Event of the Day: Australia versus England

Our event of the day is the 2nd ODI game between Australia and England at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in Woolloongabba. After a heavy 4-0 loss and the surrender of the urn in the Ashes series, England gave a strong response on Sunday by winning the first One Day International in Melbourne by five wickets. After today’s ODI, three more will follow by the end of January, in Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, respectively. The England team definitely welcomed the return to one-day cricket, but Australia have lost only twice in the past ten years in a 50-overs match at the Gabba, and only one of their seven previous ODI’s against England at this venue (in 1999). 

 

The hosts will be without bowler Josh Hazlewood, while another fast bowler Pat Cummins will be rested, the only remaining frontline bowler being Mitchell Starc. Jhye Richardson is expected to make his debut today – an opportunity for him to demonstrate his impressive speed. England’s aggressive opener Jason Roy was man of the match at the MCG with 180 runs from 151 balls – England’s highest ever 50-overs score; whilst batsman Joe Root had 91 runs from 110 balls, not out. Eoin Morgan will captain the visitors for the 70th time in ODIs to break Alastair Cook’s record, while he could also become England’s second-highest run-scorer as he needs 35 runs to overtake Paul Collingwood. It should be a thrilling day of cricket at the Gabba.

 

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NBA clash between the Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The Raptors are second-placed in the Eastern Conference with a 30-13 record and beat the Detroit Pistons 96-91 at home on Wednesday. The Spurs sit third in the Western Conference with a 30-16 record, and come to Toronto after a 100-95 win away to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. In another NBA duel, the Detroit Pistons host the Washington Wizards at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. In the NHL, the Anaheim Ducks take on the Los Angeles Kings at the Honda Center in Anaheim. It’s the second day of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club; and Day 2 at the CareerBuilder Challenge in California. The 2018 Snooker Masters continues at Alexandra Palace in London. New Zealand and Pakistan play their 5th and final ODI at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. In the Bundesliga, Hertha Berlin meet Borussia Dortmund at the Olympiastadion in Berlin; while in French Ligue 1, Caen face off with Marseille at the Stade Michel-d’Ornano in Caen. Men’s and Women’s Skeleton are on the programme at the IBSF World Cup in Königssee.

 

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

 

Fixture

 

Photos by Australia Cricket; England Cricket