Two all-time greats are missing. Two debutants are on deck. Replacement captain Steve Smith has a bit on. The Australian side is full of storylines ahead of the Ashes opener. Gideon Haigh helps us pull it apart. 

Featured: Gideon Haigh, cricket writer, Cricket Et Al. 

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History will tell you how hard England has found Ashes cricket in Australia, so why does this series feel different? In a word, it's probably Bazball. The vibes based cricketing philosophy that has fuelled English cricket and driven Australian fans slightly crazy. Barney Ronay explains the stakes for Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum and England ahead of a mouth watering series. Featured: Barney Ronay, chief sports writer, The Guardian. 

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YouTuber/boxer Jake Paul has made a career out of knowing how to draw eyeballs, but fighting a world champion heavyweight? That feels like a bad way to suffer for your art. The social media phenomenon will take on Anthony Joshua in a made-for-Netflix event that will draw a huge audience and generate both fighters' massive money, but at what physical cost for Paul? Some pros are fearing for the American's life. We break down this bizarre news. Featured: Simon Smale, boxing writer, ABC Sport.  

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Zac Lomax has long been linked with rebel rugby union venture R360, but for him to be given a release by Parramatta has ramped up speculation around the competition. Who else is in the picture and why are NRL players the only athletes being linked to this global rugby competition? Featured: Michael Carayannis, NRL reporter, Daily Telegraph.

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Alex de Minaur has had a rollercoaster of a week at the ATP finals. Losing a match after serving for it, to qualifying for the semi-finals by beating world number six Taylor Fritz. Can the Australian harness the emotional swing with one eye on a match up with Jannik Sinner and the other on a home Summer of tennis? Plus the AFLW finals are into their second week, so who makes it through for a shot at the grand final? 

Featured: Peter Johnston, former ATP player and tournament director. Gemma Bastiani, ABC commentator. 

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England's preparation for the Ashes couldn't be much more different to Australia's and it's drawn criticism. Is one warm-up match enough ahead of a huge series? That's one of many questions being asked of this squad. Is this the year Joe Root gets his elusive 100 in Australia? How will Mark Wood and Jofra Archer hold up? Can England win back the Ashes down under for the first time in over a decade? 

Featured: Jonathan Agnew, former England cricketer and ABC SPORT commentator. Subscribe to the ABC Sport Newsletter

Professional Footballers Australia has released its report into the 2024-25 A-League Women's season and it's not pretty reading. The report shows a drop in crowds, salaries that don't compete with other women's competitions and talent that would prefer to play elsewhere. After the glow of the home Women's World Cup for the Matildas, has the domestic competition missed its moment?

Featuring: Pokuah Frimpong, ABC SPORT. 

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On truwana/Cape Barren Island, off the coast of Tasmania, there is a 9-hole golf course that is almost impossible to get a tee-time at. That's because Marra Wunna Golf Course is by the locals for the locals. It's not your typical golf club - there's no dress code, it's free to play and the local wildlife have been written into the rules. It's a different kind of golf and those who live there, love it. 

Featured: Louise Miolin, ABC reporter. 

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The AFL have announced a re-vamp of their finals structure for the 2026 season, introducing a wildcard round. Gone is the pre-finals bye and instead we will see 7th v 10th and 8th v 9th to determine the final two slots in the finals. This isn't uncommon in US sports, but is it something  we need here?

Featured: Luke Ball, former AFL player and ABC expert. 

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Phoebe Litchfield on pain and glory at the World Cup and what comes next for a team theoretically in transition. English quick Mark Wood answers questions on sledging. Emma Lawrence unpacks how the rebooted Ashes has or hasn't changed international rugby league. Featured: Phoebe Litchfield, Australia batter. Emma Lawrence, NRL reporter, Channel Nine. 

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