🗞 A Moment of Magic

G'day sports fans,

Classic Ashes quote: “You’ve got to bat on this in a minute, Tuffers. Hospital food suit you?” - Craig McDermott after being bowled by Phil Tufnell

🇦🇺 Aussie Sport

🏉 NSW have been dealt a significant blow with Latrell Mitchell ruled out for Origin II.

The star centre missed out on Origin I with a calf injury and wasn't available for media duties on Wednesday due to a physiotherapy appointment.

Matt Burton has been rushed into Origin camp to be New South Wales’ new 18th man after Stephen Crichton was promoted to the centres to cover for the injured Latrell Mitchell.

🏏 Steve Smith sent an almighty scare through Australia's camp during a nets session ahead of the first Ashes Test.

The veteran right-hander was struck on the finger while batting and had to stop his practice, then was seen sitting on a chair in pain while he was examined by a medico.

2023 Qantas Ashes Tour of the UK

• First Test: Fri June 16-Tues June 20, Edgbaston

• Second Test: Wed June 28-Sun July 2, Lord’s

• Third Test: Thurs July 6-Mon July 10, Headingley

• Fourth Test: Wed July 19-Sun July 23, Old Trafford

• Fifth Test: Thurs July 27-Mon 31, The Oval

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, David Warner

England squad: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

🦘 Wallabies legend Tim Horan declared Nic White would make a "great" Test captain as coach Eddie Jones prepares to name his first official squad for the Rugby Championship.

Jones named a training squad in April but is yet to reveal whether incumbent skipper James Slipper will continue in the role for the clash with South Africa on July 9 (AEST).

Jones is expected to name his Wallabies squad on June 25, the day after the Super Rugby Pacific final - but won't necessarily reveal his captain or captains then.

🥊 A confident Tim Tszyu has predicted he will need no more than five rounds to finish Mexican Carlos Ocampo before then turning his attention to American superstar Jermell Charlo – a fighter who, he says, “gets on the piss a and starts yapping his mouth on Instagram”.

The ring-walk is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. AEST (Sunday).

⚽️ A moment of magic from global superstar Lionel Messi and a defensive lapse from Australia saw 2022 World Cup champions Argentina claim a 2-0 win over the Socceroos.

The eventual World Cup champions were sorely tested by the green and gold team in the Round of 16 in Qatar, scraping a 2-1 win before going on to hoist the trophy.

The rematch, in front of a sold-out crowd of nearly 70,000 fans in Beijing, saw Argentina’s football association reportedly pocket around $100 million.

🏊🏼‍♀️ Mollie O’Callaghan will go into the World Championships as the favourite for the 200m freestyle title after dethroning Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus in an incredible race.

In what was arguably the race of the meet, the event was so packed with Olympians that Shayna Jack could only manage to qualify ninth and had to headline the ‘B’ final.

🏉 Expanding Super Rugby Pacific into Hawaii is the latest bold concept in a string of ideas being led by Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan

A greater emphasis on the 'Pacific' element of Super Rugby could see the island state join the competition with its own team in years to come.

McLennan is also open to the idea of adding Japan back into the mix.

🌎 World Sport

⚽️ Premier League Fixtures announced: Champions Manchester City will kick off the Premier League season on Friday, 11 August at promoted Burnley - managed by their former captain Vincent Kompany.

Luton Town's first top-flight match since 1992 is at Brighton a day later, when fellow promoted club Sheffield United host Crystal Palace.

Mauricio Pochettino's reign as Chelsea manager begins at home to Liverpool on Sunday, 13 August.

New Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou takes his side to Brentford that day. (ALL FIXTURES)

🏏 England captain Ben Stokes says he has "real confidence" he can play his part as a bowler in the first Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston.

Stokes has bowled only one over in competitive cricket since February as he manages a left-knee issue.

⚽️ West Ham have rejected Arsenal's first bid for England midfielder Declan Rice.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has made Rice one of his main transfer targets, with suggestions that a deal was close. Manchester United have had a £40m bid for Chelsea's Mason Mount, 24, turned down.

🏟️ Rickie Fowler is being joined by US Ryder Cup team-mates Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas as fellow investors into Leeds United as part of their takeover by 49ers Enterprises.

They were last sold in 2013; when they sold for $104,765, which demolished the record for game-worn shoes across sports. That’s a 1200% increase ten years.

🏎 The four podium trophies and Pirelli pole position award from the cancelled Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix have raised more than £245,000 at auction.

Major flooding in the Italian region in May led organisers to call off the race at Imola over safety concerns.

👟 On the 25th anniversary of Michael Jordan's iconic game-winning shot in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, the sneakers he wore one season earlier in the infamous "Flu Game" sold for $1.38m.

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📺 Live Sport TV Guide

TODAY

10:05 - MLB - Chicago Cubs v Pittsburgh Pirates (ESPN 2)

17:05 - Super Rugby Pacific Semi-Final - Crusaders v Blues (Stan Sport)

19:50 - AFL - Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans (Fox Footy)

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

20:00 - NRL - North Queensland Cowboys v Penrith Panthers (Fox League or Channel 9)

23:40 - Major Golf - US Open, Round 2 (Fox Sports)

SATURDAY

04:45 - UEFA EURO Qualifier - Denmark v Northern Ireland (Optus Sport 3)

09:10 - MLB - Boston Red Sox v New York Yankees (ESPN 2)

12:40 - NSW Cup - Newcastle Knights NSW Cup v Sydney Roosters NSW Cup (Fox League)

15:00 - NRL - Newcastle Knights v Sydney Roosters (Fox League)

15:05 - Shute Shield (Stan Sport)

15:55 - Darwin Triple Crown - Race 1 (Fox Sports or Channel 7)

16:35 - AFL - GWS Giants v Fremantle Dockers (Fox Footy)

17:05 - Super Rugby Pacific Semi-Final - Chiefs v Brumbies (GEM or Stan Sport)

17:30 - NRL - Parramatta Eels v Manly Sea Eagles (Fox League)

19:25 - AFL - Richmond Tigers v St. Kilda Saints (Fox Footy or 7mate)

19:35 - NRL - Wests Tigers v Melbourne Storm (Fox League)

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

SUNDAY

03:00 - Major Golf - US Open, Round 3 (Fox Sports)

04:45 - UEFA EURO Qualifier - Belgium v Austria (Optus Sport 1)

04:45 - UEFA EURO Qualifier - Portugal v Bosnia and Herzegovina (Optus Sport 2)

05:00 - Top 14 Final - Stade Toulousain v Stade Rochelais (beIN SPORTS 2)

12:00 - Super Welterweight Title - Tim Tszyu v Carlos Ocampo (Main Event)

12:15 - Darwin Triple Crown - Triple Crown Darwin Race 2, Round 5 (Channel 7, Fox Sports)

13:10 - AFL - Carlton Blues v Gold Coast Suns (Fox Footy)

15:40 - Darwin Triple Crown - Triple Crown Darwin Race 3, Round 5 (Channel 7, Fox Sports)

16:05 - NRL - Cronulla Sharks v Canterbury Bulldogs (Fox League or Channel 9)

16:40 - AFL - North Melb. Kangaroos v Western Bulldogs (Fox Footy)

17:00 - World Cup Qualifier Group Stage - Zimbabwe v Nepal (Fox Cricket)

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