🏏 Warne's autopsy results revealed

Good morning, it's Tuesday, 8 March

🔊 Sport Today Podcast

This morning, Sam Ferris and Martin Gabor are at the mic. 

Today's listen time: 9.30 minutes

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

📺  What we're watching today

⚽ 7.00am - EPL - Tottenham v Everton - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London - Optus Sport

🏏 12.00pm - Cricket World Cup - Australia v Pakistan - Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui - Foxtel, Kayo

🏏 3.45pm - Cricket - Pakistan v Australia - Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi - Foxtel, Kayo

All times are in AEDT

🏏 Mystery woman pays tribute to the King  

It's not only friends and family who continue to pay tribute to Shane Warne. A mystery woman in Thailand spent some time in his ambulance because she simply wanted to pay her respects. 

Golden points: A German woman living in Thailand hopped in the ambulance for about 40 seconds so she could give Warne some flowers. 

• Thai police confirmed that Warne died of natural causes. They also said the woman in the ambulance did nothing wrong.

• Warne’s friends and former teammates have spoken about how generous he was. That was on show when he gave a friend some jerseys to decorate his office.

• Tourists in Thailand generally go for Pad Thai or maybe a green chicken curry to get a taste of the local cuisine. But not Warnie, he went for Vegemite and butter on toast for what was his last meal. 

They said it: “I am going to miss you so much Dad and you were truly the best father and mate anyone could've asked for.” - Jackson Warne pays tribute to his father. 

What’s next: It’s not locked in, but Eddie McGuire could be the MC of Warne’s state funeral. No date or venue has been confirmed but reports say it’ll likely be at the Melbourne Cricket Ground where he had so many magical moments. 

Key click: One of Warne’s friends who was with him in Thailand has written an article on the former cricketer’s final day. That man is Tom Hall, and he’s the CEO of the Sporting News website. Here’s the full story on his relationship with ‘The King’.

🏏 Back to the drawing board

There are going to be some sore shoulders tomorrow in Pakistan. Batting has never looked easier and that’s the stuff of nightmares for bowlers from both teams in the first Test.

Golden points: Pakistan and Australia have combined for 925 runs in 4 days. Great numbers if you’re a batter, but brutal for bowlers who have taken 11 wickets between them.

• The Aussies are 27 runs behind heading into the final day, with 4 players passing 50 in the 1st innings.

• There is a tiny hope that Australia can win this. Like, Google says the Aussies have a 3.3% chance of victory.

Watch it: The Test isn’t the only Australia v Pakistan game on today. The women are in action in the Women's World Cup from midday (AEDT) and you can watch that for free thanks to Kayo. Today is International Women's Day so a win would be the perfect present as the Aussies look to go 2/2 in New Zealand.

❄ Third is the word for Aussie star 

Sure, gold is great. But bronze has never looked so good after Ben Tudhope finished 3rd to win Australia’s first medal at the Beijing Winter Paralympics.

Golden points: Tudhope finished 3rd in the men's snowboard cross SB-LL2 after a big finish saw him get past one of his Chinese rivals. 

• The 22yo is in his 3rd Games and this is his first medal.

• Tudhope is the world #1 in the event and had awesome results leading up to the Games. 

• He can’t celebrate too hard because he’s got to focus on the banked slalom event starting this weekend.

They said it: "If there is any kid out there with cerebral palsy, with a disability: you can achieve anything.” - Tudhope wants to inspire the next generation.

🥇 World War Z

Good things are usually found when you spot something marked with an X. But a Russian athlete is about to find out that the letter Z gets you in a lot of trouble.

Explain it: Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak faces a disciplinary hearing after he wore a Z symbol when collecting his bronze medal at an event in Qatar.

• The symbol has been seen on tanks and is meant to show support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

• Ukrainian athlete Kovtun Illia won gold but refused to shake Kuliak’s hand. 

• That’s the last time Kuliak will compete for a while because the International Gymnastics Federation has banned Russian and Belarussian athletes and officials from all sanctioned events. 

What’s next: The Gymnastics Ethics Foundation has been asked to start a hearing into the “shocking behaviour”. 

🏉 Plenty to chew on for Dragons winger 

Footy fans have been waiting months to sink their teeth into rugby league. But one NRLW player may have taken that sentiment a bit too far after she was charged with biting another player.

Golden points: St George Illawarra’s Madison Bartlett has been referred straight to the judiciary for allegedly biting Parramatta’s Sereana Naitokatoka on Sunday. 

• Biting is a big no-no in rugby league. Instead of being fined or offered a suspension, players are sent straight to the judiciary because it’s such a serious allegation. 

• This is supposed to have happened in the 2nd half when Naitokatoka tackled Bartlett around the neck. The Eels player has also been charged but won’t miss any games. 

• Bartlett will head to the judiciary tonight where she will argue her case. If she’s found guilty then it could be a lengthy ban.

Watch it: Here's the footage of Bartlett allegedly biting Naitokatoka.

👀 Quick singles

🏈 A new offer would make it easy being green for Aaron Rodgers. The Green Bay Packers quarterback has reportedly been offered a big deal that would make him reconsider leaving the team this year. 

⛳ There was no 7-year itch for Ryan Brehm as he teamed up with his wife as his caddy to win the Puerto Rico Open. The Brehms became the first husband-wife combo to win on the PGA Tour since 2013.

🏉 Matt Rowell was on the prowl as the Suns burnt the Cats in their AFL pre-season clash. Rowell has battled injuries since he joined the league but showed just how good he is against one of the comp’s best teams. 

⚾ There’s been another swing and a miss in America with more games set to be cut from the upcoming MLB season. Talks between the league and the players union have stalled with neither party able to settle on a new deal. 

🏀 Put the popcorn away because Ben Simmons won’t play in the hyped-up grudge match this week. Simmons is still trying to fit in with the Brooklyn Nets and that means he won’t be ready to go for Friday’s grudge match against his old team, the 76ers. 

🎾 Novak Djokovic has been praised for his ace efforts to help a former tennis player in Ukraine. Sergiy Stakhovsky has returned to Ukraine to fight against Russian forces, and he says Djokovic has reached out to provide all the help he can. 

📽 The highlight reel

Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum went off for 54 points in the big win over the Brooklyn Nets. The three-point shooting was crisp. 

🙃 Left of field…

Next time you’re wildly spraying darts at the pub, spare a thought for poor old Michael Smith. He’s been making finals for fun over the years, but the problem is, he just can’t win one. You eight to see it. 

Golden points: Smith has made 8 televised finals in 4 years but has lost all of them.

• He thought that streak would end at 7 when he led 10-9 against Nappy Noppert in a first to 11 match at the UK Open. 

• But Smith missed a bullseye and never recovered as Noppert won the last 2 legs to win the title. 

• Smith still got about $70,000 but the title and $180,000 would have been much better. 

Watch it: This is the moment Smith will replay in his head for the next few nights. 

📸 Photo finish

You don't need a medical degree to know that Quade Cooper is in a fair bit of pain after copping a knock while playing in Japan. 

🏃‍♀️ The finish line

🏆 Today's trivia answer

Australia beat India by 85 runs in front of a huge crowd at the MCG. Even Katy Perry was there.