G'day sports fans,

Classic quote: “Because there are no fours.” — Antoine Walker, on why he shot so many 3-pointers. (NBA)

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🏏 Backyard screamers

⚽️ Goals of the week

🏈 NFL play off previews

🏏 Cricket

Pucovski debut edges closer after getting the all clear

The Victorian's dream of a Test debut a possibility this week after getting the tick of approval from an independent neurologist ahead of the SCG Test.

David Warner and Will Pucovski batted together for nearly an hour in a crucial net session ahead of the Sydney Test.

The two men batted together for close to an hour, with the first 15 minutes coming against Cameron Green, Pat Cummins and Michael Neser under the watch of coach Justin Langer who was standing in as umpire.

Ahead of the net session, Langer said the Australian think-tank was not concerned about Pucovski’s ability against the short ball.

The one bowler who truly seemed to trouble Pucovski was off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who drifted one past the advancing batsman early in the Victorian’s turn in the spinners’ net. Lyon was later seen advising Pucovski on how best to play that kind of ball.

Williamson hits incredible nine-hour double ton

After a marathon stay at the crease, the New Zealand captain was dismissed just before tea for 238 (without a single 6).

Williamson batted for nine hours 33 minutes after going to the middle in the 20th over.

At stumps, New Zealand lead by 354 runs with Pakistan 8/1 (11).

Kane Williamson has a higher Test average than Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar after notching the brilliant innings in Christchurch.

Fastest to 7000 Test Runs by Innings

• S. Smith 126

• W. Hammond 131

• V. Sehwag ICC / 134

• S. Tendulkar 136

• G. Sobers 138

• K. Sangakkara 138

• V. Kohli 138

• M. Yousuf 139

• S. Gavaskar 140

• V. Richards 140

• R. Dravid 141

• M. Hayden 142

• K. Williamson 144

🎉 2021 SPORT PREDICTOR COMP

We’ve put together a list of the biggest sporting events in 2021.

Now its up to you to predict the outcomes!

If you haven't already, Enter below, it’s free to play and you could win Sport Journal Merch!

• Enter your email (so we can contact you if you win)

• Name

• Then select you predictions from the list of choices for each event

• Don’t forget to hit submit

It covers all the big sporting events of the year ahead;

• 🎾 Australian Open

• 🏅 Olympics

• 🇦🇺 Grand Finals

• 🏉 Rugby League World Cup

• 🏏 T20 World Cup

Please share with your mates. Just forward this email or copy and paste this link into a WhatsApp group.

⚽️ Football

Newcastle Jets change of ownership

The Jets' A-League and W-League licence has been stripped due to unpaid debts by absentee owner Martin Lee and given to a consortium of three club owners on a temporary basis until a new owner is found.

APL chairman Paul Lederer, who is also chairman of the Western Sydney Wanderers, said a level of fan ownership would be welcomed by the APL, which obtained its independence from Football Australia last week.

Would this be the best idea? I would love to see fan-owned clubs, as seem to work well in Germany and elsewhere.

🥅 Goal of the Week

🇩🇪 World-Class Backheel Goal - Nadiem Amiri Scores For Leverkusen

🇦🇺 Sydney FC young gun Calem Nieuwenhof's long distance rocket on his A-League debut has edged out a number of eye-catching strikes to be awarded A-League Goal of Matchweek 2.

🇮🇹 Zaccagni secures victory with great overhead goal. Spezia 0 - 1 Hellas Verona.

🐴 Racing

Boss declares Away Game ‘flying’ for Millions history bid

Glen Boss has shaken off concussion and declared Away Game is “flying” as an impressive trial win caused his confidence to soar about creating history and toppling $2 million Gold Coast Magic Millions Guineas favourite Isotope on Saturday week.

Boss spent Saturday night in a Brisbane hospital after a fall after the post at Eagle Farm which left him needing to pass a concussion test to be cleared to ride. (racenet)

Trainers blast Eagle Farm track, crisis meeting called

Eagle Farm track anger has reached boiling point with an industry crisis meeting called and some trainers even demanding the unthinkable of tearing up the controversial racing surface for the third time.

An email from the Australian Trainers’ Association Queensland division to Racing Queensland bosses, including chief executive Brendan Parnell, outlines how the premier track which was first closed for renovations in 2014 has again reached the flashpoint of “immediate concern.”

Trainers believe a series of renovations and refurbishments have been botched, despite about $1 million being spent on the maintenance of the troubled track in the last 12 months. (Racenet)

In an email by the ATA’s Queensland representative Cameron Partington;

🎾 Tennis

Luxury hotel quarantine contract for Australian Open cancelled after resident concerns

Plans to quarantine international tennis players and support staff in a luxury hotel in Melbourne during the Australian Open have been abandoned after residents threatened legal action against the Government.

Owners of the penthouse apartments inside the Westin said they were not consulted about the plan and some elderly residents were worried about health risks. (ABC)

Key points:

• Tennis Australia and the Victorian Government secured a number of hotels to house players during the Australian Open

• The Government has found a replacement for the Westin Melbourne, residents of which expressed concerns

• The Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne, scheduled for March 21, is also reportedly facing a delay.

