The Perth Scorchers have signed former South Africa quick Morne Morkel for the closing stages of the Big Bash.

Morkel, who retired from international cricket after the series against Australia in early 2018 and now lives in Sydney, will link up with the Scorchers next week as a replacement for Chris Jordan and be available for selection for the final regular season match against the Sydney Thunder on January 26.

He would then be available for the finals if the Scorchers, who are currently fourth in the table, make it to the new-look series which includes five of the eight teams.

Jordan is leaving the tournament because he is part of the England one-day squad for the series in South Africa.

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"Once we knew CJ [Chris Jordan] had been picked in the England side we knew that we would need a replacement for the back end of the tournament and Morne was always at the top of the list," the Scorchers coach Adam Voges said. "He brings a wealth of experience and has performed really well particularly in the Mzansi Super League in South Africa where he was one of the leading wicket takers.

"He was really keen to come on board. Luckily I've played a bit with Morne over the years so we've got a good relationship and he was super excited to get involved in the Big Bash.

"I think CJ has been fantastic for us, not only what he's brought with the ball but just the way that he's been around the group. His experience has helped the guys out on the field and he's helping Mitch with his leadership as well. We wanted someone of a similar calibre to come in and I think Morne will do a great job with that and continue the good work that CJ has done.

"We're going to get Morne to Perth next week and he'll be around the group for a week or so before he plays so that will be great for him to get to know everyone and hopefully make that transition a bit smoother."

Morkel took 12 wickets in nine matches at an economy rate of 6.35 in the MSL for Tshwane Spartans. After moving to Sydney with his wife, sports journalist and presenter Roz Kelly, Morkel had spoken about hoping to gain permanent residency which could see him eligible for future BBL seasons as a local player.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jason Garrett has agreed to become the new offensive coordinator of the New York Giants, a source told ESPN's Ed Werder.

Garrett will stay in the NFC East, just weeks after he was not retained by the Dallas Cowboys, where he was head coach for nine seasons.

The 53-year-old Garrett had interviewed with the Giants and new coach Joe Judge on Wednesday. He was offered the job not long after but opted to head home first to discuss it with his family.

The Giants originally had requested permission to speak with Garrett for their head-coaching position because he technically was still under contract with Dallas. But the Cowboys told Garrett that he was free to talk with other teams after the season and before his contract lapsed Tuesday.

The Giants went on to hire Judge, a first-time head coach, before the interview.

Garrett still was coveted for their coordinator position, in part because of his experience as a head coach and with quarterbacks, as well as his ties to the Giants organization, having played there from 2000 to 2003. He remains well-respected inside their building after posting a 13-6 record against them as a head coach.

Co-owner John Mara said last week he was open to the idea of having Garrett's experience as a playcaller and head coach serve as an important sounding board for Judge.

"I certainly wouldn't have any objection to that," Mara said of hiring Garrett as the offensive coordinator. "I have a lot of respect for Jason. At the end of the day, that's going to be Joe's decision."

The Giants also interviewed Mike Shula for the job earlier this week. He was the only other known candidate. Shula was the Giants' offensive coordinator under Pat Shurmur and helped with the development of rookie quarterback Daniel Jones.

Before his nine-season stint as the Cowboys' head coach, Garrett was their offensive coordinator, but he hasn't called plays since 2012. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones took away the responsibilities from Garrett so he could better oversee the entire operation. Bill Callahan, Scott Linehan and Kellen Moore have called plays for Dallas since.

Garrett's experience as a head coach should serve as an asset to Judge, who never has been a head coach at any level. Judge spent the past eight seasons as an assistant under Bill Belichick in New England, most recently as the Patriots' special-teams coordinator and wide receivers coach.

Garrett had been with the Cowboys since 2007. He led Dallas to an 85-67 record as head coach, making it to the playoffs three times. He will bring to New York a timing-based offense that has worked well with young quarterbacks in the past. He had immediate success with Tony Romo early in his career and was a key figure in the development of Dak Prescott, a fourth-round pick in 2016 who finished fourth in the NFL with a QBR of 70.1 this season.

