TRIBUNNEWS.COM, INGGRIS - Tak ada kata libur dalam kamus Premier League atau kasta tertinggi Liga Inggris di kala liga-liga benua Eropa sudah mulai rehat.
Salah satu yang paling khas tentu saja adalah Boxing Day atau pertandingan sehari setelah Hari Natal. Edisi kali ini tak menghadirkan bentrokan antara tim-tim berperingkat enam besar.
Meski begitu, keseruan tetap akan terjadi pada laga Boxing Day kali ini.
Manchester United yang kini menghuni peringkat kedua akan menghadapi tim penuh kejutan, Burnley, pada Selasa (26/12/2017) Pukul 22.00 WIB.
Burnley saat ini mampu menempati peringkat ketujuh dan bahkan sempat sesekali menganggu dominasi penghuni peringkat enam besar yang reguler.
Tim asuhan Sean Dyche jelas menjadi ancaman bagi penampilan Manchester United yang tengah menurun akhir-akhir ini.
Sementara Manchester City yang menjadi pemuncak klasemen sementara musim ini juga akan menghadapi lawan tangguh, Newcastle United.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, dan Tottenham Hotspur bisa dibilang mendapatkan lawan yang relatif mudah.
Namun para langganan peringkat enam besar ini jelas tak bisa menganggap remeh laga Boxing Day.
Tantangan besar mereka adalah tetap mampu meraih poin maksimal di tengah jadwal padat merayap ini.
KOMPAS.com - Premier League - kasta teratas Liga Inggris - menjadi satu-satunya kompetisi di antara liga elite Eropa yang masih bergulir pada periode Natal. Laga boxing day pada 26 Desember 2017 menjadi selalu dinanti oleh para penggemar sepak bola.
Edisi boxing day kali ini tak menghadirkan bentrokan antara tim-tim berperingkat enam besar. Meski begitu, keseruan tetap akan terjadi pada periode padat ini.
Manchester United yang kini menghuni peringkat kedua akan menghadapi tim penuh kejutan, Burnley, pada Selasa (26/12/2017) Pukul 22.00 WIB.
Burnley saat ini mampu menempati peringkat ketujuh dan bahkan sempat sesekali menganggu dominasi penghuni peringkat enam besar yang reguler.
Tim asuhan Sean Dyche jelas menjadi ancaman bagi penampilan Manchester United yang tengah menurun akhir-akhir ini.
Sementara itu, Manchester City yang menjadi pemuncak klasemen sementara musim ini juga akan menghadapi lawan tangguh, Newcastle United.
(Baca Juga: Harry Kane Cetak Hat-trick, Ada Sebuah Harapan yang Dipenuhi Santa Kane )
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, dan Tottenham Hotspur bisa dibilang mendapatkan lawan yang relatif mudah.
Namun para langganan peringkat enam besar ini jelas tak bisa menganggap remeh laga Boxing Day .
Tantangan besar mereka adalah tetap mampu meraih poin maksimal di tengah jadwal padat merayap ini.
Seusai boxing day di tengah pekan, mereka tetap akan kembali berlaga pada akhir pekan nanti. (Sri Mulyati)
(Baca Juga: Stadion Etihad Jadi Tempat Angker Sepanjang 2017! )
Berikut jadwal siaran langsung Liga Inggris pekan ke-20:
Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton Live beIN Sports 1 Pukul 19.25 WIB
Manchester United vs Burnley Live beIN Sports 1 Pukul 21.55 WIB
West Bromwich Albion vs Everton Live MNCTV & beIN Sports 2 Pukul 22.00 WIB
Liverpool vs Swansea City Live RCTI & beIN Sports 1 Pukul 00.30 WIB
Newcastle United vs Manchester City Live beIN Sports 1 Pukul 02.35 WIB
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Live MNCTV & beIN Sports 1 Pukul 02.50 WIB
Berikut jadwal Liga Inggris lain yang tak disiarkan di saluran televisi lokal:
The Ashes: A Tom Curran no ball saves David Warner on 99 as he reaches his hundred the very next ball.
