Event of the Day: South Africa versus Australia
Our event of the day is the first day of the 4th and final match of the Test series between South Africa and Australia at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. Following a loss in the opening Test of the series in Durban, South Africa managed to turn the score line in their favour and now lead the series 2-1.
However the 3rd Test in Cape Town won’t be remembered for the hosts’ win by 322 runs, but for the ball tampering scandal that has caused an incredible reaction and controversy in the cricket world. At the end of the third day of play, Australian captain Steve Smith admitted to ball tampering by the Australian team and subsequently he and vice-captain David Warner received a one-year ban from Cricket Australia, while caught in-the-act tamperer, Cameron Bancroft was suspended for nine months. Tim Paine was named as Australia’s new captain and Joe Burns, Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw were added to the team in place of the punished trio. After the scandalous third Test, the Baggy Greens’ coach Darren Lehmann announced that he will step down from his role at the end of the series. It will be the last match of international cricket for the Proteas’ fast bowler Morné Morkel who has decided to retire at the end of the series. At Newlands, Morkel became the fifth bowler to take 300 wickets in Test cricket for South Africa in what was a man-of-the-match performance. Batsman Dean Elgar scored his 3000th run and became the first player to carry his bat twice in the same year. We can expect a fitting fourth match of this thrilling and unforgettable series in South Africa.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to Day 2 of the Houston Open at the Golf Club of Houston in Humble. A strong field will contest the event until Sunday, before the attention of the golf world moves to Augusta for the Masters next week. In the MLB, the Toronto Blue Jays face the New York Yankees at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Elsewhere in cricket, it’s the opening day of the 2nd Test between New Zealand and England at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. In the NBA, there are big games in the fight for the playoffs with the Portland Trail Blazers facing off with the Los Angeles Clippers at the Moda Center in Portland, whilst the Oklahoma City Thunder come up against the Denver Nuggets at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. At the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, the Cavaliers meet the New Orleans Pelicans. It’s Day 10 of the ATP World Tour and Day 11 of the WTA World Tour at the Miami Open at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, Florida. In the European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final, Scarlets play versus La Rochelle at the Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by Cricket Australia