope that retirement treats you well and you are not forced to join the "real world".
2. Being a bits and pieces player for ABC Grandstand's coverage of cricket has its positives and negatives.
The positives are that I get a free lunch. Being a packed lunch man, it means double lunch! BAM!
One negative is that because I only get the Hobart based international games, the frequently used commentators forget who I am.
When I enter the room this morning, I expect a shaking of hands and some back-slapping (that's what old friends do). Instead, Geoff Lawson turns his back and requests that I use herbal infused oils when massaging his neck.
Um, Geoff, I'm hear to call the game with you - not rub your neck.
3. When Jim and I make our way down to the ground to talk with folk about the match (see earlier); I ran into my old Delhi Dardevils teammate Glenn McGrath. What excites me most about this, is the fact that he actually remembers me ... as Brent, but that's cool. Atleast he doesn't think I am the team masseuse.
During that time in Delhi, whenever we travelled anywhere as a team, there were always a million photographers on hand, wanting to take "one snap" of Mr McGrath. Myself and team Physiotherapist, Justin Steer, decided that a competition was in order, to see who could get in the most published photos with Glenn. We didn't have to be right in the photo with Glenn, just lurking around the outskirts was enough to score a point. Glenn didn't realise we were doing this, until Justin sticky taped himself to Glenn one night at the F-Bar. Too far Justin, too far.
4. Phil Hughes makes his return to the Australian team as a result of the departing Ricky Ponting, who is seeking a tour card for the PGA Tour. Terrific striker of the ball, but has the short game of a one-armed bear, who's only knowledge of golf is that the players are tasty.
Phil has had two stints at the top level. The first against South Africa, in South Africa, where he dominated their attack like Brendon Julian would have dominated the night scene of Perth many moons ago.
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From there it was the Poms attempting to hit him in the face with every ball, ultimately bringing about his demise.
He went back to domestic cricket and plundered more runs, earning a recall against New Zealand, where he failed again miserably. Caught Guptill bowled Martin became as famous a catch cry in New Zealand as caught Marsh bowled Lillee in Australia, circa 78. It is said that Martin Guptill popped out of Phil Hughes's vanity cabinet, to offer some assistance with a snick from shaving, such was Guptill's ability to catch any snick from Hughes. I think that's how the gag went. Kerry O'Keeffe - funny, funny man.
There has been a lot of talk about Hughes's change in technique and how this is making him a better player.
Nothing about this new technique struck me as being new or fixed. What is evident, is the maturity and increased knowledge of his own game. He played within himself scoring a healthy 86. This is Phil Hughes' time. He has the ability to succeed at international level and I hope it works for him.
5. The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling!! This makes me happy.
Brett Geeves will return on Saturday
