G'day sports fans,

Classic Quote: “Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” – Michael Jordan

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🏏 T20 overview

🐴 Currie claims Diamond redemption

🇦🇺 Dusty wants more

🥪 Sport Snacks:

🏀 A young Boomers outfit comfortably beat New Zealand 81-52 in Cairns , in their Asia Cup qualifier.

🎾 Ruthless Djokovic wins his 9th AO...and we still don't like him!

🥶 Smith frosty on whether Cummins could captain Australia. (nine)

♥️ A Sunshine Coast amateur rugby league player - Dale Best, 34, has died after collapsing on the field during a match.(abc)

🏏 Cricket

All You Need To Know for the NZ v AUS T20 Series

When does it start?

The five-match T20 series between Australia and New Zealand begins on Monday evening, with the first game at Christchurch's Hagley Park to start at 5.10pm AEDT (7.10pm local time).

The series then moves to Dunedin before heading to the north island for the final three games in Wellington, Auckland and Mount Maunganui.

Schedule:

• 1st T20: Feb 22, Hagley Oval, Christchurch, 5.10pm AEDT

• 2nd T20: Feb 25, University of Otago Oval, Dunedin, 12noon AEDT

• 3rd T20: Mar 3, Sky Stadium, Wellington, 5pm AEDT

• 4th T20: Mar 5, Eden Park, Auckland, 5pm AEDT

• 5th T20: Mar 7, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12noon AEDT

📺 How to watch: Fox Cricket and also live streamed on Kayo Sports

Squads: Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa

New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Hamish Bennett, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee

Rankings: Having taken the top ranking a year ago, Australia have dropped to second behind England but can take top spot back if they manage a 5-0 series sweep over the Black Caps.

The Kiwis are ranked No.6 in the world, but don’t let that fool you; they have lost just one of their six T20s at home this summer. (Cricket)

🎾 Tennis

Novak Djokovic wins ninth Australian Open by beating Daniil Medvedev

Novak Djokovic continued his dominance of the Australian Open by overwhelming an irritated Daniil Medvedev to win a record-extending ninth men's title.

Top seed Djokovic won 7-5 6-2 6-2 to claim his 18th Grand Slam, leaving him two behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the men's record books.

The 33-year-old Serb has never lost a final at Melbourne Park and beating Medvedev is a third triumph in a row.

Event the rowdy crowd getting out of hand couldn't halt his progress.

Russian fourth seed Medvedev, 25, has lost both of his Grand Slam finals.

After collecting the trophy, Djokovic told the Rod Laver Arena: "I love you each year more and more. The love affair keeps going."

📈Since 2004, the big 3 (Djokovic, Federer and Nadal), have won an astounding 57 of the 68 Grand Slams. Only losing back-to-back Grand Slams once (Wimbledon & US Open in 2016). 🤯

Inspirational Naomi Osaka beats Jennifer Brady

Japan's Naomi Osaka cemented her place as the outstanding star of the women's game by beating American Jennifer Brady in the Australian Open final to win her fourth Grand Slam title.

Osaka, 23, is unbeaten in major finals after a 6-4 6-3 win in Melbourne.

Osaka edged the first set when Brady, in her first Grand Slam final, paid for some glaring errors in the final game.

The third seed seized control from that point, racing 4-0 ahead in the second set before sealing a deserved victory.

Osaka has now won two Australian Open titles after also triumphing at Melbourne Park in 2019, with her other Grand Slam successes coming at the US Open in 2018 and 2020.

Post Game speech:

• Osaka: "Is it Jenny or Jennifer?"

• Brady: "Jenny."

• Osaka: "OK. Firstly, I want to congratulate Jennifer..." 🤣

She has not suffered a defeat since February 2020 after extending her winning run to 21 matches.

