hello, i'm olly foster. here's what's coming up on sportsday. another premier league ground will be empty on boxing day. how many more will go over the christmas break? root vows to lead by example as england look to keep themselves in the ashes. it's win or bust in melbourne. he's not any punches. also coming up in the programme — we'll hearfrom one of the professional players now out of a job following the collapse of coventry united in the women's championship. we've committed so much to make this happen, so i think it'sjust mind blowing that this has happened, and i'd love to know why it happened. welcome along to our christmas eve sportsday. also coming up a few alternative sports from the last year, if you like dogs and lawnmowers, you'll love it. let's start with more pressing matter of the decimated football schedule. another boxing day game is off in the premier league. everton have reported a number of positive covid cases and on top of the injury list they are unable to field a team at burnley. that's the third match postponed in the top division on sunday. it comes after yesterday's virtual meeting in which the 20 premier league managers and captains had a chance to voice their concerns over player welfare with league bosses, but today, a number of those managers have criticised the get together for achieving nothing. craig templeton reports. ra rely rarely has a set of festive fixtures been so fraught with issues. another day, another postponement. burnley�*s game becoming the third to fall covid. reconsidered siding injuries as well as the outbreak within the squad. we as well as the outbreak within the s: uad. ~ , . ., squad. we were expecting that the name squad. we were expecting that the game would _ squad. we were expecting that the game would be _ squad. we were expecting that the game would be postponed. - squad. we were expecting that the game would be postponed. like i squad. we were expecting that the game would be postponed. like a l squad. we were expecting that the l game would be postponed. like a lot of games, trying to keep the league. player welfare has always been high on the agenda. jordan henderson said nobody really takes it seriously. the man in charge of liverpool's rivals has suggested it might take more than just words to solve the problem. more than 'ust words to solve the roblem. , ._ , more than 'ust words to solve the roblem. , , , ., ., ., problem. the players and the manager altouether, problem. the players and the manager altogether. if— problem. the players and the manager altogether, if it's _ problem. the players and the manager altogether, if it's just _ problem. the players and the manager altogether, if it's just for _ problem. the players and the manager altogether, if it's just for the _ altogether, if it's just for the words. — altogether, if it's just for the words, it's not going to resolve. the business is more important. a simple _ the business is more important. a simple example all around the world come _ simple example all around the world come on _ simple example all around the world come on tell me one argument to take care, _ come on tell me one argument to take care, to _ come on tell me one argument to take care, to be _ come on tell me one argument to take care, to be more. a come on tell me one argument to take care. to be more-— care, to be more. a number of substitutes _ care, to be more. a number of substitutes and _ care, to be more. a number of substitutes and fixture - care, to be more. a number of. substitutes and fixture conduction where all topics. although there's clearly more work do. you where all topics. although there's clearly more work do.— clearly more work do. you 'ust try to understand * clearly more work do. you 'ust try to understand what fi clearly more work do. you 'ust try to understand what was h clearly more work do. you just try to understand what was the - clearly more work do. you just try i to understand what was the outcome of the _ to understand what was the outcome of the meetings _ to understand what was the outcome of the meetings. what _ to understand what was the outcome of the meetings. what were - to understand what was the outcome of the meetings. what were the - of the meetings. what were the meetings — of the meetings. what were the meetings for? _ of the meetings. what were the meetings for? i— of the meetings. what were the meetings for? i still— of the meetings. what were the meetings for? i still didn't - meetings for? i still didn't understand _ meetings for? i still didn't understand what- meetings for? i still didn't understand what was - meetings for? i still didn't understand what was the i meetings for? i still didn't - understand what was the conclusion from that— understand what was the conclusion from that meeting. _ understand what was the conclusion from that meeting. “halt— understand what was the conclusion from that meeting.— from that meeting. what was eight names is from that meeting. what was eight games is down _ from that meeting. what was eight games is down to _ from that meeting. what was eight games is down to five. _ from that meeting. what was eight games is down to five. the - from that meeting. what was eight games is down to five. the only . games is down to five. the only thing is click —— that's clear is that covid is no time for tradition. some premier league clubs might be struggling with depleted squads. spare a thought for country united. yesterday the women's championship club went into voluntary liquidation, laying off all their staff, midway through the season. the club had big ambitions, turning professional this summer, and made a number of signings including northern ireland international natjohnson, who i spoke to earlier. no one saw it coming. we were supposed to be in training, so that got cancelled last minute and we were ignited to a zoom call. a statement was read out from the board on the call, and that was it. i'm sure you can appreciate reactions were emotional, angry and trying to process it. and reactions were emotional, angry and trying to process it.