From gate crashing fans to orderly ticket holders

 By K.R. Nayar

The day after the Afghanistan-Pakistan clash was calm for the England-Australia encounter. Unlike the traffic jams that was seen for the game between the Asian neigbours, today all roads leading towards the Dubai International stadium were deserted. 

This story was published in The Telegraph, India 

Calm after the storm

A security at the stadium entrance of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium commented that it seems like a war has ended after the Pakistan-Afghanistan match. Fans of the Afghanistan team had tried to climb over the fence railings and break in without tickets, giving a tough time for the security around. Most of the security men here work as bouncers but it seemed like they had not handled a mob before. For the match between Australia and England, fans were seen entering in an orderly manner. In fact, not many waited till the end of the match. The next day being Sunday, the first working day of the week here, people were eager to get home early. 

 A Twenty20 Ashes clash

Many Indians and Pakistanis had turned up for the England-Australia match, but most Sri Lankans went to cheer for their team against South-Africa in Sharjah.  S. Rakesh, a computer specialist, said that he had come to watch this match since had never seen an England-Australia Ashes series, and so he would assume this match as a Twenty20 Ashes clash. When Glenn Maxwell asked for a review for a plumb leg before, a journalist commented that he should be fined for wasting a review.  The Australian top order batted poorly, and when everyone who bowled for England got a wicket, someone from the crowd shouted: “Mr Morgan can I bowl too. I could get a wicket as well!”   

Pakistan support Rashid and Ali but Indians love Morgan

Pakistan fans want Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali to give their best. Though born in England, both are of Pakistan origin and they regularly play in the UAE. Hence they have many fans and friends here. In fact, Rashid made his Test debut in Abu Dhabi against Pakistan. He has always bowled well on the UAE wickets. Interestingly, it is an Australian who shaped Rashid into a good spinner. He was coached by Australian leg spinner Terry Jenner as part of an ECB programme to boost wrist spinners. England skipper Eoin Morgan too has a lot of supporters here, especially from Kerala and Delhi. Morgan had captained Kerala Kings to victory in the Abu Dhabi T10 and will be part of the Delhi Bulls in the coming edition of the event. The 200t^h six of this edition came from Pat Cummins when he hit Tymal Mills over the boundary, but when Chris Jordan clean bowled Cummins and also removed Finch, a fan called him ‘Crush Jordan.’ 

Eoin Morgan with Kerala Kings team co-owner Shafi Ul Mulk after the T10 title triumph 

Dew versus few runs 

Kevin Pietersen had tweeted that England will smash Australia. That evoked a debate over the dew. During the break, an Australian supporter pointed out than more than the dew the problem lies in very few runs being posted after batting first. “Anyone talking about dew after scoring few runs should be asked to shut up,” said another. For most of the fans, the Dubai match was a huge disappointment. Since the first match between South Africa and Sri Lanka ended in a last-over thriller many expected this match too to be a hard fought one. An Indian fan said that a victory for England with 50-balls to spare is as humiliating as India’s ten wicket defeat to Pakistan but painful for the losers since both matches were a battle between arch rivals.