⚽️ Football

Adelaide 3-2 Central Coast Mariners: Juric scores hat-trick from the spot as Reds end Mariners run. (match report)

Western United 4-1 Macarthur: The A-League's all-time scorer Berisha added goals number 137 and 138, overtaking former NSL striker Rod Brown as the man with the second-most goals in Australian league football. (match report)

Sydney FC 0-0 Brisbane Roar: Bobo draws blank on return as Roar frustrate Sydney FC in stalemate. (match report)

Melbourne 0-1 Newcastle Jets: Angus Thurgate marked his 50th A-League game by scoring the winner as Newcastle Jets continued their resurgence. (match report)

Wellington Phoenix 2-2 Western Sydney Wanderers: Three goals scored in eight second-half minutes saw Western Sydney Wanderers equalise, take the lead and lose it as Wellington Phoenix. (match report)

🌍 Europe

Liverpool 0-2 Everton: Everton won at Anfield for the first time 22 years. Liverpool's seventh loss of the campaign.

Barcelona 1-1 Cádiz: Messi makes club-record 506th La Liga appearance for Barca and opened the scoring from the penalty spot. While Sergio Busquets brought up the big 400.

Arsenal 0-1 Man City: City completed their 18 consecutive win and move ten points clear at the top of the league.

AC Milan 0-3 Inter: Inter wrap up a derby triumph to move four points clear of their city rivals at the top of Serie A.

Shalke 0-4 Dortmund: After his masterclass in midweek, Haaland produced this beauty.

🐴 Racing

Currie claims Diamond redemption after horror fall

Gun jockey Luke Currie toasted the sweetest of Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes wins on Saturday, exactly 12 months after watching the marquee Caulfield meeting from a ­hospital bed.

Currie was sidelined for seven months last year after a horror fall at The Valley left him with spinal fractures and broken ribs on the eve.

Currie, who resumed race riding last September, made amends in fine style on Saturday, partnering the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Artorius to a breathtaking Blue Diamond victory. (racenet)

🏉 NRL

Big hits, new rules, sin bins and a draw highlight the Indigenous, Māori All Stars game

The Indigenous, Māori All Stars game ended in a draw (10-10), after a late-penalty goal tied the scores in Townsville.

Indigenous skipper Cody Walker admitted he was to blame for the penalty goal miscommunication that resulted in a 10-all draw with the Maori All Stars because he didn’t get coach Laurie Daley’s message to go for the win.

Trailing 10-8 with just over a minute on the clock Walker opted to take a penalty shot from a James Fisher-Harris penalty unaware there would be no golden point extra-time.

🐎 Broncos 2021 season preview: Walters' biggest hurdle looms

👴🏽 'Chance to win a comp': Souths super sub role suits Benji

🚨 NRL statement: Based on legal advice, it's not legally possible to appoint Michael Fuller to the ARLC while he is the Commissioner of NSW Police.

Maori All Stars too good for Indigenous team

Five-eighth Raecene McGregor scored a double as the Maori Women's side outclassed and outmuscled the Indigenous All Stars for a comprehensive 24-0 victory at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday night. (NRL)

🇦🇺 AFL

Dusty wants more

Not content with a brilliant four-season era that has seen him clinch three premierships, a historic three Norm Smith Medals, a Brownlow Medal and three All-Australian jumpers, the Richmond superstar is intent on getting even better after what coach Damien Hardwick describes as an "incredible" pre-season. (AFL)

AFLW R4 recap: Dockers and Pies break clear, veterans shine — www.afl.com.au

Your one-stop shop for all the action from round four of the NAB AFL Women's competition.

Clarko's dream for a 20-team comp

Alastair Clarkson has pledged Hawthorn's future to Dingley and called for Tasmania to have its own team just a week after Hawks president Jeff Kennett refused to rule out a future relocation to the Apple Isle.

And Clarkson doesn't want the League to stop there, insisting the Northern Territory should house the AFL's 20th licence to make the AFL "a truly national competition".

Kennett said he would "consider anything" after the Tasmanian government put talks with Hawthorn and North Melbourne – to extend their expiring contracts to play games in the state – on hold while demanding clarity on the future of its own team. (AFL)

🏉 Rugby

Dan Carter: All Blacks great retires from professional rugby

New Zealand's Dan Carter, who won two World Cups and is world rugby's record points scorer, has announced his retirement from professional rugby.

The fly-half, 38, won the last of his 112 All Blacks caps with a man-of-the-match display in the 2015 World Cup final win over Australia.

His display against the B&I Lions in 2005, is widely regarded as the best individual display of all-time.

