2004: The Year In Sport ( Credit: Fairfax )

Profiles

Sports Entertainment Events

JANUARY
2-6: Cricket: 4th Test, Australia v India, SCG
3-10: Tennis: Hopman Cup, Perth
4-10: Tennis: Women's Hardcourt, Royal Pines Queensland
5-11: Tennis: AAPT Championships, Adelaide
9: Cricket: VB Series, Australia v India, MCG
9-12: Cricket: Pura Cup, NSW Blues v Victorian Bushrangers, Newcastle
11: Cricket: VB Series, Australia v Zimbabwe, SCG
11-17: Tennis: adidas International, Sydney International Tennis Centre. Women's Classic, Canberra. Tasmanian International, women, Hobart
14: Cricket: VB Series, India v Zimbabwe, Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Soccer: Oceania Olympic qualifier, Australia v Samoa, Sydney
14-17: Tennis: Kooyong Classic, Melbourne
16: Cricket: VB Series, Australia v Zimbabwe, Bellerive Oval, Hobart
16: Soccer: Oceania Olympic qualifier, Australia v Papua New Guinea, Sydney
17: Cricket: ING Cup, NSW Blues v Queensland Bulls, Telstra Stadium
18: Cricket: VB Series, Australia v India, Gabba
19-February 1: Tennis: Australian Open, Melbourne Park
20: Cricket: VB Series, India v Zimbabwe, Gabba
Soccer: Oceania Olympic qualifier, Australia v Solomon Islands, Sydney
21: Rugby league: World Sevens qualifying tournament, Sydney
21: Cricket: ING Cup, Western Warriors v NSW Blues, WACA Ground, Perth
Basketball: WNBL grand final, TBA
22: Cricket: VB Series, Australia v India, SCG
Soccer: Oceania Olympic qualifier, Australia v Fiji, Sydney
23-26: Cricket: Pura Cup, Western Warriors v NSW Blues, WACA Ground, Perth
24 & 25: Rugby league: World Sevens, Sydney
24: Cricket: VB Series, India v Zimbabwe, Adelaide Oval
26: Cricket: VB Series, Australia v Zimbabwe, Adelaide Oval
26: Soccer: Oceania Olympic qualifying final, first leg
29: Cricket: VB Series, Australia v Zimbabwe, MCG
30: Cricket: ING Cup, Queensland Bulls v NSW Blues, Gabba
Soccer: Oceania Olympic qualifying final, second leg
31: Cricket: Women's National League, first final, TBA

FEBRUARY
1: American football: Super Bowl, Houston, Texas
Cricket: VB Series, Australia v India, WACA Ground, Perth.
Cricket: Women's National League, second final, TBA
1-4: Cricket: Pura Cup, Queensland Bulls v NSW Blues, Gabba
2: Cricket: Women's National League, third final
3: Cricket: VB Series, India v Zimbabwe, WACA Ground, Perth
5-8: Golf: Heineken Classic, Melbourne
6: Cricket: VB Series: first final, MCG
6-8: Tennis: Davis Cup, Australia v Sweden, Adelaide
7: Boxing: Kostya Tszyu v Sharmba Mitchell, undisputed world super-lightweight title fight, Moscow
8: Cricket: VB Series: second final, SCG
10: Cricket: VB Series: third final (if required), Gabba
12: Athletics: Telstra A series, Melbourne
12-15: Golf: ANZ Championship, Port Stephens
13: Rugby league: World Club Challenge, Bradford v Penrith, Huddersfield, England
15: Cricket: ING Cup, NSW Blues v South Australia Redbacks, Drummoyne Oval, Sydney
17-20: Cricket: Pura Cup, NSW Blues v SA Redbacks, SCG
20: Rugby union: Super 12: Highlanders v Reds, Invercargill
Australian football: AFL Wizard Cup pre-season competition starts
21: Rugby union: Super 12: Crusaders v Waratahs, Christchurch. Brumbies v Blues, Canberra
Cricket: Australia v New Zealand (women), Rose Bowl, Bankstown Oval, Sydney
22: Cricket: ING Cup, NSW Blues v Tasmanian Tigers, SCG
25: Cricket: Australia v New Zealand (women), Rose Bowl, Albert Ground, Melbourne
26-29: Athletics: Telstra A series and Olympic Games trials, Sydney
27: Rugby union: Super 12: Brumbies v Cats, Canberra
Cricket: Australia v New Zealand (women), Rose Bowl, Bellerive Oval, Hobart
28: Rugby union: Super 12: Waratahs v Sharks, Sydney. Reds v Chiefs, Brisbane

