🏏 No Perry For World Cup Semi

Happy hump day, it's Wednesday, 30 March

🔊 Sport Today Podcast

This morning, Martin Gabor and Lucy Watkin are at the mic. 

Today's listen time: 9.5 minutes.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

📺  What we're watching 

🏏 9.00am - Women's World Cup - Australia v West Indies - Basin Reserve, Wellington - Foxtel, Kayo

⚽ 10.30am - World Cup Qualifier - Peru v Paraguay - Estadio Nacional, Lima - Foxtel, Kayo

🏀 10.30am - NBA - Mavericks v Lakers - American Airlines Centre, Dallas - Foxtel, Kayo

All times are in AEDT

🏏 No Perry as Aussies chase World Cup redemption  

Entrees have been served and it’s now time for the main course at the Women’s 50-over World Cup in New Zealand. The Aussies are unbeaten so far but there’s one big problem going into today’s game.

Golden points: Star allrounder Ellyse Perry will not play because of a back injury. That’s a blow because she’s one of the best players in the world.

• The good news is Australia won all 7 pool games, including a 7-wicket win over the West Indies.

• The last time the Aussies were in this position was at the 2017 World Cup when they suffered a shock loss to India. But as scientists have told us, lightning does not strike twice.

They said it: "We're preparing for their best, and their best is very dangerous." - Aussie skipper Meg Lanning won't be taking the Windies lightly. 

Watch it: Here’s all the key info for today’s game which you can watch on Foxtel or for free on Kayo from 9.00am (AEDT).

🏏 Head strong in series-opening win against Pakistan

Travis Head might have had a lean Test series against Pakistan but he put that behind him to score a blazing century in the first ODI in Lahore overnight.

The score: Australia 7/313 defeated Pakistan 225

Golden points: Australia burst out of the gates in the first of 3 one-day matches against Pakistan, and it was Head who led the way with his 2nd ODI hundred.

• Head's hundred came off 70 balls, making it the 7th fastest by an Aussie men's player. Not bad for his first game since 2018.

• Adam Zampa then starred with the ball, taking 4/38.

• It was a gutsy win for the Aussies because they only had 13 fit players to choose from after 2 players and the team's physio tested positive for COVID.

Watch it: Check out the highlights of Australia's win. The next match is tomorrow at 9pm (AEDT).

🏏 Farewell to the King of Spin 

He was the most must-see cricketer on the field, and nothing has changed for Shane Warne even in death. His state memorial is on tonight and a massive audience around the world is expected to tune in.

Golden points: Around a billion people are expected to watch the service, with at least another 50,000 to be at the MCG tonight. That number will grow because around 10,000 extra tickets have been made available.

• Former teammates and international rivals will be there to honour their great mate.

• Warne’s friends in the celebrity world will also be there. Elton John, Chris Martin and Ed Sheeran are just some of the musicians who will perform remotely. 

• There’ll be plenty of tributes, speeches and of course countless highlights from the King of Spin.

Watch it: All the commercial free-to-air stations will show the memorial from 7.00pm (AEDT) and it’ll also be on Foxtel and streamed online through the Victorian government’s website.

🏉 Barnett cops big ban 

Knights forward Mitch Barnett has a bit of free time on his hands after he was handed a lengthy ban by the NRL judiciary.

Golden points: Barnett will miss the next 6 games after he was suspended for an off-the-ball elbow that hit Penrith’s Chris Smith in the jaw.

• Barnett was sent off for the tackle which led to plenty of debate in pubs, offices and in the media.

• His lawyer thought he should’ve been suspended for 4 weeks for the careless act, but the prosecution wanted at least 8 games for a reckless tackle that they thought was almost intentional.

• In the end it landed in the middle with Barnett found guilty of making reckless dangerous contact.

They said it: “I have a duty of care to opposition players and I understand that. It was careless but I never intended to lift my arm that high.” - Barnett copped it on the chin.

Watch it: Here's Barnett's nasty hit. 

⚽ You and me better get ready for the UAE

It wasn't a good morning for the Socceroos after they lost 1-0 to Saudi Arabia. But it could've been worse if not for some great saves by Mat Ryan. 

Golden points: This morning’s result didn’t matter at all for the Socceroos. But things were different in Group A where the United Arab Emirates finished 3rd to set up a showdown with the Aussies.

