All-night Ashes can take their tollLast year's Ashes won cricket many new fans. This series, played in Australia, poses England's followers a challenge - how to catch matches played overnight.
All-night Ashes can take their tollLast year's Ashes won cricket many new fans. This series, played in Australia, poses England's followers a challenge - how to catch matches played overnight.
"I was listening to it on the radio, fell asleep during the national anthems, got confused between the actual score and what I thought I heard. I think I might find this a dreamy Ashes series," says cricket fan James Stay.
"I was listening to it on the radio, fell asleep during the national anthems, got confused between the actual score and what I thought I heard. I think I might find this a dreamy Ashes series," says cricket fan James Stay.
Following the match ball by ball overnight can be a mixed blessing - cricket lovers say they often dream the result is better than it really is.
Following the match ball by ball overnight can be a mixed blessing - cricket lovers say they often dream the result is better than it really is.
With the Olympics, World Cups and international cricket, staying awake to watch sport at night is a perennial problem. But the Ashes series of 2005 attracted many new fans. With the tour on its biennial bounce back to Australia, the bar is raised for overnight fans - to stay up over night.
With the Olympics, World Cups and international cricket, staying awake to watch sport at night is a perennial problem. But the Ashes series of 2005 attracted many new fans. With the tour on its biennial bounce back to Australia, the bar is raised for overnight fans - to stay up over night.
Tiredness, as well as nerves, can wreck performanceIt is a feat that involves months of planning, copious caffeine and commitment. And it helps to be the boss.
Tiredness, as well as nerves, can wreck performanceIt is a feat that involves months of planning, copious caffeine and commitment. And it helps to be the boss.
Company director Richard Gamble wears radio earphones in bed, and plans early morning starts three months in advance in order to listen in to the commentary.
Company director Richard Gamble wears radio earphones in bed, and plans early morning starts three months in advance in order to listen in to the commentary.
"I book my appointments to see clients in far-off places early on, so I have to leave the house at 4am to drive there listening," he says.
"I book my appointments to see clients in far-off places early on, so I have to leave the house at 4am to drive there listening," he says.
Arrangements for the Boxing Day test are well in hand: "I'm at my parents, so I've asked for a digital radio for Christmas." He and his brother will play poker from midnight to a soundtrack of willow on leather; the family knows the following day is a write-off.
Arrangements for the Boxing Day Test are well in hand: "I'm at my parents, so I've asked for a digital radio for Christmas." He and his brother will play poker from midnight to a soundtrack of willow on leather; the family knows the following day is a write-off.
Nine-to-fivers do try to stay up. "Watching the fantastic Pakistan and Sri Lanka series, I got up for a 3.30am start of play, we'd open a bottle of wine by 4.05am before going to work at tea at 8.30am. Marvellous," says Simon.
Nine-to-fivers do try to stay up. "Watching the fantastic Pakistan and Sri Lanka series, I got up for a 3.30am start of play, we'd open a bottle of wine by 4.05am before going to work at tea at 8.30am. Marvellous," says Simon.
Bohemian rhapsody
Bohemian rhapsody
But it is easier for students and those with a truly flexible lifestyle to go nocturnal for each five-test. Graduate astrophysics student Rachel Koncewicz naps in the early evening, and is up in time for the start of Test Match Special (TMS). "It's impossible to sleep knowing there's cricket on," she says.
But it is easier for students and those with a truly flexible lifestyle to go nocturnal for each Test. Graduate astrophysics student Rachel Koncewicz naps in the early evening, and is up in time for the start of Test Match Special (TMS). "It's impossible to sleep knowing there's cricket on," she says.
I've been keeping myself awake (with) hot chocolate and copious amounts of coffee James Hamilton
I've been keeping myself awake (with) hot chocolate and copious amounts of coffee James Hamilton When civil servant Steve Peters worked as an artist, he slept by day and painted commissions at night.
When civil servant Steve Peters worked as an artist, he slept by day and painted commissions at night.
"Working on something on your own can be quite an isolating experience, so to have the conversation of TMS is good. It shows that at least somewhere it's sunny, there's cricket being played and something worth cheering about."
"Working on something on your own can be quite an isolating experience, so to have the conversation of TMS is good. It shows that at least somewhere it's sunny, there's cricket being played and something worth cheering about."
And working shifts obviously helps. In a high dependency unit in a large London hospital, one doctor spends the quiet moments logged on to the BBC's sports website to check scores. "I think it's good for the patients too," he says. "On a number of occasions, they've wanted to know what the score is."
And working shifts obviously helps. In a high dependency unit in a large London hospital, one doctor spends the quiet moments logged on to the BBC's sports website to check scores. "I think it's good for the patients too," he says. "On a number of occasions, they've wanted to know what the score is."
So what of the effects of this nocturnal lifestyle? Night-shifts and irregular hours help to kill us softly. As well as being tired and inattentive, research has shown links to increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer and diabetes.
