🏏 Big Bash Gets A Big Boost

Howdy, it's Thursday, 23 June

🔊 Sport Today Podcast

This morning, Sam Ferris and Lucy Watkin are at the mic.

Today's listen time: 9.30 minutes.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

📺 What we're watching

🥅 10.00am - Stanley Cup Game 4 - Lightning v Avalanche - Amalie Arena, Tampa - Foxtel, Kayo

🏉 7.20pm - AFL - Demons v Lions - MCG, Melbourne - Channel 7, Foxtel, Kayo

🏏 8.00pm - 3rd Test - England v New Zealand - Headingley, Leeds - Foxtel, Kayo

All times are in AEST

🏏 Big names give Big Bash a big boost

Fantasy has become a reality with the Big Bash League bringing in an overseas draft to attract the biggest international stars to come play in Australia.

Golden points: We won’t see the ridiculous money that gets splashed around in the Indian Premier League, but there are 4 levels for players to choose from that will determine their salary.

• This idea has been tossed around for a while. It’s good timing because BBL ratings are down but having big names should give it a boost.

• One of the big hurdles has been a congested international calendar during the Aussie summer, but that might not be too big an issue this year with the summer pretty free after the Tests are done.

Explain it: So, players will nominate for the draft in one of three pay categories: gold (the highest), silver and bronze.

• The best 8 players in the draft will be elevated to platinum, and their salaries will be boosted by Cricket Australia

• Then teams will take it turns picking players, in snake draft order, with teams needing to select a minimum of 2 and maximum of 3 players

• Clubs with existing players in the draft can retain only one with a retention pick

• Undrafted players can then sign deals, but only players who nominated for the draft are eligible to play that season

Key click: We don’t know when or where the draft will be, and we’re still waiting for some exact figures. But here’s all the info you need to get you through the day.

🏉 De Goey to take time away from the game

Jordan De Goey has dominated the headlines all week. He was punished by the Magpies for his behaviour in Bali and the big question was would he play on Sunday. We now have the answer.

Golden points: Collingwood will be without De Goey this weekend, and maybe for even longer.

• The AFL star was granted personal leave by the club yesterday.

• It came 24 hours after he was given a suspended $25,000 fine for his offensive behaviour towards women while on holiday in Bali.

• De Goey apologised for the video but hasn’t been seen at training this week.

What’s next: The team lists come out later today so we’ll see who replaces De Goey in the squad. The Magpies play the Giants on Sunday and can move into the top 8 with a win.

🏊‍♂️ Hungry Jack will bounce back from broken bone 

She’s been one of the biggest stories in swimming this year, but Shayna Jack’s awesome return to the pool at the World Champs is over.

Golden points: This is the definition of unlucky. The Aussie swim star broke her hand after she slipped over near the warmup pool before the 100m freestyle heats.

• It means she'll now return home for surgery with the aim to be ready to go for the Commonwealth Games that start in the UK next month.

• This was Jack’s first major international event since she returned from a 2-year doping ban, and she won gold in the 4x100m relay and silver in the 4x100 mixed medley relay.

• She was a favourite to win the 100m freestyle but we could still see an Aussie on top of the podium after Mollie O’Callaghan qualified fastest for tomorrow’s final.

Watch it: Someone sort out a new trophy room for Jack's shiny new gold medal. 

🏁 Piastri ready for major move

He’s barely old enough to drink in the States, but young gun Oscar Piastri could be weeks away from joining Daniel Ricciardo as the 2nd Aussie driver behind the wheel of an F1 car.

Golden points: Racing rules say that rookies must have at least 2 practice sessions per season. That’s great news for Piastri.

• His team, Alpine, says it won’t be at the next Grand Prix in Silverstone because the car is being upgraded.

• It also won’t happen at the Austrian GP because there’s only limited practice before the main race.

• So that means the 21yo should hit the track at the French GP, which is Alpine’s home event.

What are the chances… he’s in F1 full-time next year? It’s looking good. The reports are that he’ll join Williams in 2023, so a good showing next month could seal the deal.

What’s next: The French GP is on 24 July. If you can’t wait that long then Silverstone is coming up on 4 July.

⚽ Sydney derby set to be super spicy

A-League men’s star Milos Ninkovic is on the move. I wonder where he’ll end up.

Golden points: Did someone say the Wanderers? Because that would be a spicy move from someone who spent 7 seasons wearing sky blue for Sydney FC.

• If you don’t live in Sydney then you might not realise just how much these 2 clubs hate each other.

• That’s why a move like this would be so epic. Sydney FC tried to keep the 37yo and even offered him a club role once he retired, but he’s not staying. That’s a blow because he played 221 games and won 3 titles with them. 

• There are reports he’ll join the Western Sydney Wanderers. Could it be a bit of revenge for when Sydney FC nabbed Alex Baumjohann a couple of years ago?

They said it: “I had the greatest times of my career at this club.” - Now we wait and see where Ninkovic goes next.

🏉 It's that time of the week!

Don't Forget Your Tips! is a weekly podcast for footy fans who are keen to get an edge in their footy tipping comp. DFYT! will give you some facts, figures and maybe even a few omens that'll help you out with your AFL and NRL footy tips every week of the footy seasons. Episodes are around 12-minutes long and drop 6am every Thursday. Listen on Apple, Spotify and your favourite podcast app. Enjoy!

👀 Quick singles

🎾 Nick Kyrgios is in some doubt for Wimbledon after he pulled out of the Mallorca Open because of an abdominal injury. He was meant to play Roberto Bautista Agut this morning and now has a few days to recover before the grand slam starts.

⛳ There’s been another big win for the LIV Golf Series. Players who joined the Saudi-backed rebel golf tour will be allowed to play at The Open next month, which is the final major of 2022.

🏊‍♀️ Swimming has a new superstar and his name is David Popovici. The Romanian teenager has been breaking records for fun and he won the 100m freestyle in a thriller this morning.

🎾 Alex de Minaur is warming up nicely for Wimbledon. The Aussie pocket rocket beat Lorenzo Sonego in straight sets to advance to the quarter-finals of the Eastbourne International.

🏉 The Sydney Swans look set to re-sign superstar forward Lance Franklin. His mega 9-year deal ends this season and reports say he wants to stay for another year. 

🏄‍♀️ Everything seems to be going wrong for Tyler Wright. The Aussie surfer has missed the past 2 events because of COVID, and now a visa issue means she’ll miss the Rio Pro as she tries to stay in touch with the top 5 in the standings.

🙃 Left of field...

A 6yo kid called Oliver put a new twist on stealing a base in the MLB.

Golden points: Players have stolen bases for years. Not literally, of course. They just want to get a bit closer to home when the other team isn't looking. But Oliver, well, he took it a bit literally.

• He was picked to play a promotional game in Houston during a break in play.

• Oliver didn’t quite understand what was going on so he went onto the field and tried to pick up 2nd base.

• Problem is, it was a bit heavy for him. The Astros played along and pretended to struggle with the base, and then pointed him in the right direction where he picked up the fake base he was supposed to get.

Watch it: He’s going to have some pretty cool stories to tell his mates at school. He can even show them this video if they don’t believe him.

📽 The highlight reel

You're really missing out if you're not on the Shohei Ohtani train. This guy is incredible and showed us again yesterday why he's one of the best baseball players in the world. Talk about clutch...

📸 Photo finish

The Congressional Country Club is looking mint ahead of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship that starts tonight (AEST). We've got 7 Aussies in the field hunting for major glory.

🏃‍♀️ The finish line

🏆 Today's trivia answer

Ninkovic won it twice.