South Africa v Australia: First Test Begins in Durban
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South Africa and Australia have begun their first men's cricket Test match in Durban.
The match is being held at the famous Kingsmead Cricket Ground.
Today marks day one of the multi-day Test, which can last up to five days.
The weather in Durban has been hot, with a forecast high of 27C.
However, there has also been a chance of some rain during the day.
Weather can affect how a cricket match is played, especially the pitch conditions.
The pitch is the strip of ground where the bowling and batting take place.
Fans around the world have been following the action through live updates.
These updates are written by journalists who report on the match as it happens.
Readers can also sign up for a cricket newsletter called The Spin, run by the Guardian.
The newsletter gives fans regular news and opinion about cricket from around the world.
Readers have also been invited to contact the live coverage team by email with their thoughts.
This match is an important early contest between two strong cricket nations.
More details about the score and events of the day are expected as play continues.
Vocabulary9 words
- cricket Test
- a long, important cricket match between two countries
- Kingsmead Cricket Ground
- a well-known cricket field in South Africa
- pitch
- the strip of ground where players bowl and bat
- live updates
- news reports given while an event is happening
- journalists
- people whose job is writing or reporting news
- newsletter
- a regular email that shares news on a topic
- forecast
- a prediction of what the weather will be
- contest
- a competition between two or more sides
- coverage
- the reporting of an event by news media
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A Test match 2. Hot, with a possible chance of rain 3. A cricket newsletter called The Spin
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
South Africa and Australia have begun their first men's cricket _____ match in Durban.
The match is being held at the famous _____ Cricket Ground.
Today marks day one of the multi-day Test, which can last up to five _____.
The weather in Durban has been hot, with a _____ high of 27C.
However, there has also been a chance of some _____ during the day.
Weather can affect how a cricket match is played, especially the _____ conditions.
Fans around the world have been following the action through live _____.
These updates are written by _____ who report on the match as it happens.
Readers can also sign up for a cricket _____ called The Spin.
Readers have also been invited to contact the live coverage team by _____.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think weather is important in cricket matches?
- Have you ever followed a live sports update online? What was it like?
- Do you think newsletters are a good way to follow sports news? Why or why not?
- What makes a Test match different from shorter cricket formats, in your opinion?
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