🗞 Lost the Spark

G'day sports fans,

“We don't need to focus on that, mate - 100-run partnership.” - Pat Cummins jokes about his 12-run contribution in the century stand with Glenn Maxwell in the World Cup match against Netherlands

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🏏 Meg Lanning, Australia’s captain, announced her retirement from international cricket, saying she has lost the “spark” required to perform at the elite level and that she wants to move onto something new.

The 31-year-old will continue to play domestic cricket in the Women’s Big Bash League and the Women’s National Cricket League – and potentially the Indian Premier League – but called time on Wednesday on her hugely successful international career.

"One of the greatest batters and captains we'll ever see," Ashleigh Gardner wrote on her story, while Georgia Wareham added: "Best of the best".

⚽️ Football Australia’s chief executive, James Johnson, conceded Fifa’s abbreviated process that left Saudi Arabia as the only bidder to host the 2034 men’s World Cup caught them by surprise, but that he hoped to beat the Gulf nation to the rights to the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup “on merit”.

🏏 A lion-hearted nine-wicket performance from Nathan McAndrew led South Australia to a stunning three-run victory against Queensland in the Marsh Sheffield Shield at the Gabba.

Queensland lost both their openers cheaply before experienced duo Usman Khawaja (114) and Joe Burns (91) joined forces.

Seemingly cruising at 2-179 in the final session in pursuit of 273, the hosts imploded to lose their final eight wickets for 90 as McAndrew and his bowling cohort – with a little help from the part-time off-spin of Nathan McSweeney – orchestrated a remarkable comeback.

🐴 The Cummings stranglehold on the VRC Oaks remains as strong as ever after the classy Zardozi toyed with her opposition "like a weapon" to stretch the family's connection in the Group 1 fillies classic (2500m) to 13 victories, including the past three.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings now has two VRC Oaks to his name, with Zardozi emulating Willowy from 2021, while his father Anthony won the race last year with She's Extreme.

🎙️ Nick Kyrgios has scored a new job commentating on the end of season World Tour Finals in Turin, Italy that begin later this week.

The ATP Finals see the world’s top eight players based on the calendar year rankings face off in a round robin format to crown the best player of the season.

🏉 The Blues will carry an advantage into next year’s State of Origin series, with game two locked in for the MCG where they have a dominant record over the Maroons.

While Queensland has won the past two series under coach Billy Slater, the Maroons have a horror record at the MCG, winning just one of their five matches at the venue.

🏀 South East Melbourne has reinforced its frontcourt after the calf injury suffered by Gorjok Gak, adding Adelaide legend and three-time All-NBL First Team nominee Daniel Johnson to its roster as a nominated replacement player.

Johnson, 35, ended a 13-season affiliation with the 36ers at the culmination of NBL23, after initially starting his professional career in 2008 with the Melbourne Tigers.

🇦🇺 Adelaide defender Will Hamill has been delisted but will be picked up by the Crows in November's rookie draft.

The 22-year-old has played 38 games for the Crows across five seasons, but did not play a senior game in 2023.

The Crows will take picks 10, 14 and 22 into the 2023 NAB AFL Draft, which will be held on November 20-21, with the rookie draft to follow on November 22.

While Hawthorn has delisted dual All-Australian Chad Wingard and midfielder Cooper Stephens but has committed to re-drafting the pair later this month.

🏉 The NRL has been forced into an 11th-hour rethink of its first-round draw following complaints from host broadcasters after the draft schedule was made public.

This masthead on Thursday published the draft round-one schedule before the NRL’s planned announcement of the 2024 season draw on Monday.

The NRL has since cancelled meetings with clubs scheduled to begin on Thursday afternoon and postponed all correspondence about the draw until Friday morning.

Expected round one schedule:

• Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles (March 2 in Las Vegas)

• Broncos v Roosters (March 2 in Las Vegas)

• Knights v Raiders (March 7)

• Warriors v Sharks (March 8)

• Storm v Panthers (March 8)

• Eels v Bulldogs (March 9)

• Titans v Dragons (March 9)

• Dolphins v Cowboys (March 10)

• Bye: Wests Tigers

🏄🏻‍♂️ Paris 2024 organisers say they are committed to hosting the Olympic surfing event at its planned site in Tahiti - despite concerns raised by locals about the environmental impact.

The site at Teahupo'o, which is 9,500 miles from Paris, is renowned as one of the best surfing waves in the world.

But residents on the Pacific island say the construction of an aluminium tower would damage the coral reef.

"Our ambition has remained unchanged," - Paris 2024 organisers

⚽️ Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will look to sell four players in January to raise the funds needed to sign Brentford and England striker Ivan Toney, 27. 

🥊 Oleksandr Usyk hopes his heavyweight world title fight with Tyson Fury will take place in February in Saudi Arabia.

