🗞️ Do the Trump dance

🏏 Australia's bid to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since the 2014-15 summer starts in Perth today.

The tourists have claimed famous 2-1 victories in their past two trips, and are the only side to win a Test series in Australia since South Africa in 2016.

Team News: Allrounder Cameron Green is out for the summer after opting for surgery that is intended to provide a long-term fix for a back issue.

Steve Smith has moved back to No.4 in Australia’s batting order, having been elevated to open last summer after the retirement of David Warner.

That created a vacancy for an opener filled by Nathan McSweeney, the Queensland-raised South Australia captain, who usually bats at No.3 or No.4 for his state.

📊 Stats:

• Steve Smith will move into outright second for most Tests hundreds for Australia if he scores a century in this series. He’s currently tied with Steve Waugh on 32, trailing Ricky Ponting’s 41 Test tons.

• Australia have a bowling dot ball rate of 76 per cent in men’s Tests in 2024, the best of any team (minimum three matches). Their bowling average (21.4) is also the best of any team this year.

• India have scored 54 per cent of their runs from boundaries this calendar year, the best rate of any team in the format this year.

🏉 The Wallabies are on course to emulate the 1984 Australia team who swept past the four home nations, but after beating England and Wales they must overcome Scotland on (Monday morning AEDT) and Ireland next week if they are to match the feat of 40 years ago.

Coach Joe Schmidt will name the Wallabies team at 3am Saturday AEDT.

"I've been with the group like two and a half weeks now and we're showing how connected we are, we've got a good buzz in the group and we're really focused on this week and excited about the challenge to play Scotland," - Will Skelton said on Wednesday.

"We were always building, when you have losses, there's lessons to learn and this group is strong enough and is led well enough to get out of those holes," he added.

"The test against Scotland is going to be the hardest one yet so we're excited about this week and we're looking forward to ripping in."

• The Scots are on the rise as they sit in sixth position on the World Rankings, just below their highest ever.

• Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi has copped a two match ban for his high shot.

🏉 Rugby Sevens legend Emilee Barton (née Cherry) is set to receive the highest honour by being inducted into World Rugby’s Hall of Fame at the annual awards ceremony in Monaco on Sunday evening.

⛳️ Heading into Round 2, our guy, Elvis Smylie leads the Australian PGA Championship following the first round at Royal Queensland where several big-name Australians were the big attraction. 

The crowd packed in early to see Cameron Smith, Min Woo Lee and Jason Day tee off together at 6.10am local time in a star-studded group. 

Lee burst out of the gates with five birdies in his first 11 holes but stumbled on the second nine to finish –3 as Smith and Day surged past him. 

The only two major winners in the field both ended the round –4, two shots back from Smylie, among a pack of players including fellow Australian Marc Leishman at that mark.

An ace is always special, but Min-kyu Kim must feel robbed as an all-electric BMW i5 is parked behind the tee box on the 11th, and will be awarded to any professional who makes a hole-in-one on the weekend only 🙃

NRL NEWS

🗓️ The National Rugby League (NRL) released the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership schedule, as part of the biggest and boldest NRL calendar ever contemplated. (NRL.com)

“The schedule is bigger and bolder than ever with thirty-two weeks of jaw-dropping action which will see rivalries, excitement and unparalleled skills at every turn.” - NRL CEO Andrew Abdo.

Themed Rounds in 2025 will include:

• Multicultural Round (Round 5), highlighted by the Friday night blockbuster between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters;

• NRL Magic Round Brisbane (Round 9), supercharged with Sydney Roosters v the Dolphins (Friday) and Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos (Sunday)

• Harvey Norman Women In League Round (Round 10)

• Beanie for Brain Cancer Round (Round 17)

• The first ever Indigenous Round across two rounds (Round 23 and Round 24), featuring three matches at Allianz Stadium and also integrating the NRLW competition.

• Telstra Footy Country Round (Round 25), a round dedicated to celebrating the passion, excitement, and community spirit that fuels footy, from the grassroots fields to the elite Premiership via the NRL’s major partner Telstra.

AFL NEWS

👮🏼‍♂️ Former AFL player Tarryn Thomas has avoided a criminal conviction after police dropped a charge of using a telecommunications service to harass a woman.

The 24-year-old ex-North Melbourne player, who was sacked from the team in February over repeated conduct breaches, faced Broadmeadows Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Thomas, who also uses the surname Trindall, pleaded guilty to breaching a court order involving repeated calls to a victim in April, the court was told.

But police withdrew the harassment charge.

⚽️ EPL Whispers: Liverpool and Newcastle are interested in 25-year-old Brentford and Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo. 

Manchester City are the favourites to land Bayer Leverkusen's 21-year-old midfielder Florian Wirtz, with Real Madrid and Liverpool set to miss out on the Germany international. 

Santos left-back Joao Victor de Souza, 18, has emerged as a target for Chelsea but the Premier League club will face competition from Barcelona for the Brazilian. 

🏎️ Formula 1 is back after a three-week break, with a final triple-header to close out the 2024 season. 

The second running of the Las Vegas Grand Prix at the Strip Circuit is first up from 22-24 November. 

