Event of the Day: Australia v England
Our event of the day is the fifth and final day of the 4th Test of the 2017-18 Ashes series between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia have a 3-0 lead after winning the first three Tests in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth respectively, and have secured the series and the Ashes urn. However, it seems unlikely they will complete a whitewash over England, as they trail by 61 runs with eight wickets remaining in the 2nd innings, after four days at the MCG. Melbourne’s unpredictable weather resulted in heavy rain and more than 40 overs lost on day 4, thus saving the hosts and giving them hope they could still earn a draw in the Boxing Day Test.
Australian captain Steven Smith alongside his deputy David Warner, have played cautiously on a sluggish pitch to get Australia to 103 for 2. England’s opening batsman Alastair Cook has been the star of the game with a performance that saw him reach 244 – the highest score ever made by a batsman carrying his bat through a Test match. However, the visitors will need heroics of the bowling variety if they are to take the final eight Australian wickets and force the victory. It could be a thrilling final day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Leicester City at Anfield. Liverpool sit in fourth position in the table with 38 points from 20 games, and are unbeaten in all competitions in the last 14 matches. Fairytale champions from the 2015-16 season, Leicester City, are in eighth place with 27 points. The Reds were victorious 3-2 in the reverse league fixture back in September, following a 2-0 League Cup victory for Leicester in the same month.
It is UFC 219 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with the headline event being the bout between Cris Cyborg and Holly Holm. In the Big Bash League, the Hobart Hurricanes face the Sydney Thunder at the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston. The PDC World Darts Championship continues at Alexandra Palace in London. In the NBA, there is the clash between the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. In the NHL, the Washington Capitals are up against the New Jersey Devils at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. In Premiership Rugby, Gloucester take on Sale Sharks at Kingsholm in Gloucester; while in Pro14 Rugby, Glasgow Warriors play Edinburgh Rugby at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow. In College Football, the Fiesta Bowl sees a duel between Washington and Penn State at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Fixture
Photos by England Cricket; Cricket Australia