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Ashes fans on Dutch TV Ashes fans on Dutch TV
(30 minutes later)
Jamie in his England kitLast week the Magazine looked at how cricket fans go nocturnal for the Ashes. In our readers' column, expat Jamie Johnson tells how he watched it live overnight - filmed by a bemused Dutch TV crew.Jamie in his England kitLast week the Magazine looked at how cricket fans go nocturnal for the Ashes. In our readers' column, expat Jamie Johnson tells how he watched it live overnight - filmed by a bemused Dutch TV crew.
The Ashes were just hours away from starting on a wet Wednesday night at 11pm. So I jumped on my bicycle and pedalled to my cricket club in Amsterdam to watch the first Test on live television.The Ashes were just hours away from starting on a wet Wednesday night at 11pm. So I jumped on my bicycle and pedalled to my cricket club in Amsterdam to watch the first Test on live television.
The idea of gathering at a sports club at midnight on a weeknight to watch cricket baffles the average Dutchman. That the game stretches over five days is even more bewildering. That we watch cricket when we should be sleeping is considered extraordinary.The idea of gathering at a sports club at midnight on a weeknight to watch cricket baffles the average Dutchman. That the game stretches over five days is even more bewildering. That we watch cricket when we should be sleeping is considered extraordinary.
So it came to pass that on the opening night of the Ashes, a camera crew from Dutch national TV turned up to film the strange goings-on. The equivalent of the Dutch BBC, Netherlands 2, thought it would be interesting to see how much the Ashes mean to the English and Australians living in their midst, and moreover why a handful of Dutch cricket fans had joined us.So it came to pass that on the opening night of the Ashes, a camera crew from Dutch national TV turned up to film the strange goings-on. The equivalent of the Dutch BBC, Netherlands 2, thought it would be interesting to see how much the Ashes mean to the English and Australians living in their midst, and moreover why a handful of Dutch cricket fans had joined us.
We put on a good show of hoots, roars and needling each other for the cameras, and the reporter asked what might be a good comparison in the Netherlands. "You could compare it to the Dutch and the Germans playing football," explained my Aussie mate Phil. "We don't really like the English and they don't really like us. When we play cricket, it's pretty intense."We put on a good show of hoots, roars and needling each other for the cameras, and the reporter asked what might be a good comparison in the Netherlands. "You could compare it to the Dutch and the Germans playing football," explained my Aussie mate Phil. "We don't really like the English and they don't really like us. When we play cricket, it's pretty intense."
When they should be sleeping, England and Australian fans are instead are going to be up for five nights a week Presenter on Netherlands 2 I too believed the Dutch had little interest in cricket, as I only joined my club after meeting a fellow Brit during a five-a-side football game. When they should be sleeping, England and Australian fans are instead going to be up for five nights a week Presenter on Netherlands 2 I too believed the Dutch had little interest in cricket, as I only joined my club after meeting a fellow Brit during a five-a-side football game.
How wrong I was. There's only a few of them, but Dutch cricketers are not only au fait with the rules, they've got the culture, the habits and annoyances acted out during a match, nothing is missing. Nor are they slouches when it comes to cricket stats.How wrong I was. There's only a few of them, but Dutch cricketers are not only au fait with the rules, they've got the culture, the habits and annoyances acted out during a match, nothing is missing. Nor are they slouches when it comes to cricket stats.
Recently, I watched a Dutch teenager hit a guy twice his size for three sixs in a row. Chatting later to him, he quoted Mike Atherton's 1990s side with perfect accuracy. I had to make my excuses, in case he showed me up.Recently, I watched a Dutch teenager hit a guy twice his size for three sixs in a row. Chatting later to him, he quoted Mike Atherton's 1990s side with perfect accuracy. I had to make my excuses, in case he showed me up.
Plan rumbledPlan rumbled
Having lived in Amsterdam for six years, most of my colleagues are Dutch, Spanish and Polish, and I've recently married a Swedish girl, Renee. This all adds up to a very "non-cricketing" environment.Having lived in Amsterdam for six years, most of my colleagues are Dutch, Spanish and Polish, and I've recently married a Swedish girl, Renee. This all adds up to a very "non-cricketing" environment.
Jamie's club ground in AmsterdamBut not only am I passionate about cricket, I can't help but preach to others what they are missing out on. The culture and history can be so fascinating that you often forget that the Spaniard or Swede opposite really only cares about ice hockey or football.Jamie's club ground in AmsterdamBut not only am I passionate about cricket, I can't help but preach to others what they are missing out on. The culture and history can be so fascinating that you often forget that the Spaniard or Swede opposite really only cares about ice hockey or football.
Renee and I had planned to postpone our honeymoon from August to December so we could go to Australia, but she found out it was all due to me wanting to watch the Ashes. So I dropped the idea before she divorced me and moved back to Stockholm.Renee and I had planned to postpone our honeymoon from August to December so we could go to Australia, but she found out it was all due to me wanting to watch the Ashes. So I dropped the idea before she divorced me and moved back to Stockholm.
Hopefully now the Ashes have had some exposure on Dutch TV, my lunch hours will be less like Question Time ("what do the other nine members of the batting team do?"... er, feet up, cold drink, enjoy the sun), and my colleagues will no longer regard me as some alien being whose weekends are given over to strange activities.Hopefully now the Ashes have had some exposure on Dutch TV, my lunch hours will be less like Question Time ("what do the other nine members of the batting team do?"... er, feet up, cold drink, enjoy the sun), and my colleagues will no longer regard me as some alien being whose weekends are given over to strange activities.
And my wife is slowly coming round to cricket, although my listening to Radio 4 longwave in bed at 2am gives her the notion that she is in bed with me and Monty. I wouldn't have it any other way.And my wife is slowly coming round to cricket, although my listening to Radio 4 longwave in bed at 2am gives her the notion that she is in bed with me and Monty. I wouldn't have it any other way.