MARCH
4 -7: Golf: Women's Australian Open, Concord, Sydney
4-7: Cricket: Pura Cup, NSW Blues v Queensland Bulls, SCG
4-7: Motor sport: Australian F1 Grand Prix, Melbourne
5: Rugby union: Super 12: Waratahs v Cats, Sydney
5-7: Athletics: IAAF world indoor championships, Budapest, Hungary
6: Rugby union: Super 12: Brumbies v Sharks, Canberra. Reds v Crusaders, Brisbane.
Horse racing: Chipping Norton Stakes, Warwick Farm
6-7: Soccer: FA Cup quarter-finals, England
8-12: Cricket: Sri Lanka v Australia, 1st Test, Galle
12: Rugby League: NRL season starts
12-16: Cricket: Pura Cup final
13: Rugby union: Super 12: Reds v Blues, Brisbane. Bulls v Brumbies, Pretoria. Stormers v Waratahs, Cape Town
AFL: Wizard Cup grand final, TBA
Horse racing: Canterbury Guineas, Canterbury
15-28: Hockey: Women's Olympic qualifying tournament, Auckland, New Zealand
16-20: Cricket: Sri Lanka v Australia, 2nd Test, Kandy
19: Rugby union: Super 12: Bulls v Waratahs, Pretoria.
20: Rugby union: Super 12: Stormers v Brumbies, Cape Town
Horse racing: Coolmore Classic, Ranvet Stakes, Rosehill
21: Motor sport: V8 Supercars, Adelaide
22-28: Golf: Nabisco Championship, Rancho Mirage, California
24-28: Cricket: Sri Lanka v Australia, 3rd Test, Colombo
26: Australian football: AFL season starts
27: Rugby union: Super 12: Chiefs v Waratahs, Hamilton
27-April 3: Swimming: Australian swimming championships and Olympic Games selection trials, Homebush Bay
27: Horse Racing: Dubai World Cup, Nad al Sheba Racecourse, Dubai
28: Rugby union: Super 12: Brumbies v Reds, Canberra
Motorcycling: World Superbikes, Phillip Island

APRIL
3: Rugby union: Super 12: Crusaders v Brumbies, Christchurch. Hurricanes v Reds, Wellington
Horse Racing: Golden Slipper, BMW Classic, Arrowfield Stakes, George Ryder Stakes, Rosehill
4: Rugby union: Super 12: Blues v Waratahs, Auckland
Motor sport: V8 Supercars, Eastern Creek
8-11: Golf: US Masters, Augusta National, Georgia
9: Rugby union: Super 12: Brumbies v Highlanders, Canberra
9-11: Tennis: Davis Cup quarter-finals, TBA
9-12: Athletics: Australian athletics championships, Melbourne
10: Rugby union: Super 12: Reds v Stormers, Brisbane
Horse racing: AJC Australian Derby, AJC Sires' Produce Stakes, Randwick
12: Horse racing: Doncaster Handicap, Randwick
14: Horse racing: AJC Oaks, The Galaxy, Randwick
16: Rugby union: Super 12: Reds v Bulls, Brisbane
17: Rugby union: Super 12: Waratahs v Hurricanes, Sydney
Horse racing: Sydney Cup, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Champagne Stakes, All Aged Stakes, Randwick
18: Athletics: London marathon, London
23: Rugby league: Australia v New Zealand, Brisbane
24: Rugby union: Super 12: Waratahs v Brumbies, Sydney. Sharks v Reds, Durban
25: Netball: National league season starts
27-May 2: Cycling: national track championships, Sydney

MAY
1: Rugby union: Super 12: Waratahs v Highlanders, Sydney. Brumbies v Hurricanes, Canberra. Cats v Reds, Bloemfontein
2: Motor sport: V8 Supercars, New Zealand
7: Triathlon: world championships, Madeira, Portugal
7: Rugby league: City Origin v Country Origin
8: Rugby union: Super 12: Chiefs v Brumbies, Hamilton. Reds v Waratahs, Brisbane
15: Rugby union: Super 12: semi-finals
17: Horse racing: Adelaide Cup, South Australian Oaks
19: Soccer: UEFA Cup Final, Gothenburg, Sweden
22: Rugby union: Super 12: final
Soccer: FA Cup final, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
22-26: Cricket: Zimbabwe v Australia, 1st Test, Harare
23: Motor sport: V8 Supercars, Darwin
24-6 June: Tennis: French Open, Roland Garros, Paris
26: Soccer: Champions League final, Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Rugby league: State of Origin I, Telstra Stadium, Sydney
26-30: Cycling: world track championships, Melbourne
29-June 2: Cricket: Zimbabwe v Australia, 2nd Test, Bulawayo