• The UAE beat South Korea 1-0 to finish 3 points clear of Iraq.

• It means they’ll play the Socceroos in Qatar on 7 June in a one-off match.

• The journey continues for the winner because they’ll have to play whichever team finishes 5th in South American qualifying. The winner of that game qualifies for Qatar.  

Watch it: The final games in South American qualifying are this morning. You can watch Peru v Paraguay and Chile v Uruguay from 10.30am (AEDT) on Foxtel and Kayo. Here’s a look at the current ladder over there.

🏄‍♂️ Life's a beach for surf star 

If it’s good enough for Tom Brady then it’s good enough for Mick Fanning. Possibly inspired by the NFL legend’s decision to un-retire, Fanning will dust off the surfboard to compete in his favourite event. 

Golden points: Ring the bell because Fanning has been given a wildcard to surf at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach.

• Hang on, you said he retired? Yeah, he did back in 2018, but he’s not done yet. In fact, Fanning was back on his board last year in an event at Narrabeen on Sydney’s northern beaches.

• The 40yo loves Bells Beach. He’s won there 4 times (2001, 2012, 2014 and 2015). 

They said it: “Bells is the wildcard I really wanted. It’s a place that is really close to my heart.” - Imagine if Fanning wins again…

What’s next: Fanning has about 2 weeks to get ready because the comp starts on 10 April. 

👀 Quick singles

🏉 The Queensland Maroons have gone back to the future with a couple of legends to try to win back the State of Origin shield. The Maroons have hired Cameron Smith and brought back Johnathan Thurston as assistants to help rookie coach Billy Slater try to stop the Blues. 

⚽ Katrina Gorry is back in the Matildas squad for the upcoming friendlies against New Zealand. She hasn’t played for Australia for 778 days after she became a mum last year. 

🏀 The Perth Lynx have qualified for the WNBL Grand Final after their opponents had to withdraw because of a COVID crisis. The Lynx will now play the Melbourne Boomers in a best-of-3 series after the Capitals said it was too unsafe for their players to make the trip to Perth. 

🏉 The Roosters will be without coach Trent Robinson for their game against the Cowboys this weekend. Robinson won’t make the trip to Townsville because he’s got COVID. 

🏈 The NFL is about to get more diverse after the league announced all 32 teams must hire a minority coach for next season. The coach will have to work with the offensive team and be a woman or come from a racial minority. 

🎾 Daniil Medvedev and Novak Djokovic are playing hot potato with the men’s #1 ranking, which will change again if the Russian wins his next match in Miami. Medvedev beat Jenson Brooksby today as he looks to go to the top for the 2nd time in a month.

🏈 The NFL has made a change to its controversial playoffs overtime rule. Now both teams will get a possession even if a touchdown is scored in the first drive of OT. 

🏉 Fremantle will be without dual Brownlow Medalist Nat Fyfe for at least another six weeks. Fyfe had back surgery on the weekend which followed off-season shoulder surgery. 

🙃 Left of field…

It’s not always easy to believe what a politician says. But former President Donald Trump is adamant he had a hole-in-one over the weekend, and he’s even got a video to prove it.

Golden points: The man who said “4 more years” was yelling “fore” at his home golf course in Florida when he landed an ace on the 7th hole.

• Trump was with a few former players, including Ernie Els, and made it look easy next to the South African great who had the nickname ‘the Big Easy’. 

• We don’t know who won the match because Trump doesn’t like people who brag, but his statement suggests he was too good for the pros.

They said it: "I hit a 5-iron, which sailed magnificently into a rather strong wind…whereupon it bounced twice and then went clank, into the hole," - according to Trump, this is 100% legit.

Watch it: Did this actually happen? You be the judge. 

📽 The highlight reel

March remains mad after Jakia Brown-Turner hit this absurd 3 to send yesterday's college basketball game between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and Connecticut Huskies to double overtime. Sadly for her, the Wolfpack lost and missed out on the final 4. 

📸 Photo finish

Christian Welch is probably going to miss the rest of the season with an Achilles injury, but that didn't stop the co-captain from rocking up to the club to lend his support.

🏃‍♀️ The finish line

🏆 Today's trivia answer

Zampa took his 100th ODI wicket in his 65th match.