Perth Scorchers 3 for 174 (Gibbs 71, M Marsh 41*) beat Melbourne Stars 8 for 163 by 11 runs
Herschelle Gibbs' run-a-ball 71 underpinned a healthy Scorchers total, which was finished off by Mitchell Marsh's 26-ball 41, featuring four sixes. In reply, the Stars were promisingly placed on 1 for 75 in the eighth over with Luke Wright and James Faulkner well set, but when they fell, and David Hussey went first ball as part of a double-wicket maiden by Ben Edmondson, the Scorchers took control.
Perth Scorchers 2 for 142 (S Marsh 68) beat Melbourne Stars 2 for 183 (White 88, Hodge 70*) by eight wickets (DL method)
There was an extraordinary conclusion to this match, which came down to the Scorchers needing three off the last ball of a rain-reduced chase. James Faulkner, controversially named captain with Shane Warne on the verge of an over-rate suspension - Warne later copped a code of conduct charge for it - over-stepped (there were also just three fielders inside the ring, so it was a no-ball in two ways), while a bye was also scrambled. It meant the Scorchers needed one to win and Mike Hussey pumped the ball over mid-on. Shaun Marsh had kept the Scorchers in touch in a tough chase as he hit 68 off 40 balls including 27 off the only over from Alex Keath, who went on to become an AFL player.
Hobart Hurricanes 3 for 142 (Paine 65) beat Melbourne Stars 8 for 141 (Hodge 51, Boyce 3-11) by seven wickets
Tim Paine led the Hurricanes into the final as they knocked off a mediocre total with ease. The Stars had been in trouble on 4 for 45 before Brad Hodge's half-century hauled them to something more respectable. Legspinner Cameron Boyce claimed the key wickets, removing Wright, Glenn Maxwell and David Hussey even though he wasn't asked to bowl his four overs.
Perth Scorchers 7 for 144 (Carberry 50, Hastings 3-27) beat Melbourne Stars 126 (Tye 4-18) by 18 runs
By now, the Stars were sick of coming to the WACA. This game was theirs for the taking when they were 1 for 67 in the 11th over, despite Cameron White's laborious 24-ball 13, but things unravelled against Andrew Tye, who removed Wright and Peter Handscomb in the space of three balls. When Kevin Pietersen fell to Nathan Coulter-Nile, they were 5 for 88 and there was too much for the lower order to do.
Sydney Thunder 7 for 181 (Khawaja 70, Stoinis 3-30) beat Melbourne Stars 9 for 176 (Pietersen 74) by three wickets
The Stars made it to the final this time, but Usman Khawaja's 40-ball 70 took the Thunder most of the way towards their target. It became a nervy finish as the middle-order stumbled close to the line before Ben Rohrer ended all doubt with a six in the final over in what was Mike Hussey's final match on Australian soil. Pietersen had dominated the Stars innings with a thrilling 39-ball 74 but the next-best score was Wright's 23.
Perth Scorchers 3 for 139 (S Marsh 56*) beat Melbourne Stars 8 for 136 (Gotch 48, Johnson 3-3) by seven wickets
The WACA. Again. There was no way back for the Stars after Mitchell Johnson claimed two wickets in the first over and a third shortly after - that of Pietersen - as they stumbled to 4 for 26 at the end of the Powerplay. Seb Gotch did his best but the total was never likely to challenge the Scorchers. So it proved as Shaun Marsh eased to an unbeaten half-century. After the match, Pietersen was fined A$ 5000 for having called an umpiring decision when the Stars were fielding "a shocker" as he was on the mic with the broadcasters.
Melbourne Renegades 5 for 145 (Cooper 43*) beat Melbourne Stars 7 for 132 (Dunk 57) by 13 runs
The biggest missed chance of them all. The Stars were 0 for 93 in their chase - requiring 53 off 43 balls - and just in need of finishing the job when the wheels came off after Marcus Stoinis was bowled by Boyce. They lost 7 for 19 and in the end were well short of the target when the chase limped to a close amid celebratory Renegades players. They had earlier reduced the Renegades to 5 for 65 in the 11th before Tom Cooper and Dan Christian resurrected the innings.
Sydney Sixers 7 for 142 (Zampa 3-21) beat Melbourne Stars 99 (Abbott 3-23) by 43 runs
Similar to the previous year, but the Stars' batting slide started early on this occasion. Having done so much right in the field they were three down inside the Powerplay and soon subsided further. Their chase was done in the 11th over when Maxwell picked out long-off. This time they get a second chance to put it right. Can they take it?
