England kicked off their World Cup campaign on Monday night and fans all over the country tuned in to BBC1 to watch the Lions take on Tunisia. Harry Kane’s extra time winner sent supporters into a frenzy and an eye-watering 18.3 million people were sat, stood and squished around screens. It now means that the match is the most viewed programme of 2018 beating the Royal Wedding which gained 13.1 million views. As well as millions of televised viewings, the game was also streamed 3 million times making it the BBC’s most viewed live event on record.
✅ 18.3 million on @BBCOne
✅ 3 million online streams
✅ More viewers than the royal wedding
✅ England winThanks for joining us last night 👍#bbcworldcup pic.twitter.com/4btmtDL46G
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 19, 2018
Both men and women’s cricket teams have enjoyed a successful week in their respective T20 campaigns. England women crushed the T20I record as they smashed 250 past South Africa, breaking the record previously set that morning by New Zealand. The men’s team secured a fourth consecutive win over Australia in their T20 ODI test series, beating the Aussies by six wickets.
WORLD RECORD 🙌🏽🎉
We have hit 250/3 – the highest score ever in a women's T20 international!
WATCH ➡️ https://t.co/cVcAN98J8l pic.twitter.com/kkNJFoYxii
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 20, 2018
During a World Cup campaign where fans around the world are praying that their players will stay fit and uninjured, it came as a surprise for English fans to learn that the manager, Gareth Southgate had dislocated his shoulder. The 47 year old suffered the injury during a jog on a scheduled day off. He was quick to thank the medical team for their help and joked that it was better for the injury to happen to him than one of his players.
BREAKING: @England boss Gareth Southgate has dislocated his right shoulder while out running today. #SSN pic.twitter.com/rofWjm3Bqg
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) June 20, 2018
Danny Cipriani has been selected for England for the first time since 2008. The fly-half will replace George Ford in the final test of the series in South Africa. England are heading to Cape Town with the daunting task of being 0-2 down with the series lost already.
🏴 📸
Good Luck tomorrow @DannyCipriani87 #EnglandsNumber10 pic.twitter.com/E5pAG50paL
— Gloucester Rugby 🍒 (@gloucesterrugby) June 22, 2018
Andy Murray walked out onto court for the first time in 11 months after struggling with a hip injury. The Scot has won the tournament a record five times and despite losing to Kyrgios 6-1, 5-7, 5-7, acknowledged that the game was a great indicator of where he was physically and about the standard of his current game.
What a great match. Drama to the end, thrilling rallies throughout.
It was just nice to see you playing again, @andy_murray.
Well played, @NickKyrgios. See you in the next round! #QueensTennis https://t.co/JvKDefDAWE
— cinch Championships (@QueensTennis) June 19, 2018