🗞 Full Fury

G'day sports fans,

"Well, Andrew Strauss is certainly an optimist—he's come out wearing sunblock" - Australian commentator in the fifth test of the 5-0 series whitewash in 2006-07.

🇦🇺 Aussie Sport

🏏 England unleashed the full fury of 'Bazball' and Australia found themselves unable to withhold its irresistible force as a brutal 189 from opener Zak Crawley handed his team control of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

England's stumps score of 4-384 with Harry Brook 14no and Ben Stokes unbeaten on 24 has them 67 runs in front with three days remaining although at least two of those – Saturday and Sunday – are expected to be impacted by rain. (cricket)

🏉 Some Zac Lomax brilliance and the steady hand of Ben Hunt led the Dragons to a hard-fought 18-14 win over Wests Tigers, giving them some much needed breathing space in the fight to avoid the wooden spoon.

⚽️The Matildas notched a 1-0 victory (Catley pen 52’) over Ireland in their World Cup opener, with the win coming despite a nervy final 10 minutes.

Just hours before Australia’s opener captain Sam Kerr was ruled out of their first two games with a calf injury sustained in training. Australia's all-time record scorer, will also be absent against Nigeria on 27 July.

🥇 Gold Coast is ready to step in to stage the 2026 Commonwealth Games after the state of Victoria pulled out, said mayor Tom Tate.

Queensland is preparing to host the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. Tate says hosting the Commonwealth Games will help those preparations.

"We firmly believe the city is in a unique position to step forward," said Athletics Australia.

🐴 Our Boy Station One has been entered in Race 3 at Caulfield on Saturday, currently priced around $19.0. He’s in really good order, and showing no ill effects from his last run.

🏉 Former league star Les Kiss has been confirmed as the new Queensland Reds coach after putting pen to paper on a deal until the end of the 2026 Super Rugby season.

🌎 World Sport

💰 Saudi-watch: Two more high-profile names have signed on the dotted line to move to Saudi Arabia. Liverpool have agreed a deal worth £12m to sell captain Jordan Henderson who will join Club Legend Steven Gerard at Al-Ettifaq. While Manchester City have agreed a £30m deal with Al-Ahli to sign Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez.

🦁 The British and Irish Lions will play a New Zealand and Australia invitational XV as part of their nine-match tour down under in 2025.

The historic fixture in Adelaide will precede Test matches with the Wallabies in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

⛳️ Some mixed scores on the first day of 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, Hoylake. Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), Emilio Grillo, and amateur Christo Lamprecht (SA) share clubhouse lead on -5.

It’s expected to get pretty wet there over the weekend. Links specialists will likely to come to the forefront.

Other selected clubhouse scores: -2 Spieth; -1 Koepka, Scheffler, Schauffele; R. McIlroy & J. Rahm E.

Aussies: L. Herbert -1, M.W. Lee E, C. Smith, A. Scott, J. Day all finished +1.

🚴🏻 Kasper Asgreen claimed his first Tour de France stage victory as he held on to win stage 18 from an epic breakaway.

The Soudal Quick-Step rider, 28, was part of a four-man group which seemed destined to be caught during the closing stages in Bourg-en-Bresse.

Compatriot Jonas Vingegaard maintained his comfortable overall lead with just three stages left.

Two-time winner Tadej Pogacar remains seven minutes and 35 seconds behind the defending champion, with Britain's Adam Yates third.

✍🏼 Manchester United have completed the £47.2m (55m euro) signing of goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter Milan.

The Cameroon international, 27, has signed a five-year contract, with the option of a 12-month extension.

⚽️ Chelsea are working on an improved offer of £80m plus add-ons for Brighton's 21-year-old Ecuador midfielder Moises Caicedo.

👊🏻 Islam Makhachev's next title defense is no longer a mystery. The UFC lightweight champion will defend his belt against former champ Charles Oliveira in a rematch in the main event of UFC 294 on Oct. 21 in Abu Dhabi, UFC president Dana White announced Wednesday night.

📺 Live Sport TV Guide

🗓️ TODAY

07:00 - PGA TOUR - Barracuda Championship, Round 1 (Fox Sports More)

09:00 - The Basketball Tournament (ESPN 2)

10:05 - MLB - Chicago Cubs v St. Louis Cardinals (ESPN)

11:00 - The Basketball Tournament (ESPN 2)

15:30 - The Open Championship, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

18:00 - NRL - Warriors v Canberra Raiders (Fox League)

19:50 - AFL - Essendon Bombers v Western Bulldogs (Fox Footy or 7mate)

20:00 - Test Match - England v Australia (GEM)

20:00 - NRL - South Sydney Rabbitohs v Brisbane Broncos (Fox League or Channel 9)

21:30 - Tour de France, Stage 19, 173km (SBS)

🗓️ SATURDAY

07:00 - PGA TOUR - Barracuda Championship, Round 2 (Fox Sports More)

09:00 - The Basketball Tournament (ESPN 2)

09:10 - MLB - Boston Red Sox v New York Mets (ESPN)

11:00 - Women's World Cup Group Game - United States v Vietnam (Optus Sport 1)

11:00 - The Basketball Tournament (ESPN 2)

13:45 - AFL - Richmond Tigers v Hawthorn (Fox Footy)

14:10 - AFL - Carlton Blues v West Coast Eagles (Fox Sports)

15:00 - NRL - Gold Coast Titans v Sydney Roosters (Fox League)

15:05 - Shute Shield (Stan Sport or GEM)

15:05 - Shute Shield - Warringah Rugby v Southern Districts Rugby (Stan Sport)

16:35 - AFL - Brisbane Lions v Geelong Cats (Fox Footy)

17:30 - NRL - Newcastle Knights v Melbourne Storm (Fox League)

19:00 - The Open Championship, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

19:35 - NRL - North Queensland Cowboys v Parramatta Eels (Fox League)

19:40 - AFL - Port Adelaide Power v Collingwood Magpies (Fox Footy)

19:40 - AFL - Fremantle Dockers v Sydney Swans (Fox Sports)

20:00 - Test Match - England v Australia (Channel 9 or GEM)

21:25 - Tour de France, Stage 20, 133.5km (SBS)

🗓️ SUNDAY

06:00 - The Basketball Tournament (ESPN 2)

08:00 - PGA TOUR - Barracuda Championship, Round 3 (Fox Sports More)

09:00 - Premier League Summer Series - Chelsea v Brighton & Hove Albion (Optus Sport 2)

12:00 - Lightweight Title - George Kambosos v Maxi Hughes (Main Event)

13:10 - AFL - GWS Giants v Gold Coast Suns (Fox Footy or Channel 7)

14:00 - NRL - Penrith Panthers v Canterbury Bulldogs (Fox League)

15:20 - AFL - Melbourne Demons v Adelaide Crows(Fox Sports)

16:05 - NRL - Cronulla Sharks v Manly Sea Eagles (Fox League or Channel 9)

16:40 - AFL - St. Kilda Saints v North Melb. Kangaroos (Fox Footy)

18:00 - Major - The Open Championship, Round 4 (Fox Sports)

20:00 - Test Match - England v Australia (GEM)

20:00 - Friendly Match - Yokohama F. Marinos v Manchester City (Paramount+)

23:00 - Formula 1 Hungary - Formula 1 Hungary Race, Round 12 (Fox Sports)