Well I saw all them people. Never seen that many before ever. My dad says it’s a record which is a big word. The grass on the field was very green and long. The ball was doing funny things all day.
My uncle told me they put 20 guys out. That’s what fell over. I think that’s a lot for one day. Australia is doing better now but first they weren’t. England wasn’t either. It was all very fast.
The man who chose to bowl first was right I guess. Josh Tongue bowled so good. He got five of them out. He looked happy. The ball moved like it had a mind.
But then it was England’s turn to bat and oh no. It all went bad so quick. Four guys gone for almost nothing. It was hard to watch. Only Harry Brook was hitting it. He was not scared. He said you can’t just stand there. I liked that.
Most others just looked at the pitch funny. Joe Root got out without any runs which is rare for him. The Australian bowlers were just so good at using the grass. Neser was the best maybe. Even their keeper was standing super close.
It was like old times my grandad said. From over a hundred years ago. But the people who run the game might be sad. Because if it ends too quick they have to give money back. Like last time.
We are winning but we could’ve scored more runs. A coach guy said that. Every run is like gold he said. I remember that.
The noise at the end was huge. Scott Boland hit a four and everyone screamed. It was a very weird day. But I will remember it. Everyone got to see something strange.
The sound of the ball hitting the pads was so loud all day. Like a clap. Everyone would go “oooooh” together then wait. The umpire’s finger going up felt like the biggest thing in the world each time.
I felt bad for the young English boy Jacob. His first game ever in such a big place. He walked out looking so small. Five balls later he walked back. He didn’t even look sad, just confused. Like he forgot something but couldn’t remember what.
My friend’s mum said the men in suits were very nervous up in their room. Looking at the grass and then at their calculators. They kept talking on their phones. She works there serving tea. She says they hate when games finish early. It’s bad for business.
After the sun went down the shadow grew across the field. It got even harder to bat then. The ball seemed to move more in the dark patch. The players’ faces got more serious. You could see them thinking harder with every ball.
A man next to me said he came from England just for this. He had a flag on his face. He was quiet for a long time in that last session. Then he just said, “Well, it’s a thing to see, isn’t it?” And he smiled. I think he was sad but happy to be there too.
I keep thinking about Harry Brook. He was like someone swinging in a storm. Not waiting for it to stop. Maybe that’s the only way on a day like that. Just swing. Tomorrow maybe more will swing like him. Or maybe even more will fall. We will see when we go back.