South Africa win toss, bowl first v England
South Africa have won the toss and sent England in to bat in the first of three ODIs between the sides at Newlands.
Playing their first one-day match since becoming world champions in July, England have a somewhat new look having opted to rest Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler ahead of the three T20Is against South Africa starting next week.
Tom Banton and Matt Parkinson have been handed their ODI caps and, on the opposite side of the spectrum, Chris Woakes will play his 100th one-day international.
South Africa are also sporting a different vibe with Quinton de Kock as captain, while Lungi Ngidi is making his return from a hamstring tear that kept him out of the Test series, won by England 3-1. The hosts have handed debuts to Jon-Jon Smuts and Lutho Sipamla.
Play is set to get under way in hot, sunny conditions on a pitch that is expected to be flat.
South Africa: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk, capt), 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Temba Bavuma, 4 Rassie van der Dussen, 5 Jon-Jon Smuts, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Beuran Hendricks, 9 Lungi Ngidi, 10 Lutho Sipamla, 11 Tabraiz Shamsi
England: 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan, 5 Joe Denly, 6 Tom Banton, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Tom Curran, 10 Chris Jordan, 11 Matt Parkinson
Xu Xin possesses 17,260 points taking him beyond that of Fan Zhendong’s 16,915 points.
Previously Fan Zhendong had reoccupied the no.1 position in the men’s world rankings after a splendid end to 2019, adding to his previous 15 consecutive editions of being at the top of the order since March 2018.
However, after first claiming the top ranking in July 2019, Xu Xin’s rise has made this a very closely fought battle between himself and Fan – one that has swung by the simplest of margins.
This month, the 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open, which the “Cloudwalker” managed to win in style, defeating compatriot Ma Long 4-0 (15-13, 11-8, 11-7, 11-5) in the final, has pushed Xu beyond the reach of Fan – but for how long?
“Ma Long is a legend and I am very glad that I can be his opponent. I am pretty happy with the result. I can say with pride that I have the best win-loss record against him among all currently active players.” – Xu Xin
Meanwhile, the Dragon himself is next in line to these two juggernauts – with 16,335 points keeping him at world no. 3. His brilliant run to the final surely is an indicator that he has no mood to settle for that ranking.
Interestingly enough, there are no other major changes in the top five, with China’s Lin Gaoyuan (13,915 points) and Japan’s prodigious Tomokazu Harimoto (12,615 points) keeping pace with the pack.
Further down the list Chinese Taipei’s fan favourite Lin Yun-Ju stays at world no.6, followed by Brazil’s Hugo Calderano, Sweden’s Mattias Falck and China’s Liang Jingkun. The biggest change in the top 10 is the fall of Timo Boll to no.11. He is replaced by his German colleague Dimitrij Ovtcharov at no. 10, after a magnificient run to the semi-finals in Madgeburg.
Is there any stopping the wonder in women’s table tennis, often referred to as Chen Meng?
The simple answer is a big ‘no’, as the magical athlete from China stays at the summit for an unprecedented eighth(!) edition running, with a mammoth 17,015 points. Chen did her competitors no favours after she won the first World Tour Platinum gold medal on offer over the weekend, beating Ding Ning (3-11, 11-1, 11-7, 11-3, 11-1) in an exuberant performance.
“I just treated this final like any other match that needs to be won. Regardless of whether I win or lose, all events provide me with valuable experience for me to learn from. Of course winning gives me more confidence, but losing allows me to see the flaws in my game.” Chen Meng
Sun Yingsha remains the closest to Chen at 15,460 points, despite her early exit in Germany. Japan’s Mima Ito (14,720 points) remains at world no.3 as the only non-Chinese in the top five.
There is only one change in the women’s top five, Wang Manyu has swapped places with Chinese teammate Liu Shiwen at world no.4 and no.5 respectively.
In the same fashion there are no movements at all in the remaining top 10; Zhu Yuling and Ding Ning Ning, “Queen of Hearts” follow at no.6 and no.7 respectively.
Singapore’s Feng Tianwei remains at no.8, with Japan’s Kasumi Ishikawa staying at no.9. Chinese Taipei’s Cheng I-Ching recently broke into the top 10 and looks like will be staying there after making a mark in Germany last week, wrapping it up at world no.10.
