Test Match with Gary

Stevo and Thomo have a Day 1 tradition. They dine at Star of Siam with friends. The restaurant knows, and puts up with them regularly. Folks come and go to greet them including James on his way to therapy.

This year, Adelaide hosts the first of tour Test match series. Indian and Australia warm-up.

This year because of COVI,D the allocation of cricket tickets at the Oval is extremely different. There is no members area. Because of reduced capacity, there is balloting for access to the match .Everyone must be in an assigned seat and seating is restricted to every other seat. If you want to seat next to a mate or mates, everyone's details must be provided to a single individual who then applies for seats together.

CJ manages tickets for Day 1, Day 3, and Day 4. Day 5 did not require balloting. He has arranged to sit with Stevo and Thomo on Day 3. He will attempt to get together with the young lads on Day 4.

For this first day, he's contacted the same friend he went to his first day of his first Ashes with. Back in 2013, along with Gary's wife Linda and two Pom (English) friends, they stood in line from 0500 to get first crack at seats for that match. CJ made the evening television news as one of the first 50 people through the gates of the new Adelaide Oval Riverside Stand.

CJ and Gary enjoy a good day of cricket in the area of Gary's favorite seats.

There is a test match Village Green outdoor dining area but it is subdued, has capacity restrictions and a a reduced number of vendors.

It warms up in the afternoon.

CJ gets lucky. Gary can't use his Day 2 ticket so he gives it to CJ. He will begin Day 2 in a nearby seat and end it in the bar with Stevo and Thomo.