They say we should use this time to learn something new – so we thought we’d offer up a history lesson free of charge!
We’re going to be recapping all the important sporting moments each and every day as we look to fill the void our beloved sports and teams have left behind.
So if it’s AFL, NRL, Basketball, Cricket, Golf or even Wrestling, be sure to return each and every morning as we take a trip back through the history books to relive some of sports‘ greatest moments.
2015: James Anderson Becomes Top of the England Wicket Taking Pops!
James Anderson became England’s highest Test Cricket wicket-taker surpassing Ian “Beefy” Botham’s record of 383 wickets against the West Indies in Antigua on this day back in 2015.
Anderson took his 395th wicket when he got Denesh Ramdin out for 57 from a catch by Alistair Cook at first slip in the final day of his 100th Test match.
Despite the record achieved by Anderson, the Windies chasing a target of 438 managed to hold on to a draw at 7/350 levelling the three-Test-match series to 0-0.
2008: Rugby Leauge’s Team of the Century
As part of the celebrations for the Centenary year of Rugby League, a lavish function is held at Sydney’s Royal Hall of Industries to name the Australian Rugby League “Team of the Century”
The list is an absolute who’s who stacked full of the greats and immortals.
The squad was:
Fullback: Clive Churchill
Wing: Brian Bevan
Centre: Reg Gasnier
Centre: Mal Meninga
Wing: Ken Irvine
Five-Eighth: Wally Lewis
Halfback: Andrew Johns
Prop: Arthur Beatson
Hooker: Noel Kelly
Prop: Duncan Hall
Second-Row: Ron Coote
Second-Row: Norm Provan
Lock: Johnny Raper
Interchange: Graeme Langlands, Daily Messenger, Bob Fulton, Frank Burge
Coach: Jack Gibson
1993: Nicky Winmar’s Stand
Today marks the 26th anniversary of one of the most iconic, significant and important moments in Australian football, sport and society.
It was on this day in 1993 when St Kilda travelled to Victoria Park to take on Collingwood.
The Saints having a big 22 point win over Collingwood at Vic Park wasn’t the story from this game.
The game itself saw Winmar along with fellow indigenous Saints player Gilbert McAdam be named best on the ground for St.Kilda.
After receiving a torrent of racially-motivated abuse from Collingwood supporters all day, Saint Nicky Winmar lifted his jumper, pointed at his chest and proclaimed to the crowd “I’m black and I’m proud to be black.”
The moment wasn’t captured by Channel 7 who covered the game on the day, but a lone photographer from The Sunday Age – Wayne Ludbey who took the snap and quickly rushed off to back to the newsroom and informed journalist, Nick Place about exactly what had transpired.
After pressuring the editors of the paper, the story made the front page but as a side column and it was not until the weeks that followed that the aftermath of Winmar’s stand was felt around the country.
The aftermath of the story saw Winmar walk out of St.Kilda for a number of weeks – what the club called a “contract dispute”, then Collingwood president Alan McAlister declare that the Pies were not a racist club “… as long as they conduct themselves like white people, well, off the field, everyone will admire and respect them”.
Two years later the AFL became one of the first sports in the world to implement a code of conduct on racism.
The Winmar jumper lift is still celebrated as a significant and important moment but 26 years later, it seems like there is plenty of work still to be done.