A no ball saves David Warner on 99 as he tons up 1:54
AUSTRALIA continues to extract moments of misery out of England after extending the tourist’s pain with a stubborn batting display on day one at the MCG.
It was a long day in the field for England as David Warner (103) and then Steve Smith (65 not out) dug in on a day England also showed moments of fight.
England’s defensive fielding and bowling strategies came under fire as the contest descended from a rapid-fire first session into a dogged battle of attrition as a result of England captain Joe Root’s boring on-field approach.
Smith and Shaun Marsh (31 not out) saw Australia through to 3/244 at stumps after a minor scare of losing 3/38 in the middle of the day.
David Warner’s 21st test hundred did the real damage for Australia with his innings of pure drama coming off just 151 balls.
Warner appeared to have thrown his wicket away when he was on a very nervous 99 not out when he skied a top edge to the mid-on fielder off the bowling of debutant Tom Curran — only for an umpire review to check for a front foot no-ball to snatch the Pommy firebrand’s first test wicket away from him.
The video replays showed Curran clearly overstepped the mark, leading to one of the loudest crowd cheers ever seen in recent Aussie cricket from the crowd 88,172 inside the MCG.
The very next ball, Warner tucked away a shortish ball out to the man at deep square leg and let out a deep guttural roar as he ran down to the non-striker’s end celebrating his milestone.
Other than Warner, the Aussie batsman found it hard going against England’s defensive fields, despite the pitch rated a flat billiards table.
Usman Khawaja’s lock on the No. 3 spot in the batting line-up was further clouded with another failure, 17 runs from 65 balls.
Opener Cameron Bancroft was also made to look incredibly awkward and uncomfortable against the new ball, scoring 26 from 95 balls as his opening partner Warner plundered runs at will.
For England, the misery continues.
Jimmy Anderson also climbed equal with Courtney Walsh into equal-fifth on the all-time Test wicket-takers list with 519 scalps. Only Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Glenn McGrath have taken more wickets in test cricket.
Stuart broad ended his history-making 414-ball drought in between wickets when he finally struck to remove Khawaja with a delivery that collected an outside edge from an awkward length and sailed through to keeper Jonny Bairstow.
That bleak celebration was about as good as it got for them.
Moeen Ali hit a new low point for this miserable series when he was overlooked by Root in favour of part-time wrist-spinner Dawid Malan and finished the day with 0/35 from just six overs.
There are growing calls for him to be dropped for the Fifth Test in Sydney.
Read below to see how England’s misery unfolded.
Australia 3/244 from 89 overs. Smith 65, S Marsh 31
Australia survives Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh put the bat away in the final half hour of play as the two batsman made a pact to survive at the crease until the end of day one. England took the new ball after 85 overs, giving Stuart Broad and James Anderson two overs each before the end of play. Australia scored just two runs in the final four overs, but Smith and Marsh have survived to return to the crease on Wednesday. Share
‘Slap in the face’ for England star Moeen Ali has been overooked for part-time tweaker Dawid Malan in the lowest moment of the series so-far for the out-of-form allrounder. With Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh’s partnership beginning to look dangerous for the tourists, captain Joe Root turned to Malan to bowl his part-time wrist spin, choosing him ahead of designated spinner Ali, who had bowled six overs with 0/35 — going at 5.8 runs per over. Former England spinner Graeme Swann told the BBC: “This is biggest pat on the back for Malan, but think about Moeen Ali now. The captain has lost faith in his off spinner”. Slap in the face for Moeen Ali here. Given 6 overs so far, then overlooked for Dawid Malan's part-time leggies approaching second new ball #Ashes — Andrew Wu (@wutube) December 26, 2017 Swann was also disappointed with Joe Root’s captaincy in completely surrendering momentum in the overs before the second new ball could be taken, prioritising saving runs over taking risks to chase wickets. “I think England are missing a trick,” he said. “I understand what they are doing, getting through to the new ball and Malan is doing good job, but in the period earlier Broad had the ball reverse swinging and had appeals turned down. “I don’t know why they haven’t gone for that more. Broad and Anderson have looked far more dangerous with the reversing ball than in five overs with the new ball. I don’t see the point waiting for a new ball when the old one is talking.” The very next over, Root called up Jimmy Anderson to bowl with the old ball, despite being just five overs away from taking the new rock. Share
