Night with the Proteas

Being an indian, its almost a given that I like cricket and seeing that it was the sport I took up in school plus the one I go watch live the most its only fair to assume that when the guys at SAB offered me an invite for an "intimate night with the SA cricket stars" (as they put it) I jumped for it. Even if it was on Diwali, I wasnt going to miss this once in a life time chance.

Held in the Presidential suite at Kingsmead cricket stadium, 2 nights before the series deciding ODI between South Africa and Australia, it was a rather grand afair with limited invites given to select few members of the media as well as a group of supporters who were lucky enough to win a trip to the World Cup held earlier this year in India.

Upon arrival we were greeted by a dozen beautiful castle girls, some of which anticipated my arrival by holding buckets. We were then given gift bag which included a 6 pack of castle and a miniture signature cricket bat. Seperated by means of colour coded tickets, the first half of the guests were told to make their way to the locker room at the ground, there we would meet the stars of the night. Former captain Graeme Smith along with good mates and team mates Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher. Here were given the opportunity to question them on the goings on in the locker room during games. From who hogged the massage table the most to which ground has the best one. Also learning who are the pranksters and what funny or weird habbits certain players have.

After our turn was done, we made our way back to the Presidential suite, where we were served with some light finger foods and as you can imagine, beers aplenty! Once the second groups visit to the locker room was complete, the players then made their way to the stage where more questions and stories were shared with the crowd, after which they posed with fans for pictures as well as signed the bats that were provided. They were how ever whisked away after that due to their strict program and didnt join us for dinner. I hardly think they would have wanted a Durban curry though, even if it was Diwali, the last place they wanted fireworks was in their belly!

All in all it was a very special and eventful night, one I certainly wont forget in a hurry even though their was enough beer on offer to help one erase it.