Re: Winning over the Aussies, Voice from abroad By Duncan Edghill, Dec 22 - Jan 11, Vol 9, No 49
As the General Manager of Marketing and Media at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, with a Slovak father, I read the Winning over the Aussies article with great interest. Whilst I appreciate the humour intended, in defence of one of the greatest games of all time, I would like to point out some of the other reasons why in January 2004, 189,989 people turned up over five days in incredible heat to watch a test match between Australia and India that ended in a draw. In part it was to watch one of the finest sporting teams in the world compete, partly to watch the greatest batsman in the world compete (for India), but mostly to bid farewell to one of its favourite sporting sons who, after 19 years in the sport, was calling it quits - Australian test match captain Stephen Waugh. Aussies may know how to sledge, but they also appreciate their sporting heroes. Cricket, more than any other sport I've worked in in Australia, savours history, individual achievements, tradition, camaraderie, teamwork, and sportsmanship. And I, along with millions of others in the country, will drink to that any day!
Karen Grega,
Sydney, Australia
