🗞️ Dream Achieved

🏏 Australia and Pakistan are set for their second ODI face-off this afternoon after a nail-biting opener at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). 

Australia managed to secure a narrow victory, but Pakistan’s bowlers, especially Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi, made them work hard for it despite a modest total of 203.

Australia predicted XI: Matthew Short, Jake Fraser, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis (wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Maxwell, Hardie, Pat Cummins (c), Zampa, Sean Abbott, Starc.

📺 Watch: Foxtel or Live stream on Kayo (at 2:30pm AEDT)

🏉 Australia have handed a rugby union debut to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre for their opening Autumn international against England (02:10 Sunday), drafting the rugby league convert straight into the side.

He will partner Len Ikitau in the midfield and is the only change from Australia's previous Test against New Zealand in their woeful Rugby Championship campaign where they lost five of their six games, including a 67-27 defeat by Argentina.

Noah Lolesio keeps his place at fly-half, with the side to be captained by number eight Harry Wilson, but there is no place for lock Will Skelton or centre Samu Kerevi.

• ☕️ Coffee-Break Ammo: Suaalii’s last rugby match was 1,865 days ago for an Australian school boys side.

🏏 Australian fast bowler Michael Neser left the field injured late in India A's first innings after tearing apart the tourists' top order (27-4).

Neser pulled up short immediately after bowling the first ball of his 13th over having reportedly injured his left hamstring.

McSweeney and Harris had been pitted against each other at the top of the order as a final audition ahead of the announcement of the Australian Test squad next week.

Largely touted as the pick of the bunch, McSweeney was dismissed by India A's opening bowler Mukesh Kumar for 14.

Harris remains on 26 not out from 42 balls alongside Sam Konstas who is unbeaten on one.

🐴 icymi: Pre-race favourite TreasuretheMoment took out the 2024 VRC Crown Oaks.

The talented filly proved too good for a strong field in the $1 million feature race at Flemington on Thursday afternoon.

Damian Lane rode the winner, who was on a quick back-up from Saturday where she won the Group 2 Wakeful ahead of some similar runners.

"It is 20 years of work really trying to achieve something like this," Trainer Matt Laurie said.

👋🏼 Australian breaker Rachael Gunn has announced she will retire from competition, citing the viral response to her performance at the Paris Olympics.

NRL NEWS

👋🏼 The Eels have officially granted Clint Gutherson a release from the final year of his contract to take up an offer with the Dragons. 

“The Parramatta Eels have reached an agreement for Clint Gutherson to be released from the final year of his contract, allowing him to pursue other opportunities,” the Eels said in a statement. 

The decision to reach this agreement was made in acknowledgement of Clint’s contributions since joining the Eels in 2016 and out of respect for his desire to secure his long-term future in the NRL.

“The legacy Clint leaves, as a former Captain of the Club, is one of courage and competitiveness, two key attributes for any young aspiring NRL player.” - said the Club.

🧀 The Roosters have reportedly reached out to rival clubs, enquiring if they’re interested in Brandon Smith with his time at the club set to come to an end.

That is according to The Daily Telegraph, who are reporting the club’s were asked if they would recruit him should the Tricolours make immediate moves to sever ties.

“I haven’t spoken to them yet because Robbo is still away,” Smith said.

“When we get back to training we will have the proper discussion. Ideally I would like to stay at the Roosters.

AFL NEWS

🎨 The Adelaide Crows have unveiled a new, retro-inspired logo, but it's drawn a mixed reaction from fans.

The club says the new look draws inspiration from its past, evoking memories of the club's formative years in the 1990s.

"We've got a rich footy heritage, so thought why not go back to the swooping crow, from 1991, but give it a modern feel," Crows CEO Tim Silvers told 9News Adelaide.

🎾 Two-time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas says playing ATP Masters 1,000 events over two weeks has been a "backwards move", as the debate over scheduling and player welfare continues.

Five of the ATP Tour's nine Masters events - the highest-ranked men's tournaments below the Grand Slams - are played over 12 days.

Events in Cincinnati and Canada will follow suit next year.

Defending champion Iga Swiatek thrashed Russia's Daria Kasatkina 6-1 6-0 at the WTA Finals - but faces an anxious wait to see if she will qualify for the semi-finals. Apparently there were only 400 people in 4,000 arena, in Saudi Arabia.

🏉 In a bumper weekend of Rugby; Ireland will look to continue their hold over New Zealand, Wales will take on a Fiji complete with their stars playing in France, while World Champions South Africa will be keen to show Scotland who the boss is. France (and Dupont) play Japan.

🏏 Whenever this come up on my feed, I share it, it’s a simple as that. Not everyday you see a batsman in a hockey mask. It’s laughing that gets me though ⬇️

🏀 NBA Wrap: Steph Curry passed NBA legend Charles Barkley - a long-time critic - on the all-time scoring list as the Golden State Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 118-112.

The 34-year-old, a four-time NBA Championship winner, registered 27 points on the night, plus a triple double, as he moved to 30th on the all-time list and the Warriors sealed their fifth consecutive win.

Curry registered the 23,747th point of his career in the third quarter to surpass 61-year-old Barkley.

Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers recorded a franchise record nine wins in a row with a 131-122 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The LA Lakers were beaten 131-114 by the Memphis Grizzlies, despite LeBron James scoring a season-high 39 points.

🏎️ Formula 1 drivers have urged the sport's governing body to treat them like adults after Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc were punished for swearing.

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) has also criticised FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for his "tone and language" when addressing the topic.

"We urge the FIA president to consider his own tone and language when talking to our member drivers, or indeed about them, whether in a public forum or otherwise.”

⚽️ Football Wrap: Manchester United and Chelsea target Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres (who apparently has a €100m buyout clause), Real Madrid eye January move for Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, and finally, Al-Hilal could cancel Neymar's contract and move for Cristiano Ronaldo.

⛳️ England's Tommy Fleetwood shot a 10-under-par 62 to equal the course record and lead by one shot after the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Rory McIlroy needs to finish in the top two at Yas Links to win a sixth Race to Dubai title, before the final event of the European Tour season at the World Tour Championship in Dubai next week.

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TODAY 

06:00 - PGA TOUR - World Wide Technology Championship, Round 1 - Fox Sports

10:30 - Four-Day Tour Match - Australia A v India A - Fox Sports

12:00 - NBA - Chicago Bulls v Minnesota Timberwolves - ESPN 2

12:15 - NFL - Baltimore Ravens v Cincinnati Bengals - ESPN

14:30 - ODI Series - Australia v Pakistan - Fox Cricket

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

19:35 - A-League Men - Western Sydney Wanderers v Newcastle Jets - Paramount+

SATURDAY 

02:00 - T20 Series - South Africa v India - Fox Cricket

06:00 - PGA TOUR - World Wide Technology Championship, Round 2 - Fox Sports

07:10 - Autumn Nations Series - Ireland v New Zealand - Stan Sport App

10:30 - Four-Day Tour Match - Australia A v India A - Fox Cricket

11:30 - NHL - Washington Capitals v Pittsburgh Penguins - ESPN 2

11:30 - NBA - Dallas Mavericks v Phoenix Suns - ESPN

14:00 - NHL - Seattle Kraken v Vegas Golden Knights - ESPN 2

14:00 - NBA - Los Angeles Lakers v Philadelphia 76ers - ESPN

14:20 - Four-Day Tour Match - Australia A v India A - Fox Sports

17:00 - A-League Men - Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar - 10 Bold

17:30 - NBL - Tasmania JackJumpers v New Zealand Breakers - ESPN

19:35 - A-League Men - Adelaide United v Western United - 10 Bold

20:00 - NBL - Melbourne United v Perth Wildcats - ESPN

SUNDAY 

02:00 - Premier League - West Ham United v Everton - Optus Sport 2

02:00 - Premier League - Brentford v Bournemouth - Optus Sport 5

02:00 - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Fulham - Optus Sport 3

02:10 - Autumn Nations Series - England v Australia - Stan Sport App

04:30 - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City - Optus Sport 1

04:40 - Autumn Nations Series - Italy v Argentina - Stan Sport App

06:00 - PGA TOUR - World Wide Technology Championship, Round 3 - Fox Sports

07:00 - Premier League - Liverpool v Aston Villa - Optus Sport 1

07:10 - Autumn Nations Series - France v Japan - Stan Sport App

10:30 - Four-Day Tour Match - Australia A v India A - Fox Sports

11:30 - NBA - Atlanta Hawks v Chicago Bulls - ESPN

14:30 - ODI Series - Australia v Pakistan - Fox Cricket

14:30 - NBL - South East Melbourne Phoenix v Cairns Taipans - Channel 10, ESPN

16:00 - A-League Men - Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix - Paramount+

16:05 - Men's Pacific Cup Final - Australia v Tonga - Fox League

16:30 - NBL - Adelaide 36ers v Illawarra Hawks - 10 Bold, ESPN

18:00 - A-League Men - Sydney FC v Macarthur FC Bulls - Paramount+

18:20 - Men's Pacific Bowl Final - New Zealand v Papua New Guinea - Fox League

20:45 - A-League Men - Perth Glory v Melbourne City - Paramount+