G'day Sports Fans,

Classic quote: "You know the song is coming - so I just sang 'Frozen' in my head! A happy song. Let it go..." - Mitchell Johnson explains how he kept his focus through the Barmy Army's chants about him during the 2013-14 Ashes.

In today's edition of Sport Journal:

🏏 A Head Scratcher for Selectors

🐴 Shocking ride (only gets 15 days)

🏊🏼‍♂️ Miley's Ex qualifies for Olympic Trials

...and much more!

*Apologies for the lack of Gifs, I know they are a highlight. I don't seem to be able to add them today. I've a couple of beauties lined up for the next issue.

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🏏 Cricket

Second-worst batting performance ever

The Sydney Sixers have belted the Melbourne Renegades, smashing a huge total before bowling Aaron Finch’s side out for the second lowest total in competition history.

The Renegades were bowled out for 60 in reply to the Sixers’ total of 205, with Steve O’Keefe taking 3-16 and Ben Dwarshuis 4-13.

The 145-run margin eclipsed the 112-run loss the Renegades suffered against the Melbourne Stars in 2015 which was the previous benchmark for the biggest defeat.

Marcus Harris, Joe Burns fail to impress in final audition

There were first-class centuries for Ben McDermott and Jack Wildermuth but more worries for openers Marcus Harris and Joe Burns after they fell cheaply to Mohammed Shami as India completed their Test preparations with a draw in Sydney.

Both have failed to push their case for selection ahead of the first Test in Adelaide.

Chasing a target of 473, Burns departed for just 1 run off 21 deliveries after he was given LBW off a Mohammed Shami delivery.

"He was trying to hit that square, and that's a ball that should be hit down the ground," Australian great Allan Border said of Burns' dismissal.

"That's where Joe Burns is at with his technique at the moment, he's just shot.

"It's a sad sight to see a bloke struggling to find any sort of form."

In some more good news Australia, fast bowler Mitchell Starc will make his return in time for the first Test against India beginning on Thursday.

Starc had been granted compassionate leave after the first Twenty20 against India due to a family illness. Starc advised team management on Sunday he's ready to return to the squad will fly from Sydney on Monday to join up with the rest of the test squad.

The Adelaide Test will be a day-night match.

⚽️ Football

🧤 Australian goalkeeper Mitch Langerak has tied the J-League record for most clean sheets in a season, and he could still beat it with one game to go!

🏟 Newcastle Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna has reopened talks with two potential buyers and insists the club has the players and financial resources to thrive in the A-League. [Herald]

🇫🇷 Karim Benzema becomes the 4th Frenchman in history to reach 350 career goals behind only Henry (411), Courtois (364) & Platini (354).

🔁 Juventus hope Manchester United will allow France midfielder Paul Pogba, 27, to return to Turin next month on loan. (Sunday Mirror)

United have already rejected a swap deal with Juve involving Brazilian winger Douglas Costa, 30, and Barcelona's Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic, 30, for Pogba.(Calciomercato)

🤝 A-League pre-season

• Melbourne City beast Western United 3-2

• Newcastle and Brisbane played out a 1-1 draw

• Wellington beat Western Sydney 3-1

🐴 Racing

The first white horse ever to win a Group 1 in the world.

The white princess, SODASHI wins the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies

🙋🏻‍♂️ Ryan Moore has become the first ever non-Hong Kong based jockey to do the HKIR Grand Slam.

Shocker! Jockey banned after extraordinary ride in France

Have you ever seen anything like this?

Jockey Johnny Charron was banned for 15 days after this ride at Cagnes-sur-Mer, making very little effort in the closing stages of the contest

🏉 NRL

Your say: Top moment of the 2020 NRL season — www.nrl.com

Rugby league defied the odds to stage a full season and State of Origin series in a COVID-affected 2020, but what was your high point of the year?

“I think we’re over it,” Geyer

Mark Geyer has called on Storm legend Cameron Smith to stop beating around the bush and make a decision on his future so that the game can move on. 

Smith’s drawn out decision over whether he will play on in 2021 has been the longest running saga in rugby league in 2020 and despite the champion hooker saying he will make a call before Christmas, the rugby league world is still waiting. (nine)

✍🏼 Signings

Asiata makes switch from Cowboys to Broncos - The 27-year-old middle forward arrives in Brisbane on a one-year contract after 128 NRL games for the North Queensland Cowboys, including a 2015 Grand Final win.

🇦🇺 AFL

Who smashed it? Our say on your club's draft performance — www.afl.com.au

All the bolters, sliders, big hauls and curious calls of the 2020 NAB AFL Draft

🏉 Rugby

Potential O'Connor hammer blow

Reaction has been swift and varied to shock reports that James O’Connor has reportedly approached the Chiefs about playing in Super Rugby Aotearoa next year.

The incumbent Wallabies first five has been reported to have inquired about getting a release from his contract with the Reds in order to make the transfer and improve his game in “the world’s toughest domestic competition”.

 It would be a bitter pill to swallow for the Reds, but the bigger picture could net a decent return, say, if O’Connor decided to return to them in 2022 armed with extra knowledge and skills.

