Australia 2025

Day 22 - Homage to Bradman

After a good 9 1/2 hours sleep, we make our way to find a nearby cafe for breakfast. Following that, we find our way to the Adelaide Oval - a temple of cricket if ever there was one. This was the place that hosted the notorious "bodyline" test and also where Don Bradman, cricket's finest batsman, played. One of the stands is named after him.

Having walked around the ground, and saw some of the preparations for the Third Test, we go inside and find the Bradman Collection which you can view for free. The collections is bats, balls, clothing, photos and films of his playing career. As I've just finished off Charles Williams' biography of "the little fella" this resonates with me a lot.

Next, we partake of a drink in the posh cafe by the ticket reception and watch the highlights of the Second Test at Brisbane in the comfort of a sofa in front of a big TV! This is a lot posher than Edgbaston!

Having taken enough cricket in, we wander on in 29 degree heat to the nearby St Peter's Cathedral. This is often referred to on commentary as bowlers coming from the "Cathedral End". Having had a look around and bought some souvenirs, we find our way to a local supermarket and return to the hotel.

In the evening we found another pub - Gilbert Street Hotel - that served the most excellent jambalaya and also a most acceptable alcohol free beer which wasn't bad. As we've been drinking since we got here, probably a good idea to give the liver a rest. There was a good jazz band on as well which enlivened the place which I enjoyed - YJ wasn't so keen.