Garrett will inherit an offense that turned to Jones this past season.

The No. 6 draft pick out of Duke last year, Jones had his ups and downs as a rookie. He threw 24 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions and also lost 11 fumbles. But the Giants are clearly committed to him as their future franchise quarterback. Eli Manning's contract is set to expire at the end of this league year.

The Giants' offense has talent, with Jones working alongside running back Saquon Barkley, tight end Evan Engram and wide receivers Golden Tate and Sterling Shepard. Those five didn't play a single game together this past season because of injury and suspension.

The offense under Shurmur finished 23rd in total yards and tied for 18th in points.

A talented Cowboys team went 8-8 this past season under Garrett. Dallas allowed his contract to lapse while hiring Mike McCarthy as his replacement.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Lakers will begin the second half of their schedule Saturday against the Houston Rockets and hope to have both halves of their big two in the lineup.

Anthony Davis, out the past four games after taking a hard foul on his backside against the New York Knicks, did not practice with the team on Friday and is listed as questionable for the Rockets game.

Davis did go through an individual workout on the court after practice, however, mixing in light sprinting and spot shooting in a full-court drill with several members of the Lakers coaching staff.

The eight-year veteran is expected to make his decision to return Saturday based on how he responds to his pregame workout, a league source told ESPN.

While the Lakers have gone 3-1 in Davis' absence, coach Frank Vogel didn't try to hide how much he misses having L.A.'s franchise big man in the lineup when asked how anxious Davis' absence is making him.

"On a 1-10 (scale)? Twenty? Thirty? Forty? A hundred? Two-hundred? I'm very anxious, but also having the mindset to be very wise and patient and intelligent about an injury to a very important player that we're not going to rush back," Vogel said. "We're going to be conservative and make sure he's right before we return him to play, have a marathon mindset to the season, as we would with all of our players, but in particular someone of his caliber."

Should Davis remain sidelined, the Lakers will continue to start Kyle Kuzma in his place. The third-year forward exploded in his first two games that Davis missed, averaging 31 points on 52.2% shooting, but he's cooled off in the two games since, averaging 7.5 points on a 30.4% clip.

"I'm excited to get (Davis) back, but you always look to the bright side of things, and it's fun to see other guys get opportunities, to see Kuz get the minutes he's been getting; to see (Jared Dudley) get in there and some of the wings," Vogel said. "I tend to, or choose to, focus on the positives of this and helping those guys grow. There's benefits. When one guy's out, there's always benefits for other guys."

L.A. got some positive news on the health of its backcourt Friday, however. Alex Caruso, who missed most of Wednesday's loss to the Orlando Magic after getting hit in the mouth, was re-evaluated for a concussion and tests came back negative. He is still suffering from soreness in his neck but is considered probable for the Rockets game.

Backup point guard Rajon Rondo, who missed the Magic game with a fractured right ring finger, got back on the court Friday, too.

"He looked good," Vogel said of Rondo. "It's just a matter of how the finger is going to heal and how it feels tomorrow after, for the first time, getting some work on it. But he was a full participant and looked good and we listed him as questionable for tomorrow."

INDIANAPOLIS -- Karl-Anthony Towns is in the starting lineup for the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday at Indiana after missing 15 games with sprained left knee.

Coach Ryan Saunders told reporters before the game the two-time All-Star will be on a minutes restriction because of his prolonged absence. Team officials also plan to closely monitor Towns for fatigue.

"He hasn't played for a while, so you have to take all those things into account," Saunders said. "You always want to have a full complement of players and when you have a guy who is as productive as KAT is, you always want that guy out there."

Minnesota went 5-10 without Towns.