— trying to process it. and that the club turn for _ trying to process it. and that the club turn for directional - trying to process it. and that the club turn for directional this - club turn for directional this summer, it was your dream to be a professional footballer. this was your first professional gig. why hasn't gone badly wrong? i really don't know- _ hasn't gone badly wrong? i really don't know- i _ hasn't gone badly wrong? i really don't know. i think— hasn't gone badly wrong? i really don't know. i think that's - hasn't gone badly wrong? i really don't know. i think that's what i don't know. i think that's what we're trying to find out. absolute dream come true. myself and other players have paid huge prices to commit full time. we committed so much make this happen, so i think just mind blowing that this was happened, and i'd love to know why. so much support from across the women's game. a lot of manchester city players are saying how could this have happened. what for us players now, because you're out of work? . ., players now, because you're out of work? . . ., . ~ work? yeah, i want to say thank you for everybody _ work? yeah, i want to say thank you for everybody for — work? yeah, i want to say thank you for everybody for the _ work? yeah, i want to say thank you for everybody for the sport - work? yeah, i want to say thank you for everybody for the sport that's - for everybody for the sport that's come through. it should not be happening any more. for me, i truly don't know. christmas is going to be difficult to enjoy with the instability. who knows what's next for me? all the girls are in the same boat now. both financially and from a football standpoint. both of these things come crashing down, so not really sure where to start. in the short term, i know this is all still very, very current, but who could you look to for support? could you go to the football association and perhaps ask for help? i you go to the football association and perhaps ask for help?- you go to the football association and perhaps ask for help? i think as and perhaps ask for help? i think as a club, and perhaps ask for help? i think as a club. that's _ and perhaps ask for help? i think as a club, that's what _ and perhaps ask for help? i think as a club, that's what we're _ and perhaps ask for help? i think as a club, that's what we're going - and perhaps ask for help? i think as a club, that's what we're going to i a club, that's what we're going to try to do. the difficulty is that being champion players, a lot of those aren't registered with the pfa. but we are trying to reach out to whoever we can because i think a lot of us didn't understand the statement. a lot of us don't even know where we stand. i statement. a lot of us don't even know where we stand.— statement. a lot of us don't even know where we stand. i know before ou 'oin know where we stand. i know before you join coventry — know where we stand. i know before you join coventry united, _ know where we stand. i know before you join coventry united, you - know where we stand. i know before you join coventry united, you are . you join coventry united, you are balancing work. helping to test those tens and tens of thousands of covid tests, thatjob hasn't gone away. is that something you might have to look at in the short term? i'm quite fortunate that i have still got that... it's something i can fall back to, and i think it's just having lived my absolute dream for six months, it's quite hard to think about going back to the lab straightaway. like i said, i'm very fortunate that as an option. that's definitely something i'll have to consider doing. irate definitely something i'll have to consider doing.— definitely something i'll have to consider doinr. ~ . . , _ consider doing. we wish you as happy christmas as — consider doing. we wish you as happy christmas as it _ consider doing. we wish you as happy christmas as it can _ consider doing. we wish you as happy christmas as it can be _ consider doing. we wish you as happy christmas as it can be for— consider doing. we wish you as happy christmas as it can be for you, - consider doing. we wish you as happy christmas as it can be for you, and i christmas as it can be for you, and a prosperous and much better 2022. thank you. i appreciate that. hat thank you. i appreciate that. nat johnson. england captainjoe root is backing himself to lead by example in the boxing day test in melbourne as they try and keep themselves alive in the ashes. he has been very critical of his players after two heavy defeats so far in the series. they need to win all three remaining matches if they're to regain the urn — that's never been done before. nesta macgregor reports. we all know �*tis the season forgiving, but so far, england have overly generous. from giving up easy wickets to missed catches and ultimately missed opportunities. the scary news for england, the last time they were 2—0 down was... actually, it's never been done. a chance forjoe root�*s side to create history. been done. a chance forjoe root's side to create history.