🗞 Running into 2024 like....

G’day Sports Fans,

New Year Motivation: “The past doesn’t matter. Take today.” - Becky Sauerbrunn.

🏃🏻 Running into 2024 like….

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

🇦🇺 AUSSIE SPORTS NEWS
 

🌧️ Sydney’s run with inclement weather during a Test looks set to continue, with rain predicted at stages of Australia’s clash with Pakistan, which begins today.

Temperatures are expected to near 30 degrees with slight chances of rain, but Thursday is set to bring with it a 70 per cent chance of rain according to the Bureau of Meteorology. 

It would mark the seventh Test of of the last eight at the SCG to be interrupted by rain. 

🏏 David Warner has pleaded for his "baggy green" cap to be returned after revealing it has been stolen from his luggage.

Warner [who announced his retirement from one-day international (ODI) cricket in the lead-up to his final Test match] said the cap was in his backpack which was taken while he travelled to Sydney to play against Pakistan.

Wednesday's third Test will be Warner's last before he retires from the format.

"It's sentimental to me, it's something I would love to have back in my hands walking out there come this week," Warner said in a video on social media. (Instagram)

🏏 Melbourne Stars opener Tom Rogers bolstered his side’s chances of returning to the Big Bash League finals after hitting an unbeaten 42 to get them over the line in reply to the Melbourne Renegades’ 7-97.

❤️ In the days that have passed since Melissa Hoskins died on Saturday night, the mother-of-two and Australian Olympic cyclist has been remembered as "a shining star", "the ultimate mum" and a "beautiful" person who will be "so deeply missed".

The cycling community is reeling after Hoskins, 32, died after being hit by a car in Adelaide. Her husband, Australian Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis, has been charged over her death.

🏈 Australian punter Tory Taylor has put himself in the shop-front window for NFL franchises, breaking an 85-year College Football record during Iowa's clash against Tennessee on Tuesday (AEDT).

During the first quarter of the clash, Taylor produced a 62-yard punt, which saw him reach the highest punting yards by a player since John Fingel in 1938.

🏏 Australia secured an ODI series whitewash in the third and final one-dayer in Mumbai.

Phoebe Litchfield's sparkling century (112) and captain Alyssa Healy's (82) emphatic return to form carried Australia to a formidable 7-338, [their highest total against India] before bowling out the hosts for just 148.

💒 Shoutout to Aussie golf superstar Cam Smith who married American chiropractor Shanel Naoum in 'mullets and tuxedos' wedding - as a guest said: 'Even his bogan mates scrubbed up'.

🌎 WORLD SPORTS NEWS

⛳️ The PGA Tour is back this week with The Sentry. Formerly the Tournament of Champions, for the first time the field includes more than just the year’s PGA Tour winners. The top 50 players from the 2022–23 FedEx Cup points list are also invited to tee it up - hence the change of name.

The tournament will take place at the Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui, Hawaii.

Defending champ Viktor Hovland, Hideki Matsuyama, Rickie Fowler and Scottie Scheffler (6.5 FAV), plus potential future stars Ludvig Aberg, Tom Kim, Vincent Norrman and Sahith Theegalaare in the field, although Rory McIlroy has opted to sit it out yet again.

Last years winner Jon Rahm won’t be there after joining 2022 winner Aussie Cameron Smith at LIV Golf.

⚽️ Liverpool and Real Madrid want Paris St-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, who is out of contract at the end of the season. The 25-year-old France international is free to sign for another club this month.

⚽️ Wayne Rooney said it would “take some time to get over this setback” after he was sacked as manager of Championship side Birmingham City following a disastrous [15 game] spell in charge.

🎾 Rafael Nadal has made a perfect start [his first in almost 12 months] to his much-needed Australian Open tune-up, defeating former US Open champion Dominic Thiem in straight sets at the Brisbane International.

🎯 The amazing journey of 16-year-old sensation Luke Littler at the World Darts Championship has reached the semi-finals - and the rising star has issued a bold warning to his rivals.

"It's going to take a lot to stop me," he said.

Littler is on the cusp of producing one of the greatest sporting stories of all time, and he will challenge 2018 winner Rob Cross in the final four at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday (AEDT).

📺 LIVE SPORTS ON TV

TODAY 

22:45 - Women's ODI Series - India v Australia (Fox Cricket)

06:30 - Premier League - West Ham United v Brighton & Hove Albion (Optus Sport 1)

06:30 - PDC World Championship Semi-Finals (Fox Sports More)

10:30 - Test Match - Australia v Pakistan (Channel 7, Fox Cricket)

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

12:00 - NBA - Oklahoma City Thunder v Boston Celtics (ESPN)

14:00 - Men's Super Smash - Otago Volts v Canterbury Kings (Fox Sports)

14:30 - NHL - Los Angeles Kings v Toronto Maple Leafs (ESPN 2)

18:05 - Big Bash League - Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat (Fox Cricket or Channel 7)

19:00 - Test Match - South Africa v India (Fox Sports)

21:15 - Big Bash League - Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers (Channel 7, Fox Cricket)

THURSDAY

05:15 - Spanish La Liga - Real Madrid v RCD Mallorca (Optus Sport 1)

07:00 - PDC World Championship Final (Fox Sports More)

07:30 - Spanish La Liga - Girona v Atletico Madrid (Optus Sport 1)

10:30 - Test Match - Australia v Pakistan (Channel 7, Fox Cricket )

12:30 - NBA -  New York Knicks v Chicago Bulls (ESPN)

14:00  - NBA   -  Los Angeles Lakers v Miami Heat (ESPN 2)

14:00 - Men's Super Smash -  Auckland Aces v Wellington Firebirds (Fox Sports)

19:00 - Test Match - South Africa v India (Fox Sports)

19:15 - Big Bash League - Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes (Fox Cricket or Channel 7)

19:30 - NBL - Sydney Kings v Melbourne United (ESPN)

19:45 - A-League Men - Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix (Paramount+)

22:45 - Test Match - South Africa v India (Fox Cricket)