Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 9 January 12:30 pm

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

# We start off with Cricket: The third edition of the SA20 gets underway today, with back-to-back reigning champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape taking on MI Cape Town at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. Sunrisers coach Adrian Birrell has managed to retain the core of his championship-winning team and bolstered it with the recruitment of England internationals Zak Crawley, Richard Gleeson, and Craig Overton. Meanwhile, MI Cape Town, who finished rock bottom in 2023 and 2024, is boosted by acquiring Proteas white-ball opener Reeza Hendricks for 4.3-million-rand.

And in more cricket news, Australian batter Nathan McSweeney has been recalled for the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, while all-rounder Cooper Connolly has earned his maiden call-up. Former captain Steve Smith will lead the team in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins, with Josh Hazlewood rested after picking up a calf injury. Australia’s chair of selectors, George Bailey says they are excited about the opportunity ahead for the squad members who are at the start of their Test careers to continue to grow their games.

# Road running: The Comrades Marathon Association has announced that the qualifying criteria for the 98th Comrades Marathon will be five-hours for a standard 42.2-kilometre marathon, increased from 4-hours-50-minutes. Chairperson Mqondisi Ngcobo says this decision aims to make the race more inclusive, encouraging a wider range of athletes to participate in the iconic event on 8 June. Ngcobo emphasised that this move aligns with the marathon’s values of camaraderie and perseverance. Athletes must submit qualifying details by 5 May.

# Tennis: Defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner of Italy will face a stern opening test in the first round against big-hitting Chilean Nicolas Jarry. Sinner has been drawn in the same half as American Taylor Fritz and Russia’s Daniil Medvedev. Ten-time champion Novak Djokovic, who could face Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, will take on American Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round. Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus begins her bid for a third straight title against 2017 US Open winner American Sloane Stephens.

# And finally, Athletics: UK Athletics has been charged with corporate manslaughter, and its former head of sport, Keith Davies, with gross negligence manslaughter, after the death of a Paralympian shot-putter in 2017. Abdullah Hayayei was preparing to represent the United Arab Emirates in the shot put, discus, and javelin at the World Para Athletics Championships when a metal throwing cage fell on him. The tragedy happened at the Newham Leisure Centre in London. UK Athletics and Davies will appear at the Westminster Magistrate’s Court on the 31st of this month.

Stay tuned for more news………….