LIVE SPORT ON TV FEBRUARY 15th to 19th
Thursday
Cricket
India v England – 3rd Test Match – Rajkot – TNT Sports 1 – 04.00
First day of the third Test match with the series tied at 1-1. Epic innings from Ollie Pope for England in the first Test and Yashasvi Jaiswal for India in the second were the decisive factors, helped by bowlers Tom Hartley and Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling in the respective wins. England are going into the third Test with two fast bowlers for the first time in the series, James Anderson and Mark Wood. They’ve dropped off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, relying on Joe Root to be the third spinner along with Hartley and Rehan Ahmed. Virat Kohli is now set to miss the whole series, a major blow to India. KL Rahul is also missing and with Shreyas Iyer dropped, India will have a very inexperienced middle order with newcomer Sarfraz Khan and Rajat Patidar, but are strengthened by the return of Ravi Jadeja. Test matches involving Brendan McCallum and Ben Stokes’s England are now always exciting affairs and this one promises more of the same. If English batters can cope with Bumrah better than they did in the second Test (and Johnny Bairstow could do with some runs), then they have a great chance of winning here once they expose India’s inexperienced middle order. This is the best chance in a long time that England have of winning a series in India to go with their series win in Pakistan last year.
Friday
Cricket
India v England – 3rd Test Match – Day 2 – Rajkot – TNT Sports 1 – 04.00
England certainly had their chances to take charge of his match, having India 33 for 3 at one point and then dropping Rohit on 27. Both he and Ravi Jadeja made centuries, leaving them on 326 for 5. So India’s day after winning the toss, despite a heroic effort from Mark Wood. Jadeja is still there and England need quick wickets in the first session to try to keep the score at under 400. It looks like a good batting pitch, but may seem anything but when Jasprit Bumrah comes on to bowl. Tomorrow is the key day and England need to be close to India’s score and the close of play, otherwise India win.
Saturday
Cricket
India v England – 3rd Test Match – Day 3 – Rajkot – TNT Sports 2 – 04.00
So India did make over 400, but England have set off like an express train with Ben Duckett scoring a brilliant 88-ball century. He is still there on 133 when play begins on day three with Joe Root on 9 not out. Root owes England a few runs after dropping Rohit, albeit a difficult chance. But England have scored at nearly 6 an over so if they can keep that up, they will have the lead at the end of day three. However things are never as straightforward as that. If England can keep the momentum going, then they will be in the driving seat with a lead at the end of the day, perhaps helped by Ravi Ashwin’s unexpected absence. Whatever happens, another intriguing day in an intriguing series.
Football
Premier League
Brentford v Liverpool – TNT Sports 1 – 12.30
Liverpool can extend their lead at the top of the Premier League for a couple of hours before Man City play later in the day. Jurgen Klopp will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai, but Mo Salah could be back after his injury in the Africa Cup of Nations. Brentford are in for a tough couple of weeks as they have to play Man City away on Tuesday night after losing to them at home last at the start of the month. Brentford had a good win against Wolves last weekend and Ivan Toney is showing what they missed in the first half of the season. However they will find Liverpool, unbeaten in January, a different prospect with Diego Jota, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz all in good form. A hard fought game with Liverpool to win 3-1.
Manchester City v Chelsea – Sky Sports Premier League – 17.30
Man City now seem to be on a roll with both Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland back, Jack Grealish got his chance to regain his place on Tuesday night in a Champions League game against FC Copenhagen, but only lasted a short while before he was injured. Chelsea won a scrappy game with two goals from Conor Gallagher against Crystal Palace on Monday, a result that probably sealed Roy Hodgson’s fate. They will be without Thiago Silva and it is very difficult to see how they can contain a rampant City side. The Sky Blues to win with ease.
Sunday
Cricket
India v England – 3rd Test Match – Day 4 – Rajkot – TNT Sports 1 – 04.00
Well England blew it on day three and now it is only a question of when India win the third Test match and go 2-1 up in the series. India currently have a lead of 322, so expect a declaration mid-afternoon when they will have a lead of around 500. I don’t think even a Bazball England side will get 500 in a fourth innings on a turning pitch in India.
Football
Premier League
Sheffield Utd v Brighton – Sky Sports Premier League – 14.00
Sheffield Utd had a great win last week away to fellow strugglers Luton, but three weeks ago lost at home to Brighton 2-5 in the FA Cup. A win or draw would take Sheffield Utd off the bottom on the table. but Brighton, despite their erratic form this season, should be too powerful as was proved in the cup. Joao Pedro scored a hat-trick that day and Brighton have Kaoru Mitoma and Tariq Lamptey back. A win for The Seagulls.
Luton v Man Utd – Sky Sports Premier League – 16.30
If it wasn’t for Everton’s 10 point deduction. Luton would be in the relegation zone. They lost at home last weekend to bottom club Sheffield Utd and though Ross Barkley has been in fine form in midfield, Man Utd should win this one. The Reds have won their last three games and with Rasmus Hojlund now scoring will make it four league wins in a row.
Monday
Football
Premier League
Everton v Crystal Palace – Sky Sports Premier League – 20.00
Roy Hodgson’s deputies, Paddy McCarthy and Ray Lewington, will take charge of Crystal Palace tonight against Everton in a must-win relegation six pointer. It will probably be the last thing they do as they will probably be gone along with Hodgson later in the week as he is replaced by Oliver Glasner. Sean Dyche’s position at Everton is pretty precarious too, though their position is not helped by their 10 point deduction. They would be 12th without that penalty and may well be by the end of the week with a final decision on the deduction due. Everton to make home advantage count and move out of the relegation zone.