"I was ready to fight on the 23rd Dec but since Fury got some injuries in the last fight, a knockdown, then probably it will be postponed to next year," - he said.

🏀 The Denver Nuggets’ All-Star guard Jamal Murray is dealing with a hamstring injury and is set to miss three to four weeks.

🏈 By the numbers: If you’re having a punt this weekend. The unders are 83-52-1 (61.5%) so far this season in the NFL, per Action Network, the best through Week 9 since 1991.

🏏 New Zealand all but sealed a World Cup semi-final spot with an easy five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. 

Sri Lanka, who were already eliminated, were bowled out for 171, with Black Caps seamer Trent Boult taking 3-36.

New Zealand reached their target in 23.2 overs to give their net run-rate a significant boost and make it unlikely they can be overtaken in fourth.

⛳️ Tiger Woods says he has "zero issues" with his surgically repaired right ankle but other injury problems remain.

"That pain is completely gone," Woods told the Associated Press.

"Where they fused my ankle, I have absolutely zero issue whatsoever.

"But all the surrounding areas are where I had all my problems and I still do. So you fix one, others have to become more hyper-mobile to get around it, and it can lead to some issues."

Woods was seen caddying for his son Charlie at the Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Championship last week.

"I'm pretty sore after caddying for four days," Woods said. "It was a flat course, thank God."

In October, Woods and fellow golfer Rory McIlroy launched an indoor "high-tech league" and the American announced on Tuesday he will co-own one of the league's teams - Jupiter Links Golf Club - and will play for them when it begins in January 2024.

TODAY

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

12:15 - NFL - Chicago Bears v Carolina Panthers (ESPN)

13:30 - NBA - Orlando Magic v Atlanta Hawks (ESPN 2)

14:28 - Men's Oceania Sevens, Day 1 (Stan Sport)

15:52 - Men's Oceania Sevens, Night 1 (Stan Sport)

19:30 - Cricket World Cup - South Africa v Afghanistan (Fox Cricket )

19:45 - A-League Men - Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix (Paramount+)

21:30 - NBL - Perth Wildcats v New Zealand Breakers (ESPN)

SATURDAY

05:00 - PGA TOUR - Bermuda Championship, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

06:45 - Premiership Rugby - Gloucester Rugby v Bath Rugby (Stan Sport)

11:00 - NHL - Florida Panthers v Carolina Hurricanes (ESPN 2)

11:05 - Marsh One-Day Cup - Tasmania Tigers v Victoria (Kayo Sports)

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

12:44 - Men's Oceania Sevens, Day 2 (Stan Sport)

14:00 - NHL - Vegas Golden Knights v San Jose Sharks (ESPN 2)

14:00 - NBA - Phoenix Suns v Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN)

15:30 - A-League Men - Western United FC v Newcastle Jets (Paramount+)

15:58 - Men's Oceania Sevens, Night 2 (Stan Sport)

16:00 - Cricket World Cup - Australia v Bangladesh (Channel 9, Fox Cricket, GEM or Kayo Sports)

17:30 - NBL - Cairns Taipans v Illawarra Hawk ( ESPN)

17:30 - A-League Men - Western Sydney Wanderers v Perth Glory (Paramount+)

19:30 - Cricket World Cup - England v Pakistan (Fox Sports)

19:45 - A-League Men - Adelaide United v Sydney FC (10 Bold or Paramount+)

20:00 - NBL - Adelaide 36ers v Tasmania JackJumpers (ESPN)

23:30 - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Tottenham (Optus Sport 1)

00:00 - Spanish La Liga - Rayo Vallecano v Girona (Optus Sport 2)

SUNDAY

01:30 - Premiership Rugby - Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks (Stan Sport)

02:00 - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Everton (Optus Sport 5)

02:00 - Premier League - Arsenal v Burnley (Optus Sport 4)

02:00 - Premier League - Manchester United v Luton Town (Optus Sport 3)

02:05 - Premiership Rugby - Leicester Tigers v Harlequins (Stan Sport)

03:00 - PGA TOUR - Bermuda Championship, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

04:30 - Premier League - Bournemouth v Newcastle United (Optus Sport 1)

07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Real Madrid v Valencia (Optus Sport 2)

11:00 - NBA - Boston Celtics v Toronto Raptors (ESPN)

14:00 - NBL - South East Melbourne Phoenix v Melbourne United (10 Peach, ESPN)

14:28 - Men's Oceania Sevens, Day 3 (Stan Sport)

15:00 - A-League Men - Melbourne City v Macarthur FC Bulls (10 Bold or Paramount+)

16:00 - NBL - Sydney Kings v Brisbane Bullets (10 Peach, ESPN)

17:00 - A-League Men - Central Coast Mariners v Brisbane Roar (Paramount+)

17:08 - Men's Oceania Sevens, Night 3 (Stan Sport)

19:30 - Cricket World Cup - India v Netherlands (Fox Cricket)