WEEK AHEAD: Cricket fans haven’t long to wait as the T20 World Cup gets underway on Sunday, capping off a week which includes both international and club football.
The second round of international football fixtures kick-off on Monday, with Wales travelling to Estonia in what looks a crucial match for their qualification hopes.
It’s a similar schedule on Tuesday with NFL in the early morning as the Indianapolis Colts facing off with the Baltimore Ravens. Then there are three Home Nations qualifiers, with Northern Ireland travelling to Bulgaria for a must win match, while Scotland should be virtually assured of three points when they face the Faroe Islands. Both matches are live on Sky Sports at 19:45. England are unbeaten in nine World Cup and Euro qualifiers and dished out a four-goal beating to Tuesday’s opponents Hungary when the sides met at the beginning of September, so Gareth Southgate’s side will be confident of maintaining their run. Catch the match live from 19:45 on ITV.
Wednesday brings a rare mid-week lull before the action heats up as we head towards the weekend.
On Thursday action from the European and PGA Tours continues. From Southern Spain, the Andalusia Masters begins, with day one live on Sky Sports from 10:00. There’s golf throughout the day as just with the sun setting in Spain, the CJ Cup from Las Vegas, Nevada begins at 20:00, also on Sky Sports.
Early on Friday morning last season’s Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers are pitted against the Philadelphia Eagles. Later that evening there will be more flying tackles at 19:00 on BT Sport when Sale Sharks are in action against Harlequins.
On Saturday, in the first televised game, Liverpool are away to Watford in the first game of new Hornet’s manager Claudio Ranieri’s tenure. Catch the game live on BT Sport from 12:30 and stick around on BT Sport afterwards to see another team in black and yellow, Wasps, as they take on Exeter Chiefs at 14:30.
Later in the day there’s a new West London derby to look forward to as Brentford take on Chelsea at 17:30 on Sky Sports. At 19:00 on Sky Sports there is a big fight live from the Ultima Arena, Newcastle, where Tyson Fury’s cousin, Hughie Fury takes on Romanian Christian Hammer in a 12-round heavyweight bout.
The action comes thick and fast on Sunday, beginning with the final round of the Andalusia Masters at 10:00. Everton v West Ham (14:00, Sky Sports) has a close look to it, as does Bath v Saracens (14:00, BT Sport).
Sunday is also is the first day of the T20 Cricket World Cup from Oman and the UAE. Scotland are in action against Bangladesh in the initial group stage, with the action live from 15:00 on Sky Sports. It’s a match that should whet the appetite of cricket fans before the tournament gets into full swing next week.
The new Saudi Arabian owners of Newcastle United will be hoping to hit the ground running when they face Spurs in a 16:30 kick-off at St James Park. Another fine sporting week draws to a close with the conclusion of the CJ Cup from the US.