🏉 NRL

Titans join Coates pursuit as Broncos table retention bid

The Gold Coast are the latest club in pursuit of Broncos speedster Xavier Coates after Brisbane tabled an upgraded contract in a bid to keep circling rivals at bay.

As first reported by the Gold Coast Bulletin, the Titans have joined the pursuit of recent Maroons debutant Coates, who has been able to field official rival offers since November 1.

✍🏼 Signings

Wests Tigers and the Cowboys have traded a pair of big-bodied youngsters with Kiwi forward Tukimihia Simpkins moving to Concord and Kane Bradley joining North Queensland.

🇦🇺 AFL

Former Roos coach lands new gig up north

Rhyce Shaw is back in the AFL after landing a development role at Gold Coast.

Shaw left the Kangaroos by mutual agreement in October to deal with personal issues after a turbulent season for the club.

He had two seasons left to run on a three-year contract.

The 39-year-old remains a respected figure in the football industry and will now reunite with Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew.

He is one of several former senior coaches now locked into assistant or development roles for 2021.

Mark Williams was handed a development position with Melbourne last month, joining Michael Voss (Port Adelaide), Brenton Sanderson (Collingwood), Brendon Bolton (Hawthorn), Don Pyke (Sydney Swans) and Matthew Knights (Geelong).

🇺🇸 USA

Welcome to the NFL playoffs: Mini previews for all 14 teams, and how each can win. — www.espn.com.au

The NFL playoff field is finally set. Here's your guide to everything you need to know about the 14 teams vying to win Super Bowl LV.

📺 Live sport

⚽️ 06:45 - Carabao Cup Semi-Final - Tottenham v Brentford (BeIN Sports 2)

🏏 09:00 - Test MatchNew Zealand v Pakistan (Fox Cricket)

⚾️ 11:00 - ABL Regular SeasonAdelaide Giants v Perth Heat (Fox Sports More)

🏀 11:00 - NCAA Men's Regular Season - Alabama Crimson Tide v Florida Gators (ESPN 2)

11:30 - Copa Libertadores Semi-Final - River Plate v Palmeiras (BeIN Sports 1)

🏀 12:00 - NBA Regular Season - Memphis Grizzlies v Los Angeles Lakers (NBA League Pass or Sky Sports 2)

🏀 12:00 - NCAA Men's Regular SeasonMiami Hurricanes v North Carolina Tar Heels (ESPN 1)

🏀 13:00 - NCAA Men's Regular Season - Michigan State Spartans v Rutgers Scarlet Knights (ESPN 2)

🏀 14:00 - NCAA Men's Regular Season - Texas Christian University v Kansas Jayhawks (ESPN 1)

🏀 14:30 - NBA Regular Season - Portland Trail Blazers v Chicago Bulls (NBA League Pass or Sky Sports 2)

⚾️ 15:00 - ABL Regular Season - Brisbane Bandits v Adelaide Giants (Fox Sports More)

🏏 19:00 - Test Match - South Africa v Sri Lanka (Fox Sports)

🏏 19:15 - Big Bash League Group Game - Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers (Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports or 7)

⚽️ 22:30 - Italian Serie A - Cagliari Calcio v Benevento Calcio (BeIN Sports 1)

🏏 22:50 - Test Match - South Africa v Sri Lanka (Fox Cricket)

THURSDAY

🏏 09:00 - Test Match - New Zealand v Pakistan (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 09:15 - Copa Libertadores Semi-Final - Boca Juniors v Santos FC (BeIN Sports 1)

🏏 10:30 - Test Match - Australia v India (7, Fox Cricket)

⚾️ 11:00 - ABL Regular Season - Adelaide Giants v Perth Heat (Fox Sports More)

🏀 11:00 - NCAA Men's Regular Season - Tennessee Volunteers v Arkansas Razorbacks (ESPN 2)

🏀 11:30 - NBA Regular Season - Miami Heat v Boston Celtics (ESPN 1)

⚽️ 11:30 - Copa Sudamericana Semi-Final - Velez Sarsfield v Club Atletico LanusBeIN Sports 1

🏀 13:00 - NCAA Men's Regular Season - Baylor Bears v Oklahoma SoonersESPN 2

🏀 14:00 - NBA Regular Season - Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN 1 or NBA League Pass)

🏀 14:00 - NBA Regular Season - Sacramento Kings v Chicago Bulls (NBA League Pass)

🏏 18:10 - Big Bash League Group Game - Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder (7, Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports or 7mate)

🏏 19:00 - Test Match - South Africa v Sri Lanka (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 19:05 - W-League Regular Season - Brisbane Roar Women v Canberra United Women (Fox Sports)

⚾️ 19:30 - ABL Regular Season - Brisbane Bandits v Perth Heat (Fox Sports More)

🏏 21:20 - Big Bash League Group Game - Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars (Fox Cricket or 7)