🗞 Barty Burgers

G’day Sports Fans,

🗣️ Classic Quote: "If you even dream of beating me, you better wake up and apologise." -Muhammad Ali

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🇦🇺 AUSSIE SPORTS NEWS

🏏 Not for the first time, the Sydney New Year’s Test has been marred by rain and bad light, forcing a premature end to day two of the series finale between Australia and Pakistan.

The SCG crowd, hoping to witness a fairytale farewell to Test cricket for David Warner, instead watched 46 overs of action on Thursday, during which the veteran opener nicked off for 34 before poor visibility and rain intervened in the afternoon.

“It was pretty dark when I was out there,” - Usman Khawaja told reporters in the post-match press conference.

Australia was 2-116 at stumps on day two, still trailing Pakistan by 197 runs, with Marnus Labuschagne (23*) and Steve Smith (6*) unbeaten overnight.

🏉 Interim Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson says Jarome Luai will be a “game changer” when he joins the club next year, but he warned their fans that they are still in a transition period and have to be patient in 2024.

Luai ended months of speculation by announcing on Wednesday that he was leaving Penrith at the end of the season to join the Tigers on a five-year deal worth a reported $6m.

🚴🏻 Olympian Luke Plapp overcame a chain failure en route to clinching the 2024 elite men's time trial title at the Australian Road Cycling Championships on Thursday.

For the second time in two years, the 23-year-old from Melbourne had to deal with his chain dropping when he encountered the mechanical issue within the first two kilometre which saw him switch bikes, and conquer the 37.5-kilometre Ballarat course in 46 minutes and 19.54 seconds (46:19.54).

🎾 Australian young gun Rinky Hijikata has set up a potential quarter-final showdown with Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov in Brisbane after a courageous three-set win in hot conditions.

🍔 Aussie tennis superstar Ash Barty has announced her partnership with Aussie burger chain, Grill'd.

Barty is launching a limited edition range of 'Barty Burgers' to help get Aussies warmed up for the summer season of Tennis. 

🙋🏼‍♀️ Australian teammates Ellyse Perry and Phoebe Litchfield are among the nominees for the annual International Cricket Council Awards after their stellar 2023 seasons.

🏏 Aaron Finch has announced the BBL|13 season will be his last after spending his whole career with the Melbourne Renegades.

The former Australian white ball captain holds the club record for the most runs with 3311 and has made 106 appearances.

He will also finish as the BBL's second biggest run-scorer, behind Chris Lynn on 3638.

🇦🇺 Melbourne captain Max Gawn has provided an update on troubled teammate Clayton Oliver, revealing that the midfielder would be back on deck within the month.

🌎 WORLD SPORTS NEWS

🏏 India needed just a day and a half and 642 balls to beat South Africa by seven wickets in the shortest Test to produce a winner in the history of the game.

Set 79 to win, the tourists got over the line midway through the afternoon session on day two at Newlands to conclude a remarkable match.

South Africa were bowled out for 55 on day one and, were all out again for 176 by the end of the second morning.

The previous shortest Test also involved South Africa, who were beaten by Australia in 656 balls in Melbourne in 1932.

🏈 QBs sitting out: Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford and Joe Flacco are among the NFL QBs who will be resting this weekend.

🏀 Jalen and Jaylin: Officials needed 12 minutes during Wednesday's Thunder-Hawks game to sort out confusion over OKC's similarly named players, Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams.

There’s a been an increase of Jalen / Jayden’s in the league in recent years, from zero in 2017 to 2023, where I count (6) Jalens/Jadens/Jaylins. (Jaden Ivey, Jalen Williams, Jalen Duren, Jaylin Williams, Jaden Hardy, Jaylin Brown)

⛳️ Rory McIlroy says he would be open to play in a tournament backed by LIV Golf if the controversial tour became more like cricket's Indian Premier League.

Merger talks between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), which funds LIV, will continue in 2024 in an attempt to end the split.

"I would love LIV to turn into the IPL of golf," said the world number two.

"They take two months of calendar. You go and do this team stuff and a bit different and is a different format.”

🎾 Rafael Nadal said "every day is an adventure" after he cruised into the Brisbane International quarter-finals on his return from a hip injury.

Nadal was in control throughout a 6-1 6-2 win over Australia's Jason Kubler.

The Spaniard will play another Australian, Jordan Thompson, in the last eight.

👾 Completed it: Willis Gibson, 13, known as Blue Scuti on YouTube, has become the first person to conquer the classic video game Tetris. 

