World number one Carlos Alcaraz of Spain has been ruled out of the Australian Open with a leg injury.

 "I’d worked so hard to get to my best level for Australia but unfortunately I won’t be able to

Alcaraz to miss the ATP Finals as his 2022 came to an end.I'd worked so hard to get to my best level for Australia

confirmed that Zambia striker Barbra Banda will be eligible to play at this year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia

Olympic Games when she did so in Tokyo in 2021 ©Getty Images"We are looking forward to welcoming her to Australia

Tennis Australia has rejected calls for players from Russia to be banned from the 2023 Australian Open

without flags or country recognition - which will be the case for Australian Open 2023," said Tennis Australia

Former Australia captain Belinda Clark has become the first female cricketer in the world to be honoured

Clark captained Australia for 12 years and was part of the teams that won the Women's Cricket World Cup

Denmark.Off the field, Clark was also an influential figure having become chief executive of Women's Cricket Australia

ending her playing career in 2005, Clark has held numerous rules including as an executive at Cricket Australia

Belinda's legacy is only going to continue to grow along with that of women's cricket in Australia."

Serbia's unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic looks set to miss two key hard-court tournaments in the United States after the country's travel authorities opted to extend their COVID-19 rules.

last year due to the American immigration rules.The 21-time Grand Slam champion was also deported from Australia

visa on grounds of public interest.The decision left Djokovic facing a three-year ban from entering Australia

to submit proof of their vaccination status, so Djokovic has been granted a temporary visa to enter Australia

A New Year inevitably leads to looking ahead at what is coming up and 2023 offers plenty to get excited about, including, for the first time in the same year, continental Games in Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and Pan America and a FIFA Women’s World Cup that will highlight female football in a way that has never happened before.

though, the event that is getting me most excited this year is the Ashes series between England and Australia

obituary stated that English cricket had died, and "the body will be cremated, and the ashes taken to Australia

".Australia and England have been playing each other in Test cricket since 1882 but expectations have

©Getty ImagesThe mythical Ashes immediately became associated with the 1882 - 1883 series played in Australia

“[Australia] better get ready because the juggernaut is not easy to play against.

Cody Lynch has been appointed as Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA)’s general manager for marketing,

Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.Lynch has previously worked with organisations including Athletics Australia

victoriacg2026. https://t.co/7rSGScZyvR— Cody Lynch (@cw_lynch) December 20, 2022Commonwealth Games Australia

Lynch is due to begin full-time in his post on January 16 2023.Victoria in Australia is scheduled to

Australian broadcaster Nine looks to have won the rights to screen the next cycle of Olympic Games through to Brisbane 2032 after its main rival Seven officially confirmed it had withdrawn from the process.

million/$274 million/€258 million) that the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who travelled to Australia

promotional platforms and the attraction of signing a deal to broadcast the third Olympics to be staged in Australia

Seven has been the main Olympics broadcaster in Australia.Nine last held the Olympic rights in Australia

Novak Djokovic has called for former world number one Daniil Medvedev, as well as players from Russia and Belarus, to be allowed back at Wimbledon this year.

events, so Medvedev was not allowed to participate in the mixed United Cup taking place in cities around Australia

another Frenchman, Quentin Halys tomorrow in the round-of-16.Last year, Djokovic was deported from Australia

COVID-19 vaccine.Novak Djokovic received a warm welcome in Adelaide after he was allowed to return to Australia

the pair lost in three sets.Of Djokovic’s 21 Grand Slam singles titles, a record nine have come in Australia

Former Wales and British and Irish Lions winger Ieuan Evans has been appointed as chair of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), succeeding Rob Butcher who served for two years in the role but stood down last year.

captained the 1994 side that won the Five Nations Championship and won on three tours with the Lions; to Australia

Shooting was almost left off the sporting programme at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow because Scottish Government Ministers were concerned over whether its inclusion would be controversial due to sensitivities around the Dunblane massacre.

boycott the Games.It has been included on the programme for the next Commonwealth Games at Victoria in Australia

World Netball President Liz Nicholl has said the governing body is looking forward to 2023 with "excitement and optimism".

thrilling world-class events".These included first international events for Netball Fiji and Netball Australia

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has unveiled its end-of-year softball and baseball world rankings.

Softball World Cup.Japan dropped down a place to finish third with 2,909 points, with world champions Australia

FIFA World Cup winners Argentina have climbed up to second but continue to trail South American rivals Brazil in the men's world rankings.

led to them slipping out of the top 10 to 18th.Among the other notable updates after the World Cup, Australia

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has delivered his New Year message, and described 2022 as "successful as it was turbulent".

under scrutiny.This sparked a diplomatic boycott from Western nations including the United States, Australia