Kirby is an Aussie from Western Australia who now lives in Derby in the UK. She has been watching Australian cricket since her childhood in the 80s and sees the England cricket team as her personal enemy. She married a Brit so that she could move to their country and attempt to convert all England fans to BaggyGreendom. So far, it has proven unsuccessful but she’s nothing if not pushy.
You can check out her blog, Thoughts From The Dustbin, or follow her on Twitter.
1. The generic question: where does your love for cricket come from?
Geoff Lawson. And my friend, Alex. She re-introduced me after a break and I will thank her for it forever.
2. Biggest challenge being a female blogger/sports presenter/female cricket lover?
The same as any other blogger, I guess – trying to come up with new things to write about when you know every other blogger (and journalist for that matter) is writing about the same thing.
As for specifically being a female, well someone did once comment that my blog had become nothing more than a Nathan Hauritz fan page and then he never came back. Of course, I am a fan of Nathan Hauritz so he wasn’t wrong. If I do go overboard, it’s usually deliberate and is intended to be taken as humorous. Some people don’t get that. For example, I once wrote a post saying I would send mail bombs to Mrs Hauritz and a woman commented that I “don’t sound like much of a fan if I could behave like that” – as if I was ever going to actually send a mail bomb!
Any negativity I’ve had hasn’t really been to do with being a woman, it’s usually because I have a tweaked sense of humour and lots of people just don’t get me. It will keep my readership limited, but at least it’s honest.
3. If there were manhole covers on the outfield, would the game be more interesting?
Only when England are playing. Please can we have manhole covers on the outfield?
4. How do you think we can promote the game to girls and get them interested (the hot cricketers don’t count)?
We need to brainwash them, clearly. While we’re there can we make them all NOT wear crocs?
Seriously – I remember playing cricket at primary school, but no one EVER explained the rules to us girls, we were just sent as far away as possible on the field and we chucked the ball back when it came near us. This is because it was assumed – even by female teachers – that girls were rubbish at cricket, when in truth we were never given the opportunity to be anything else.
From a young age, girls need to be encouraged to play. They need to be told the rules of the game and given the opportunity to do well. I think the intelligence and the need for a thought process in cricket naturally appeals to girls and, as long as that initial interest is nourished, it can grow into something more concrete.
And of course, there needs to be money for school sports and good coaches who will treat the girls right, and time in and out of school hours for playing. This is really not an area to get me started on.
As for those girls who are already adults, hot men might be our only option. But things like cheap tickets, ladies’ days and quality cricket (with hot men and cheap champagne) couldn’t hurt.
5. How would you explain the game of cricket to somebody who’s never watched it before?
Take two groups of 11 people, put them in two sets of cream outfits that are virtually indistinguishable from each other; have two people from one team chuck really hard balls at two people from the other team – who are protected only by a long piece of wood and some plastic on their nurries – while the rest of the people are either tweeting on their iphones or signing autographs for the crowds (while avoiding the manhole covers, if applicable).
6. If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
“Kirby from the Dustbin: the (only) spinner Australia forgot”
Or possibly: “Adventures of a Blogger no one has ever Heard of”
Or, most likely: “Goddess”
7. If we could teach monkeys to play cricket, would they play on a standard sized field?
Monkeys don’t play now? Have you seen Ricky Ponting?
8. What’s the reaction when you are watching cricket with guys who don’t know you, somebody appeals and you say: “no way, too high, pitched outside” and the replays show exactly that?
Usually, they get me another beer. Sometimes they’re arseholes, though. When that happens, I get myself another beer and shove it up their @#%@*#. That second part is very rare, though, to be honest. Now that I live in the UK it is more rare than ever. I think the English just assume that anyone from Australia is born knowing cricket inside out. And of course, I happily foster that belief and hope it reaches the national team. It’s kind of sledging by proxy – I’m just doing my bit for the lads in the baggy green.
9. Who is going to win the World Cup in 2011?
Bangladesh. No contest. They’re way better than Australia these days.
10. Have you ever fielded at short third man?
I prefer silly mid off, but sometimes it scares the children and they make me put my silly mid back on.
