But that’s also true for rugby-lovers, with the oval ball’s showpiece tournament now just a matter of months away, in 2011.

To whet a few appetites, this month Classic recalls previous competitions’ greatest matches – including several from South Africa’s glory year of 1995.

It’s a sadly rare opportunity to see the likes of Barry Richards, Dennis Lillee and Malcolm Marshall at their brilliant best, with even rarer archive footage of W.G. Grace and Frank Worrell adding a further dash of spice.

A must-see season for cricket fans.

Sometimes, as the law of averages would suggest, these games promise more than they deliver, but, just occasionally, an instant classic is created.

It’s those matches which ESPN re-plays this month, including 1998’s all-action encounter between the Blue Bulls and Western Province.

with two different high-scoring matches featuring every week-night – before and after the cricket - this February.

Featured games, occasionally from rather unlikely teams, include Norwich’s ridiculously entertaining match with Middlesbrough from 2005, 
existing happily alongside the likes of Manchester United v Arsenal.

One of world cricket’s few genuine superstars was at his brilliant best for England during the summer of 2007 against the West Indies, and that spectacular series is recalled, in detail, on Classic, this month.

The Reds were regularly captured in action by their local Granada TV franchise, and a full eight programmes of the team’s most memorable moments has been compiled from that original footage.

See soccer at its best, this month.

and, to celebrate, Classic shows again the three most action-packed compilations available of the star in his prime.

Enjoy again the sight of a sporting superstar in his pomp, as ESPN’s top American boxing experts offer viewers a ‘Ringside’ view.

In fact, Rossi has only been riding the motor-cycle racing world’s mega-bikes since 2000, but has already racked up dozens of memorable performances.

Classic remembers his ten best, this month; from Donington in 2000 to Assen in ’07.

ESPN Classic revs up for this month’s real-life Premier League clash by re-living this great fixture’s glory games of the past. 1988’s from Anfield, in particular – early during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign – is worth watching; featuring a feast of goals, from some legendary players.

This March offers a fascinating opportunity to compare and contrast; with the traditional Winter Games having taken place only last month.

Classic offers nightly highlights, for a full fortnight, during the month’s opening two weeks.

Fifteen-a-side fans under 30 will find it hard to believe that rugby union failed even to organize its own World Cup tournament, prior to 1987.

Union has certainly made up for lost time during the years since, though; broadcasting to the planet some of the world’s most spectacular sporting action.

The RWC’s latter tournaments receive a repeat run, this month; through 1999’s ‘clash of the giants’ between South Africa, New Zealand and Australia through England’s miraculous 2003 triumph to ‘07’s ‘battle of the big-hitters’.

The blue-riband division’s best-ever fighters each receive a revealing hour’s profile; including Max Schmeling, Primo Carnera and Ingemar Johansson.

And it’s interesting to recall just how many of these all-time-greats originated from a European rather than American background...

That glorious era of the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s is recalled with affection, this month, as Classic broadcasts full highlights of these great games.

Like AC Milan versus Leeds United in 1973, and the same club – but post-Berlusconi – against Steaua Bucharest in ’89.

Perhaps this was era during which ace fast-bowler Allan ‘White Lightning’ Donald was at his brilliant best, and he caused umpteen world-class batsmen pain during a spectacular reign of terror here, which included victims from Australia, the West Indies and England.