Et Al Pics: That Shooting Star Moment

Philip Brown sees the future that wasn't

In many ways I was amazingly lucky to get to travel to Australia at the back end of 2020 to cover cricket. COVID-19 had ruined normal life but the photo agency I shot for were still keen to get me to take photographs of Test cricket wherever that was. Having an Australian passport - I was born in Canberra - I could fly from London to Brisbane to prepare for the Australia versus India Test matches. Tourists were not welcome in this period so my flights were pretty empty. I did have to wear a mask and also something resembling a welder’s helmet all the way but that was the rule.

I arrived in Brisbane and was immediately locked in a room of the Marriott Brisbane to do my two weeks of quarantine. My room was relatively large and to pass the time I walked back and forth from the door to the window to try and keep in some sort of shape. I listened to music or chatted on the phone as I did this. I covered 100km during my Marriott incarceration. I managed 100 miles (161km) the following year in similar circumstances but that’s another tale.

I managed to get to Adelaide for the first Test of the series and saw India skittled for just 36 runs. India’s top scorer was Mayank Agarawal who scored 9. This series appeared to be over almost before it had started. Virat Kohli was heading home to be present at a baby birth so I don’t think anyone imagined India had any hope.

India won the second Test in Melbourne by eight wickets which meant there was a change to the Australian team. Twenty-two-year-old Victorian Will Pucovski was pitched into the squad. This was exciting, even for a cynical, seen-it-all photographer like me. There was a lot of hype about the young guy. He was going to be the next big thing. The ‘new Ricky Ponting’ some said. I attended nets in Sydney and concentrated my lens almost solely on Pucovski. I shot him putting a helmet on, taking catches hit by Justin Langer, wearing a mask, holding a bat, anything I could get.

Then the unexpected happened. I got a message from Cricket Australia that, as another member of the media at training had tested positive for COVID, I would have to be tested and given the all clear before I could pitch up at the Test match. Panic stations. How could this happen? Well, I did understand it, but I was disappointed. It seemed I was going to miss some valuable Will Pucovski images. I rang the department of health phone number to see if my test result was back probably fifteen times over several hours. I was back to being locked in a hotel room.

I would be watching the first day of the third Test match on a television in the QT Hotel, one of my favourites. But there were still glimmers of hope. For example, there was a 50 percent chance that India would bat first and I’d hopefully be in position behind my long lens for Will’s first innings if my COVID result was negative and came through. I was out of luck. At the toss Australia decide to bat. As Will was presented with his coveted baggy green I was rattling round my hotel room.

I turned on the television. At 10.30am the match began. Jasprit Bumrah bowled to Will Pucovski. I was missing history! Then, at 11.05am, a twist - it started raining. Great news for me. ‘Let it rain!’ I cried. Apologies to any spectators but I’d travelled more than 12,000 miles to shoot the series and I wasn’t thinking much about others. I’m not normally this selfish.

Rain fell well into the afternoon, until play resumed with Will on 14. He restarted his innings; I recommenced my vigil. Still no news from the Department of Health by the way. Will was dropped on 26 - that’s good (for me). I may be there for his century! He’s also dropped on 32. (Phew). A pull shot and he brings up his fifty. Tea! (Go Will!) He’s still in and I’m guessing there’s no way he’ll complete his century today. Then back on after tea. He’s on 55…then 57 … 60 … 62. I’m willing him on, so to speak.

Navdeep Saini of India is also playing his first Test match. He’s never taken a Test wicket. Until now that is. A full and fast delivery hits Will on the pads and, in the 35th over of the day, he is dismissed. I curse. I’ve come half way round the world and missed his first innings completely. Oh well. I console myself there will be plenty more innings to come.

The following morning and a health receptionist somewhere holding a phone gives me the excellent news that I do not have COVID - or, at least, I didn’t have COVID two days ago. I can attend the SCG for day two of the Test match. I do that. Steve Smith scores a century.

I’m back for the third day. India are bowled out in the afternoon and, after the tea break, I watch Will walk out to bat with David Warner - this time in person. I position myself on the side of the field, under the Bill O’Reilly Stand. I just want a good picture of Will batting. Is this too much to ask? I’ve come so far. But suddenly it feels so close.

Will’s fifth ball from Bumrah is a bouncer. He pulls it imperiously for four. But it’s no good - his back is to me, and I need to see his face in the photo.

The eighth ball that Will receives is short, outside the off stump. He punches it gloriously through the covers. Pretty well straight at me. The sun is out. The light is lovely, as it often is in the final session in Sydney. I’ve enjoyed many an afternoon in this area over the years. I’m ecstatic.

Eight balls later, Will is caught behind. He will never play for Australia again. Now, it seems, he will never play cricket again. I still have my photo but the memory of his agonisingly short international career fills me with sadness. I wish him all the best for the future. For a week in 2021 he was my prime focus. I’ve never seen him since.