Some of his achivements:

• Three-time world player of the year

• Two World Cups (NZ)

• World Record points scorer (1,598 points)

• Top14 title (France)

• 3 x Super Rugby titles (Crusaders)

• Top League title (Japan)

As drew_mitchell put it: "Not a bad shift mate!! Catch you for a drink soon!! You bring the cups, we all know you’ve got enough. 

Super Rugby: Clinical Brumbies too good for the Force in Perth

The Brumbies defeated the Western Force 27-11 in their opening Super Rugby AU match in Perth on Friday. 📺 YouTube highlights

Red kick off Super Rugby AU with a record win over Waratahs

The Reds kicked off the 2021 Super Rugby AU season with a superb 41-7 victory over the Waratahs - their biggest win ever over their arch-rivals.

Super Rugby AU's rule changes were designed to create more action, more tries and more fun. On the evidence here, it's working.

🇺🇸 USA

Oscar Valdez delivers a savage knock-out

Valdez captured the WBC junior lightweight belt in spectacular fashion.

A 10th round finish of the now-former titleholder Miguel Berchelt saw Valdez claim his second world title; a left hook going viral almost as fast as his opponent hit the canvas.

⛳️ Play suspended

Round 3 was delayed on the PGA due to high winds. Check out this putt form Keegan Bradley. Sam Burns leads by 3 (-10), going into the final round.

🤦🏻‍♂️ NHL postpones both Lake Tahoe outdoor games due to melting ice

The setting was spectacular but the ice conditions were far from it, leading to an extended delay between the first and second period of the outdoor game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche at Lake Tahoe.

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📺 Live sport 👇🏼

TODAY

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Benevento Calcio v Roma (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - France Ligue 1 - Paris Saint-Germain v AS Monaco (BeIN Sports 2)

🏀 07:30 - NBA - New Orleans Pelicans v Boston Celtics (ESPN 1)

🚘 10:00 - NASCAR Daytona 253, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

🏏 10:00 - Marsh One-Day Cup - Tasmania Tigers v Queensland Bulls (Kayo Sports)

🏀 11:00 - NBA - New York Knicks v Minnesota Timberwolves (SBS Viceland)

🏀 12:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Clippers v Brooklyn Nets (ESPN 1)

⛵️ 14:00 - America's Cup, The Prada Cup Final, Races 9 & 10 (Fox Sports)

🎾 15:00 - ATP Singapore Open, Round 1, Day 1 - Part 1 (BeIN Sports 1)

🏏 17:00 - Twenty20 Series - New Zealand v Australia (Fox Cricket)

🏀 17:00 - NBL - Illawarra Hawks v New Zealand Breakers (ESPN 1)

🏏 19:00 - CSA T20 Challenge Group - Knights v Cape Cobras (Fox Sports More)

🏀 19:30 - NBL - Melbourne United v Cairns Taipans (ESPN 1)

🎾 21:00 - ATP Singapore Open, Round 1, Day 1 - Part 2 (BeIN Sports 1)

🏏 23:30 - CSA T20 Challenge Group - Titans v Lions (Fox Sports More)

TUESDAY

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Juventus v FC Crotone (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Osasuna v Sevilla (BeIN Sports 3)

🏀 11:00 - NCAA - Duke Blue Devils v Syracuse Orange (ESPN 1)

🏏 12:00 - Women's ODI Series - New Zealand v England (Fox Cricket)

🏒 13:00 - NHL - Colorado Avalanche v Vegas Golden Knights (ESPN 2)

🏀 13:00 - NCAA - Oklahoma State Cowboys v Texas Tech Red Raiders (ESPN 1)

🏀 14:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Washington Wizards (Sky Sports 2)

⛵️ 14:00 - America's Cup, The Prada Cup Final, Races 11 & 12 (Fox Sports More)

🎾 15:00 - ATP Singapore Open, Round 1, Day 2(BeIN Sports 1)

🏀 17:00 - NBL - Sydney Kings v Perth Wildcats (ESPN 1)

17:00 - Bowls Premier League, Day 1 (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 19:05 - A-League - Melbourne City v Sydney FC (Fox Sports)

🏀 19:30 - NBL - Adelaide 36ers v South East Melbourne Phoenix (ESPN 1)

🎾 21:00 - ATP Singapore Open, Round 1, Day 2 (BeIN Sports 1)