Event of the Day: Australia v England

Our event of the day 

is the fifth and final day of the second Test match of the 2017-18 Ashes series between Australia and England at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide. Day 4 of the fixture brought the unexpected revival of the English side that now has the slim opportunity to even the series, following Australia’s convincing win in the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. After four days of the first ever day/night Ashes Test, England require another 178 runs with six wickets remaining. A win here, would be their first Test triumph in Australia since January 2011 after six straight defeats - they lost each of the five matches of the 2013-14 series. This year’s Ashes will continue with Tests in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney; starting with the 3rd Test at the WACA in Perth next Thursday. 

England’s skipper Joe Root was instrumental in keeping his team alive in this game with an unbeaten half-century and he currently sits on 67 not out along with Chris Woakes who is on five. Still, it would take an unbelievable performance to come out on top in the end, because England have never before chased down this high of a target - 332 is the current England record, set in 1928. If they were to reach the 354 required in this match, not only would it become an England record, but also a Top 10 run chase in Test cricket history. With the impressive Australian bowling attack of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon it will be extremely hard for England to make it but it is all set up for a thrilling day of Test cricket.

 

Honourable mentions 

around the globe go to the clash between Liverpool and Spartak Moscow at Anfield in Liverpool. It’s the last round of the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, and Spartak must win to progress to the last 16, while the Reds need a point to qualify. However, a win would see them top group E, where Sevilla is also in contention for the knock-out phase. In other UEFA Champions League games, Shakhtar Donetsk face Manchester City at the Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv in group F; while Feyenoord host Napoli at Rotterdam’s De Kuip, in the same group. In group G, RB Leipzig take on Besiktas at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig; whilst at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto, FC Porto play Monaco. There are plenty of games in the NBA, including the Milwaukee Bucks versus the Detroit Pistons at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee; and the clash of the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. Four games take place in the NHL, with a Canadian duel of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Calgary Flames taking place at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. In snooker, the UK Championship continues at the Barbican Centre in York.

 

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

 

Fixture

 

Photos by England Cricket; Cricket Australia