Towns averages 26.5 points and 11.7 rebounds and shoots 51.4% from the field, all team highs. He also averages 4.4 assists, the highest among players on the current roster following Thursday's trade, which sent Jeff Teague to Atlanta.

The Timberwolves will be without guard Allen Crabbe, who they reacquired from Atlanta. Saunders said Crabbe is expected to join the team Saturday in Minneapolis.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Former Walmart Inc. chief executive David Glass, who owned the Kansas City Royals for nearly two decades before selling the franchise last fall, died last week of complications from pneumonia. He was 84.

The Glass family said the businessman died Jan. 9. He had been dealing with health issues for some time.

Glass began negotiations early last year to sell the Royals, who reached the World Series twice under his ownership and won the title in 2015. The deal valued at about $1 billion with a group led by Kansas City businessman John Sherman was completed Nov. 26 after Major League Baseball owners voted unanimously to approve it.

"I am deeply saddened by the news of David's passing," Sherman said in a statement. "His voice among other owners was so respected. He served on and led several Major League Baseball committees to better our game. His passion for baseball and love for Kansas City was the driving force in bringing success on the field for this franchise.

"Personally, I will be forever indebted to David for reaching out to offer the generational opportunity to be part of this proud and storied franchise," Sherman added. "On behalf of the entire ownership group, I want to express deepest gratitude to the heart of a man who carefully placed a treasure in the hands of Kansas Citians. We pledge to carry it forward with his passionate commitment and selfless spirit."

Glass was born in Mountain View, Missouri, and joined the U.S. Army after he was graduated from high school. He earned a degree from Missouri State before beginning his business career at Crank Drug Company in 1960.

Glass left the company in 1968 and worked for two other companies until 1976, when Walmart founder Sam Walter recruited him to be his company's chief financial officer. Glass continued to take on a bigger role with the company until 1988, when he was named president and CEO of the retail giant. Over the ensuing 12 years, he led the company through a period of dramatic growth and expansions internationally and into new retail formats.

"When we lost my dad, David provided a steady, visionary hand the company needed to lead it forward. He did so with a deep sense of humility while maintaining the values and principles dad founded the company on," former Walmart chairman Rob Walton said. "More than anyone beyond Sam Walton, David Glass is responsible for making Walmart the company it is today. On behalf of the entire Walton family, I want to express our appreciation for David as a leader and as a friend. He will be deeply missed."

He also will be missed in Kansas City, his home away from home due to his ownership of the Royals.

Glass helped to keep the franchise in Kansas City following the death of founding owner Ewing Kauffman in 1993. He served as caretaker of the organization until April 2000, when he purchased sole ownership for $96 million -- a strong bid at the time. And while his ownership will be remembered for two American League pennants and a World Series trophy, for many years he was considered a pariah among fans for his notoriously frugal ways.

The Royals endured many 100-loss seasons, and they became known for trading top talent while refusing to sign notable free agents. Many fans also viewed him as an absentee owner more committed to Arkansas than Kansas City.

But most of those opinions changed when Glass hired Dayton Moore as general manager in 2006. Glass vowed to build the organization the right way, and he gave Moore the resources and responsibility to accomplish that objective.

"When I sat down across the table from Mr. Glass, as he began to share his vision for the Kansas City Royals, it was all about wanting to create a model organization," Moore said Friday. "It was all about putting a competitive team on the field for our fans and our city. I came to understand he owned a baseball team for all the right reasons. It wasn't about him as an owner, it was about being a great steward of the franchise and preserving the great game he enjoyed as a little boy."

Glass continued that enjoyment even after he agreed to sell the franchise. He showed up to Kauffman Stadium several times late in the season, watching the Royals with the same boyhood fascination as always.

"I'm here because where else would you want to be on a Saturday evening but the ballpark?" Glass said told The Associated Press one September afternoon, leaning over the dugout during batting practice. "I'm not going to stop enjoying baseball. I went to my first game in 1946 and I've been a baseball junkie ever since."