Broad drought ends as Khawaja falls after tea Stuart Broad’s 69-over drought ended after tea when he dismissed Usman Khawaja for 17 runs. Broad hadn’t taken a wicket in this series since the Adelaide Test, 415 deliveries ago. He coaxed Usman Khawaja into an uncomfortable push that was only good enough to get a faint edge that snuck through to keeper Jonny Bairstow. He very nearly had a second scalp the very next delivery when he hit Shaun Marsh on the back pad as the Aussie missed a leg-side flick that hit him in front of the stumps. England challenged the on-field umpires decision of not out. The DRS replays and ball tracking technology showed Broad’s delivery was a fraction short and less than half the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps. 415 balls between wickets for Broad. — Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) December 26, 2017 That was 219 runs, 69 overs and 23 days between Test wickets for Stuart Broad. And then he almost got two in two! #Ashes — Martin Smith (@martinsmith9994) December 26, 2017 That was so very nearly two-in-two for Stuart Broad 😩
Them knees are pumping and he's looking fired up...#Ashes #ItsTheAshes pic.twitter.com/EDDmNOiTkk — The Ashes on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) December 26, 2017 Share
Warner finally falls David Warner’s innings of pure drama was finally ended when James Anderson skidded one past him and collected the outside edge. Warner fell for 103 runs from 151 balls after one of the most incredible Boxing Day knocks ever witnessed. Warner got a little splinter on the Kookaburra pushing at the good length delivery as it sailed through to keeper Jonny Bairstow to leave Australia 2/135. Share
Warner and Bairstow trade heated barbs David Warner and Jonny Bairstow were spotted by the Channel 9 cameras exchanging angry sledges in a heated moment as the Aussie celebrated his hundred at the MCG. Channel 9 commentator Mark Nicholas said he believed the two were snarling at each other after debutant Tom Curran got lippy with the Aussie opener. Nicholas said the vision appeared to show Curran saying something to Warner as he celebrated scoring his hundred one ball after Curran had him caught off a no-ball. The cameras then showed Warner gesturing towards Curran before Bairstow entered the fray, exchanging several verbal barbs with Warner as he walked to keep at the other end at the change of over. “My guess is that Tom Curran said something to him,” Nicholas said. “Warner probably said, ‘Hangabout, who are you? You’ve just arrived. Don’t give me a hard time, mate. I just got a hundred. How many have you got?’ “And then the other England players decided to come in, Bairstow particularly, and Warner wasn’t going to have any of it.” David Warner getting stuck in to Jonny Bairstow again...let's hope he didn't say what he said in Brisbane.... — Paul Newman (@Paul_NewmanDM) December 26, 2017 Poor Tom Curran..unfortunately has nobody to blame but himself. Hat off to Warner, that was his only mistake in his innings. — AmerFTcricket (@Amermalik12) December 26, 2017 Share
Warner caught on 99, hits outrageous hundred David Warner has sensationally hit a hundred just one ball after being caught at mid-on off a no-ball. Warner was 99 not out when he skied a pull shot off the bowling of debutant Tom Curran and appeared to be walking back to the pavilion before the umpires called for the front foot to be checked. Replays showed no part of the debutant’s boot was behind the bowling crease as his front foot landed. The incredible drama saw the MCG crowd erupt as the no-ball replays were shown on the big screens inside the stadium. The very next ball, Warner tucked a short ball to deep square leg to give him his first century of the series. Share
Bancroft walks to give England a breakthrough A wicket! Khawaja to the crease with Warner 96*.
