🗞 A Costly Little Trip

G’day Sports Fans,

🗣️ Mitchell Starc on himself and Cummins breaking the IPL auction record - "Our Test squad WhatsApp group's been going off, letting us know that I think it's our shout for dinner and drinks. So it might be a costly little trip to Melbourne for us for the Boxing Day Test," 

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🇦🇺 AUSSIE SPORTS NEWS
 

🏏 Australia bowler Mitchell Starc became the most expensive signing in Indian Premier League history when he was bought for (AU$4.3m) by Kolkata Knight Riders.

The bid for Starc broke the record set earlier in Tuesday's auction when Pat Cummins was sold for 20.5 cr (AU$3.6m)

That fee beat the 18.15 cr (AU$3.5m) paid for England's Sam Curran in 2022.

Cummins will join Australian teammate and World Cup hero Travis Head, who was sold for $1.22 million.

Meanwhile, Steve Smith did not get picked up.

✍🏼 SIGNINGS

🏉 Another playmaker has come off the board with classy Cowboys five-eighth Tom Dearden signing a massive five-year extension which will see him remain in North Queensland until at least the end of the 2029 season.

The 22-year-old has gone from strength to strength since arriving in Townsville from the Broncos midway through the 2021 season.

🏉 The Sharks have landed a major recruitment coup for the 2025 season with the signing of Dally M Prop of the Year Addin Fonua-Blake. 

The Tongan front-rower has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with Cronulla which will run from 2025-2028, but will remain with the Warriors in 2024 before moving on, having requested and been granted an early release from his contract with the Kiwi club. 

🇦🇺 Aaron Cadman has ensured there’ll be no season of speculation about his AFL future after the 2022 No.1 draft pick signed a new deal at the GWS Giants.

Plus one of the top soon-to-be free agents is off the market with Geelong superstar Tom Stewart penning a long-term extension.

Cadman, 19, was one of the rare top picks to enter his second season without a contract extension, after being part of the final AFL draft class to only sign a two-year deal upon being selected.

🏉 icymi: Panthers five-eighth Luai, 26, is reportedly close to signing a five-year deal with the Wests Tigers from 2025 onwards with the contract worth $6million.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported he 'got someone else to ring up and tell them [Panthers] he wasn't coming to training [on Monday] because he is angry with them,'

🏏 It was worth the wait for Adelaide Strikers fans, new skipper Matt Short blasting a match-winning half-century as the Strikers chased down the Sydney Thunder’s big total with just two balls to spare in a pulsating clash at Adelaide Oval yesterday.

Chasing a target of 201, Adelaide left it late, Adam Hose the hero with five boundaries and the game-winning six as the Strikers won by six wickets.

🥊 Veteran Boxing promotor Frank Warren said it is "ridiculous" for the IBF to strip Jai Opetaia of his cruiserweight title before his fight with Ellis Zorro.

Warren promotes Zorro, who is scheduled to fight Opetaia on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder bout in Saudi Arabia.

Opetaia, 28, told Main Event TV he had been forced to vacate his belt as Zorro is not the IBF's number one contender. 

"It's very short-sighted of the IBF if they go down this road," Warren said.

"Everybody on board, including the number one [mandatory challenger Mairis Briedis], were all happy for it to take place,"

⛳️ Aussie rookie Harrison Endycott, 27, will get a second chance on the pGA Tour after gaining full playing status for 2024 by winning the final event of the cut-throat qualifying school in Florida.

🏀 The Australian Boomers are in advanced talks to play a pair of exhibition games - against Team USA and Serbia - in Abu Dhabi ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, sources told ESPN.

In the proposed showcase, the Boomers would face the two powerhouse nations in the middle of July in the United Arab Emirates' capital

🌎 WORLD SPORTS NEWS

⚽️ Nottingham Forest have sacked manager Steve Cooper and are holding talks with former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo to replace him.

After losing five of their past six games, Forest have decided to act and told Cooper of the decision on Tuesday. 

Nuno, 49, was sacked by Saudi Pro-League club Al-Ittihad in November.

🥊 Deontay Wilder believes Anthony Joshua does not "have the heart" to fight him, but says a bout between the former heavyweight world champions is closer than it ever has been.

The pair are on the same bill in Saudi Arabia on Saturday and could fight each other in 2024 if they both win.

"I don't want to say he's 100% afraid, but I think he's 75%," said Wilder.

Joshua told BBC Sport he would "love to fight" Wilder, but said he would prefer to fight for the IBF title first.

🏈 The Atlanta Falcons are once again making a quarterback switch. Taylor Heinicke is listed to start Sunday against Indianapolis, the team announced Tuesday, replacing Desmond Ridder for the second time this season.

🏉 Argentina have appointed former fly-half Felipe Contepomi to replace Michael Cheika as their head coach.

Contepomi, 46, earned 87 caps for the Pumas and was previously assistant to Cheika.

The Australian has left the role after reaching the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup with the Pumas before they were beaten by losing finalists New Zealand.

⛳️ Tiger Woods believes he can still win on the PGA Tour but will only play one event per month in 2024 as he continues his recovery from ankle surgery.

The 15-time major champion has had a limited schedule since suffering a leg injury in a car crash in 2021.

He carded a final-round 61 alongside his 14-year-old son Charlie at the PNC Championship in Orlando on Sunday.

"If I'm able to practise and do the things I know I can do, and prepare, I know I can still do it," Woods said.

📺 LIVE SPORTS ON TV

TODAY

07:30 - Spanish La Liga - Atletico Madrid v Getafe (Optus Sport 1)

09:00 - ODI Series - New Zealand v Bangladesh (Fox Cricket)

11:00 - NHL - Tampa Bay Lightning v St. Louis Blues (ESPN 2)

11:30 - NBA - New Orleans Pelicans v Memphis Grizzlies (ESPN)

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

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

THURSDAY

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

11:00 - Men's NCAA - Duke Blue Devils v Baylor Bears (ESPN 2)

11:30 - NHL - Washington Capitals v New York Islanders (ESPN)

13:00 - Men's NCAA - Oklahoma Sooners v North Carolina Tar Heels (ESPN 2)

14:00 - NHL - Los Angeles Kings v Seattle Kraken (ESPN)

14:00 - Men's Super Smash - Wellington Firebirds v Otago Volts (Fox Sports)

15:00 - Women's Test Match - India v Australia (Fox Cricket)

18:30 - Women's Test Match - India v Australia (Fox Sports)

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

19:45 - A-League Men - Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners (Paramount+)

22:00 - ODI Series - South Africa v India (Fox Sports)

22:45 - ODI Series - South Africa v India (Fox Cricket)