All Blacks 2021 Test schedule confirmed

The All Blacks could play as many as 15 Tests next year, including a European tour. New Zealand will host Italy for two matches and Fiji for one in mid-year Tests in Aotearoa.

⛳️ Golf

Race to Dubai: Lee Westwood seals title as Matthew Fitzpatrick wins DP World Tour Championship

Lee Westwood has won a third Race to Dubai title (20 years after his first) after an extraordinary finish to the European Tour season at the DP World Tour Championship.Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, was trying to become the first American to win the title of Europe's top golfer.

Matthew Fitzpatrick won the event on 15 under but Englishman Westwood took the season-long title after Laurie Canter double bogeyed the par-three 17th.

Canter's error lifted Westwood, 47, into second place on his own.

That was enough to pip Fitzpatrick and Patrick Reed, who led the standings at the start of the week, but ended third.

🥇 Olympics

Australian singer Cody Simpson, who broke up with pop star Miley Cyrus in August, has qualified for the Olympic trials for the national swimming team.

The 23-year-old revealed on Instagram he had returned to his “first love” of swimming, cutting his career short when he broke out in music via YouTube as a 13-year-old.

But after spending five months back in the pool, Simpson has now qualified for the trials in the 100-metre butterfly.

Aussie Sevens captain Malouf re-signs for Tokyo Games

Australia’s men’s sevens team has received another boost, after confirmation that captain Nick Malouf has re-signed for their Tokyo Olympics tilt.

The vastly experienced back, who was a regular tryscorer on the wing for Leicester Tigers during his year-long stint in England following the Rio Games, is the latest to sign on for the campaign.

🥊 Boxing

Anthony Joshua welcomes Tyson Fury's knockout claim after Kubrat Pulev win

Anthony Joshua has welcomed Tyson Fury's claim he will beat the unified champion of the world "inside three rounds" and says he feels his British rival will "bring out the best in me".

Joshua, 31, knocked out Kubrat Pulev in round nine (called in Friday's mail $16.0 ✋🏼) on Sunday to increase hope he could fight Fury next.

"I want the fight next. I can't wait to knock him out," WBC champion Fury said in a video posted on social media.

"That's good to hear," Joshua said. "At least I can get him in the ring."

"That's what we want right, so he's on the right track," Joshua told BBC Radio 5 Live Boxing in his changing room.

The biggest Heavyweight fight in a generation looks set for May.

🇺🇸 USA

Stephen Curry's return for Golden State Warriors 'a sight for sore eyes,' Steve Kerr says

Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors are back.

For the first time in more than nine months, Curry and his team were back on an NBA floor in a 107-105 preseason victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night in San Francisco.

Curry went 3-for-10 from the field, scoring 10 points in 21 minutes, but just seeing the former MVP back on the floor was a relief for a franchise that has desperately missed him after he played five games last season while recovering from a broken left hand.

"It's always just great to see him out on the floor," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "And I think he looks really good physically, that's the main thing. He worked so hard in the offseason and he's in great shape. And now it's just a matter of getting his timing and his rhythm down, but he's definitely a sight for sore eyes."

Fighters react to the thrilling UFC 256 main event between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno — www.espn.com.au

Many fighters took to Twitter to heap praise on both Figueiredo and Moreno for their performance in the UFC 256 main event.

📺 Live sport 👇🏼

TODAY

⚽️ 06:15 - Premier League - Arsenal v Burnley (Optus Sport 1) 

⚽️ 06:15 - Premier League - Leicester City v Brighton & Hove Albion (Optus Sport 2)

⚽️ 06:45 - Italian Serie A - Milan v Parma (BeIN Sports 3) 

⚽️ 07:00 - France Ligue 1 - Paris Saint-Germain v Olympique Lyonnais (BeIN Sports 2)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Barcelona v Levante (BeIN Sports 1)

🏈 08:05 - NFL Regular Season - Las Vegas Raiders v Indianapolis Colts (ESPN 1) 

🏈 08:25 - NFL Regular Season - Detroit Lions v Green Bay Packers (7mate)

🏏 09:00 - Test Match - New Zealand v West Indies (Fox Cricket) 

🏈 12:20 - NFL Regular Season - Buffalo Bills v Pittsburgh Steelers (ESPN 1) 

🏀 12:30 - NBA Pre Season - Los Angeles Lakers v Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN 2) 

🏏 19:15 - Big Bash League Group Game - Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat (Fox Cricket or 7)

TUESDAY

⚽️ 01:00 - Indian Super League - Mumbai City v Jamshedpur FC (Fox Sports More)

🏄🏻‍♂️ 05:00 - Men's Championship Tour, Men's Billabong Pipe Masters, Day 7, Round 1 (Fox Sports or Kayo Sports)

⚽️ 07:00 - Spanish La Liga - Celta Vigo v Cadiz CF (BeIN Sports 1) 

🏏 09:00 - Test Match - New Zealand v West Indies (Fox Cricket) 

🏈 12:15 - NFL Regular Season - Cleveland Browns v Baltimore Ravens (ESPN 1) 

🏏 19:15 - Big Bash League Group Game - Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers (Fox Cricket or 7)

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