Morning.

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In today's edition of SJ;

🏏 Khawaja hits back

🥋 Watch: one of the worst football tackles you've ever seen!

🏟 Sydney stadium (teams aren't happy)

🏏 Cricket

Disastrous errors cost the Renegades, while Khawaja sends a message to selectors.

Usman Khawaja proved his ODI axing was little distraction as he powered to a 46-ball 66.

The knock came at a cost midway through, however, when Khawaja appeared to hurt his knee when he slipped attempting to turn for a second run.

A tactical timeout helped Khawaja catch his breath, with the left-hander adding 34 runs following the incident to post another half-century to his already impressive BBL record.

Shaun Marsh top-scored for his new team but couldn’t prevent Melbourne Renegades suffering a narrow defeat to Sydney Thunder in the opening match of their Big Bash League title defence.

Show him the money! Patrick Cummins shatter records in richest IPL auction deal

Cummins topped the 2020 IPL Auction with a record deal of $3.2 million (15.5 Crore) — breaking English star Ben Stokes’ previous record price of 14.5 Crore ($3 million) for an international player in the IPL.

Steve Smith and David Warner previously shared the record for Australian players in the IPL after they were this year retained for $2.5 million each — but Cummins’ new deal with the Kolkata is a new record price.

🥊 Boxing

Jeff Horn's crew was seconds away from throwing in the towel

and quitting against Michael Zerafa to save the fighter from a brutal ninth-round battering in their epic title fight, his trainer Glenn Rushton revealed.

"One of my corner men said to me he wanted to throw the towel in ... he had the towel in his hands and I said 'not yet, not yet', and I was vindicated in the end,'' Rushton said post-fight.

A crazy glove choice, two knockdowns in a round-of-the-year candidate (9th) and a dodgy scorecard — this fight had it all. (foxsports)

🏉 NRL

Free to play: David Fifita avoids sanction for Bali bust-up after ‘inconclusive’ evidence

The (35 year old) I mean, 19-year-old was locked up in November after an alleged incident involving a nightclub security guard.

The Broncos were by the forward’s side throughout the situation and helped broker a “peace agreement” with the alleged victim. (foxsports)

Storm teen Tino Fa’asuamaleaui turns back on $2.7m Warriors deal to sign with… Gold Coast Titans

“Tino has already proven to be one of the most promising young players in the game and we’re excited to have him joining the Titans,” Titans coach Justin Holbrook said. (foxsports)

🏟 Sydney Stadium

LED ‘curtain’ to hide small crowds at Sydney Football Stadium missing from new plans

Sydney FC, the Roosters and the Waratahs wanted the new $828 million stadium in Moore Park to feature an LED “curtain” that would disguise empty seats during games.

This is because the new stadium will hold 45,000 fans, but all three teams have been plagued by poor turnouts in recent years.

Sydney FC averaged just under 15,000 crowds at their home games last season — the Roosters and Waratahs had 1500 less.

Plans for both a curtain to block out the entire top tier of the stadium and an LED display at the edge of the roof, were dropped to save $46 million

⚽️ Football

Argentinian footballer’s shocking tackle sparks mammoth brawl in professional match...horrific!

Roberto Firmino scores a late, late winner for Liverpool as they book their place in the Fifa Club World Cup final with a 2-1 win over Monterrey.

They'll now play Flemengo (Brazil) in the World Club Final on Sunday 4:30am AEDT

Rumour mill: It's rumoured that Paris St-Germain are apparently lining up to bring Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola in to replace Thomas Tuchel.

Confirmed: PINT-SIZED Philippe Coutinho revealed to be wearing children’s kits for Bayern Munich as adult shirts are too big.

🇺🇸 ‘Merica

Super Agent reaping the rewards!

Scott Boras was the first agent to negotiate at US$50m contract and things have only gone up from there, doing nearly a billion in trades in the MLB.

By the numbers: Boras has already negotiated four deals this winter worth a total of $878 million, which is $43.9 million in his pocket (he gets 5%, per NY Post).

• Gerrit Cole: $324M ($16.2M for Boras)

• Stephen Strasburg: $245M ($12.25M for Boras)

• Anthony Rendon: $245M ($12.25M for Boras)

• Mike Moustakas: $64M ($3.2M for Boras)

🏈 NFL: If the Packers, Cowboys, Patriots and Texans win their games this week, they'll be champions of the NFC North, NFC East, AFC East and AFC South, respectively.

🏀 NBA: 1,049 points James Harden's 1,049 points in 1,020 minutes of play is the highest total through the first 27 games of a season since Wilt Chamberlain had 1,371 points in 1962-63.

📺 Weekend Sport

🎯 PDC darts World Championship

⚽️ A-League (Fri, Sat, Sun) / Premier League / European Leagues

⛳️ Australian PGA Championship

🏀 NBA

⚾️ ABL

🏏 BBL - Brisbane v Melbourne Stars (Fri)

Back on Monday!