Posting this from University Oval.
Last night I bumped into Monty Panesar. Asked for a photo with a child with me - told us he would be back "in 2 minutes". He pops into a curry house and its obvious he is getting takeaways. Coud have gone in to ask for the photo but elected to respect his space and waited 20-30 minutes. He comes out (with no takeaways) and tells us he will be "back in 2, no 4, minutes". Walks past another child waiting with a bat and tells him the same. Never comes back. Time wasted - almost an hour, number of children he lied to - 2.
This morning at the cricket he is near boundary rope and I chant for a wave.
"Monty, give us a wave! Monty Monty give us a wave!".
No wave forthcoming so I chant "or just snob us like you snobbed those children last night".
Security pounces on me and takes me outside. Warn me that "the players have asked that no-one rubbishes them". Says if I do it again I will be kicked out. Politely explained that I was not offensive, racist, nor did I breach any other regulation of entry. Told again that players said we must not "rubbish them" and calling him out on lying to children was not allowed.
God forbid anyone has fun at the cricket these days. The atmosphere last time I remember England (or Australia around that time too) playing a test at the basin used to be amazing. It's gone downhill so much since then with strict security kicking people out for doing nothing but have fun that I suspect it'll be nothing like I remember it used to be.
But on that note, does a bunch of us fever want to get together and have some banter with the Barmy army at the game (before getting kicked out for having fun)? I'm keen if anyone else is. I'll be there every day of the game.