Kanimbla dashes for Ashes
Obligatory streaker proves it’s all in the name of cricket

A show of support for the Kanimbla team

Intense concentration on the face of a cricketer as he lines up bat to ball.

Cricket just wouldn’t be the same without the obligatory streaker.

POs Mark French and Geoff Mullins relish their role as commentators for the game. Photos by ABPH Richard Prideaux

LEUT Emily Curtis
HMAS Kanimbla (CMDR David McCourt) has been victorious in an ‘Ashes’ Test Cricket match against British coalition partner, HMS Grimsby, at sea in the Persian Gulf.

In a well-deserved break in what has been a prolonged period of high threat and busy operations, Kanimbla extended a challenge to Grimsby’s ship’s company to contest “the Ashes”.

The pitch conditions were marginal, and with winds of up to 25 knots crossing the deck and challenging conditions Grimsby was unable to raft up to Kanimbla as was originally planned. This meant the “Poms” resorted to a boat transfer which had them arrive one hour late and soaking wet - things were looking up for the Kanimbla team from the outset.

By the time Grimsby’s RHIB approached Kanimbla so her team could enter “Kanimbla Oval”, a group of Australian “yobbo” spectators already lined the stands, cheering for the home side and making the English feel right at home on the receiving end of Kanimbla’s good spirited Australian taunts.

The official commentators, Petty Officer Mark French and Petty Officer Geoff ‘Moose’ Mullins, were also in fine form, taking the crowd step-by-step through their thoughts on the game.

One of the most surreal moments of the day was the announcement, “The owner of a blue Toyota, registration number YXI 438 has left their lights on!”

Everything about the game imitated an Australian game of cricket at the oval to a tee, with the possible exception that the ball was attached to a long length of elastic string so it couldn’t be lost over the side.

At one critical point in the match, a streaker emerged from the hangar, running across the flight deck (in just shorts and hat), disappearing down onto one of the aft sponsons. The crowd roared.

The final score was Kanimbla 120 over Grimsby 112. Thanks to the prowess of Kanimbla’s ship’s company, they are bringing home the Ashes...again.

As a gesture of appreciation for fine sportsmanship, HMAS Kanimbla presented a trophy made by Petty Officer Darren ‘Sumo’ Smith, to the captain of the Grimsby team.

HMS Grimsby was gracious in defeat. It was a great afternoon enjoyed by all.

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