Good evening!

Does anyone feel like there is a void in their lives as soon as a grand slam finishes? I know I do.

Luckily, there’s only 117 days until the French Open!

P.S. How good was the Big Bash Final last night?

I’ve got 10 seconds

Stat of the day

39
The record-equalling number of balls it took for Hobart Hurricanes batsman Mitch Owen to score a century in the Big Bash grand final last night. Owen’s superb innings of 108 runs in 42 balls saw him equal the record for the fastest century in the Big Bash and helped the Hurricanes claim their first-ever title. 

Quote of the day

"It was tough not being able to nap or properly eat while trying to keep moving, and the monotony tested my resilience, but ultimately we can do hard things and that's what I set out to prove."
British ultrarunner Sophie Power after setting a new world record for the longest distance run on a treadmill in 48 hours. Power ran 365km, beating the previous record of 340km, at the National Running Show in Birmingham, England.

Random fact of the day

The footballer to have scored the most goals in the English Premier League is Alan Shearer, who scored 260 goals in 441 appearances. Shearer played in the Premier League for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, and Newcastle United between 1988 and 2006.

I’ve got 30 seconds

In case you missed it…

🚴‍♂️ Six of the German men’s track cycling team have been taken to hospital after a car driven by an 89-year-old man crashed into them in Spain. None of the cyclists’ injuries were life-threatening. The team were on a training camp in Mallorca as part of their preparation for an upcoming international competition in Belgium.

🏄‍♂️ The beginning of the 2025 World Surf League season is on hold for two days as the surfers wait for ideal conditions at the Pipe Pro in Hawai’i. Organisers are hoping the conditions at Banzai Pipeline, one of the world’s top surf breaks, will improve enough to begin competition on Wednesday (local time). The field of surfers set to compete includes 10 Australian men and women.

🏀 The Miami Heat have suspended star player Jimmy Butler without pay after the veteran refused to take part in the team warm-up before Monday’s match against the Orlando Magic. In a statement, the Heat said: “The suspension is due to a continued pattern of disregard of team rules, engaging in conduct detrimental to the team and intentionally withholding services.” Butler’s suspension is indefinite and will last at least five games. 

I’ve got 1 minute

International soccer star arrested in drug trafficking investigation

A Belgian soccer player who made 30 appearances for the national side has been arrested by police during an investigation into cocaine trafficking.

What happened

36-year-old Radja Nainggolan was one of many suspects arrested by Belgian police on Monday morning (local time). The Brussels Prosecutor’s Office said: "The investigation concerns alleged facts of importation of cocaine from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium".

Nainggolan’s football career

Nainggolan played for the Belgium national team, appearing 30 times from 2009 to 2018. The midfielder primarily played in Italy’s top domestic professional league Serie A, with stints at top clubs Roma and Inter Milan.

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I’ve got 2 minutes

Mitch Owen powers the Hobart Hurricanes to their first-ever Big Bash title

Mitch Owen’s record-equalling 39-ball century helped the Hobart Hurricanes claim their first-ever men’s Big Bash League cricket title. The Sydney Thunder were left searching for answers to Owen’s sublime batting performance, eventually losing by seven wickets with 35 balls remaining.

What happened

The Sydney Thunder batted first and got off to a strong start with captain David Warner and Jason Sangha posting an impressive opening partnership of 97 runs. The Hurricanes’ Nathan Ellis led the host side’s bowling attack, taking three wickets and conceding just 24 runs. The Thunder finished the innings with 182 runs, setting what seemed to be a challenging target for the Hurricanes.

Owen quickly got to work and within four overs the Hurricanes were 0-74 with the 23-year-old smashing six sixes and five fours. By the end of his innings, he had hit 11 sixes and six fours. After Owen’s wicket was taken, the Hurricanes were guided home by veteran wicketkeeper Matthew Wade who scored 32 runs from 17 balls and Ben McDermott, who hit the winning runs.

Owen was named the Player of the Match for his sublime effort.

Who is Mitch Owen?

Owen is a Tasmanian who grew up in the town of Kingston, south of Hobart. Before this season of BBL, Owen had only played two matches for the Hurricanes. He was promoted to become the side’s opening batsman at the beginning of the season and excelled, hitting the most sixes on record in a Big Bash season (36). Owen said after the match: "I do feel like I've found who I want to be as a cricketer and the position I want to play as a cricketer".

With a T20 World Cup on the horizon next year, Owen’s match-winning performance last night will likely put him in consideration for selection to the Australian team. Former Australian cricketer Mark Waugh told Fox Cricket: “The Australian selectors would have to be taking notice of Mitch Owen’s batting in this tournament”.

Australia v Sri Lanka

While the men’s and women’s Big Bash seasons are now over, there is lots of cricket still to be played this summer. The Australian men’s Test team is in Sri Lanka and will begin a two-Test series against their hosts tomorrow. Captain Steve Smith is just one run away from reaching 10,000 Test runs, a milestone only achieved by three Australians before him.

On Thursday, the women’s team will play the one Test match remaining in their multi-format Ashes series against England. The Aussies, who have won all six matches of the series so far, are seeking a whitewash at the MCG.

How to watch

You can watch the men’s Test team take on Sri Lanka from 3:30pm tomorrow on Channel 7. The women’s Ashes will begin at 2:30pm on Thursday and be broadcast on Channel 7, Foxtel, and Kayo.

A message from Deakin University

From day one to game day

Unlike traditional programs, Deakin’s Sport Science degree takes a comprehensive approach that integrates physical, psychological, and technological aspects of sport performance.

With strong partnerships to local and national sporting bodies, Deakin provides unique opportunities for real-world research and practical experience. So, if you want to immerse yourself in the dynamic world of elite athletic performance, Deakin is where your journey begins.

Whether you dream of working with elite AFL teams, Olympic athletes, or pioneering sports technology, Deakin equips you with the knowledge, skills, and industry connections to turn those aspirations into reality. This isn't just a degree - it's your launchpad to becoming a game-changing sport science professional.

Looking forward…(All times are AEDT)

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