Record partnership sees Strikers defeat Stars
11:23 PM A record-breaking partnership has lifted the Adelaide Strikers to a 19-run win over the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.
Top Stories
'Pitchsiders' finding new ways to stay ahead
![Cricket and cash: Betting has exploded on cricket matches in recent years.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/t/d/a/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glr08v.100177.png/1450431697592.jpg)
Andrew Wu 7:41 PM CRICKET A computer program used by audacious cyber scammers has emerged as a new weapon for pitchsiders to avoid detection by cricket's anti-corruption officers.
Khawaja passed fit, will return in BBL
![Australian players (left to right) Nathan Lyon, Peter Nevill, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Starc during a barbecue on Friday.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/r/c/n/x/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glrcl3.100177.png/1450439567815.jpg)
7:40 PM CRICKET Usman Khawaja has been declared fully fit, all but ensuring national selectors must make a tough call on either Joe Burns or Shaun Marsh.
Melbourne belongs to Victory... or does it?
![Tempers rising: City's Patrick Kisnorbo and Victory's Besart Berisha exchange words.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/d/l/o/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqhk8.100177.png/1450431697592.jpg)
Michael Lynch 1:38 PM SOCCER Melbourne Victory have nearly 27,000 members, Melbourne City have almost 8500.
Buckley: Get rid of prior opportunity
![Happy with pre-season: Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/i/l/b/i/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqyk6.100177.png/1450436677924.jpg)
Rohan Connolly 3:44 PM AFL Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley believes the AFL should dispense with the "prior opportunity" qualification when it comes to the "holding the ball" rule.
How the axe fell on Jose Mourinho
![A man thought to be Jose Mourinho, right, covers his face as he is driven from Chelsea's training ground on Friday.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/q/f/l/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glql8p.100177.png/1450445049229.jpg)
12:51 PM SOCCER Jose Mourinho joined his Chelsea players for their annual Christmas lunch at the club's Cobham training ground just hours before he was sacked, but there was little festive spirit to go around.
Heat forces cancellation of Victorian meetings
![Racing in Victoria has been cancelled due to the extreme heat.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/z/t/1/r/4/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqoam.100177.png/1450431697592.jpg)
Patrick Bartley 2:51 PM HORSE RACING All Victorian race meetings on Saturday have been called off with extreme heat forecast across the state.
Trainer Peter Moody made up story, says QC
![Horse trainer Peter Moody.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/n/f/5/e/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glquvv.100177.png/1450431697592.jpg)
Larissa Nicholson and Patrick Bartley 7:22 PM HORSE RACING For the Racing Administrative and Disciplinary Board to believe Peter Moody's explanation over his cobalt charges, they would have to believe he was "grossly negligent", a representative for racing stewards put to him on Friday.
Captain Watson still confident about CAS
![Essendon captain Jobe Watson trains with teammates on Friday.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/r/a/v/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqihc.100177.png/1450431697592.jpg)
Daniel Cherny 11:01 AM AFL A reinvigorated Jobe Watson says he remains confident that he and his current and former teammates will soon be freed from the shackles of a looming drugs ban.
Tennis 2015: the good, the bad, and Bernie
![Sport in 2015](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/q/r/a/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glk61d.100177.png/1450431697592.jpg)
Linda Pearce 1:00 PM TENNIS Some of the highs and lows from the year in tennis and a peek into what's coming up in 2016.
Cricket
Clarke makes plea to Windies T20 stars
![Grave fears for Windies cricket: Michael Clarke.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/r/2/1/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqrms.1000zr.png/1450415982050.jpg)
Andrew Wu 4:19 PM Michael Clarke has called for the International Cricket Council to do more to prevent a repeat of the club versus country player crisis which has crippled the West Indies' tour and threatens to turn this summer's marquee Tests into debacles.
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AFL
Crows and NT in bid for women’s licence
![Erin Phillips has been signed and will possibly lead a potential Power women's team.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/r/a/x/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glrato.106eai.png/1450424259914.jpg)
Caroline Wilson 6:31 PM Another twist has emerged in the clubs' push for places in the Australian Women's Football League, with the Adelaide Crows joining forces with the Northern Territory in a bid for a seventh licence.
