Let’s start with a dash of optimism in Ashes week. England have played three times at the Perth Stadium, venue for the first Test on Friday, and won them all. True, they were all limited-overs matches and one of them was against Afghanistan but you have to find your good omens where you can.
The last time England won the opening Test of an Ashes in Australia was in 1986 and they have traditionally been slow starters even in the few series they went on to win. In the first Test of 2010-11, they were 221 behind after the first innings before Alastair Cook batted for 10 and a half hours to secure a draw, while Len Hutton’s Ashes win in 1954-55 began with an innings defeat.
Those who want to see the first ball will need to stay up late or rise early (Friday 21 Nov, TNT Sports 1, 2.30am). If it’s as bad as 2021, when Rory Burns was yorked first ball, or 2006, when Stephen Harmison bowled wide to slip, a swift return to bed beckons – though that can be dangerous on Ashes tours. I remember a Nick Newman cartoon called “Ashes Nightmare” that had a man going to sleep with the radio saying, “And Strauss moves on to six” followed by him waking to hear: “And Strauss moves on to four.”
For those who want to practise getting up early to watch cricket, India’s first Test against South Africa reaches the third day this morning (TNT Sports 3, 4am), while the second Test between Bangladesh and Ireland starts on Wednesday (YouTube, 3.30am).
The group stage of European qualifying for the football World Cup ends this week with Wales and Scotland still optimistic of progressing (both games Tuesday, BBC iPlayer, 7.45pm). Scotland last qualified in 1998 and if they beat Greece last night they would qualify directly with a win in their final match at home to Denmark.
Assuming there isn’t a shock in Turin tomorrow to surpass Italy’s win over Australia last week, the Springboks next go to Dublin on a six-match winning streak. The world champions won the second half against France 19-3 with 14 men last week but Ireland have become their bogey team. They were the only side to beat South Africa at the 2023 World Cup and have now won nine of their past 14 encounters and four of the past five. Can Andy Farrell plot another victory? (Saturday, TNT Sports 1, 5.40pm).
If you want to raise a darts player, giving it the name Luke seems to be a good start. Luke Humphries and Luke Littler are favourites to lift the Grand Slam of Darts on Sunday (Sky Sports Main, 7pm). Luke Woodhouse and Lukas Wenig joined them in the knockout phase. Littler won the final last year – against Martin Lukeman. Use the arrers, Luke.
Photograph by Jacob King/PA Wire