The simple pleasure of playing during a spell living in China was a glorious escape amid a vast bustling city. By Adam Hopkins for Wisden Cricket Monthly. “Xià yí zhàn: Shìjì Dàdào,” a robotic Chinese voice blares over the metro carriage speakers. “Qiánfāng kěyǐ huànchéng èr hào xiàn, liù hào xiàn, hé jiǔ hào xiàn. Chēmén jiàng zài yòu cè kāimén, qǐng zhàn wěn fú hǎo.” .
![[A Chinese national flag flutters during the one day cricket match between Marlyebone Cricket Club (MCC) of London and Shanghai Cricket Club on October 5, 2006 at Dulwich College in Shanghai]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e793993d2cf1cb7f73ed54102b52432280911154/0_200_3000_1800/master/3000.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
A few seconds later an English voice follows: “Next station: Century Avenue. You can transfer to Line 2, Line 6, and Line 9. Doors will open on the right. Please stand clear and hold on to the handrails.” I get up from my seat and attempt to manoeuvre myself and my large Kookaburra duffle bag towards the carriage doors. “Bù hǎo yì si, bù hǎo yì si” (“Excuse me, excuse me”) I say as I squeeze past an old lady and her shopping caddy and then a mother with a pram.
“Shìjì Dàdào, dàole,” says the announcer’s voice as the train stops and the doors open. “We are now at Century Avenue.”. I merge with the crowd and take the escalator up to the concourse, following the signs for Line 6 before heading up a small flight of stairs to another platform. I have a few minutes to wait for the train towards Gangcheng Road.
