🗞 Back-to-Back Cups

G’day Sports Fans,

Monday motivation: “The past doesn’t matter. Take today.” —Becky Sauerbrunn (US Soccer).

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🇦🇺 AUSSIE SPORTS NEWS
Test Summer, Jones to Japan, What a Horse.

🏏 Australia's selectors are unlikely to pull any surprises for the first Test of the home summer, against Pakistan on Thursday, but the conversation around who will replace David Warner once he retires continues to bubble away. Head coach Andrew McDonaldonce again hinted that they could lean towards picking the best six batters in a reshaped order rather than a specialist opener whenever a decision needs to be made.

Despite a lot of external noise around the potential debut of express pace bowler Lance Morris, the home side looks set to make only one change from the last Test XI they fielded in the fifth Ashes Test at the Oval with Nathan Lyon returning from injury in place of Todd Murphy.

Mitchell Marsh is set to remain at No. 6 while the big three quicks in Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins all looked in fine fettle at Australia's first training session since being crowned ODI World Cup champions in Ahmedabad three weeks ago.

🏉 Eddie Jones is set to be reappointed as the head coach of Japan’s national rugby team pending approval from the union’s board, local media reported Sunday, less than two months after he walked out on the Wallabies.

Jones repeatedly denied links with the Japan role, both during and after his time in charge of the Wallabies.

Overcoming an arduous travel and quarantine schedule, Romantic Warrior has done something unprecedented, taking out the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and the richest race in Hong Kong within the space of six weeks. 

Once again the Aussies are dominating the SVNS rugby series with both the men’s and women’s team reaching the cup finals in Cape Town. (now underway)

🐴 An Incredible training effort from Liam Howley and team saw the Sport Journal horse Station One win back to back cups. He was tough as teak in the final 400m taking out the Traralgon Cup just weeks after Dunkeld.

🐴 Romantic Warrior set a new standard for what a racehorse can achieve. The Hong Kong superstar was set a herculean task and he delivered, backing up his brilliant Cox Platevictory with another almighty display to capture the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.

It's one of the greatest doubles in world racing history. (racenet)

🏀 NBL Wrap: It was third versus fifth according to the NBL ladder when Sydney Kings met South East Melbourne Phoenix on Sunday. Mitch Creek and Alan ‘Sauce’ Williams (21 points, 15 rebounds) dominated, and their defence was inspired, the Phoenix ran out victors 104-94 in front of 13,097 stunned spectators.

Three minutes of Chris Goulding mayhem turned what was a close-fought contest into a blowout as ladder-leaders Melbourne United romped to a 103-68 win over Brisbane Bullets at John Cain Arena.

🥊 Aussie boxer Ebanie Bridges was stunned in a world title disaster that nobody saw coming. 

Bridges has lost her IBF Bantamweight world title via a unanimous judges’ decision after being pummelled by Japanese fighter Miyo Yoshida in San Francisco on Sunday morning. 

The Blonde Bomber’s second title defence turned into a nightmare with Yoshida controlling the fight and landing punches at will. 

Bridges was the short-priced favourite heading into the fight after Yoshida took the fight at short notice.

🥊 Aussie Liam Paro put the boxing world on notice after delivering a stunning win against Montana Love in San Francisco on Sunday (AEDT).

The 27-year-old Queenslander secured his career-best win after the referee was forced to step in and stop the fight.

Paro improved his professional record to 24-0 as he thrust himself into the upper echelon of the super lightweight division.

As the co-main event on the blockbuster Devin Haney vs Regis Prograis card, Paro stole the limelight as he stunned his rival with a blistering sixth round display.

🏏 Melbourne Renegades' Big Bash League clash with Perth Scorchers has been abandoned after 6.5 overs because of safety concerns over a water-damaged pitch.

Scorchers had reached 30 for 2 after 6.5 overs when umpires stopped play to inspect the pitch, with the fixture abandoned soon afterwards.

👊🏻 The UFC career of a shattered Shannon Ross now hangs in the balance after “Turkish Delight” suffered his third consecutive stoppage loss in Las Vegas. 

A bloodied Ross was beaten into defeat in the second round by Hyun Sung Park and the former mechanic is now winless in his past four fights. 

It was the start of a grim day for Australian MMA.