Live video, radio, scores and more: https://t.co/osnYPjcpzQ #Ashes pic.twitter.com/QsYOBJbkXz — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 26, 2017 Cameron Bancroft was trapped in front by Chris Woakes to England the scalp they desperately needed. Bancroft had looked uncomfortable and out of form during his innings while fellow-opener David Warner raced towards a century. Bancroft struggled to 26 runs from 95 balls before Woakes got a good ball to cut back into the right-hander and trap him on the back foot in front of the wickets. Bancroft had already started walking to the dressing room before the umpire raised his finger. The DRS replays showed the Kookaburra would have gone onto hit the stumps, but it was very nearly too high. It left Australia 1/122. Share
England greats thrash Joe Root, Trevor Bayliss England captain Joe Root has been criticised for being too defeatist with his captaincy yet again. Root was spotted moving the field back, including a deep point and deep square leg, when James Anderson and Stuart Broad were in their opening overs bowling to David Warner on the first morning of the test. Root has repeatedly set defensive fields to Warner in an attempt to dry-up boundary’s and force the Aussie opener into a mistake. English commentators said the defensive strategy looks a lot like “waving a white flag”. Former England captain Michael Vaughan told the BBC, England has deluded themselves into believing what they’ve served up this series has been OK. “With England so far in the series it is as if they are conning themselves into thinking it has been alright,” Vaughan said. “I personally would have made changes this week and ruffled a few feathers. And if they’re not making changes then change tactics. Why not give Chris Woakes the new ball? Why does it have to be James Anderson and Stuart Broad?” Definition of insanity ‘doing the same thing over & over again and expecting things to change’ !!!!!!!! #Ashes — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) December 26, 2017 Former England batsman Ed Smith said it looks like England is already down for the count in the Fourth Test. “If it was a boxing match I fear England would already be being waved to a neutral corner,” he told the BBC. “This could be a very ugly day for England.” Share
Hugh Jackman outs Warnie secret The Wolverine has just made a special appearance in the box... #Ashes pic.twitter.com/tvTTNBLs3t — Wide World of Sports (@wwos) December 26, 2017 Aussie Hollywood star Hugh Jackman let slip an unflattering run-in with Aussie Test legend Shane Warne during a commentary appearance for Triple M, while promoting the release of his new film The Greatest Showman. Jackman did nothing to save Warnie’s blushes as he and fellow commentator Kerry O’Keeffe traded funny Warnie stories. Jackman revealed a dressing room story when he was alone with the spin king at the MCG before they went and filmed a segment at the MCG nets for Channel 9’s The Cricket Show during the 2013 Ashes series. “My favourite part of that day, they said come down and face Warnie,” Jackman told Triple M. “We were getting changed, it was just Warnie and I and the shower went on, and I said, ‘Warnie, what are you doing, having a shower?’ “Then he starts chatting to me and I realised the shower was still on and I realised he was having a cigarette. I was like, ‘Warnie, we’re not in high school any more, they’re not going to kick you out. It’s OK’. But he’s over there covering it up with the shower. “I said, ‘Warnie, you can do whatever you want, mate.’” O’Keeffe then revealed his first impressions of Warne when he first came across the future spin king as a junior spinner at Australia’s cricket academy. “Just the fact that he kept ducking out for a ciggy every five minutes,” O’Keeffe said. “He reeked of alcohol, he was about 85 hamburgers over par and someone goes to me, ‘This is the next big thing’. I said, ‘What, the next thing for Blackrock RSL?’ “708 test wickets later he was (the next big thing). “He wouldn’t listen to me. I said a few things, he’d just roll his eyes and go for a smoke.” Share
Warner flies to fifty David Warner raced to fifty from just 64 balls as Australia reached 0/63. He brought up his half century with a stylish pull shot to the fence. The Aussie opener forced England to adopt a defensive field in just the fourth over of play, leading to a chorus of criticism directed at England captain Joe Root. "It's going to be a batting paradise." - Vaughan. AUS 0/40 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/hwa9BzbXrs — Wide World of Sports (@wwos) December 26, 2017 Share
