A day at the cricket

When I was about 16, I thought that functional relationships only existed between 2 people who were exactly alike. Which is probably why I never had a boyfriend until I was in my 20's -- I was too busy looking for the guy who was doing med, appreciated literature and could read a book a day, could speak on the phone for hours and could serenade me when a romantic urge hit. I met him when I was 17. He bored me.

Fast forward 9 years later. To last weekend, to be precise. My current boyfriend is a sports-fanatic. No, make that sports-obsessed. An inclincation I do not share. I never could understand the need to watch a sporting event and not participate in it. Added to which I have minimal hand-eye coordination skills, which made my PE classes painful. But I digress.

Anyway, last weekend, Daniel took me to the cricket. Australia vs New Zealand at the Adelaide Oval (the most picturesque cricket ground in the world, apparently) Now, I never understood cricket. To me, it's a baseball game in 2 innings without the diamond and where the players don't lift the bat. And why anyone would watch it was beyond me. A test match goes for 5 days. For 7 hours each day. With a break for lunch at 1, another one for tea at 3:40, and 5 minute drink breaks every 40 minutes. When a friend found out I was going to the cricket, she asked me "are you sure? it's like watching it on TV without being able to change the channel or make fun of the ads!" Still, I decided to go and see what the fuss was all about. I mean, there had to be a reason do many people, my boyfriend and best friends included, raved about the cricket and made going to matches a yearly event.

I am proud to say that I made it to the end of the match. Well, to the end of the 3rd day (6:30 pm) of the 5 day match. In cricket terms, I made it to stumps. I can't say I understand the fascination with the game. Not that I didn't try. Daniel had to put up with my incessant questions (so what happened there? what does that mean? why didn't he run? etc.) , his answers adding to my knowledge of the basics of the game, but not to my understanding of its drawing power.

I can't say whether or not I'll ever go to another cricket match. (I don't know whether Daniel will be able to put up with any more of my questions!) I'm glad I went, though. It was one of the few times I saw my boy completely relaxed in public -- we were on his "home turf", after all.

And I don't think I was the only girlfriend dragged to the cricket. On my way back to our seat from a toilet break, I looked up at the stands and noticed a number of couples. The boys were eagerly and intently watching the game. The girls were reading the paper, or sms-ing, or, in some cases, sleeping, looking up only when the crowd cheered. I followed their lead and settled in with a book. I even caught Daniel sneaking in a read over my shoulders a couple of times, though he'd never admit it.

Which brings me to my point. (Yes, there was one) My idea of a fantasy relationship at 16 would never have worked because there were no surprises. Grown-up, real world relationships require work and compromise. Adaptability is an important attribute. And should I find myself the cricket again, I will remember to take a book and not to complain. After all, the next big event is a med one.