Glass had been in declining health, increasing his urgency to sell the club. But he had called Moore on Christmas Day and later said he was looking forward to attending spring training with a group of his friends.

"We weren't expecting to get this news this early in 2020, that's for sure," Moore said.

Regardless of how he was perceived by the public, Glass always had the unwavering support of Moore and Ned Yost, his longtime manager. Yost even called watching Glass raise the World Series trophy at Citi Field in 2015 "one of the top three highlights of my baseball career, because we had accomplished it for him."

"I will never forget the thrill of seeing over 800,000 people of this community come together on one sunny November day to salute the newly crowned world champions. It's been a fantastic ride," Glass said upon announcing the sale of the franchise, "and I want to thank our great fans for supporting us through the years. But now it's time for someone else to oversee this franchise into its next championship."

During his ownership of the Royals, Glass served on key MLB committees. He was the chairman of MLB Advanced Media, a member of Major League Baseball's executive council and -- not surprising, given his background -- an integral part of the finance committee.

Glass was elected to the board of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, too.

Glass and his wife, Ruth, have three children, six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. They also were actively involved in several philanthropic endeavors, and Missouri State named its business hall in his honor.

The family said a memorial will be held Jan. 27 at Northwest Arkansas Fellowship Bible Church in Rogers, Arkansas.

"Due to his authentic humility, we think David Glass may be the most under-appreciated CEO in the history of business," said Doug McMillon, the current president and CEO of Walmart. "The choices he made and the results of the company reflect his wisdom, dedication and servant leadership. We will miss him immensely and are eternally grateful."

HOUSTON -- Houston Astros owner Jim Crane expects to hire a new manager by Feb. 3.

The Astros need a new manager and general manager after AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow were fired Monday, hours after both were suspended by Major League Baseball for a year for the team's sign-stealing scandal.

Crane said Friday that he's interviewed a number of candidates this week and has some more to talk to in the coming days.

Crane refused to answer directly when asked if former Astros player and Hall of Famer Craig Biggio was a possibility for the job. But he did say that he had spoken to Biggio, fellow Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell and former Astros star Lance Berkman in the days since the firings.

"We've talked to all of our Killer B's," Crane said referring to the nickname the three shared while playing for the Astros. "They've contacted me and they've all expressed that they would like to help. Berkman, Bagwell, Biggio have all called and said: 'Hey, if there's anything I can do, I'm here for you.'"

"So we'll continue to visit with those guys and see if there's something there."

Crane says his list is still rather extensive and that he hopes to have it narrowed down by the end of next week. He added that he expects most of Hinch's staff to stay in place regardless of who is hired.

Crane has enlisted the help of three or four employees to help him with the interview process, including some in Houston's baseball operations department.

"We compare notes," he said. "I've learned a long time ago that you learn a lot if four or five people talk to a key candidate and you get a lot more information. So that's what we're doing."

Crane' top priority with spring training less than a month away is finding a manager, but he said he would start focusing on the search for a general manager after he hires a manager. He expects to hire a GM before the end of spring training.

"We should have another good season with the team pretty much intact ... so I don't know why a manager wouldn't want to come in and manage these guys," he said. "They're set to win again."

The penalties announced by MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on Monday came after he found illicit use of electronics to steal signs during Houston's run to the 2017 World Series championship and again during the 2018 season. The Astros were also fined $5 million, which is the maximum allowed under the Major League Constitution, and must forfeit their next two first- and second-round amateur draft picks.

The investigation found that the Astros used the video feed from a center-field camera to see and decode the opposing catcher's signs. Players banged on a trash can to signal to batters what was coming, believing it would improve the batter's odds of getting a hit.

With much still in flux, Crane was asked what qualities are most important to him in his next manager.

"Someone mature that can handle the group," he said. "Someone that's had a little bit of experience in some areas. We've just got to find a leader that can handle some pressure and there's going to be a little bit of pressure from where this team has been in the last few months."