— side to create history. that's the art of trying _ side to create history. that's the art of trying to — side to create history. that's the art of trying to take _ side to create history. that's the art of trying to take ten - side to create history. that's the art of trying to take ten wickets, j art of trying to take ten wickets, trying to build pressure and understand how you'll be able to create pressure through keeping the scoreboard quiet, but also, being brave enough to hit the links. the iconic mcg _ brave enough to hit the links. the iconic mcg in _ brave enough to hit the links. the iconic mcg in melbourne is the venue for the third test. england, who have struggled, are expected to make changes. zach crawley and johnny bairstow replacing rory burns and all the pope. they say they're expecting a much improved england side. they know the odds of retaining the urn are in the favour. irate odds of retaining the urn are in the favour. ~ ~' .. odds of retaining the urn are in the favour. ~ ~ ., .. odds of retaining the urn are in the favour. ~ ~ ., ., , . favour. we know how good they are. the 're a favour. we know how good they are. they're a world-class _ favour. we know how good they are. they're a world-class team - favour. we know how good they are. they're a world-class team with - they're a world—class team with world—class players. we played rcatty— world—class players. we played really well the last few matches. the stage — really well the last few matches. the stage is set for a famous boxing day fixture. post—christmas turkey, england hoping they don't get stuffed. nesta mcgregor, bbc news. time for a quick whiz now of some of the day's other sports stories and... ..ireland's cricketers have bounced back from their shock defeat to the usa yesterday by winning the second t20 in florida. they levelled the two—game series with a nine—run victory. the two teams will now play each other in three one day internationals. harbajhan singh has retired from all forms of cricket at the age of ai. the off—spinner was the first indian bowler to take a test hat—trick. he had an 19—year international career and played his last game in the indian premier league earlier this year. billy and mako vunipola have signed new deals to stay at saracens after speculation linking the pair with moves to france. any move overseas would have made them unavailable for selection by england. the ladies european golf tour is set to offer players a record prize fund of more than 20 million pounds for next year. there will be a 31 tournaments played across 21 countries — the busiest calendar in the tour's history. now, over the last year we've covered the the olympics, paralympics, football's european championship, but we've tried to celebrate and highlight any sport we can really, if there's a competitive angle and it's entertaining then we'll get it on. especially if there are dogs involved. reginaldo rosario reports. you've heard of the super bowl, but here's the canine version. the puppy bowl in february saw two teams going head—to—head in a real paul biter. team rough coming out on top. everyone is a winner now. all the dogs adopted at the close of play. this is no walk in the park. dogs and their owners competing to see who becomes top dog in the surf city served our competition in california. speaking of top dogs, this is joey california. speaking of top dogs, this isjoey chestnut, the 38—year—old feeding 76 hot dogs in just ten minutes, winning the contest in new york for a 14th time. breaking his previous record by one. once again held in front of six spectators earlier this year after being forced behind closed doors. 2021 being forced behind closed doors. 202i sauce boarding return aplenty, and so did the championships in northamptonshire —— saw sporting. competitors take turns to shadow their opponents, and this year 's alljasmine retaining her overall title. she came, she saw her, she conquered. a carjumping conquered. a car jumping championships conquered. a carjumping championships in west sussex. past a row of particle attempts judge on elevation and audience reception. some failing miserably. some wowing the crowd. and while the world was fixated on formula one this year, the sound of lawnmowers filled the bill and hurts airfor the the sound of lawnmowers filled the bill and hurts air for the first time in 18 months. as the british lawnmower racing championship returned. plenty of spare wields a real racing to be found. 2021 also saw the unbelievable. freestyle motorcycle is taking things to the extreme. writing off a sheer cliff and performing a double front flip before pulling his parachute and gliding away to safety. czech diver setting record for the longest distance under ice. he swim 80.9 metres while holding his breath. in keeping with the icy theme, the jump and freeze event held annually in japan, teams donning their best fancy dress, heading down and plunging into freezing water to be judged. ten out of ten indeed. reginald oh rosario, bbc news. had to be japan! that's all from sportsday. coming up next — a special programme looking back on kevin sinfield's ioi—mile charity run for those living with motor neurone disease. goodbye. i know it's going to be horrific. i know it's going to be really, really tough. but it's supposed to be. he's not been asleep. 100 miles in one da ! he's not been asleep. 100 miles in one day! you _ he's not been asleep. 100 miles in one day! you are _ he's not been asleep. 100 miles in one day! you are crazy! _ people gravitate towards him because he so decent. i know it sounds like a massive — he so decent. i know it sounds like a massive man crush. i probably do