Alongside Cho Seungmin there is notable progress for Japan’s Mizuki Oikawa, Egypt’s Ahmed Ali Saleh, Portugal’s João Monteiro and Croatia’s Andrej Gacina.
Meanwhile, on the women’s rankings, a list that witness China’s Chen Meng retaining the top spot, once again ahead of colleague Sun Yingsha and Japan’s Mima Ito; next in line being Wang Manyu and Liu Shiwen who change places, the measure of progress amongst the leading names is less marked.
Singapore’s Zeng Jian, who climbs 10 places makes the most significant advance. Also, there is measured progress for Stéphanie Loeuillette of France, China’s Zhang Rui and Liu Fei in addition to the Japanese duo of Maki Shiomi and Honoka Hashimoto.
Progress and there are those in the top 100 who perhaps have not made giant strides but are enjoying the highest listing of the careers.
For the men, the names to note are China’s Zhao Zihao, Korea Republic’s An Jaehyun, Brazil’s Vitor Ishiy, Egypt’s Ahmed Ali Saleh and Argentina’s Gaston Alto alongside the Japanese duo of Yukiya Uda and Mizuki Oikawa.
Similarly for the women, there are career highs for China’s Wang Yidi and Qian Tianyi, as well as for Puerto Rico’s Adriana Diaz, Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi, Japan’s Miyuu Kihara and Wu Yue of the United States.
Also there are milestones for Egypt’s Yousra Helmy, Poland’s Natalia Bajor and Thailand’s Orawan Paranang.
Higher listings and of course there are those who must make way.
In the men’s world rankings, the major casualties amongst the top 100 names are Russia’s Alexander Shibaev, China’s Yu Ziyang and Hungary’s Bence Majoros.
Meanwhile, for the women the players to suffer the greatest hurt are Austria’s Liu Jia, Ukraine’s Tetyana Bilenko and Portugal’s Fu Yu.
The tournaments which are newly included are the 2019 United States Open and 2020 ITTF World Tour Platinum German Open; the tournament which has expired is the 2019 ITTF World Tour Hungarian Open.
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is pleased to announce that Chinese sports content, marketing and entertainment platform LD Sports will be the Major Partner of three ITTF World Tour events this year:
Qatar Open: Doha, 3rd – 8th March 2020
Korea Open: Busan, 16th – 21st June 2020
Australian Open: Geelong, 23rd – 28th June 2020
LD Sports will enjoy category exclusivity in sports consulting services at the three prestigious ITTF World Tour events, in which international table tennis stars will be competing for much-coveted silverware, prize money and World Ranking points.
Founded in 2015, LD Sports seeks to inspire and empower users of the platform to realise their dreams. As such, LD Sports has become a primary educator to support children looking to kick off their sports careers.
“Table Tennis is China’s national sport. Many of our top players bring glory for our country on the international stage. LD Sports is keen to serve as the bridge for developing China’s rich sporting heritage and to convey the country’s fighting spirit. As a renowned international federation, the ITTF is very dedicated to promoting table tennis across the world and LD Sports, as a famous sports brand, is experienced in youth training and sports promotion. We are looking forward very much to setting up a fruitful partnership with the ITTF.” – Liu Zhiqiang, General Manager of LD Sports
“We are very happy to welcome LD Sports, a Chinese company with a global presence, onto the international stage of table tennis through the ITTF World Tour. The Qatar Open, Australia Open and Korea Open will feature intense competition as all the top Chinese and international players will attend, and we look forward to a very successful cooperation with LD Sports!” – Kimberly Koh, Head of Sponsorship at ITTF
“We are looking forward to collaborating with LD Sports, who are very passionate about sport and help sports lovers to chase their dreams. ITTF and LD Sports will join forces to develop table tennis, to convey the fighting spirit, create a friendly sports environment and promote positive sportsmanship.” – Xu Yi, Head of Sponsorship (China) at ITTF
Apologies to the Royal Family, captains causing a stir and strange try celebrations - the past two decades in the men's Six Nations have provided no shortage of drama.
The tournament turned 20 years old at the weekend, marking the moment Italy joined the party.
But how much can you remember of all that has happened since the Five Nations became six in 2000?
We have picked out some of the tournament's best and strangest moments to test you.
Scotland set "a minimum standard" of performance against Ireland that needs to be improved upon throughout the Six Nations, says former captain Rory Lawson.
