Event of the Day: Australia versus India
Our event of the day is the first T20 match between Australia and India at the Gabba in Brisbane. The long India tour of Australia starts with the three-game T20 series, followed by a test series and finishes with a 2 match ODI series in the middle of January. The Australian cricket team start the tour wanting to get into winning ways after what has been a very difficult period for Australian cricket. Australia have won 9 out of their last 16 T20 matches, with 5 wins coming from beating England twice and New Zealand three times to win the Trans-Tasman Tri-Series in early 2018. Post that series, they have won only 6 of their last 25 matches in all formats but 4 of the victories did come in T20s. Australia did reach the final of the Tri-Series in Zimbabwe, however they lost to Pakistan by six wickets. Australia would have no luck against the Asian side when they met again in October, with Pakistan sweeping them in a three-game series. Australia have struggled since April, following the suspension of now former captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft for ball-tampering. Australia has sorely missed the presence of these international veterans.
India, on the other hand, have had a much stronger year. They took 2 out of 3 T20 victories against South Africa at the start of the year before winning the Nidahas Trophy against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The winning streak continued in T20 with a 2-0 series win over Ireland and a 2-1 series win over England. Following Test and ODI series slumps, in which England defeated them 2-1 and 4-1 respectively, they had a perfect ODI run at the Asia Cup, and then proceeded to sweep a three-game series against the West Indies in their last T20 action before this upcoming Australian tour. It is an eagerly anticipated match-up as despite the ups and down, they are still two of the best international teams in the world. The reputation of these two nations and the talent of the players available to both sides should make for an exciting day of T20 cricket.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NBA, where the Golden State Warriors host the Oklahoma City Thunder. After a whirlwind start to the season, Golden State have begun to decline and buckle under the weight of inter-personal problems. The team that had started the season comfortably at the top of the Western Conference has slipped to 4th, with half their losses on the season coming in the 3-game losing streak they find themselves on. Meanwhile, the Thunder look to continue a run of strong form - they currently sit in 5th in the West and could leapfrog the Warriors with a win tonight. Be sure you don’t miss what is set to be an exciting matchup. Elsewhere, in the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings host the Boston Bruins at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. In NCAA basketball, the Battle 4 Atlantis, an 8-team tournament played every Thanksgiving Week, begins at the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort in Nassau. In the FA Cup, Bristol Rovers host Barnet in a replay of their 1st round match.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by ICC Cricket