G'day sports fans,

Today's classic quote is in recognition of Merv Hughes being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Merv was bowling a few crackers that Robin Smith couldn't even get an edge on.

Merv: "If you turn the bat over you'll get the instructions mate".

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🏏 T10 or Village Cricket?

👟 The World's first hands-free trainers

🏀 Fans removed for arguing with LeBron on Court

...and much more!

📺 Live sport

Premier League

Sheffield United 2-1 WBA (80’)

Wolverhampton 2-1 Arsenal (80’)

Man United v Southampton (7:15am)

Newcastle v Crystal Palace (7:15am)

🏏 Cricket

Australia's Test tour of South Africa postponed

Planned three-match Test series will not go ahead this month because of coronavirus health concerns in the Rainbow Nation.

The Aussies were scheduled to fly out for a three-Test series later this month but CA’s interim chief executive Nick Hockley said travelling to South Africa posed “unacceptable” risk to the touring party.

South Africa is battling a second wave of COVID-19 and a new variant of the virus.

The decision means Australia’s bid to play in the World Test Championship final, a stated goal of captain Tim Paine, is now out of their hands and increasingly unlikely. (Cricket)

🏆 New Zealand will play another title match at Lord's after becoming the first side to qualify for the inaugural World Test Championship final

If Australia hadn't been docked four points for a slow over-rate in the Boxing Day Test against India, they would be above New Zealand in the World Test Championship table. 🤦🏻‍♂️

⚽️ Football

Today 7:05pm AEDT (Fox sports): Central Coast Mariners (3.40) v Melbourne City (2.05): Central Coast Mariners can go top with a win. Last season saw City sweep aside the Mariners in both meetings by an aggregate score of 7-3, however as is worth remembering every week, this is a different Central Coast team in 2021.

Every Premier League Transfer on Deadline Day

• Joshua King [Bournemouth - Everton] Nominal

• Takumi Minamino [Liverpool - Southampton] Loan

• Josh Maja [Bordeaux - Fulham] Loan

• Ainsley Maitland-Niles [Arsenal - West Brom] Loan

• Ozan Kabak [Schalke - Liverpool] Loan

• Ben Davies [Preston - Liverpool] £2m

• Joe Willock [Arsenal - Newcastle] Loan

•  Okay Yokuslu [Celta Vigo - West Brom] Loan

• Moises Caicedo [Independiente del Valle - Brighton] £4m

🎾 Tennis

‘Constant mistakes’ cost Aussies dearly against Rafa-less Spain in ATP Cup

Australia’s ATP Cup hopes are hanging by a thread after failing to take advantage of a Spanish team missing Rafael Nadal on Tuesday night.

The world No.2 withdrew from the tie citing a “stiff low back”, giving Alex de Minaur and John Millman a golden opportunity to knock off the 2020 tournament finalists.

However Millman fell in straight sets to Pablo Carreno Busta 6-2 6-4 to put the Aussies in an early hole.

Then while de Minaur dominated the early going against Roberto Bautista Agut, he faded badly with commentator Jim Courier citing “constant mistakes” from the world No.23. He lost 4-6 6-4 6-4.

Australia faces Greece on Wednesday night, needing a win to stay alive in the tournament.

Kyrgios survives upset as Barty wins on return

World No.1 Ash Barty and Nick Kyrgios both enjoyed successful competitive returns in their respective Melbourne Park lead-up events.

Barty was much too good for Romania’s Ana Bogdan in the Yarra Valley Classic, rolling into the third round with a 6-3 6-3 win.

The 2020 Australian Open semi-finalist will face Czech Marie Bouzkova next up, with Serena Williams potentially awaiting in the semi-finals.

Kyrgios’ first match since last February was almost a disaster, narrowly avoiding an upset loss to French world No.209 Alexandre Muller.

The Canberran dropped the opening set but regained his composure and held on in a third-set tiebreak to prevail 3-6 6-4 7-6(4).