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Soccer
Delpierre plans to quit Victory
![With Matthieu Delpierre in the side Victory's defence is calmer, better organised and looks tighter and better structured.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/x/p/t/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqvjj.1000zw.png/1450425480695.jpg)
Michael Lynch 6:00 PM Melbourne Victory's commanding French centre-half Matthieu Delpierre plans to call it a day with the champions at the end of the current A -League season.
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Rugby Union
Snipers lurk in shadows at Brumbies
![Chris Dutton](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/h/v/j/5/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glr4c3.png/1450432492195.jpg)
Chris Dutton 8:54 PM It's sniping season at the ACT Brumbies, and no one is safe. But it's time for calm as the club searches for stability.
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Rugby League
Taylor guarantees Farah No.9 jersey
![Marshall/Farah: 110903: SMH Sport: 3rd of September 2015: Story by Michael Carayannis: Sydney: Rugby League player Robbie Farah at ANZ Stadium (Homebush), sporting special edition socks to support pancreatic cancer during this week's round of the NRL table: Photo by James Alcock:
BC9T8648.jpg](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/c/v/s/b/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glquia.png/1450430238499.jpg)
Michael Carayannis 8:00 PM Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor has guaranteed Robbie Farah the No.9 jersey to start round one with Farah's replacement as skipper Aaron Woods declaring he and his Tigers teammates would have been "filthy" if the club let Farah leave.
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Motor Sport
NASCAR champ Busch undergoes surgery
![Kyle Busch has had surgery.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/q/k/i/j/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqkfg.11q817.png/1450394525034.jpg)
10:22 AM NASCAR series champion Kyle Busch has undergone foot and leg surgery.
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Tennis
Duckworth a step closer to Open main draw
![Final contender: James Duckworth will play good friend Ben Mitchell on Sunday with the winner getting a wildcard entry into January's Australia Open main draw.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/r/c/1/c/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glrc1r.119zdz.png/1450430900921.jpg)
7:19 PM Top seed James Duckworth will do battle with good mate Ben Mitchell in Sunday's Australian Open wildcard play-off final.
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Cycling
Lancaster flies off into retirement
![Golden ride: Brett Lancaster celebrates his team's win at the 2004 Olympics.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/q/j/o/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqidd.13hkhn.png/1450432693629.jpg)
Rupert Guinness 10:07 AM One of Australia's most versatile cyclists, Orica-GreenEDGE rider and 2004 Olympic gold medallist Brett Lancaster, has decided to retire.
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Basketball
Day's wife injured as LeBron crashes into her
![Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James falls into Ellie Day.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/r/3/b/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqxxa.12e3uq.png/1450434694065.jpg)
David Sygall 6:22 PM The wife of Australian golfer Jason Day has been put on a stretcher in a neck brace after basketball superstar LeBron James barrelled into her.
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Netball
Netball league may expand in Australia
![Romelda Aiken](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/h/v/h/x/8/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqqh2.11pssd.png/1450427251339.jpg)
12:33 PM Three additional teams from Australia's east coast could be added to the the Trans-Tasman netball league for the 2017 season and beyond.
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More Sport
When women jockeys soar
![Australian sports story of the year: Michelle Payne after winning the Melbourne Cup.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/e/l/i/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glq6yf.zzax1.png/1450431415841.jpg)
Martin Flanagan 4:35 PM A look at the good and bad of the 2015 sporting year.
Hayne may have to go back to the start
![Uphill battle: Jarryd Hayne.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/i/q/w/g/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqpp1.zzax1.png/1450431415841.jpg)
Matt Barrows 1:22 PM AMERICAN FOOTBALL Quite simply, teams are hesitant to take a chance on Hayne given his lack of experience in American football.
Surfing's contemporary hero a champion
![Mick Fanning](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/q/1/t/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqmh8.zzax1.png/1450431415841.jpg)
Malcolm Knox 11:58 AM SURFING There are bigger things for Mick Fanning to deal with. Deal with them he will, for he is a champion in any realm.
Veteran trio in line for third Games
![Georgina Morgan has been named in the Hockeyroos' squad.](/web/20151218132622im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/m/c/l/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.glqk5r.zzax1.png/1450431415841.jpg)
10:13 AM HOCKEY Madonna Blyth, Teneal Attard and Casey Sablowski are in line to complete an Olympic hat-trick, the trio headlining a 26-strong Australian women's squad that will be shaved to 16 for Rio.