After what feels like an eternity, The Ashes is back on.

Michael Neser and Josh Inglis are in the Australian team, while Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon are both out.

Mitchell Starc took a wicket in the first over, again!

And now, at the time of writing, England’s Zak Crawley and Joe Root have built a steady partnership with the team’s score at 2-72.

61
The number of runs scored by the Sydney Thunder’s Phoebe Litchfield as she helped her side to a 23-run victory over the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League last night. The result leaves the Heat stranded at the bottom of the table, having failed to record a single win after nine matches. Earlier in the day, the Sydney Sixers (3rd) beat the Melbourne Stars (2nd) by 16 runs. 

"Life's only short, so if I'm my 80-year-old self looking back now, what's something I regret not doing? It's probably taking a chance and doing something else. I've been in rugby league for nearly 10 years now and sport for 10 years, so why not pivot and try something else?”
Former Melbourne Storm star Ryan Papenhuyzen speaking to the media at the Australian Open (golf) pro-am tournament about his future after leaving the NRL. Papenhuyzen was granted an early release from his contract, which had one year remaining, with the Storm at the end of last season. Despite rumours that he would join the rebel rugby competition R360, the 27-year-old says he always intended to take a break from professional sport altogether.

Eric Money is the only player in NBA history to officially score for both teams in the same game, thanks to a 1978 match that was paused and finished months later. In the gap between quarters, Money was traded to the opposing team, meaning he logged points for the Brooklyn Nets in the first half and the Philadelphia 76ers in the replay.

🏀 In the National Basketball League, Parker Jackson-Cartwright steered the New Zealand Breakers to a thrilling 95-90 win over the Sydney Kings in Hamilton last night. Jackson-Cartwright ignited a comeback with a half-court buzzer-beater before sinking the game-winner and finishing with 24 points. The win moves the Breakers five points clear atop the standings for the Ignite Cup, the NBL's in-season tournament where teams earn points for every quarter won to qualify for a lucrative final on the Gold Coast.

⚽ A-League Men players are growing increasingly frustrated with the competition’s operators, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL), as pay negotiations loom. A new report from Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), reveals 52% of players are dissatisfied with league management. Speaking to The Guardian, players cited poor marketing and technical failures like a recent website crash as evidence of incompetence. PFA chief executive Beau Busch said: “It’s clear that governance reform is urgently required to deliver a system that fans and players have confidence in and which can ensure the game’s potential is realised.”

🥊 Former Melbourne Storm star Nelson Asofa-Solomona isn’t wasting any time, confirming he will make his professional boxing debut as soon as next month. The 201cm giant has signed with No Limit Boxing and is set to fight on the undercard of the Nikita Tszyu vs Michael Zerafa blockbuster on 16 January. Asofa-Solomona revealed he rejected lucrative offers to stay in the NRL because he had "fallen out of love" with the game, noting that the aggression that often got him suspended (he missed the 2024 and 2025 grand finals due to suspensions) is now his greatest asset.

Australia is in a golden age of sport, and Deakin is shaping the students who will drive it forward

Ranked the #1 sport science school in the world and the #1 provider for sport in Australia*, Deakin gives you access to world-class learning across exercise and sport science, sport management, sport media and more.

You’ll have access to elite facilities, including a FIFA-grade soccer pitch, MCG-sized oval and learn with leading equipment and technology, while gaining 100+ hours of practical experience with Deakin’s industry connections across the AFL, Netball and more.

With global study tours and experiences, like learning with the NBA Summer League, Deakin sets you up for a dynamic career in sport.

The 2025 Australian Open began today, headlined by the return of world No. 2 Rory McIlroy for the first time since 2014. 

The tournament is set to run through the weekend at the iconic Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the first time since 1991.

Here’s what to know.

Despite drawing large crowds, McIlroy didn’t make the best start in the opening round, finishing at one shot over par and tied for 55th. 

At the time of writing, Australian up-and-comer Elvis Smylie was in the lead after ending the opening round at six shots under par. 

The field also includes Australian stars Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, and Min Woo Lee. All three are firmly in contention with Scott and Lee both at two under par, and Smith sitting at one under.

For the first time, the winner of the Australian Open will receive a direct invitation to next year’s Masters Tournament at Augusta National. This change, announced by Augusta chairman Fred Ridley earlier this year, elevates the status of the event significantly. 

The tournament runs from today (Thursday) through to Sunday, with live coverage available on Channel 9, Fox Sports, and Kayo. 

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The 2027 Rugby World Cup draw, held last night in Sydney, has delivered a dream scenario for fans and a daunting challenge for the Wallabies. 

Here’s what to know.

The Wallabies were guaranteed to face a top-ranked side in Pool A due to their world ranking of seventh. As a result, the Aussies are pitted against arch-rivals and world No.2 New Zealand in the pool stages for the first time in history.

It is widely expected that this clash will serve as the tournament opener in Perth on 1 October 2027. The last time the Wallabies faced the All Blacks in a World Cup was in the 2015 final, which New Zealand won 34-17. 

Australia’s other Pool A opponents are world No.17 Chile and debutants Hong Kong China. To progress to the knockout stages, the Wallabies must finish second in the pool, or be one of the top four best third-placed teams across the whole competition.

The runner-up of Pool A faces a treacherous path. This likely includes a Round of 16 clash against Japan. It could also lead to a quarter-final against reigning champions South Africa.

The draw comes at a difficult time for the Wallabies. They have just completed a winless European tour for the first time since 1958. Coach Joe Schmidt admitted the team is coming off an "emotional rollercoaster." 

The Wallabies will also have to deal with a coaching change before the World Cup, with Schmidt set to hand over the reins to Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss next year. 

The 2027 edition will be the first to feature 24 nations, an increase from the usual 20. 

The 24 countries qualified for the tournament have been drawn into six pools of four teams. The pool stages will see teams engage in a round robin format. After that, the top two teams from each pool will advance automatically. They will be joined by the four best third-placed finishers.

The expanded format allows for a new Round of 16 knockout stage. In previous editions, the knockout stages would only include eight teams beginning with the quarter-finals. 

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson: "We’re obviously stoked to get the All Blacks. They’re a team we love versing. In a World Cup you have to beat the best teams. They’re obviously one of the top teams in the world."

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt: "It’s really exciting. The Wallabies will play [New Zealand] four times in the lead-up. It gives you a great opportunity to plot a path and organise for that game."

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson: "The deeper [the draw] went, you sort of felt [playing Australia] was inevitable."