The game-ending achievement took place during a live stream where he reached level 157, triggering what is known as the “true kill screen.”

Astonishingly, it only took him 38 minutes to complete the game, leaving the Tetris community in awe.

⚽️ Manchester United are interested in making Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, 22, one of the first signings of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era at Old Trafford.

🤔 Wiki Teaser Answer: Allan "Alfie" Langer

📺 LIVE SPORTS ON TV

TODAY

07:30 - Spanish La Liga - Las Palmas v Barcelona (Optus Sport 1)

10:00 - PGA TOUR - Tournament of Champions (Fox Sports)

10:30 - Test Match - Australia v Pakistan  (Channel 7, Fox Cricket)

11:00 - NHL - Boston Bruins v Pittsburgh Penguins (ESPN 2)

11:30 - NBA - San Antonio Spurs v Milwaukee Bucks (ESPN)

13:30 - Men's NCAA - Arizona Wildcats v Colorado Buffaloes (ESPN 2)

14:00 - NBA - Golden State Warriors v Denver Nuggets (ESPN)

14:00 - Men's Super Smash - Canterbury Kings v Central Stags (Fox Sports)

19:00 - Test Match - South Africa v India (Fox Sports)

19:15 - Big Bash League - Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers (Fox Cricket)

19:30 - NBL - Illawarra Hawks v South East Melbourne Phoenix (ESPN)

19:45 - A-League Men - Macarthur FC Bulls v Newcastle Jets (Paramount+)

22:45 - Test Match - South Africa v India (Fox Cricket)

SATURDAY 

00:30 - Women's T20 Series - India v Australia (Fox Sports)

06:45 - Premiership Rugby - Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears (Stan Sport)

06:45 - Premiership Rugby - Newcastle Falcons v Harlequins (Stan Sport)

10:00 - PGA TOUR - Tournament of Champions, Round 2  (Fox Sports)

10:30 - Test Match - Australia v Pakistan (Channel 7, Fox Cricket )

11:30 - NBA - Philadelphia 76ers v New York Knicks (ESPN)

14:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Memphis Grizzlies (ESPN)

15:30 - Men's Super Smash - Northern Brave v Otago Volts (Fox Sports )

17:30 - NBL - Tasmania JackJumpers v Cairns Taipans (ESPN)

17:30 -A-League Men - Western Sydney Wanderers v Central Coast Mariners (Paramount+)

19:00 - Test Match - South Africa v India (Fox Sports)

19:15 - Big Bash League - Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers (Fox Cricket)

19:45 - A-League Men - Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC (10 Bold or Paramount+)

20:00 - NBL - Adelaide 36ers v Melbourne United (ESPN)

21:45 - A-League Men - Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory (Paramount+)

22:45 - Test Match - South Africa v India (Fox Cricket)

23:30 - FA Cup - Coventry City v Oxford United (Paramount+)

23:30 - FA Cup - Millwall v Leicester City  (Paramount+)

23:45 - FA Cup - Sunderland v Newcastle United  (Paramount+)

SUNDAY

01:00 - Friendly - Bahrain v Australia (Paramount+)

04:00 - Men's NCAA - Clemson Tigers v North Carolina Tar Heels (ESPN 2)

04:30 - FA Cup - Middlesbrough v Aston Villa (Paramount+)

04:30 - Men's NCAA - Florida Gators v Kentucky Wildcats (ESPN)

06:00 - Men's NCAA - Arkansas Razorbacks v Auburn Tigers (ESPN 2)

08:00 - NHL - Colorado Avalanche v Florida Panthers (ESPN 2)

08:00 - PGA TOUR - Tournament of Champions (Fox Sports)

08:30 - NFL - Baltimore Ravens v Pittsburgh Steelers (ESPN)

10:30 - Test Match - Australia v Pakistan (Channel 7, Fox Cricket)

11:00 - NHL - Boston Bruins v Tampa Bay Lightning (ESPN 2)

12:15 - NFL - Indianapolis Colts v Houston Texans (ESPN)

14:00 - NBL - New Zealand Breakers v Perth Wildcats (10 Peach, ESPN 2)

14:00 - Men's Super Smash - Canterbury Kings v Auckland Aces (Fox Sports)

16:00 - NBL - Sydney Kings v Brisbane Bullets (10 Peach, ESPN 2)

17:00 - A-League Men - Western United FC v Melbourne City (10 Bold or Paramount+)

19:00 - Test Match - South Africa v India (Fox Sports)

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