G'day sports fans,

"I think when things get tough, I'm just a little bit soft." - Nick Kyrgios

🇦🇺 Aussie Sport

🏏 Australia have withdrawn from a men's one-day series against Afghanistan because of the Taliban's restrictions on women and girls.

The three-match series was scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates in March.

Cricket Australia said it took the decision after "consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Australian government."

"This decision follows the recent announcement by the Taliban of further restrictions on women's and girls' education and employment opportunities and their ability to access parks and gyms," said Cricket Australia. (cricket)

🏏 The Adelaide Strikers were embarrassed at the MCG, with the Melbourne Stars cruising towards a thumping nine-wicket victory.

After the visitors were rolled for 108 in the first innings, the Stars chased the measly target with 33 balls to spare to keep their Big Bash League campaign alive.

🐴 Wednesday's Magic Millions Yearling Sale record has lasted less than 24 hours after an I Am Invincible colt was knocked down for an eye-watering $2.7m on Thursday.

Racing and breeding giants Coolmore secured the colt out of Group 2 winner Anaheed in a to-and-fro bidding war.

While Yulong broke the record on Wednesday in purchasing three-time Group 1 winner Sunlight's full sister for $2.6m, Coolmore went one step further to secure the sale-topping colt on Thursday.

Bred by Segenhoe, the colt is Anaheed's first-ever foal. (racenet)

🎾 The Australian Open 2023 draws are set.

Nick Kyrgios is the top-ranked Australian in the men’s singles draw. The 27-year-old faces world No.98 Roman Safiullin, a 25-year-old making his fourth Grand Slam main-draw appearance, in the opening round.

Alex de Minaur, the No.22 seed, will begin his campaign against a qualifier or lucky loser.

Thanasi Kokkinakis has been pitted against former world No.9 Fabio Fognini, who has made the Australian Open fourth round on four occasions.

Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur are both staring down early showdowns with Novak Djokovic. (tennis.com.au)

In the women’s singles competition, world No.35 Ajla Tomljanovic is leading the Aussie charge.

The 29-year-old, who advanced to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the US Open in a career-best 2022 season, begins her ninth Australian Open campaign against Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska.

Notable: R. Nadal (Seeded 1) v J. Draper (WR #40) & N. Djokovic (2) v Carballes Baena (WR #71). Women's (1) I. Swiatek v J. Miemeier (WR #65).

☕️ Coffee Break ammo:

• Josh Schuster is currently the most-owned SuperCoach player ahead of 2023, with 76.2% having him in their side.

• In 2006, 37 Victorians were admitted to hospitals while 8 people visited emergency departments for lawn bowls-related injuries.

⚽️ Despite impressing on the training paddock, Socceroos great Robbie Kruse hasn’t landed a contract with Brisbane Roar.

🇦🇺 Nat Fyfe looks set for a switch to the forward line this season after training with the Dockers' forward group on Thursday. (AFL)

🇦🇺 NBA Royalty Dirk Nowitzki was essentially a sideshow at Collingwood's first training session of 2023, with the sight of Jordan De Goey back on the track for the first time since shoulder surgery the main attraction.

🏉 Sharks premiership hero Michael Ennis has traded his coaching consultancy role with the Eels to return to Cronulla in 2023 in an exciting new role.

🌍 World Sport

🎾 Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has announced she is pregnant.

The Japanese former world number one, 25, withdrew from the Australian Open earlier this week, having not played since September.

🎱 Former world champ Mark Williams came under attack from a wasp during a match, revealing he thought the insect “was going to sting my nuts at one stage."

⛳️ The second PGA Tour event to tee off 2023 continues in Hawaii with the Sony Open in Honolulu. Thirteen golfers from last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions in Maui will tee it up in a field of 149, at Waialae Country Club this week.

The four leading favorites are all $16.0 or less, include Tom Kim (who I'm htinking of following for the season), Sungjae Im (last week's pick), Jordan Spieth and Hideki Matsuyama (last year's winner).

⚽️ Manchester United and Chelsea are considering moves for Southampton's 25-year-old England defender Kyle Walker-Peters. (Talksport)

👊🏻 UFC president Dana White has suggested he will not be punished by the organisation for his part in an altercation with his wife.

White, 53, has apologised after a video released by TMZ showed him and his wife, Anne slapping each other in the face in a nightclub in Mexico on New Year's Eve.

He added: "Me leaving hurts the company, my employees, and the fighters. It doesn't hurt me."

⚽️ Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Netherlands striker Wout Weghorst on loan for the rest of the season.

The 30-year-old scored just two goals in 20 appearances for Burnley, but did bag two late goals and a penalty in the QF of the World Cup.

🏏 Prithvi Shaw (23) has strengthened his chances of an India recall in the upcoming New Zealand and Australia series after smashing a maiden triple century in the domestic Ranji Trophy tournament.

🚘 Child actor Frankie Muniz of Malcolm in the Middle fame is set to swap the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for the world of motor racing.

