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Cricket archives revived on ABC2

Submitted by rickeyre on January 18, 2006 - 6:36am

These have been happening for a couple of months now, and I feel remiss for not mentioning it earlier, but the ABC's digital TV channel ABC2 has been reviving old cricket footage in their late evening timeslot.

"Late Night Legends", which begins around 10.45pm each night, features footage of old, allegedly classic, sporting telecasts from the ABC archives, which date back to 1957. In addition to cricket they have shown rugby union and motor racing (though the nostalgic value in watching again a touring car championship race from Oran Park in the late 1970s is beyond me).

Tonight, ABC2 is showing highlights from the first three "tests" in the 1971-72 series between Australia and the World XI. This will include Dennis Lillee's 8/29 at the WACA and Garry Sobers' 254 not out at the MCG. Tomorrow night (Wednesday) they will have highlights from the fourth and fifth matches in that series. These programs will be repeated on Saturday and Sunday nights January 21 and 22 respectively.

On Friday January 20 they are showing highlights of the first two Tests from the 1965-66 Ashes (this was first screened last night, I missed it too).

More program details on the ABC website's Late Night Legends page.

ABC2 is available on free-to-air digital throughout Australia on channel 21 (which is how I watch it), and also through most of the pay-TV carriers in this country (Foxtel, Austar, Optus, Neighbourhood Cable, TransACT).

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