England beating Australia, its just not cricket.

Every year there's a one-day cricket match held in Canberra as part of an away team's tour against an Australian side picked by the Prime Minister.  Its called the PM's Eleven, oddly enough.  So every four years its England, and post Ashes, I thought it would be a great oppourtunity to see some of the stars who have retained the ashes (It has been so much fun being in Australia the past couple of months and mocking all the australian cricket fans!) and spend a day watching some good cricket, with some friends. BH, an australian cricket fan and I went along with BF and EG (a German and Canadian respectively) to teach them the fine game that is cricket.  We've been indoctrinating EG for a few weeks and he actually now understands the rules and whats going on, and, dare I say it, even enjoys cricket!

The England team contained a few of the victorious ashes group, especially the batters since some of them only had to bat six times during the entire ashes series!! And also gave the one-day bowlers a chance to stretch their legs.  The PMs eleven is usually pretty similar, a few young guys trying to make their mark, a couple of the older experienced cricketers and a few of the one-day team warming up for the upcoming series.  So it was a damp but still warm (and very hot in the bursts when the sun did come out) day and a good time was had.

 Dignitaries in the middle, tossing coins for a laugh.

 The start was delayed by 45 minutes due to rain

 Australia bat first, setting a modest total with wickets falling reasonably quickly after a good opening partnership.

 KP fielded on the boundary near us on occasion, but wouldn't autograph any of the kids bats between balls or overs.  Grouchy sod.

There was another rain delay, and another later on.

Collingwood took an excellent catch in front of us. Here he is being all captainy.

Brett Lee was playing for the Aussies,

 An English batsmen looking suprised at a rare decent Australian ball.

 Runs!

 In the end, a comfortable victory, with wickets in hand, the run-chase was carefully timed and executed well.

The PM, Julia Gillard makes a speech or two during the awards ceremony.

Of course, since then, the sun has returned, it has been hot and sunny and England have begun losing at cricket again.  The true Australian summer has finally arrived!!!