Despite his comment about experience, Crane said having been a major league manager before is not mandatory to him.

"We made some mistakes," he said. "We made a decision to let that get behind us. We think the future is bright. We'll make the adjustments ... people think we're in crisis. I certainly don't believe that."

Dragons earned a quarter-final spot in the European Challenge Cup as they secured a home bonus-point victory over Enisei-STM.

Scores from Ross Moriarty and Jared Rosser put the Dragons 14-5 up at half-time.

Harrison Keddie, Tyler Morgan, Aaron Wainwright and Adam Warren, with two, added second-half tries.

Castres' comeback in Worcester saw them win Pool One with Dragons finishing second.

The result from Sixways was of more concern than events at Rodney Parade once they had sealed the bonus point after 56 minutes.

Morgan dived over triumphantly for the fourth try, only to become one of three injury victims in the process with wings Jared Rosser and Rio Dyer also forced off.

The disjointed nature of the closing stages did not matter, but a high-scoring home win for Worcester could have knocked Dragons out.

A hat-trick of tries from Castres scrum-half Rory Kockott caused French and Welsh celebrations with the Dragons assured of being one of the best three second-placed sides.

Dragons flanker Keddie, a late call-up to the side, was man of the match as Dragons reached the knock-out stages for the first time since 2016.

More to follow.

Dragons: Carwyn Penny; Jared Rosser, Adam Warren, Tom Griffiths, Rio Dyer; Sam Davies, Tavis Knoyle; Lloyd Fairbrother, Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Matthew Screech, Cory Hill (capt), Aaron Wainwright, Huw Taylor , Ross Moriarty.

Replacements: Ellis Shipp, Josh Reynolds, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Harrison Keddie, Luke Baldwin, Jacob Botica, Tyler Morgan.

Enisei-STM: Earll Douwrie; Davit Meskhi, David Kacharava, Dmitrii Gerasimov, Bjorn Basson; Ramil Gaisin, Alexey Shcherban; Nika Khatiashvili, Shamil Magomedov, Innokentiy Zykov, Uldis Saulite (capt), Evgeny Elgin, Mikheil Gachechiladze, Andrey Temnov Dmitrii Krotov.

Replacements: Stanislav Selskii, Ewald Westhuizen, Azat Musin, Jeremy Jordaan, Nikita Churashov, Konstantin Uzunov, Jurijs Baranovs, Vitaly Nemtsev.

Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)

Assistants: Nigel Correll (Ireland) & Richard Kerr (Ireland)

TMO: Colin Stanley (Ireland)

For the latest Welsh rugby union news follow @BBCScrumV on Twitter.

Saracens' star players would still be able to play for England even if they are relegated from the Premiership to the second-tier Championship.

The defending champions are facing the drop at the end of the season for exceeding salary cap limits.

While this would probably lead to a dismantling of the squad, playing in the Championship would not stop players from representing England.

Nine Saracens players appeared for England at the recent Rugby World Cup.

"If I was a player in that situation - particularly a senior international - do I actually accept that this would be helpful to prolong my career?" Hannah Bowe from player recruitment industry experts Esportif Intelligence told BBC Sport.

"Play a couple of games in the Championship along with an international season, and be in a position in which you are fit and well a bit longer.

"Eddie Jones may take the view he has access to train these guys for a season, and England benefit. I would be surprised if Eddie Jones is not considering the benefit to English rugby."

Saracens would not be eligible to play in next season's Champions Cup, however, if they are relegated from the Premiership - even if they won Europe's top competition this season.

Winning the Champions Cup usually guarantees qualification for the tournament the following year.

Holders Saracens can qualify for the knockout stages with a win over Racing 92 on Sunday.

However, under the current regulations, in order to participate in European club rugby tournaments you must be a member of the Premiership, the Pro 14 or the French Top 14 in that season.

The only exception is the two clubs from emerging nations that participate in the Challenge Cup.