Australian tennis player Max Purcell has been provisionally suspended over an alleged violation of the sport’s anti-doping program.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Monday that the two-time doubles grand slam winner had voluntarily accepted the suspension, after admitting to a breach relating to a prohibited method.
Continue reading...As a Test debut looms on cricket’s biggest stage, Australia’s 19-year-old opener says he is excited to test his skills against India’s fast bowling maestro
Sam Konstas won’t overload on watching videos of Jasprit Bumrah ahead of his likely Boxing Day Test debut, as he prepares to face India’s pace maestro for the first time.
Konstas blasted 107 from 97 balls against India three weeks ago, helping open the door for his call-up to Australia’s Test squad in place of Nathan McSweeney.
Continue reading...Sam Konstas is in the frame for a whirlwind Test debut after being called into Australia’s squad for the fourth match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
AAP understands the 19-year-old batting prodigy was notified on Friday that he would be named in Australia’s squad that afternoon.
Continue reading...Cruz Hewitt, the teenage son of tennis great Lleyton Hewitt, has received a wildcard for the Australian Open qualifying tournament as he pushes for a grand slam debut. Hewitt, 16, will attempt to reach the main draw for the first time 28 years after his father debuted at Melbourne Park as a 15-year-old.
The junior world No 107 debuted in the junior competition last year and was knocked out in the first round. One of Australia’s most highly rated juniors, Hewitt is expected to feature in the junior tournament again but will look to step up his transition to senior tennis in 2025.
Continue reading...Josh Hazlewood’s home Test summer is feared over after the quick suffered a calf strain that is expected to rule him out of both Melbourne and Sydney. Hazlewood was sent for scans on Tuesday after sending down just one over at the Gabba, after hurting his right calf in the warm up before play.
Scans have since confirmed a strain, leaving Australia with just two frontline quicks for the rest of the Brisbane Test. “He is likely to miss the remainder of the Test series. A squad replacement will be made in due course,” Cricket Australia confirmed in a statement.
Continue reading...Nick Kyrgios will team up with Novak Djokovic at the Brisbane International after crediting the former world No1 for motivating his return from serious injury. Once bitter rivals but now firm friends, Kyrgios and Djokovic plan to play doubles at the Queensland tournament, which gets under way on 29 December.
The pair will use the event to warm up for next month’s Australian Open, with Kyrgios using an injury-protected ranking to secure a direct entry at Melbourne Park. The Australian posted the announcement on Instagram, using a photo of himself and Djokovic walking on to court ahead for their 2022 Wimbledon final which he lost in four sets, writing “Doubles at Brisbane. See y’all there”.
Continue reading...Brisbane’s big wet looms as India’s best chance of saving the third Test against Australia, after the tourists slumped to 51-4 after a miserable day three for them at the Gabba.
In between seven rain delays, one aborted start and an early finish due to bad light, Australia were all out for 445 before Mitchell Starc stamped his authority with the ball.
Continue reading...With his weapon of a serve in hand, tennis showman Nick Kyrgios can hit the ground running on his Australian Open return, says doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Kyrgios, 29, who has had a horror run of wrist and knee injuries, will play at the Brisbane International from 29 December, before returning to the grand slam stage at Melbourne Park for the Australian Open which starts on 12 January. The former world No 13 is using a protected ranking for his first Open since he pulled out on the eve of his first-round match in 2023.
Continue reading...Adelaide Olympian faces up to seven years in jail after pleading to lesser charge of creating likelihood of harm
Cyclist Rohan Dennis will not be found responsible for the death of his wife – fellow Olympian Melissa Hoskins – but could be jailed for up to seven years after pleading guilty to a new charge.
Dennis, 34, had appeared in the Adelaide magistrates court on Tuesday to answer charges of dangerous driving causing death and an aggravated charge of driving without due care. He was arrested after Hoskins, 32, was struck by his vehicle in front of their home at Medindie, in Adelaide’s inner north, on 30 December 2023.
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Continue reading...Australian batter Travis Head and Indian bowler Mohammed Siraj have been found guilty of breaching the International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct for their verbal spat in the second Test in Adelaide.
Siraj was fined 20% of his match fee after being found to have breached article 2.5 of the code, which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal”.
Continue reading...Travis Head says he won’t allow accusations of lying from India firebrand Mohammed Siraj to ruin Australia’s second Test triumph.
The batsman has admitted swearing at Siraj during their tense flashpoint at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Siraj gave century-maker Head a send-off and the Australian responded with some choice words.
Continue reading...Fan favourite Nick Kyrgios will play his first grand slam tournament since 2022 at the Australian Open in January.
Organisers announced on Friday that Kyrgios, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, will use a protected ranking of No 21 to gain entry to the main draw.
Continue reading...Paceman Scott Boland has been recalled to Australia’s team and allrounder Mitch Marsh is clear to bowl in the second Test against India. Australia captain Pat Cummins has confirmed Boland’s inclusion for his first Test since July last year, replacing Josh Hazlewood who is out because of a side strain.
Marsh will play, and is available to bowl, despite suffering soreness in the aftermath of Australia’s horror 295-run defeat to India in the series-opener in Perth. Cummins expects Marsh will be called on to bowl at some stage during the second Test starting Friday in Adelaide. But the Australian captain dismissed the notion of added pressure on his team after the crushing defeat in Perth.
Continue reading...The combination of Sir Donald Bradman’s fabled brilliance and the baggy green’s near-mythical status has persuaded an Australian to part with nearly half-a-million dollars for one of the Don’s Test caps.
Unlike modern Australian players the Test cricketers of Bradman’s era wore a different cap for each series, so the one worn by Bradman during the 1947-48 home summer against India is far from unique, but it has nevertheless sold at auction for $479,700, a record for a cap worn by the great batter.
Continue reading...Australian tennis is mourning the loss of legendary player and Davis Cup captain Neale Fraser AO, MBE. Fraser, who won 19 grand slam titles, has died aged 91.
For all his grand slam glory, Fraser’s name will forever be associated with the Davis Cup both as a player and in a record-setting run as Australian captain.
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