Following his stunning win from 17th place at a chaotic Sao Paulo Grand Prix earlier this month, Red Bull's Max Verstappen now leads Lando Norris in the drivers' championship by 62 points with 86 still available. 

The Dutchman will secure a fourth consecutive world title if he leaves Las Vegas with a lead of at least 60 points.

🎾 Rafael Nadal says he would like to be remembered as "a kid who followed their dreams" as the tennis great bid a poignant farewell to the sport.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion's 23-year career came to an end in Malaga on Tuesday night after Spain were beaten by the Netherlands in the Davis Cup quarter-finals.

Nadal retires as the second-most successful men's singles player of all time, behind only long-time rival Novak Djokovic.

The 38-year-old said he hoped to be remembered primarily as "a good person".

"I'd like to be remembered as a kid that achieved more than I ever dreamed," Nadal said during an on-court presentation.

"I have been very lucky in the life I have had the opportunity to live, I have lived unforgettable experiences because of tennis.

"I was just a kid that followed their dreams, worked as hard as possible to be where I am today.

"The way I'd like to be remembered most is as a good person from a small village in Mallorca."

🕺🏼 Donald Trump’s dancing has gone viral.

The US president-elect's signature moves - swaying the hips, fist pumping the air, and sometimes even a golf swing - have caught on since his victory over Kamala Harris.

American athletes across a series of sports have celebrated with the dance in recent weeks - and it has even been seen in the English Football League (EFL).

Trump even got to see the celebration with his own eyes after Jon Jones retained his heavyweight title at UFC 309 at New York's Madison Square Garden.

🐴 English Derby winner City Of Troy has been named horse of the year at the Cartier Racing Awards in London.

The son of US Triple Crown victor Justify also added Sandown's Coral-Eclipse and the Juddmonte International at York to his Epsom triumph.

🏀 icymi: Giannis Antetokounmpo put in a dominant performance as he scored 41 points to help the Milwaukee Bucks to a 122-106 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

🎱 Jack Lisowski ended Bai Yulu's bid to become the first woman to reach the last 32 of the UK Championship with a comfortable 6-1 win in the final qualifying round in Leicester.

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TODAY

12:00 - NBA - San Antonio Spurs v Utah Jazz - ESPN 2

12:15 - NFL - Cleveland Browns v Pittsburgh Steelers - ESPN

13:20 - Test Match - Australia v India - Channel 7, Fox Cricket

14:30 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Orlando Magic - ESPN 2

20:00 - A-League Men - Newcastle Jets v Central Coast Mariners - Paramount+

SATURDAY 

03:30 - Men's NCAA - ESPN 2

04:00 - PGA TOUR - RSM Classic, Round 2 - Fox Sports

06:00 - Men's NCAA - ESPN 2

07:10 - Autumn Nations Series - France v Argentina - Stan Sport App

09:00 - Men's NCAA - ESPN 2

11:00 - NHL - Pittsburgh Penguins v Winnipeg Jets - ESPN 2

11:30 - NBA Cup - New Orleans Pelicans v Golden State Warriors - ESPN

13:20 - Test Match - Australia v India - Channel 7, Fox Cricket

14:00 - NHL - Anaheim Ducks v Buffalo Sabres - ESPN 2

14:00 - NBA Cup - Denver Nuggets v Dallas Mavericks - ESPN

15:00 - Sheffield Shield - South Australia Men v Western Australia Men - Kayo Sports

16:30 - Men's NCAA - Hawaii Rainbow Warriors v North Carolina Tar Heels - ESPN 2

19:35 - A-League Men - Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers - 10 Bold

23:30 - Premier League - Leicester City v Chelsea - Optus Sport 1

SUNDAY 

02:00 - Premier League - Arsenal v Nottingham Forest - Optus Sport 4

02:00 - Premier League - Everton v Brentford - Optus Sport 2

02:00 - Premier League - Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion - Optus Sport 5

02:00 - Premier League - Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Optus Sport 6

02:00 - Premier League - Aston Villa v Crystal Palace - Optus Sport 3

02:10 - Autumn Nations Series - Ireland v Fiji - Stan Sport App

04:30 - Premier League - Manchester City v Tottenham - Optus Sport 1

04:40 - Autumn Nations Series - Wales v South Africa - Stan Sport App

05:00 - PGA TOUR - RSM Classic, Round 3 - Fox Sports

07:10 - Autumn Nations Series - Italy v New Zealand - Stan Sport App

10:30 - Sheffield Shield - NSW Men v Tasmania Tigers Men - Kayo Sports

11:00 - Sheffield Shield - Queensland Bulls v Victoria Men - Kayo Sports

12:00 - NBA - Houston Rockets v Portland Trail Blazers - ESPN

13:20 - Test Match - Australia v India - Channel 7, Fox Cricket

13:30 - A-League Men - Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory - Paramount+

14:30 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Denver Nuggets - ESPN

15:00 - Sheffield Shield - South Australia Men v Western Australia Men - Kayo Sports

16:00 - A-League Men - Macarthur FC Bulls v Auckland FC - Paramount+

17:00 - Formula 1 Las Vegas Race, Round 22 - Fox Sports