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!
2012 – Kobe 30,000
In the LA Lakers 103-87 victory over the Hornets in New Oreleans Kobe Bryant scored 29 points which made him only the firth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points.
Bryant went into the game needed only 13 points to reach the milestone and did so with a short jumper late in the first half.
He was aged 34 at the time, which made him the youngest to achieve the milestone.
Kobe Bryant joined an exclusive club with the likes of Wilt Chamberlin – who was 35 when he hit the mark, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone were both 36 and Michael Jordan reached it at age 38.
1988 – Hat-Trick for Merv
Merv Hughes completed a significant and rare hat-trick in the Perth Test back in 1988 when the West Indies took on Australia.
It was back on the 3rd of December when Hughes got Curtly Ambrose caught behind on the last ball of the 36th over.
Hughes woud then remove Patrick Patterson with the 1st ball of his next over as the Windies innings came to an end.
Merv had taken two wickets in two balls and was on a hat-trick but would have to wait two days to complete it.
When the West Indies 2nd innings began on December 5th, Hughes would remove Gordon Greenidge off the first ball LBW and would compete a hat-trick.
The drawn-out nature of how it took place may have seen big Merv not aware of his significant achievement.