👟 The Future

📺 TV

NRL CEO Abdo: Kayo deal a win for fans as Telstra adjusts streaming approach

Telstra’s live sports strategy takes a giant leap forward (their words) with Kayo Sports to deliver a world-class sporting entertainment experience with more value and more sports on more screens for Live Pass customers.

Kayo, which is owned by Foxtel, will replace Telstra Live Pass in the NRL and AFL Official Apps.

Telstra is offering an exclusive offer for customers who have previously used the NRL and AFL Live Passes. Eligible customers will now receive a special offer from Telstra of $20/month off Kayo’s Basic subscription (usually $25/month) for 12 months providing them with Kayo for just $5/month for 12 months.

The offer customers access to every game of every round of the AFL and NRL regular seasons (including the Finals Series).

🐴 Racing

🏉 NRL

2021 Harvey Norman All Stars teams announced

Some of the best and brightest names in the NRL have been named to play in the first ever NRL Harvey Norman All Stars in Townsville.

The NRL announced the teams for the showcase on February 20, featuring the likes of Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr, Jack Wighton, Cody Walker, Jarome Luai, Brandon Smith and Benji Marshall.

Men’s Indigenous All Stars Coach Laurie Daley and Men’s Maori All Stars Coach David Kidwell have both named star-studded teams for the match, which will be the first major rugby league event at the new Queensland Country Bank Stadium. (NRL)

✍🏼 Signings

Dragons captain Cameron McInnes will leave the club for rivals Cronulla at the end of the 2021 season.

McInnes has signed a four-year deal with the Sharks, where it is expected he'll play lock.

"Cameron ticks all the boxes for us in that he has great attitude, he competes on every play and is an excellent defender," Sharks coach John Morris said.

The Rabbitohs have signed veteran playmaker Benji Marshall to a one-year deal for the 2021 season.

Marshall, 35, has played 324 NRL matches and 31 Test matches for New Zealand. He won a premiership with Wests Tigers in 2005.(NRL)

👋🏼 ‘Time to find a new team’: Wollongong City Council Deputy Mayor Tania Brown has declared “Time for me to find a new team” after the St George Illawarra Dragons applied to have controversial star Israel Folau allowed back into the NRL.

Folau was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019 over his repeated homophobic social media posts.

At the time, the NRL said Folau was not welcome in the sport, but it is unclear if that stance has softened since then.

🖐🏼 The Brisbane Broncos have suffered a big blow just weeks out from the 2021 NRL season, with five-eighth Anthony Milford fracturing his hand and will undergo surgery later this week. .

🇦🇺 AFL

'I got it wrong': McGuire backflips on 'proud day' comments — www.afl.com.au

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire admits calling the release of a report into racism at the club a 'proud day' was a mistake.

🇺🇸 USA

Fans ejected after argument with LeBron James during LA Lakers win over Atlanta Hawks

LeBron James says an argument between himself and fans during the Los Angeles Lakers' 107-99 win over the Atlanta Hawks was "blown out of proportion" and they did not deserve to be ejected.

Two women heckled James after he had exchanged heated words with a man they were sat with and they were thrown out.

There were about 1,300 fans at at the Hawks' State Farm Arena.

💰 LeBron James will pass $1 billion in career earnings this year, becoming only the 5th athlete to accomplish it while still active.

Others include:

• Tiger Woods

• Floyd Mayweather

• Cristiano Ronaldo

• Lionel Messi

🗞 We'll be back on Friday

📺 Live sport

TODAY

⚽️ 06:45 - Scottish Premiership - Kilmarnock v Celtic (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 07:15 - Premier League - Newcastle United v Crystal Palace (Optus Sport 3)

⚽️ 07:15 - Premier League - Manchester United v Southampton (Optus Sport 2)

🎾 10:00 - ATP Cup Group Game - Italy v France (GEM or Nine)

🎾 10:00 - ATP Cup Group Game - Germany v Canada (GEM or Nine)

🎾 11:00 - ATP Great Ocean Road Open, Round 2, Day 3 (9Go!)

