Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 2 January 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We start with cricket: Cricket South Africa named a completely new-look Proteas side for February’s two-match Test series tour against New Zealand. Of the Proteas currently doing Test duty against India, only batters David Bedingham, Keegan Petersen and newly called-up Zubayr Hamza are included. Neil Brand will make his Test debut and captain the side, which will see familiar faces like Dane Paterson, Duanne Olivier, Khaya Zondo and Dane Piedt. The other uncapped players are Raynard van Tonder, all-rounders Ruan de Swardt and Mihlali Mpongwana, seam bowler Tshepo Moreki, spinner Shaun von Berg and wicketkeeper Clyde Fortuin.

In more cricket news: Dynamic Australian opener David Warner yesterday announced his retirement from one-day international cricket. This comes ahead of his farewell Test against Pakistan this week, but he kept the door open to play the 2025 Champions Trophy if needed. Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald over the weekend said the 37-year-old is probably the country’s greatest ever three-format player. In South Africa he will forever be remembered for the role he played in the notorious ball-tampering scandal of 2018. Along with skipper Steve Smith, he was banned for a year for his part in the debacle in Cape Town.

# Soccer: Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool beat Newcastle United four-two to open up a three-point lead at the top of the English Premier League. Liverpool top the table ahead of Aston Villa, with defending champions Manchester City a further two points back with Arsenal. Salah’s first strike was his 150th Premier League goal for the Reds and manager Jurgen Klopp praised his performance:

# Tennis: New mother Naomi Osaka won the first match of her comeback by beating Tamara Korpatsch in straight sets at the Brisbane International. The Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion, playing in her first tournament in 15 months, defeated the unseeded German 6-3 and 7-6. She will face Karolina Pliskova next. Osaka afterwards said she was very proud of herself and thought she played at a good level. The 26-year-old welcomed her daughter Shai in July 2023.

# And, cycling: Former world cycling champion Rohan Dennis has been charged with causing the death of his wife, the retired Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins. According to police the 32-year-old Hoskins was seriously injured in an accident in Adelaide on Saturday night, and later died in hospital. Australian media reports Dennis is out on bail and will appear in court in March. Hoskins was a retired track and road racing cyclist and Dennis a member of the Australian team that won silver at the 2012 Olympics. They married in 2018 and had two children.

Stay tuned for more news………….