by Catherine Hanley
Thursday, September 6, 2001

The atmosphere at cricket matches has been getting a bad press lately, and with good reason. Many spectators, women in particular, have been subjected to all sorts of abuse and made to feel uncomfortable by beer-swilling louts who hardly seem to be watching the cricket at all.

Not so at the C&G final at Lord's, which was a thoroughly enjoyable occasion. As a female cricket watcher I have, like most others, sometimes been patronised, insulted and generally exempted from the male-bonding camaraderie. But last Saturday I went to Lord's with three friends, all male, and sat in the middle of a large group of men – and not once was I made to feel anything but welcome.

There were plenty of other women around too – as the half-hour queues at the woefully inadequate Lord's toilets demonstrated, but that's another story – and they all seemed to having a similarly good time, as did the large numbers of children who are seen all too rarely these days at big games. We shouted, we chanted, we sang – but nobody was abused. The nearest anyone got to being remotely insulting was when the good citizens of Williton realized that their local rivals from Over Stowey Cricket Club were sitting in the row in front, but it was all good fun.

Even the mixed group of stewards, normally a target for all sorts of insults, seemed to enjoy the occasion. In marked contrast to the brigade who were on duty at the Test earlier in the summer, and who were ready to jump down your throat as soon as you opened your mouth, this bunch took the sensible approach and let us enjoy ourselves. The cordiality worked both ways: we had a good time, their job was made easier, and after a polite enquiry at the end of the game we moved peacefully forward on to the grassed area where we could see the presentation of the trophy on the big screen.

For Somerset fans, of course, it was a great day. But nobody who has ever supported any team could fail to be moved by the scenes of jubilation as the game was won. Young and old, male and female, friends and strangers, all celebrated together with handshakes, high fives, hugs, and in a few cases, even tears. The message was that we don't care who you are as long as you're here to support your team.

This is what watching cricket should be all about. It was enjoyable, it was exhilarating, it was euphoric, but most of all it was inclusive. Catherine Hanley is an Australian Somerset supporter living in Sheffield.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd