🗞 Poked the bear

November 26, 2019

Morning. What's your favourite nickname in sport?

Our favourites include:

  • 'One Size' Fitz Hall (ex-footballer)

  • Mark ‘Afghanistan’ Waugh, as in, ‘The Forgotten War'

  • ‘Waltzing’ Matt Hilder

Today's issue includes;

🏏 Marsh Cup & 2nd Test preview

🇦🇺 Australia's most loved sports team

🏀 Future Top 5 draft pick?

🤔 Who said it?

Which football manager is reported to have said: "I advise my players to have sex for short periods and with the minimum of effort and use positions where they are under their partners – and preferably with their wives because, if with others, that will need extra action"?

🏏 Marsh Cup

It’s called the Marsh Cup, and Shaun hit a brilliant ton to win the silverware

A defiant century by Shaun Marsh (aka SOS - 'Son of Swampy') steered Western Australia to a tense four-wicket victory over Queensland in the domestic one-day final in Brisbane.

Ex-Test batsman Marsh stood tall as wickets fell around him, stroking a chance-less 101 not out to steady a wobbly WA and guide them to 6-210 in the 48th over.

🏀 NBL

LaMelo Ball is smashing it in the NBL at 18 — and America is taking an interest in him, and the Aussie league.

When the NBL announced its Next Stars program last year, to help fast-track future stars of the NBA, it looked like a solid piece of business. The result - extra eyeballs, in internet chatter, in a record NBL attendance at a Illawarra Hawks — Sydney Kings match last week.

But on Monday night, in Wollongong, the NBL — and LaMelo Ball — hit the jackpot.

🇦🇺 AFL Draft

Final draft order: Check out your club's picks

Foxsports' Matt Balmer has taken a stab at his selections. In this mock draft, academy and father-son bids have been included, which will see clubs slide up and down the draft order. (read it here)

  • Pick 1: Gold Coast - Matt Rowell

  • Pick 2: Gold Coast - Noah Anderson

  • Pick 3: Melbourne - Luke Jason

See your teams draft order (here)

🏏 Cricket

Yasir, you’ve poked the bear: Smith vows revenge on Pakistan’s 7-finger salute.

Shah raised his thumb and four fingers one hand, and two fingers on the other, marking the number of times he has got Smith out in test cricket, in an act noted as “interesting” by the Australian.

“It gave me a bit more motivation next game to not get out to him,” Smith said Tuesday at Adelaide Oval, where the day-night test begins Friday.(news.com)

🏉 Rugby Union

Broadcast deal seen as 'pivotal moment' in Australian Rugby Union

The game is in danger of becoming a minor sport if administrators cannot secure a lucrative deal with Foxtel or rivals Optus

Rugby Australia’s negotiation of its next broadcast deal has got off to a shaky start with Foxtel reportedly threatening to cut ties with the sport and remove its $20m funding. The future of the game in this country will depend on the outcome of the new agreement.

RA boss Raelene Castle forced to apologise for Wallabies’ behaviour at World Cup in Japan 

The last four years have been a nightmare for Australian rugby with the axing of the Western Force, the sacking of Israel Folau and the lack of on-field success for both the Wallabies and Super Rugby teams, culminating in an unsuccessful World Cup campaign in Japan.(fox sports)

⚽️ Football

Arsenal chiefs fear (hope) their top players will be forced to consider their futures if manager Unai Emery remains in charge next season. (Mail)

Jobs for the Moyes - David Moyes is the clear favourite to replace Silva at Everton. I think Mikel Arteta ($5) or Eddie Howe ($9.00) would be a good move. Thoughts?

Pogba is deliberately going slow over his recovery as he doesn't want to turn out for United again until January.

Pogba, it is reported, is convinced he can get a move away over the New Year and doesn't want to risk his chances by turning out for United before then. (TribalFootball)

🇦🇺 Aussie Sport

Matildas have strongest bond with fans in Australian sport

What they are talking about is our level of emotional connection, as revealed in the 2019 BenchMark EC ladder released on Tuesday morning, compiled by True North Research (theAustralian)

Live Sport

🏏 WBBL - Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Ren. (2:10pm) times AEDT

🏏 WBBL - Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars (2:30pm)

🇦🇺 AFL Draft 6:30pm

⚽️ UEFAChampions League (fixtures & live scores) (4:55am & 7am, kick-off)

Answer:

Antonio Conte (Inter Milan Manager) (article)

Back on Friday!