Scotland threatened a first win for 10 years in Dublin before losing 19-12.
Gregor Townsend's side face England at Murrayfield on Saturday, with Eddie Jones' men also losing their opener.
"It's a huge, huge game - everything from now has to be getting better and better," said the former scrum-half.
"The team put out a good performance that should've won them the game. It didn't but that's going to be the minimum standard.
"Scotland have to win the next game and look at the bonus point on Saturday as a positive when competing at the top end of this championship, not avoiding finishing bottom.
"The pressure is there. Pressure's a privilege. England have more pressure than Scotland.
"They've come off the back of two of their worst performances in recent times - the World Cup final, absolutely destroyed by South Africa; and they go away to Paris, 20 points down, a good comeback but a million miles from a side of that quality and the performance you'd expect."
Fly-half Finn Russell has again been omitted from the squad, having left the camp prior to the Ireland defeat after "breaching team protocol" during a drinking session.
Speaking on Monday, defence coach Steve Tandy had "no idea" whether Russell would feature in the championship but said Townsend was "in dialogue" with the player and that the coaching team were "looking for cohesion across these first two games".
Lawson believes reintroducing Russell before the meeting with Italy in Rome on 22 February may be the correct strategy.
"It's over to Finn to a certain extent to put his hat in the ring," added Lawson.
"Adam Hastings was good [against Ireland] and good enough to merit being picked in that number 10 jersey.
"If Finn's not starting, yes he can make a big impact off the bench, but with the media around and the issues that there were two weeks ago in the camp, why disrupt a positive feel, albeit in defeat from Dublin, for that?
"Bring him in the week before the Italy game and embed him back into the squad, if that's going to happen at all."
Glenn Maxwell insists he is better equipped to handle the short-pitched bowling he can expect to face on his return to Australia's ODI team for the first time since last year's World Cup, having refreshed his mind and renewed his outlook after taking a much-publicised mental health break at the start of the summer.
Back in October, Maxwell was not "getting a lot of enjoyment out of his cricket" in the words of national team coach Justin Langer, and gradually found a way back through time at home, club cricket, a Big Bash League campaign as captain of the Melbourne Stars, and now a recall for both the T20I and ODI squads to travel to South Africa later this month.
The sorts of pitches and bowlers Maxwell can expect to face across the Indian Ocean are very relevant to the technical and tactical challenge he faced in improving his play against the short stuff, something that Langer had, in typically blunt and honest fashion, spoken publicly about at the back end of a World Cup campaign in which the 31-year-old had failed to exert the sort of influence his outrageous talent demanded. A clearer mind and surer feet should help, as they have done during a BBL the Stars are still fighting to win.
"I think I've shown during this BBL that it doesn't really faze me that much at the moment," Maxwell said of the short ball. "I know that in one-day cricket you get a few extra bumpers an over, that's fine. But it was probably something I did need to address, and when you have so much scrutiny it can be quite wearing on you. You're trying hard, trying to find a way to fix it.
"I think I've come back a fresher player, being able to work out things off the field and get mentally right to perform and play well without any sort of mental scars going on behind and just be able to concentrate on the things that actually matter"
"I was well aware that I felt confident against the short ball, I knew I kept on getting out but I felt confident against it, so it was sort of a Catch-22, when you try to take it on and getting out to it. I just feel like I'm a bit better at being able to deal with it, choosing which ones to score off and which ones to play, and that does come back to being a bit more still and being able to make a more calculated decision at the crease.
"It is probably as simple as getting back to trying to be as still as possible. There might still be some movements but there's not as big a pre-movement, there's not as much anxiety around trying to get myself off the mark or get into the game, it's just being a bit more calm and just remembering the sole focus is to watch the ball and deal with it as best you can."
That calm, focused attitude applies to the season as a whole as much as it does to every ball Maxwell faces. He stressed that he had perhaps looked too far ahead during 2019, creating mental hurdles for himself that did not necessarily need to be there, and subsequently resolved not to worry about Australian selection until it actually took place.
"I wouldn't say I pencilled anything in this year," he said. "Last year and where I got to mentally, I probably thought ahead a lot, I thought deep into the future and all of a sudden you stop thinking about the now. I've literally just been going - as bad a cliché as it is - one game at a time and just making sure I'm putting 100% of my concentration and energy into the next game that I play and I think that's been showing dividends.
