In a sunlit Norwegian summer house, the familiar sounds of cricket created an unexpected bridge across time and continents. The soft rumble of a stadium crowd and the distinctive knock of ball on wood transported one woman back to childhood moments with her father, almost nine years after his passing.
The Sound That Sparked Memory
Lucianne Tonti found herself unexpectedly reconnecting with cricket while visiting her brother in Norway during the 2023 Ashes series. The scene felt remarkably familiar - the warm summer afternoon, her brother asleep on the couch, and the distinctive commentary cutting through the television's murmur. She realised it had been at least fifteen years since she had properly watched or heard a cricket match.
The experience immediately transported her back to various childhood backyards where her father had taught them the fundamentals of the game. Memories flooded back of learning to pace out a bowler's run-up, the correct way to grip the bat, and the house rules that made their family games exciting. Cricket had been an integral part of their childhood, with her father patiently explaining techniques and strategies.
Sport as a Family Connector
As Tonti reached her twenties, sport gradually faded from her life as studies, travel and socialising took priority. When her father died when she was 27, family dynamics shifted dramatically. She moved to London, followed by one of her brothers the next year. The family found themselves grieving separately rather than together, creating distance during a difficult period.
Yet a decade later, cricket unexpectedly re-emerged as a powerful connector. During the 2023 Ashes series, Tonti and her brother found themselves texting across countries about key moments, including Alex Carey's controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow and their amusement at Ben Stokes' reactions. By the fourth Test, they were both praying for rain from their respective locations in London and Norway.
Building New Memories Through Old Passions
The shared interest in cricket has created an ongoing dialogue that spans countries and continents. When Sam Konstas was performing impressively against Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG on Boxing Day, Tonti immediately texted her brother, who responded enthusiastically from the depths of winter about the "bonkers" match.
During a visit last July, they sat together reading books to his newborn daughter while half-watching England versus India, nervous about what an English win might mean for the upcoming Ashes. They shared moments of glee the morning after Stokes embarrassed himself by pressuring Indian batters to retire, quoting The Grade Cricketer podcast to each other about the lack of sportsmanship.
Cricket as Living Legacy
For Tonti, cricket has become an unexpected through-line back to family connections and her father's enduring influence. It serves as a place where her father's parenting and care still exist - where he continues to explain how to protect the stumps or tells her to stop grumbling after a loss.
The sport provides abundant reminders of his love and the values he taught: competitiveness, respect for hard work, discipline, and grace under pressure. With each new series, particularly the excitement of home Ashes matches, this connection expands as new memories forge from old ones, creating fresh ways to make each other laugh and remember the joy of competition.
What began as an unexpected encounter with cricket in a Norwegian summer house has evolved into a meaningful connection that honours a father's legacy while building new family traditions across generations and continents.
