Phoenix midfielder Matthew Ridenton and the Wellington A-League side take on the Reds in Adelaide on Boxing Day. Photo / Getty Images
Phoenix midfielder Matthew Ridenton and the Wellington A-League side take on the Reds in Adelaide on Boxing Day. Photo / Getty Images
Cricket plus top-class football and racing will keep us entertained over the holiday break.
The leftover ham and turkey sandwiches will have good company after Christmas Day when the summer of sport kicks straight back into gear. We check out some of the action.
Boxing Day one-dayer
Sri Lanka have been the busiest one-day side in world cricket this year, and sit one place below fourth-ranked New Zealand. After the explosive 2015 World Cup campaign, New Zealand will be expected to win the opening one-dayer at Hagley Park in Christchurch but under-powered Sri Lanka are not to be under-estimated as the Hamilton test showed.
The Black Caps have a busy summer programme at home against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia, culminating with two February tests against the Aussies.
Wellington Phoenix
Phoenix midfielder Matthew Ridenton and the Wellington A-League side take on the Reds in Adelaide on Boxing Day. Photo / Getty Images
The A-League side will rise for a Boxing Day battle in Adelaide, after a disappointing last-gasp draw at home to Sydney FC last weekend.
Even opposing coach Graham Arnold sympathised with Ernie Merrick's men, who struck oppressive Cairns heat in the previous round. The sixth-placed Phoenix need to make a move. It has been a tough season for Adelaide but they have secured an encouraging seven points from their last three games.
Two Roly Bonevacia goals, one a spectacular long-range effort, helped the Phoenix to a 4-2 win when these teams met last month.
Boxing Day test
West Indies Jerome Taylor fails to field off his own bowling against New Zealand in the second one day international cricket match. Photo / NZPA
The Australian cricket tradition may have struck a dud this time, with the West Indies living down to expectations on their tour so far.
The tourists were smashed in the first test at Hobart and have been mainly starved of match action during a big break before the second test in Melbourne.
The attitude of some West Indian players has been slammed - bowler Jerome Taylor missed a catch during a game at Geelong because he was leaning on a fence with his back to the game. The MCG pitch is predicted to be flat. Expect a runs-fest, especially from Australia.
The New Zealand Herald Boxing Day Races
The Zabeel Classic, featuring last year's winner Soriano, will be a highlight of the Boxing Day races at Ellerslie on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images
More than 150 years of tradition continues at Ellerslie - the Group 1 weight-for-age Zabeel Classic is the racing highlight, there are the sights and sounds of summer in the infield and the Fashions in the Field takes place near the entrance way.
Meanwhile, the Auckland Trotting Cup at Alexandra Park reverts to its traditional date of New Year's Eve (daytime), having been tried during March over the past few years.
English Premier League
Watford's Odion Ighalo, right, scores his side's third goal past Liverpool's goalkeeper Adam Bogdan during the English Premier League. Photo / AP
For those lucky enough to be able to watch the English Premier League, take your pick. The league has a tradition of playing a full round of Boxing Day (English time) matches during a hectic make-or-break holiday programme, something that doesn't please everyone.
Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal told the Guardian: "There is no winter break and I think that is the most evil thing of this culture. It is not good for the clubs or the national team.
England haven't won anything for how many years? Because all the players are exhausted at the end of the season." Van Gaal needs to get his chin up. He is under enormous pressure after a run of defeats, and his side travel to take on Stoke's tight defence this weekend.
The highlight could be fairytale leaders Leicester City playing once-great Liverpool at Anfield. Leicester's highly-unlikely assault on the title could be a highlight of our sporting summer.
