Red alert

I know you’ve heard of a red-letter day…. but have you ever heard of a red rag day?

If you haven’t, you had better get used to it. Coming up during the final Test at the S.C.G. there are going to be four or five of them.

Steve Waugh has made the good old-fashioned red rag an item of desire once again. It was once preserved as simply something that bulls would seek out in a manic fashion, but not anymore.

During the fittingly climatic final encounter of the highly entertaining Australia versus India series, the air will be awash with wildly gesticulating fans paying tribute to a cricketing icon.

As you probably know, in a remarkable show of support and appreciation, the first 4 days of that game are completely sold out. That means 43,500 spectators will be crammed into one of the game’s most historic grounds on each day!

My guess is that that total has only just been attained in South Africa during the current series over 9 days of cricket! Multiply that daily attendance figure by the already sold tickets and I have no doubt that you will be shaking your head in disbelief as you realise that 174,000 individuals will be putting their bums on seats during the match. Talk about patriotism!

Cricket Australia has decided, in a rare show of outward affection, to hand out 100,000 replica versions of the famed Steve Waugh red rag to ensure that the Australian skipper will have a finale to cherish. Imagine the sea of red that will welcome Steve as he walks out to bat for the very last time at his home ground where it all started some 20 years ago.

I don’t know about you, but whatever time of the night that happens, I will be there in front of my television screen eager to witness one of the events of cricketing history.

In my own small way I will be paying my own tribute to someone who has changed the face of this great sacred game we all treasure.

Thanks Tugga…….Good on ya mate!