Australia’s Boxing Day heartbreak AUSSIE wicketkeeper Tim Paine’s father in law has died just two days out from the Boxing Day Test. The glovesman was cleared to play in the iconic Melbourne test, but he will carry personal tragedy into the Ashes furnace if called on to bat on day one. Cricket Australia has announced the Aussie team will wear black arm bands on day one in honour of Paine’s father-in-law Thomas Maggs, who passed away on Christmas Eve. Paine was earlier this week given leave to attend this private family matter, but was confirmed for the Fourth Ashes Test before Christmas Day. Paine also failed to take part in Australia’s first training session at the Test venue last week, having stayed at home after his father-in-law had a stroke. “Tim’s one of the most mentally strong players I’ve ever played with,” Jackson Bird said of Paine last week. “If there’s anybody who can compartmentalise that (and perform well), I think it’s him. “The thoughts of the Australian team, our families and I think as well as the Australian public are all with Bonnie and Tim through this tough time. “Hopefully, we see Tim on Boxing Day but it’s fully understandable if he needs time with his family.” — with AAP Share
Smith wins toss, Aussies to bat Australia will bat first on Boxing Day in what former Aussie skipper Michael Clarke described as a shattering blow for the visitors. “For England it’s damaging,” Clarke told Channel Nine. “This toss on this surface is important for England. I think Australia’s full momentum. If Australia had lost the toss and bowled I think they would have found a way to take wickets early. To get to bat on this surface first this is as flat as you get in Test match cricket. Shine across it. Hardly any grass ... this looks like an ironing board.” Smith described the MCG pitch as a “nice wicket”. “(It was) probably ready about four days ago. It’s been sitting on the roller. Looks like a pretty nice wicket. Hopefully we can post a big first innings total,” Smith told Channel Nine. “The pressure is off a little bit having won the Ashes. At the same time we want to keep winning. We want to make it a habit.” Clarke wasn’t the only cricket legend forecasting doom and gloom for the Poms. My god it’s a flat fart! Apologies to the WACA curator! 😩 #thisisflatter https://t.co/GajmiC91l3 — Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) December 25, 2017 I don’t think it’s completely out of the question, that England might not take a wicket today...#road #bullandbangers #due — Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) December 25, 2017 Share
Root defends Curran selection, hits back at Ponting England paceman Tom Curran will make his Test debut on Boxing Day at the MCG in a forced change to the tourists’ XI. With Craig Overton out of the fourth Ashes match due to a cracked rib, Curran, uncapped legspinner Mason Crane, first-Test flop Jake Ball and 2015 Ashes winner Mark Wood were in the mix to receive a call-up. Skipper Joe Root made a captain’s call, backing the South African-born seamer to rattle Australia on a flat pitch. “Sometimes as a captain you have to go with your gut,” Root said. The tourists only have pride to play for in the five-Test series, having already surrendered the urn after the third match in Perth. Root has borne the brunt of the criticism, with former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting calling him a soft leader who looked like a “little boy” in the media conference following the crushing WACA loss. “He’s entitled to his opinion but he doesn’t spend any time in our dressing room and doesn’t spend much time around the squad,” Root said. “I’m obviously going to disagree with that. I’m sure if you ask any of the guys in the camp — the coaches, support staff or players — they’d back me up. “I don’t think I go about things as a little boy. “I have my own way of doing things. It’s important you don’t try to be something you’re not but I know there are occasions when you might have to be quite strong in front of the group. “There are times when I know I can do that and I have done that.” — AAP Share
Boxing Day Test a new tradition that is unmistakably Australian
Updated
In a young, vibrant democracy, tradition can be a vexed concept.
