For a while before we visited NYC this test there was talk of a Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar inspired cricket all stars game. The talk started with games in NYC in 2016, then Dubai emerged as a possible venue. In October NYC was again mooted as the venue, which was confirmed shortly after. And as luck would have it the game was played while we were in NYC. What a fantastic timing coincidence. Texas in a few days and LA next week. We couldn’t gave planned our trip better. 

So Sunday started with travel plans to get to Citi Field, the home of the NYC Mets, who only last week lost the World Series.

Citi Field is out in Queens north east of Manhattan. The subway had planned track work as well today, so we had some extra planning. In the end it was quite easy, the N train uptown to Queensboro and a change to the 7 train which took us the rest of the 40 minute journey. 

We arrived about 45 minutes before the game and we could easily have arrived in down town Delhi! You see Sachin Tendulkar was playing and the NYC based Indian contingent was out in force. We walked around a bit and soaked up the atmosphere before making our way to our seats. What a view we had from the upper level. I always feel watching cricket from high up is better that low down. The was building and in fine voice as the Bollywood dancers entertained the throng. 

After we found our seats we went in search of some food. Nothing like a hot dog for this occasion and we were spoiled for choice of out let’s, not varieties. We grabbed our hotdogs, a drink and settled in for the game. 

As the teams took to the field the crowd went wild. Two Indian legends of the game strode to the wicket. Tendulkar and Sehwag. Settling in around them in the field was. Veritable who’s who of the modern game. Hayden, Ponting, Warne, Kallis, Donald, Walsh, 
Vettori. What talent. 

Sehwag exploded from the start while Tendulkar was a little more circumspect. Then Warne came on to bowl. When everyone thought the two Indian legends were going to blast their way to a massive score Warne showed he still has it. In quick succession he dislodged Tendulkar, Laxman and Lara. Andrew Symonds also bowled well as Sachin’s team posted a respectable 140. 

During the break we had some hot chips as a snack and enjoyed more Bollywood action, music and dancing. The lights came on as Matthew Hayden and Jacques Kallis strode to the crease. At the top of his run stood the fastest bowler in recorded history, Shoaib Akhtar 

. Akhtar steamed in and bowled four overs of serious heat. Not like in his prime, but easily the fastest today and still very quick. Akhtar quickly dismissed Hayden. A good partnership between Ponting and Sangakkara assured Warne’s team of a victory with. Cameo of three sixes by Rhodes to close it out. 

What an experience. The assembled talent of cricket stars was astonishing and you were taken back in time with the likes of Ambrose and Walsh bowling and Ponting and Rhodes batting. 

Getting home was easy, as we were entertained by a couple of Aussies who had clearly enjoyed a dozen or more Budweisers. We taught the Americans on the train (all four of them) and the Indians (the other 160 or so) the Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi chant. It was a fun trip. 

The weather has cooled down a lot and we were pretty tired after another long day so we decided to get some home delivery Mexican for dinner. So we settled in for the night and caught q few episodes of family feud on TV while enjoying dips and chips and tacos and quesadillas.

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