Muniz, who played Malcolm in the hit sitcom show in the early-to-mid-2000s, is set to race in the NASCAR-owned ARCA series this year. (Instagram)

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📺 Live sport 👇🏼

🏏 23:00 - ODI Series - India v Sri Lanka (Fox Cricket)

🏏 02:30 - SA20 - Sunrisers Eastern Cape v Pretoria Capitals (Fox Sports)

🏀 04:45 - EuroLeague - Fenerbahce Basketball v Bayern Munich Basketball (Fox Sports More)

🏀 06:30 - EuroLeague - Virtus Bologna Basketball v Olympiacos Basketball (Fox Sports More)

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Fulham v Chelsea (Optus Sport 1)

⛳️ 11:00 - PGA TOUR - Sony Open in Hawaii, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

🏒 11:00 - NHL - Detroit Red Wings v Toronto Maple Leafs (ESPN 2)

🏀 11:30 - NBA - Brooklyn Nets v Boston Celtics (ESPN)

🏀 13:30 - Men's NCAA - BYU Cougars v Gonzaga Bulldogs (ESPN 2)

🏀 14:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Dallas Mavericks (ESPN)

🏀 15:00 - Men's NCAA - Oregon State Beavers v Arizona Wildcats (ESPN 2)

🏏 16:40 - NZ Super Smash - Canterbury Kings v Northern Brave (Fox Sports)

🏏 18:30 - Big Bash League - Sydney Thunder v Perth Scorchers (Fox Cricket)

🏀 19:30 - NBL - Cairns Taipans v Illawarra Hawks (ESPN)

⚽️ 19:45 - A-League Men - Macarthur FC Bulls v Central Coast Mariners (Paramount+)

🏏 20:30 - ODI Series - Pakistan v New Zealand (Fox Sports)

🏏 22:30 - SA20 - Paarl Royals v Joburg Super Kings (Fox Cricket)

SATURDAY

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Napoli v Juventus (beIN SPORTS 2)

⚽️ 07:00 - Premier League - Aston Villa v Leeds United (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Celta Vigo v Villarreal (Optus Sport 2)

⛳️ 11:00 - PGA TOUR - Sony Open in Hawaii, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

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

🏀 11:30 - NBA - San Antonio Spurs v Golden State Warriors (ESPN)

🏏 11:40 - NZ Super Smash - Auckland Aces v Central Stags (Fox Cricket)

🏀 14:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Clippers v Denver Nuggets (ESPN)

🏒 14:00 - NHL - Anaheim Ducks v New Jersey Devils (ESPN 2)

🏏 16:00 - Big Bash League - Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat (Fox Cricket)

⚽️ 17:00 - A-League Men - Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix (Paramount+)

🏀 17:30 - NBL Regular Season - Brisbane Bullets v Melbourne United (ESPN)

🏏 19:30 - Big Bash League - Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars (Fox Cricket)

⚽️ 19:45 - A-League Men - Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory (10 Bold or Paramount+)

🏀 20:00 - NBL - Perth Wildcats v Adelaide 36ers (ESPN)

🏏 22:30 - SA20 - Pretoria Capitals v Sunrisers Eastern Cape (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 23:30 - Premier League - Manchester United v Manchester City (Optus Sport 1)

⚽️ 00:00 - Spanish La Liga - Real Valladolid v Rayo Vallecano (Optus Sport 2)

SUNDAY

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Real Sociedad v Athletic Club (Optus Sport 2)

⛳️ 08:00 - PGA TOUR - Sony Open in Hawaii, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

🏈 08:30 - NFC Wild Card Game - San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks (7mate, ESPN)

🏈 12:15 - AFC Wild Card Game - Jacksonville Jaguars v Los Angeles Chargers (7mate, ESPN)

🏏 12:40 - NZ Super Smash - Otago Volts v Wellington Firebirds (Fox Sports)

🏏 13:40 - Big Bash League - Hobart Hurricanes v Sydney Thunder (Channel 7, Fox Cricket)

🏀 14:00 - NBL - New Zealand Breakers v Cairns Taipans (10 Peach, ESPN 2)

⚽️ 15:00 - A-League Men - Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne City (10 Bold or Paramount+)

🏀 16:00 - NBL - Sydney Kings v Illawarra Hawks (10 Peach, ESPN 2)

⚽️ 17:00 - A-League Men - Western United FC v Newcastle Jets (Paramount+)

🏏 19:00 - ODI Series - India v Sri Lanka (Fox Sports)

🏏 19:15 - Big Bash League - Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers (Fox Cricket or Channel 7)

🏏 21:00 - ILT20 - Abu Dhabi Knight Riders v Gulf Giants (Fox Sports)

⚽️ 22:30 - Italian Serie A - Sassuolo v Lazio (beIN SPORTS 1)

🏏 22:30 - SA20 - Durban Super Giants v Paarl Royals (Fox Sports)

🏏 22:45 - ODI Series - India v Sri Lanka (Fox Cricket)