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 on the Ladbrokes Blog.
So if it’s AFL, NRL, Basketball, Cricket, Golf or even Wrestling, be sure to return each morning as we take a trip back through the history books to relive some of the great and important sporting moments in This Day In Sport!
2004 – Glenn McGrath’s Half-Century
At age 34 and in his 102nd Test match, Glenn McGrath claimed his first-ever Test half-century against New Zealand in the first Test at the Gabba on this day in 2004.
Despite being one of Australian Cricket’s greatest ever wicket-tickers, McGrath’s reputation at the bat was known as him being a bit of a bunny at number 11.
McGrath rubbed salt into the Kiwi wounds, along with his partner Jason Gillespie with an unbroken 93-run 10th wicket partnership lasting almost two hours – increasing Australia’s lead to 211 runs.
It was McGrath’s cameo at the bat that was the talk of the first Test, with an unbeaten 54 off 66 balls beating his previous best score of 39 against the West Indies in 1999.
Glenn McGrath even hit a Test six coming off Kiwi spinner Daniel Vettori.
His batting partner, Jason Gillespie was only five runs off his highest Test score at stumps with 43 as Australia would bat on at 9/564 off 147 overs, occupying the crest for a solid 10+ hours.
Speaking to the media after the days play, McGrath was more than delighted with his efforts at the bat
“It’s probably nearly better (than a major haul of wickets),” he said. “When I hit that one and then I realised it was going for four it was a pretty good feeling.
“The next thing is to get Dizzy (Gillespie) to his 50, I’ve got to get to him to 50 tomorrow.”
Gillespie would go for 54 not out with Chris Martin bowling McGrath out for 64 the next day.
Australia would go on to win the test by an innings and 156 runs.
1971 – FA Cup 9 Goal Haul
Bournemouth’s Ted MacDougall scored a record 9 goals in their 11-0 thrashing of Margate in the first round of the FA Cup.
MacDougall scored five in the first half and another four after the break.
It remains the largest haul of goals scored in the proper FA Cup rounds to this day.
However, Chris Marron of South Shield and Paul Jackson of Stocksbridge Park Steels have also scored ten goals in the qualifying rounds but MacDougall’s record still stands.
While the 9 goal haul is not on YouTube, he did score this amazing flying header against Aston Villa in a 3rd division which was broadcast by BBC Match of the Day at the time.
MacDougall would become hot property amongst the top-flight English clubs after his services that summer.