🗞 Your Mum

G’day Sports Fans,

⛳️ Trash Talk: "Your mom could make this putt."  - The words of encouragement from Nick Dunlap's caddie Hunter before his making winning putt on the PGA Tour.

📧 P.S. First time reading? Subscribe here for free.

🏏 The two best teams of the regular Big Bash season will face off for the ultimate prize in an unmissable BBL|13 Final

• Who: Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat 

• Where: SCG, Sydney 

• When: Today, January 24. Bat flip at 6.30pm AEDT, first ball at 7.15pm AEDT.

• Sixers: WWWWL (most recent first) 

• Heat: WLLWW  

Sixers enjoy a 13-6 overall record against Heat. But Heat have won two of the last three at the SCG with their only defeat being a two-wicket loss in late 2021.

Place your vote below on who you think will win out…

🏏 Victoria's Will Sutherland has been brought into Australia's ODI squad in place of the injured Nathan Ellis

Sutherland is the third replacement player [along with youngster Jake Fraser-McGurk and Queensland quick Xavier Bartlett replacing Glenn Maxwell (managed) and Jhye Richardson (side strain)] to play three ODIs from February 2, with games in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.

⛳️ Retired grand slam champion Ash Barty is preparing for a “nerve-wracking” experience when she makes her competitive sporting comeback, on the golf course in New Zealand, at the pro-am component at Queenstown’s Millbrook Resort with former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting also in the field.

⚽️ Asian Cup Result: [AUS 1-1 UZB] Australia won the group, Uzbekistan qualified in second place, and Syria – who beat India 1-0 – should go through as one of the best third-placed teams.

Australia’s record run of 652 minutes without conceding a goal came to an end, though their main concern is at the other end. They’ve had only one shot on target in each of the last two games and lack fluency in attack. But they still qualified comfortably and will play one of Iran, United Arab Emirates, Palestine, Indonesia or Japan.

🤘🏼 Glenn Maxwell is set to avoid sanction from Cricket Australia's integrity unit, with the allrounder back at training after being hospitalised following a night out in Adelaide.

Maxwell had been with a group of Australian teammates at The Gov watching band Six & Out.

🇦🇺 Bulldogs’ Jason Johannisen has highly praised young gun Ryley Sanders, the 2023 top-10 draft pick. Sanders, known for his Larke Medal-winning prowess at underage level, has impressed at the Kennel.

Johannisen exclaimed, "There's been a lot of hype around Ryley Sanders, but it's very merited because the way he has been training is unbelievable."

🏉 The Warriors have reportedly offered Sharks prop Braden Hamlin-Uele a three-year deal from 2025 worth $2.2 million. 

That’s according to a Sydney Morning Herald report which said the Warriors believe Hamlin-Uele can replace Fonua-Blake as the leader of their pack.

🏀 NBL24's class of Next Stars is looming as one of the top groups of emerging hoops talent anywhere in the world.

🎾 Novak Djokovic continued his bid for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title with a confident win over American 12th seed Taylor Fritz.

The Serb, seeking a 25th Grand Slam to move past Margaret Court's record of 24, won 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-2 6-3 in hot conditions to reach the semi-finals.

Jannik Sinner will look to achieve the unthinkable and end Novak Djokovic's incredible 33-match winning streak at the Australian Open.

Sinner booked himself a semi-final spot after defeating Andrey Rublev in straight sets – 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka set up a tantalising Australian Open semi-final against American teenager Coco Gauff after overpowering Barbora Krejcikova in a straight-set victory (6-2, 6-3).

🏈 Downing beers shirtless in 15-degree weather after your brother scores a touchdown in the playoffs [Chiefs] is ultimate football guy energy…

When Jason Kelce does it everyone loves it but when I do it it’s “time to go home”

🎾 Rafael Nadal has entered the Qatar Open in February after missing the Australian Open with a hip injury (19-24th Feb).

Also set to play in the ATP 250 event are Andy Murray, reigning champion Daniil Medvedev and world number five Andrey Rublev. 

⚽️ Manchester United have offered England winger Jadon Sancho, 23, and Brazil winger Antony, 23, to clubs in the Saudi Pro League and want about AU$100m for each player. 

🏀 icymi; Joel Embiid became only the ninth player in NBA history to score 70 or more points in a game as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the San Antonio Spurs 133-123.

His tally of 70 points beat the franchise record of 68, held by the legendary Wilt Chamberlain since 1967.

Kevin Durant's reaction to hearing the news, is worth a watch (Twitter)

🙌🏼 Check out this compilation of Fans making half court shots for money!

📺 Netflix is getting into live sports. The streaming platform will air WWE's Raw starting next year as part of a 10-year, US$5 billion deal.

🏏 Virat Kohli has withdrawn from the first two Tests against England [starting Friday] citing personal reasons.

🏀 The Miami Heat are acquiring Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier for guard Kyle Lowry and a protected 2027 first-round pick, sources told ESPN.

TODAY

11:00 - Basketball - Men's NCAA - Syracuse Orange v Florida State Seminoles (ESPN 2)

11:30 - Basketball - NBA - Brooklyn Nets v New York Knicks (ESPN)

13:00 - Basketball - Men's NCAA - Oklahoma State Cowboys v Texas Christian University (ESPN 2)

14:00 - Basketball - NBA - Los Angeles Clippers v Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN)

19:15 - Cricket - Big Bash League Final - Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat (Fox Cricket or Channel 7)

THURSDAY

02:30 - Cricket - SA20 - Joburg Super Kings v Paarl Royals (Fox Cricket)

07:00 - Golf - PGA TOUR - Farmers Insurance Open, Round 1 (Fox Sports)

11:30 - Basketball - Men's NCAA - Alabama Crimson Tide v Auburn Tigers (ESPN 2)

12:30 - Basketball - NBA - Dallas Mavericks v Phoenix Suns (ESPN)

13:30 - Basketball - NBA - San Antonio Spurs v Oklahoma City Thunder (ESPN 2)

15:00 - Cricket - Test Match - Australia v West Indies (7mate, Channel 7, Fox Cricket)

15:00 - Cricket - Test Match - India v England (Fox Sports)

19:30 - Basketball - NBL - South East Melbourne Phoenix v Sydney Kings (ESPN)

19:45 - Soccer - A-League Men - Melbourne City v Adelaide United (Paramount+)

21:30 - Basketball - NBL - Perth Wildcats v Illawarra Hawks (ESPN)