So what of the effects of this nocturnal lifestyle? Night-shifts and irregular hours help to kill us softly. As well as being tired and inattentive, research has shown links to increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer and diabetes.
Plus there is the nutritional assault of increased caffeine and sugar intakes. James Hamilton swears by "a concoction of hot chocolate and copious amounts of coffee, with milk, sugar and honey to even it out". Caffeine tablets, coffee, energy drinks and soft drugs are also used.
Plus there is the nutritional assault of increased caffeine and sugar intakes. James Hamilton swears by "a concoction of hot chocolate and copious amounts of coffee, with milk, sugar and honey to even it out". Caffeine tablets, coffee, energy drinks and soft drugs are also used.
Endurance test
Endurance test
There are no industry, union or business estimates on how many people will miss work should this series prove as nail-biting as the last. And it is doubtful cricket absence will match the 40% of football fans who said they took a day off during the 2002 World Cup in Japan.
There are no industry, union or business estimates on how many people will miss work should this series prove as nail-biting as the last. And it is doubtful cricket absence will match the 40% of football fans who said they took a day off during the 2002 World Cup in Japan.
Are England up for the fight?With five tests in the series, this will sort the listening elite from the chaff - unless, of course, a resurgent England makes a proper fight of it.
Are England up for the fight?With five tests in the series, this will sort the listening elite from the chaff - unless, of course, a resurgent England makes a proper fight of it.
Spare a thought for the 615,000 or so Britons currently living in Australia, among them expat Nigel in Brisbane. He can watch the cricket by day - perhaps even go to a match - but that is little consolation when he works with 300 taunting Aussies.
Spare a thought for the 615,000 or so Britons currently living in Australia, among them expat Nigel in Brisbane. He can watch the cricket by day - perhaps even go to a match - but that is little consolation when he works with 300 taunting Aussies.
"It's been hard," he says, downcast. "When we beat them last year they didn't like it, they're bad losers. And when they win, they're hard on people.
"It's been hard," he says, downcast. "When we beat them last year they didn't like it, they're bad losers. And when they win, they're hard on people.
"They give me banter on a daily basis; with no-one here to back me up, there's not a lot I can say."
"They give me banter on a daily basis; with no-one here to back me up, there's not a lot I can say."
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
2nd test - I fell asleep, woke up to hear the toss, fell asleep, woke up to hear that two wickets had gone down, fell asleep, woke up to hear bell being caught & then fell asleep again. The alarm went off - just as the last ball before tea was being bowled. TMS broadcast the highlights & still half asleep, I though six wickets had gone down... nightmareMark, Tynemouth
I run a busy cricket blog so I really need to watch as much of it as possible to stay on top of things. But I also work a 9-5 job so I've had to restructure things a bit. Now when I get home from work at about 1730, I drink a couple of beers, take a couple of herbal sleeping pills and set the alarm for around midnight. The test in Perth is going to be interesting, though, as that doesn't start until closer to 3am.Matt Thornton, Guernsey, Channel Islands
I've been a massive cricket fan all my life, being only 22, last year was the first time in my living memory that we've won the Ashes. I was very lucky at the time in that the chairman of my company was a big cricket fan and he allowed me to watch every ball on the plasma screen in our reception (more commonly used to display the share price). After changing jobs I'm quite relieved the cricket is being played outside of working hours - it's just not the same listening on the radio or watching the score tick over on the internet. I've managed to watch every ball of this series so far, but I'm cream-crackered! Going to sleep around 1900 each day, rising at midnight to watch 7.5 hours worth of cricket and then endure an eight-hour working day. Thank goodness for Pro-Plus and double Vodka-Red-Bulls.Victoria, London
Poor Nigel in Brisbane...he has it bad. As an Aussie living in England, I never had the rugby or last ashes thrown in my face on a daily basis. NB. Irony.Jon, Bristol, England
Luckily I work alternating shifts, thus allowing me to head to work during tea or be at home for the last session. For last years Ashes I'd be home for the last 2 or all 3 depending on the shift and if 3 hours sleep was enough. As a football fan too being up in the middle of the night for the Premier League and then getting back to sleep makes it easier. I was hoping this behaviour would be ideal for becoming a parent, although I was told the constant crying may be an issue!Alexander Tate, Brisbane, Australia
On the first day of the first test I dreamt Australia were 200-5, Ponting had just got out falling onto his stumps after Harmy had smashed him on the head wit a bouncer. I woke up my housemate on the other couch to share the good news, before he kindly pointed out to me the real scoreTom, Reading
Being a student we are able to watch most of the Test match's, its just finding a venue with a license to open late enough! But there's nothing quite like going for a night out then finding a pub and sitting down for 7 hours watching cricket.Matt Rutherford, Aberystwyth, Wales
In the first test I got up twice early to listen to our batting & it was so bad I wend back to bed about 3-4 in the morning. Last night I did not bother & it went well. I am unsure whether to get up early tonight as we did so well today.Danny Boyle, Basildon, Essex