"With guys being more open and more honest, being able to actually have the honest conversation that I'm not feeling right, not feeling ok and it being accepted that it's ok to feel that way. You still need the support behind you from all the boards to grant you the time away and to have that time to get yourself right. It is nice that other cricketers around the world are accepting and supportive of people in that space.
"I knew if I could get things right that I had a game that's good enough to play at any level and when you've got so much going on behind the scenes and in the back of your mind or whatever it might be, to finally clear that away and just concentrate on the things that matter is a sign that it was the right move."
Maxwell will be welcomed back into the Australian set-up, not only the T20I side in which he has always been a central performer, but also the ODI line-up, which is being put together with a longer-term view in mind - the next World Cup in India in 2023.
"I've always felt extremely comfortable in that T20 side and I feel like I've performed extremely well especially over the last three or four years in that squad and been able to get a specific role in that side and be quite welcomed in the way I go about that role, bat No. 4 for Australia," Maxwell said. "The one-day side there's been a bit more of a shift and I've been up and down the order a fair bit, but the reason behind this is a bit more of a spot on role that they want me to play.
"I think I've come back a fresher player, being able to work out things off the field and get mentally right to perform and play well without any sort of mental scars going on behind and just be able to concentrate on the things that actually matter.
"Hopefully a far better prepared one and a far fresher one and I've got a really good understanding of what I need to do to be successful and how to bat well. I feel like I've shown that on numerous times during this BBL, I've been able to think my way through situations and be quite calm in different positions and hopefully I can bring that to the Australian side."
The Phoenix Suns are in discussions to acquire Detroit Pistons guard Luke Kennard, league sources tell ESPN.
The Pistons' intrigue with a deal centers on the opportunity to land a future Phoenix first-round pick, perhaps as soon as the 2020 NBA draft, league sources said.
Talks have gained traction, but there is no agreement in place, league sources said.
The teams are expected to talk again Tuesday.
The Suns are traveling to Detroit to play the Pistons on Wednesday.
Kennard has missed 22 consecutive games with bilateral knee tendinitis, but is expected to return this season. The Pistons are struggling to find assets that can get them a significant return, and Kennard represents that opportunity for Detroit.
Suns vice president of basketball operations Jeff Bower was part of a Detroit front office that drafted Kennard with the No. 12 pick in the 2017 NBA draft. Phoenix is believed to imagine Kennard in a significant sixth-man role playing 30-plus minutes a game.
Kennard, 23, was averaging a career-best 15.8 points on 40% 3-point shooting before the knee injury sidelined him prior to Christmas. There has been hope that Kennard could return post-All Star Break in February.
ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks contributed to this report.
Serena Williams needs to "change her strategy" and "face reality" after failing to win a Grand Slam title since returning to tennis, says her coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
The American 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, 38, has lost four major finals since giving birth to her daughter in September 2017.
She was knocked out of the Australian Open in the third round last month.
"We have to accept the fact that it is not working," said Mouratoglou.
Speaking to BBC Sport, he added: "Maybe come back with a different angle, a different strategy and different goals so she can make it.
"She does feel positive, she feels negative too because it is a failure when she doesn't win a Grand Slam.
"We have to face reality, but she is positive that she can make it otherwise she probably wouldn't be on a tennis court anymore.
"She believes she can make it and I believe it too. She's not that far, but we have to change a few things."
Williams said she made "far too many errors to be a professional athlete" when she lost to China's 27th seed Wang Qiang in Melbourne.
She has been coached by Mouratoglou since 2012 and has won 10 of her Grand Slam singles titles under him.
She returned to tennis four months after giving birth to daughter Olympia with the aim of breaking Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles.
In January, she won her first title in three years and first since becoming a mother at the Auckland Classic - her 73rd WTA title overall - but Mouratoglou says her performance in Melbourne was "disappointing".
"We didn't expect at all to be losing so early, or to be losing at all," he said.
Mouratoglou added: "She had everything to retire, 23 Grand Slam titles. But she decided to come back, she decided to make all the efforts, the physical efforts, the mental efforts, to come back to the game, with the goal to score more Grand Slams and beat the all-time record.
"It's difficult to know how many chances she will have, I don't know how long she is going to be able to play, but being able to reach four Grand Slam finals says a lot about her level, and she's not that far.
"Her level is good enough but we have to understand what is going on and why she is not able to win one. There is a big difference between reaching a final and winning one."
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