Jamie Mullarkey was later being knocked out by Nasrat Haqparast in the first round on the same card.

🏉 The Storm are reportedly close to signing rising star Sua Faalogo on a contract that could see him remain in Melbourne until the end of 2027.

The Daily Telegraph is reporting Faalogo’s management have held positive talks with Melbourne powerbrokers in recent weeks.

🏉 The Newcastle Knights have reportedly poached one of the best teenage centres in rugby league from the Penrith Panthers.

Wide World of Sports reported former Australia Schoolboy representative that Wilson De Courcey signed with the Knights for next season.

🇦🇺 Star Port Adelaide midfielder Connor Rozee has reportedly agreed to a bumper eight-year contract extension with the Power.

The supposed deal ties Rozee's footballing future to Alberton until 2032, and equals Western Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton's recent extension at Whitten Oval as the longest active agreement in the competition. Rozee is set to come out of contract at age 32.

Despite already having a locked-in deal for the 2024 season, AFL Media journalist Cal Twomey reports negotiations between Port and Rozee's camp 'have progressed' to the point that an announcement of a confirmed long-term agreement appears imminent.

🌎 WORLD SPORTS NEWS
City back on form, Wild MLB contract.

⚽️ Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he does not know long Erling Haaland will be out for with a foot injury [bruised].

The Norway striker had started all of City's league matches this season but was left out of their squad for the Premier League game at Luton Town.

⚽️ EPL Wrap:

• Luton 1-2 Man City - Adebayo gives Luton the lead, Silva and Grealish score to get City back on track.

• Fulham 5-0 West Ham - Goals for Jimenez, Willian, Adarabioyo and Wilson. Fulham scoring 5 twice in a week.

• Everton 2-0 Chelsea - Doucoure slams in Toffees opener to take them out of the relegation zone.

  

  🤣 Your nan thinks she’s Pep Guardiola

⚾️ Baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani has joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in the biggest deal in the sport's history.

The US$700m 10-year contract [average of $432,098 a game] is the largest ever in US Major League Baseball (MLB) and makes Ohtani one of the world's highest-earning athletes. 

The Japanese player, who is widely seen as among the best to have ever played the game, was the most coveted target in baseball.

The move to the Dodgers comes after weeks of speculation about his future.

A major bidding war for his signature began when Ohtani opted to leave the Los Angeles Angels as a free agent after his contract expired following a six-year stint. 

The reported value of the contract ranks alongside - or even surpasses - the sort of sums megastars like footballer Lionel Messi or basketball player LeBron James have commanded.

🏀 icymi: Behind a masterful performance from Anthony Davis, who had 41 points, 20 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks, the Lakers won the inaugural in-season tournament with a 123-109 victory over the Indiana Pacers at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.

LeBron James, who added 24 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists, was named tournament MVP.

🎱 Mark Allen (NI) has become the first player ranked inside the world's top 16 to win the Snooker Shoot Out.

Snooker Shoot Out is a single-frame game with a maximum length of 10 minutes and players facing a shot clock. The format is said to be the equivalent of Cricket’s T20 and it’s hoped it’ll have a similar impact on interest in the sport.

📺 LIVE SPORTS ON TV

TODAY

05:00  -NFL - Baltimore Ravens v Los Angeles Rams (ESPN)

05:00  -NFL - Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions (ESPN 2)

05:00  -NFL - Cleveland Browns v Jacksonville Jaguars (7mate)

07:00  -Spanish La Liga-  Barcelona v Girona (Optus Sport 2)

08:25  -NFL -  Kansas City Chiefs v Buffalo Bills (ESPN)

08:25  -NFL -  Los Angeles Chargers v Denver Broncos (7mate)

11:00  -NHL -  New York Rangers v Los Angeles Kings (ESPN 2)

12:20  -NFL -  Dallas Cowboys v Philadelphia Eagles (ESPN)

19:15  -Big Bash League -  Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Sixers (Fox Cricket or Channel 7)

TUESDAY

12:15  -NFL -  Miami Dolphins v Tennessee Titans (ESPN)

12:15  -NFL -  New York Giants v Green Bay Packers (ESPN 2)

19:15  -Big Bash League - Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat (Fox Cricket or Channel 7)

20:45  -Ten10-  Lanka T10 (Fox Sports)