The third of January in 2012 is still a date I remember quite well.
Watching the second Test between Australia and India on TV with my mum, I can fondly recall mum recognising some of the Indian players and mentioning it to me in Bengali.
“Hey, that’s Zaheer [Khan]. Oh, that’s [Rahul] Dravid. Where’s Harbhajan [Singh]? Why isn’t he playing in the Test?”
Mum was not an avid cricket fan like the ten-year-old version (or the current version) of me was, but she still knew enough names to spend time watching the Aussie summer of cricket with me.
Seven months later, she would lose her life to a three-and-a-half-year battle with lung cancer.
For me, cricket was my escape following mum’s death. I would drown myself staying up late at night watching the English summer of cricket and the T20 World Cup in 2012.
When the 2012-13 Australian summer of cricket fixtures came out, I was looking to one game the most: the New Year’s Test, also known as the Pink Test in honour of Jane McGrath.
Although the Test was relatively one sided, I still remember getting goosebumps seeing the support the SCG crowd showed on Day 3 (nowadays known as Jane McGrath Day) by wearing pink and the donations the Jane McGrath Foundation would receive during the Pink Test.
The SCG’s Ladies Stand turns into the Jane McGrath Stand each year for the Pink Test. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
As years passed on, I would try to keep my calendar free during the Pink Test, but circumstances – alongside good old Sydney rain – would ruin my chances of attending the Pink Test at the SCG.
But my chance finally came during the 2017-18 Ashes. Attending Days 2 and 5, I was in awe, having finally attended a Test match at the SCG and being able to donate to Jane McGrath Foundation volunteers inside the SCG gates.
When the screens at the SCG showed that the Jane McGrath Foundation had exceeded their goal of $1.3 million in donations, there was a massive sense of personal pride for me.
I felt that my contribution would help those suffering with breast cancer get the highest quality medical support in difficult and trying times.
The success of the Jane McGrath Foundation has seen other nations such as England and South Africa adopt international matches during their summer (one at Lord’s and one in Johannesburg) to be played in honour of those who have lost their lives to breast cancer, with donations going to foundations supporting those who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
It has been ten years since my mum was alive during the Sydney Pink Test, watching it with me on TV.
There are many others like myself who have lost loved ones to cancer and it is an experience that takes plenty of time to accept and heal from.
Thankfully, my passion for sports (particularly cricket) helped me get through a gruelling time.
And that is why the Pink Test during the New Year at the SCG has meant a lot to me since my mum’s death.
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
Sport should be just that, a sport that people can tune in to watch the competition. The issue that can arise is who decides what cause/movement is able to be promoted at a Test match? I support raising money for important causes but do worry that there seems to be a bias towards some charities being more worthy. I would love to see the first test of the year be used to raise money for addictions to gambling, maybe the second test could be used to raise money for victims of alcohol abuse? Let the game just be a game
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Ever since I got dbl-vaxxed TV reception has got better in every house I've been in
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Only when looking at pictures of Michelle
Ado Potato
Roar Rookie
A lovely, personal piece of writing, Arnab. Thank you.
Tony
Roar Guru
A serious question.....do you nitwits wear your tinfoil hats to bed or do they only work when in the vertical position?
Tony
Roar Guru
Now be careful, some of us are using 5G.
Ruairidh MacDonald
Roar Rookie
Don't think I'm outraged at your opinion - I disagree with it, but I'm fine with you having it (and expressing it) and am keen to discuss it if you are. Why do you think sporting contests should not be vehicles for other causes/movements? I'd argue that things can be more than one thing, that being a sporting thing doesn't mean it can't also be another thing, simultaneously.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
My father in law had throat cancer and it was horrific what it did to him. By the time he passed 16 years ago, I was actually relieved that his agony had come to an end.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Shouldn’t you be off saving civilisation from itself, rather than wasting your extraordinary insights on a few “sheep” on an obscure sports forum?
Redcap
Roar Guru
You still haven’t submitted evidence to support your claim about money laundering.
CountingSheep
Guest
Got ya third poison poke yet ? The dim , it is you I'm afraid .
CountingSheep
Guest
I've in no way suggested he has intentionally been deceptive, or corrupt. And I in fact admire what he set out to achieve. But like so many good intentions, they get hijacked by the corrupt opportunists and eventually end up nothing more than a husk of its former self . Look no further than the UN , or the money pits I mentioned previously.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Don't be so harsh on yourself.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I have cut off all contact with a Anti-Vaxxer brother. He claimed my prostate difficulties were from the vaccination. I said I'm in real difficulties with it and you blame the vaccination without finding out the facts. So that's one person l don't have to fact check anymore. -------- I said enjoy Michelle's appendage and cya later.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Oh Tony. Who has the time to do fact-finding? Using up one's time to make an unsubstantiated claim on social media is time-consuming enough.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
@LambBrain: The fact that you don’t know the answer as you posed in your last sentence, says a lot about your statement in your first sentence. – How about spending 5 minutes doing some research on this internet thing, then post a comment?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Wish I was still lithe enough to be able to kick myself in the behind. I definitely deserve it.
It's not a 'line', it is an opinion, just like your response is an opinion. You have posed a couple questions....in my opinion no Test of any sport should be dedicated to any 'cause'. No Test, be it cricket, rugby, tiddlywinks. It's a test match between nations, a sporting contest, and should not be the backdrop for anything other than that. I believe the whole concept of sports as anything other than a mental / physical contest between either individuals or teams that are usually highly paid, and that are trying to beat the living proverbial out of the opposition, and should not try to be the vehicle for any other medium be it moral, spiritual, or for any cause whatsoever. The point of listing 5 or 6 other causes was just me riffing off a number of other causes off the top of my head that could be deemed just as worthy. You are reading something into the number of causes I listed that frankly, is not there. I could have listed a thousand other 'causes' but 5 or 6 should have highlighted to you the point I was trying to make.
C Freeman
Roar Rookie
Good to see people out here sharing their personal stories of people they have lost to cancer. Very important topic for everyone to learn about and understand the importance of the pink test.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
I had a good mate from northern Queensland who took his two young sons to the SCG in the mid 1980s while his wife went shopping. Anyway he died sitting next his sons...brain embolism. Very sad. The police had to track down his wife... eventually found her later at the hotel.