I have had a great love for cricket since my early teens, a passion instilled in me in the mid-1990s by the increased general interest in cricket brought about by a Zimbabwean team seemingly destined for exponential growth. Sitting through hours and hours of slow Test cricket play, I taught myself to understand lbw decisions, turning pitches, byes and all the quirks that come along with this game, including afternoon tea.
I recall once, aged about 18, going to watch a Test match between South Africa and Zimbabwe and receiving unwarranted interrogation by one of the few other spectators there on that blustery weekday.
Did my boyfriend play for Zimbabwe?
Was I meeting my boyfriend to watch the match?
Did I have nothing better to do?
Read it at the M&G.
Image – Chris Gayle (Darrian Traynor/Getty)