The culture warriors are circling their wagons around January 26 as Australia Day and draping themselves in the flag, even though it was almost ignored until the bicentennial year of 1988.
The public holiday associated with our national day was generally allocated to the Monday nearest the actual date, and my youthful memories were of it being observed with vastly less solemnity than Anzac Day.
Sadly, I am old enough to be bemused by reference to the "traditional" Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It is a tradition of recent advent honoured in the breach as recently as 1994. In that year, the second Test between Australia and England began on Christmas Eve with a rest day taken on Christmas Day, which that year fell on a Sunday.
The Packer factor
Rest days, like many other trappings of traditional cricket, have succumbed to commercial pressures and the insatiable demands of the television audience. In that match Australia were led by Mark Taylor and England by Mike Atherton, both of whom are commentating on this year's "traditional" clash.
That the traditional tag rings somewhat hollow is not a criticism of the immense cultural significance this match has assumed, especially in the years since the Packer revolution galvanised the Australian population into support for the national team through catchy jingles and overt appeals to nationalism.
However, before Kerry Packer transformed Australian cricket, Australian teams were frequently on tour during our summers. When Australia were on tours, as they were in 1966-67 and 1969-70, the marquee fixtures on Boxing Day were Sheffield Shield matches between arch rivals News South Wales and Victoria.
When Ray Illingworth's men wrested the Ashes from Australia in 1970-71, the "traditional" Boxing Day Test was scheduled to commence on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1970. Ultimately, the match was abandoned on the third day without a ball being bowled.
To offer the fans some entertainment, the first One Day International was played between Australia and England on January 5, 1971. By today's standards it was a quaint affair, with the traditional red ball employed and Geoffrey Boycott scoring 8 off 37 deliveries.
No-one who played that day would have aroused the interest of a Big Bash League franchise on the basis of bustling strike rates.
Australia overtook England's modest 190 for the loss of five wickets in 34.6 overs. None of those involved could have imagined how the shorter form of the game would evolve and threaten the relevance of traditional cricket.
Christmas carols at the cricket
But over the past three decades, the Boxing Day Test has captured the imagination of the entire nation.
The atmosphere inside the cavernous arena is electric on the opening morning, even when a modest opponent is engaged.
The atmosphere of the Christmas festive season infects the fans who sing Christmas carols, without, it must be said, the spirit and talent of the Barmy Army.
As Greg Baum of Fairfax astutely noted, there is no such thing as a "dead rubber" on Boxing Day.
Test cricket always appears in rude good health amid a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground.
And the democratic temper of Australia is also vividly displayed.
As the long lines of fans snaked their way towards the entry gates, through the bag searches, and body scans they were in good humour. In the adjacent line, I saw the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith, attired in a business suit.
With the pervasive threat of terrorism, such searches are likely to become a bleakly "traditional" ritual of the game over time.
An unmistakably Australian affair
Mr Smith and I exchanged knowing smiles as the queue moved towards the shade. His writ did not run to being ushered past the sombrero-wearing lads, who hopefully had already elected their designated driver to take them home. They had clearly indulged in a hearty liquid breakfast.
If they are ultimately ejected today, he will not have to perform the honours.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat. The ground is bathed in brilliant sunshine under a cloudless azure sky.
The conditions, the crowd and the atmosphere are unmistakably Australian. Long may this fixture, which has become an institution, albeit relatively recently, unite the nation in our languid holiday celebration.
And let us hope it remains a five-day fixture. That tradition is increasingly under threat from avaricious administrators.
Yet every Test of this series, and last year's against Pakistan, required the fifth day to achieve an Australian victory.
Topics: cricket, australia-day, arts-and-entertainment, sydney-2000, melbourne-3000, brisbane-4000
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