JUNE
12-4 July: Soccer: Euro 2004, Portugal
10-13: Golf: LPGA Championship, DuPont Country Club, Wilmington, Delaware
13: Motor sport: V8 Supercars, Perth
16: Rugby league: State of Origin II, Brisbane
17-20: Golf: US Open, Shinnecock Hills, Southampton, New York
21-July 4: Tennis: Wimbledon, London

JULY
1: Golf: US Women's Open, The Orchards, South Hadley, Massachusetts
1-5: Cricket: Australia v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Darwin
3-13: Swimming: FINA world championships, Ricionne, Italy
3-25: Cycling: 91st Tour de France, France
7: Rugby league: State of Origin III, Telstra Stadium, Sydney
9-13: Cricket: Australia v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Cairns
15-18: Golf: 133rd British Open Championship, Royal Troon Golf Club, Scotland
17: Rugby union: Tri Nations: Australia v New Zealand, Wellington
24: Rugby union: Tri Nations: New Zealand v South Africa, Christchurch
29-August 1: Golf: Women's British Open, Sunningdale
31: Rugby union: Tri Nations: Australia v South Africa, Subiaco Oval, Perth

AUGUST
5-8: Squash: Australian Open, TBA
7: Rugby union: Tri Nations: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney
13-29: Olympic Games: Athens, Greece
12-15: Golf: 86th US PGA Championship, Whistling Straits, Kohler, Wisconsin
30-September 12: Tennis: US Open Championships, Flushing Meadows, New York
14: Rugby union: Tri Nations: South Africa v New Zealand, Johannesburg
15: Motor sport: V8 Supercars, Sydney
21: Rugby union: Tri Nations: South Africa v Australia, Durban

SEPTEMBER
11: Horse racing: Manikato Stakes, Moonee Valley
12: Motor sport: V8 Supercars, Sandown
8-25: Cricket: ICC Champions Trophy, England
17-19: Golf: Ryder Cup, Oakland Hills, Michigan, US
17-28: Paralympic Games: Athens, Greece
18: Horse racing: Underwood Stakes, Dubai Racing Club Cup, Caulfield
24-26: Tennis: Davis Cup semi-finals, TBA
25: Australian football: AFL grand final
Horse racing: George Main Stakes, Randwick
25-October 4: Cycling: world road championships, Lake Garda and Verona, Italy
Sept/Oct: Cricket: India v Australia Test series, TBC

OCTOBER
1-3: Golf: WGC-American Express Championship, Mount Juliet
2: Horse racing: Epsom Handicap, The Metropolitan, Champion Stakes, Lexus Flight Stakes, Randwick
3: Athletics: world half-marathon championships, New Delhi
Rugby league: NRL grand final, Homebush Bay
7-10: Motor sport: Bathurst 1000, Bathurst
9: Horse racing: Caulfield Guineas, Yalumba Stakes, Toorak Handicap, Caulfield
13: Horse racing: Thousand Guineas, Caulfield
16: Horse racing: Caulfield Cup
17: Motorcycling: Australian Grand Prix, Phillip Island
Rugby league: Tri Series: Australia v New Zealand, England
22: Rugby league: Tri Series: Australia v New Zealand, England
23: Horse racing: W.S.Cox Plate, Moonee Valley
24: Motor sport: Champ Cars and V8 Supercars, Surfers Paradise
26: Rugby league: Tri Series: Great Britain v Australia, England
30: Horse racing: Victoria Derby, Mackinnon Stakes, Salinger Stakes, Flemington
31: Rugby league: Tri Series: Great Britain v New Zealand, England

NOVEMBER
2: Horse racing: Melbourne Cup, Flemington
4: Horse racing: Oaks Day, Flemington
6: Horse racing: Emirates Stakes, Flemington
Rugby league: Tri Series: Great Britain v Australia, England
15-21: Tennis: Masters Cup, Houston, Texas
25-28: Golf: Australian Open, The Australian, Sydney
Nov: Cricket: Australia v West Indies Test series, TBC

DECEMBER
3-5: Tennis: Davis Cup final, TBA
5: Motor sport: V8 Supercars, Eastern Creek
6-20: Hockey: 12th Women's Champions Trophy, Rosario, Argentina
11-14: Golf: Australian PGA Championship, Hyatt Regency, Coolum, Queensland
12: Athletics: European cross-country championships, TBA
26: Yachting: Sydney-Hobart
Dec: Cricket: Australia v Pakistan Test series, TBC