HKFC Blog reaches global audience

Fame. It's a fickle thing. But "we" at the Blog are enjoying our five minutes here. I wrote into the UK Guardian's online over-by-over coverage of this rather depressing England v Sri Lanka test match and also asked the commentator to mention the Blog. Well, he only did. Take a look below. I would cut and paste the Guardian's banner but I'm afraid they would sue me.


The Guardian Online, 4 December 2007
"118th over: Sri Lanka 403-5 (Sangakkara 141, P Jayawardene 10)
Sri Lanka continue to milk Panesar: four singles off that over without any alarms. In theory there are 34 overs to go after this one, but we'll be lucky to get 20 of those in. "I am struggling to get excited about any sporting event since the rugby world cup," weeps Adam Harper. "Once you've supped on the extreme tension and all-or-nothing drama of the knockout stages, everything else seems bland fare. What can possibly compare to beating a bunch of Aussies who really believed they would smash us (rather like Glenn McGrath in 2005)? This series ought to be a good one so I hope it will help me let go of RWC 2007 and start the long preparation for the Ashes 2009, but it's going to be tough."

Then he reaches the real purpose of his email: "If you think anyone out there might be interested in rugby in Hong Kong, please feel free to direct them towards my blog: www.hkfcrugbysection.blogspot.com. It's a whole world of fun..."

But then - feedback from some whiner who I fear is probably English:

"121st over: Sri Lanka 413-5 (Sangakkara 144, P Jayawardene 17) Sangakkara is moving towards that landmark 150 in singles: there's another one down the ground off Collingwood. It's one of those less-than-thrilling stages of a Test match where one side is basically toying with the other. Sri Lanka have enough runs, they just want to eliminate the 2% chance of an England win. Four to Jayawardene through the covers, despite a brave chase from Owais Shah, the sub fielder.

"Adam Harper is clearly quite easily pleased," scoffs Tom Hopkins. "Wasn't RWC 2007 even more pointless and tedious than might be expected of a rugby tournament? England's games offered, what, three tries in the whole tournament? If Adam's looking for a similar level of excitement, he could always give Pro40 a go?" Not a rugby fan, then?"

Oh dear oh dear. Sometimes your countrymen just let you down. The average Pro40 game is about as exciting as standing at a bus stop in the rain. So I replied:

"125th over: Sri Lanka 423-5 (Sangakkara 150, P Jayawardene 20) Will Sri Lanka declare once Sangakkara gets to 150? I think they might, given that play has ended around 5.20pm local time so far - just 40 minutes away. The batsmen trade singles off Collingwood, which means Sanga is facing Colly on 149 (forgive the abbreviations: it's been a long day). And there it is: a steer to deep point and one of cricket's more obscure records is his - the first player to make 150 or more in four successive Tests. But on they bat! And then... WICKET! P Jayawardene b Collingwood 20 (423-6) The ball goes through the gate and clips the bails. A hollow victory. "If Tom Hopkins only measures the quality of a game by the number of points scored, I would direct him towards basketball," rages Adam Harper."

That did for Mr Hopkins, from whom no more was heard. But then another eccentric who clearly watched a different tournament chipped in. At least he wasn't English...

"127th over: Sri Lanka 428-7 (Vaas 1, Malinga 2) At last some urgency as Lasith Malinga slogs his first ball off Collingwood for two. The lead is 335 and the sun is setting. Declare, Mahela! "As a life-long Kiwi rugby fan, I'm thinking of converting to league or all in tiddlywinks after the most boring rugby tournament imaginable," says in-no-way-bitter Martin Mathews. "I think the Guardian described the state of rugby today as 'sophisticated stagnation'. Too right!"

That, ladies and gentlemen, was a result. I already have mates from the UK bugging me by email about it and going to the site...we're going global...

Harps