• ATP Murray River Open, Round 2, Day 3

• WTA Gippsland Trophy, Round 2, Day 4

• WTA Yarra Valley Classic, Round 2, Day 4

• WTA Grampians Trophy, Round 1, Day 1

🏍 11:30 - Monster Energy Supercross, Round 5 (ESPN 2)

🏀 11:30 - NBA - Brooklyn Nets v Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN 1)

🏀 14:00 - NBA - Golden State Warriors v Boston Celtics (ESPN 1)

🎾 17:30 - ATP Cup Group Game - Russia v Japan (GEM)

🎾 17:30 - ATP Cup Group Game - Greece v Australia (GEM)

🎾 18:00 - ATP Murray River Open, Round 2, Night 3 (9Go!)

• ATP Great Ocean Road Open, Round 2, Night

• WTA Grampians Trophy, Round 1, Night 1

• WTA Yarra Valley Classic, Round 2, Night 4

• WTA Gippsland Trophy, Round 2, Night 4

⚽️ 19:05A-League - Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne City (Fox Sports)

🏏 23:00 - T10 League - Bangla Tigers v Qalandars (Fox Cricket)

THURSDAY

⚽️ 06:30 - Premier League - Leeds United v Everton (Optus Sport 4)

⚽️ 06:45 - English Championship - Brentford v Bristol City (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 07:00 - France Ligue 1 - Paris Saint-Germain v Nimes Olympique (BeIN Sports 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - France Ligue 1 - Dijon FCO v Olympique Lyonnais (BeIN Sports 3)

⚽️ 07:15 - Premier League - Aston Villa v West Ham United (Optus Sport 3)

⚽️ 07:15 - Premier League - Liverpool v Brighton & Hove Albion (Optus Sport 2)

🎾 10:00 - ATP Cup Group Game - Austria v France (GEM or Nine)

🎾 10:00 - ATP Cup Group Game - Serbia v Germany (GEM or Nine)

🏀 11:00 - NBA - Milwaukee Bucks v Indiana Pacers (ESPN 1)

🎾 11:00 - ATP Great Ocean Road Open, Round 2, Day 4 (9Go!)

• ATP Murray River Open, Round 2, Day 4

• WTA Yarra Valley Classic, Quarter-Finals, Day 5

• WTA Gippsland Trophy, Quarter-Finals, Day 59

• WTA Grampians Trophy, Round 1, Day 2

🏒 12:00 - NHL - Philadelphia Flyers v Boston Bruins (ESPN 2)

🏀 13:30 - NBA - New Orleans Pelicans v Phoenix Suns (ESPN 1)

🎾 17:30 - ATP Cup Group Game - Greece v Spain (GEM)

🎾 17:30 - ATP Cup Group Game - Argentina v Japan (GEM)

🎾 18:00 - ATP Murray River Open, Round 2, Night 4 (9Go!)

• ATP Great Ocean Road Open, Round 2, Night 4

• WTA Grampians Trophy, Round 1, Night 2

• WTA Gippsland Trophy, Quarter-Finals, Night 5

• WTA Yarra Valley Classic, Quarter-Finals, Night 5

⛳️ 19:00 - European Tour, Saudi International, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

⚾️ 19:00 - ABL - Brisbane Bandits v Canberra Cavalry (Fox Sports More)

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

⚾️ 19:30 - ABL - Sydney Blue Sox v Adelaide Giants (Kayo Sports)

🏏 19:40 - Big Bash League Challenger - Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat (Fox Cricket or 7)

🐕 20:27 - Group 1, Garrard's Gold Bullion (Sky Racing 1)

⛳️ 22:30 - European Tour, Saudi International, Round 1, Part 2 (Fox Sports)

🏏 23:00 - T10 League - Deccan Gladiators v Maratha Arabians (Fox Cricket)