Who'da thunked it? Playing some Pakistanis on a public beach during the day - attending a Fun Loving Criminals concert that night at a venue called the Irish Village.
It happened.
The day started with a phone call from a couple of the English lads in the office - Stocko and Lunno - inviting me for a burger and a game of cricket at Jumeirah Beach. After the last Ashes debacle, I felt I had to redeem Aussie cricketing in the eyes of the Dubai public, so off to the beach I went.
We first had a burger at Johnny Rockets - supposedly the best burgers in town. We hooked up at the burger joint with another brit lawyer, Dominic.
Lunno left, Stocko rightAfter the burger, the four of us headed to the beach and started our game. Before long, a group of Pakistanis had wandered by looking keen. We invited them to play. I became Warney - I don't know if the Pakistanis were using that name as a term of endearment or an insult. Either way, I bowled like a banshee, like I had never bowled before - accurate, turning, full length - but failed to take a wicket.
Anyhoo, the sun was hot, wickets fell and fun was had allround - and all without a word of English save the occasional 'howzat!?' or 'bowled Shane'.
After the game, the lads and I went for a swim. The water was extremely salty and very buoyant. Rumour has it that the salt generated by the desalination plants is dumped just off the beach which adds to the salinity. Good luck Kurnell.
I went home showered and met the lads and some of their friends at the Irish Village where the Fun Loving Criminals played.
The criminals were loud and amusing. But my mild sun-stroke and the first beers I had had in weeks forced me into an early retirement. I returned home exhausted but satisfied.
