Karachi Chronicles Chapter 16

According to the conditions and our tough schedule, we spent a fair amount of time recuperating in our bubble. For some, these periods were spent watching movies or just lounging around. I was very appreciative of the extra sleep time on those mornings and it definitely helped the body recover. Others, who were more active during their downtime, had the gym and pool to keep their heart rate going. This was also a valid past time between visiting the eateries and passing the time until we could visit room 105.

I’m no authority on the gym and staying true to my roots, I actually didn’t break my lifetime streak of never using one during this trip either. However, based on the chat around the group, I’m pretty sure Raders led the charge in the basement pumping iron. Rumour had it he was even partial to a pregame session to get the blood flowing. I wouldn't know though because I was spending as much of the mornings as I could watching the back of my eyelids. Raders, formally know as Martin Raadschelders, is another Queenslander who has played grade cricket in Brisbane. He’s a confident character, with a knack for destroying bowling orders at the top of the attack.

Raders love for the gym wasn’t lost on a few of the crew. I still laugh every time I replay Luis yelling out, “come on Marty, you can do it” in a fairly decent Arnold Schwartzneger accent. We also wondered if they ran out of material when they made his tight fitting singlets, but hey I say flaunt it if you got it. I also take my hat off to anyone that has the commitment to any cause. Another moment highlighting his devotion was on show during our last flight into Karachi. Buzzing with a mix of excitement and nerves I remember peering over the seat to find Raders diligently marking exam papers. My offers of assistance were rebuffed but what a great example of the commitment from teachers, let’s just hope all those papers made it home in one piece!

Besides an initial foray with the whole team to the swimming pool very early in the tour, I didn’t get down to the gym area much. This finally changed late in the tour when we had a complete 24 hours off. Due to a public holiday we were confined to the hotel without any option of escape. After running into a few of the boys in the foyer during a visit from a local bat salesman, I floated the idea of smashing a few billiards around by the pool. With Durbs, Leardy and Fahey on board we headed down in the afternoon for a low key pool competition.

Making the most of it, like children at a 10 year olds’ slumber party, we loaded up at the Kwik-E-Mart on fifteen cent packets of Lays chips and soft drink to feast on. In between shots we were trying out our swag and just generally talking about all manner of things. Knocking the balls around the table was secondary to the social gathering. This was good as there were no real pool sharks amongst the group anyway. Not to say we weren’t handy with the stick but interspersed between some good shots were a fair share of shockers. Possibly it was the distraction of our feast and endless chatter that put us off our game.

As our session progressed and Durbs started gaining the ascendancy, I decided to start spicing things up with a few trick shots. Like always, when the boredom begins to creep in, I started with an around the back of the head shot before reverting to my old faithful, the chip shot. Although technically illegal, it usually elicits a laugh and occasionally gets me out of a snooker. Inspired by my display of chipping, Rodger tried to get in on the act. Little did he realise, that the reward of a chip shot comes with a high degree of risk.

Throwing caution to the wind Rodge launched into a chip shot and made great contact. Unfortunately the contact was such that it went sailing off the table. Without someone positioned in "slips" to stop the errant ball, it launched off the pool tiles and barrelled into the wall. Problem was, that the walls were clad from ceiling to floor in mirrors. Fortunately, the ball careening into the fragile panes somehow didn’t result in any damage. As the ball cannoned off towards the adjacent pool, one of the lads dived in and saved it just like Juggie patrolling the boundary. Not that it would have been the end of the world, but at least it saved someone from diving down and retrieving it from a watery grave.

Soon after, Durbs clinched another frame and wrapped up the bragging rights. With zero fanfare, we decided to cut and run before someone actually succeeded in trashing the joint. Heading out through the gym, we passed by an officious looking set of scales. Durbs cheekily goes, “I bet you way all of sixty eight kilos slay,” before chucking me under his arm and plonking me down on the scales. Hilariously, he was spot on and has potentially missed his real calling on the Price is Right.

Once the surprised laughter subsided, the penny suddenly dropped. I was shocked to realise that I had lost five kilograms in just two weeks. This would eventually end up being six by the time I arrived home. While on the subject of dropping stuff, I guess I better apologise to Raders as we close this one out. This unfortunate situation occurred during the final over of our first warm up game against Hong Kong China, when they were left requiring about a hundred runs for the win.

Being in an unassailable position, it was decided to throw the ball to Raders for a few offies in the final over. Lurking out at long off, I was positioned right in front of our team cabana and more than ready to roll into the team bus*. As you can probably already guess, a few balls later a catch was hit in my general direction. Moving forward, I still put in a dive and got good purchase on the ball before ultimately grassing it as my elbows impacted the turf. Although I was getting sassed by one of the Hong Kong boys due to the big dive at a stage when the result was already decided, I was devastated it didn’t stick.

No one means to drop them and it was a tough grab but I was still pissed. So I must apologise to Rader’s for dropping his first chance at a wicket for Australia. I’m sure all the runs he pummelled during the tour more than made up for it, however it still annoys me that it didn’t stick. Well, anyway I guess in cricket, just as in life, you win some and you lose some. Sometimes the margin between failure and success is very fine in the end. So even though the dream may have been slightly shatter, at least the mirror back at the PC Hotel narrowly avoid the same fate.

* This was my debut game where I’d been sick and was well and truly struggling by this stage.