narrow wedge of milder air stop what this will bring is some snow for a time and even low levels across scotland and northern england and over the hills of wales and the midlands. and that will turn back to reign as the wedge of milder air works in before colder conditions temperatures four to 9 degrees, and friday will bring more wintry showers for many.— friday will bring more wintry showers for many. friday will bring more wintry showers for man . . �* , ., ., showers for many. that's it. have a aood showers for many. that's it. have a good evening- _ hello and welcome to sportsday. it's damage limitation for england's cricketers, we'll have the latest from sydney ahead of the fourth ashes test that starts later tonight. he's not vaccinated for covid 19 but novak djokovic has been given a medical exemption to defend his australian open title. a month to go before the winter olympics, can they possibly be covid safe with thousands of athletes heading to beijing also coming up in the programme... snakebite's back on top of the world after a brilliant night at ally pally. you can play darts as well as look silly. chuckles hello and welcome to sportsday. good evening, it's been a punishing series so far for england's cricketers and theirfans, who must be wondering whether to stay up late tonight, to go through it all again. after three heavy defeats, the ashes are gone. stuart broad, says england were undercooked and on a hiding to nothing coming into the series and morale is low in the camp. he's the only change to the side for the fourth test in sydney, and arguably praparation is even worse for this one, with most of the coaching staff in isolation because of covid. batting coach graham thorpe will fill in for chris silverwood and he told the bbc�*s simon mann, that the team and broad in particular will be raring to go. he's looking forward to it. the couple of caged tigers. i think they are all in that state of mind. i think there is a frustration. there have been frustrations off the field, as well, and hopefully we can channel that into the right space for tomorrow.— channel that into the right space for tomorrow. ~ . , , ., ., for tomorrow. what will be your team talk, if ou for tomorrow. what will be your team talk, if you like. _ for tomorrow. what will be your team talk, if you like, as _ for tomorrow. what will be your team talk, if you like, as the _ for tomorrow. what will be your team talk, if you like, as the standing - talk, if you like, as the standing coach for this test match? be talk, if you like, as the standing coach for this test match? be up for the fi . ht coach for this test match? be up for the fight and — coach for this test match? be up for the fight and enjoy _ coach for this test match? be up for the fight and enjoy the _ coach for this test match? be up for the fight and enjoy the occasion, - coach for this test match? be up for the fight and enjoy the occasion, as| the fight and enjoy the occasion, as well. generally don't go wandering. that's my approach as a player. when you felt in a corner. and it is important you show all of those qualities. thorpe was speaking to the bbc�*s simon mann and he's with the henry moeran in sydney welcome to the sydney cricket ground, a venue with a lot of history, not much of it that good for england. however, they are 3—0 down in this ashes series and something has to change. we anticipate a change, will things get better for anticipate a change, will things get betterfor england? it’s anticipate a change, will things get better for england?— anticipate a change, will things get better for england? it's going to be really difficult. _ better for england? it's going to be really difficult. problems _ better for england? it's going to be really difficult. problems on - better for england? it's going to be really difficult. problems on and . really difficult. problems on and off the field. australia are a good side, especially in their home conditions, and australia have a look to play for. you think it doesn't really matter if they wind 4-0 doesn't really matter if they wind 4—0 or 5—0, doesn't really matter if they wind 4—0 or5—0, but doesn't really matter if they wind 4—0 or 5—0, but it absolutely does, they almost watched new zealand take their place last summer, australia missed out because of a slow over rate. they've got a lot to play for. they need points. there will be no letup from australia you think. england have got to go for it. graham thorpe, their coach, has said you've got to give it a go. is there the confidence up against this australian side? the evidence so far suggests not. australian side? the evidence so far suggests not-— suggests not. chris silverwood, the head coach. — suggests not. chris silverwood, the head coach. is _ suggests not. chris silverwood, the head coach, is isolating _ suggests not. chris silverwood, the head coach, is isolating having - head coach, is isolating having tested positive for covid. this is an england side that has faced turmoil on and off the field. we know that. is there a sense of having nothing to lose? graham thore having nothing to lose? graham thorpe talked _ having nothing to lose? graham thorpe talked about _ having nothing to lose? graham thorpe talked about that, - having nothing to lose? graham thorpe talked about that, just l having nothing to lose? graham. thorpe talked about that, just let them go, it's up to them to do their own practice, how they want to practice. another thing i sensed from graham thorpe as well is that he is in charge. chris silverwood is the head coach, he is isolating in melbourne, but graham is helping the team in connection withjoe root. they made that change with stuart broad coming into the line—up to replace ollie robinson. it was bizarre that they dropped their leading wicket taker, but he's played all three test matches so far so you can understand why they might want to rotate him because he's got a niggle in the shoulder, that's what we are hearing. for graham thorpe it's a great opportunity for him to put his marker down. who knows what will happen at the end of this series. it feels like we are in a limbo, it feels like there will be change at the end, we don't know the extent of it, so get out, make the most of it, and what a ground to do it is. �* , ., ., , it is. it's a wonderful venue but the forecast — it is. it's a wonderful venue but the forecast isn't. _ it is. it's a wonderful venue but the forecast isn't. we - it is. it's a wonderful venue but the forecast isn't. we are - it is. it's a wonderful venue but - the forecast isn't. we are expecting rain on the opening couple of days. what we do know is that england just have to get so much better than what we have seen in the series so far. 3-0 we have seen in the series so far. 3—0 down but for england there is still plenty to play for. the weather looks pretty good there at the moment. there has been so much fall—out since the ashes were lost 7 days ago, selection issues, the structure of the game back here and whether enough attention has been given to red—ball cricket. austithalewood is here to look at some of these issues, there's been a lot of finger pointing and debate over the past week. that's right. just about all aspects of the england team have come under fire, and for good reason too... because, after all, this has been a terrible tour on top of a record—breakingly bad yearfor england. and here's why. .. it tookjust 852.3 overs for australia to win the series. that's the smallest quantity of cricket ever required for australia to win the ashes at home. it's also the earliest any team has ever lost a five—test series. add to that the fact that no team has ever lost more tests in a calendar year than the 9 suffered by england in 2021. now, as olly mentioned, there are two main ways that the england set—up has been criticised. firstly, the team's selection. now for 120 years, england always had a head coach and a seperate chairman of selectors. however, in april last year, england's current head coach chris silverwood, took on the selector role too. now that's been heavily criticised over the last week, with critics arguing that ideas need to come from other people too. but the man who made the call, ashley giles, says it's a step in the right direction. one of the criticisms i had during my time in my career was a lack of innovation, lack of forward thinking. now we are talking about going back to a system that is, i consider, pretty antiquated and about 150 years old. in what other sport would we have someone sitting on the outside who would be telling the head coach what he should be doing? so giles thinks that's still the way forward, but that's not the only part of the england set—up that's been criticsed. the red—ball game back here is another aspect. the county championship has been pushed to the fringes of the season. last year starting on the 8th of april and, amazingly, ending on the second of october — that's the latest the season has ever finished, and there was a large gap for the shorter formats in the middle too. now, that's meant that english batsman have rarely got to play in the conditions they come up against in test cricket and the results have been there for all to see in australia. they were bowled for less than 150 eight times last year, olly. that's a joint record with bangladesh. australia must be loving all this hand—wringing in english cricket, as they are fully expected to win the last two tests and complete the whitewash. absolutely. they've been brilliant. and particularly their new captain pat cummins. this was his first series as captain and he's already won the ashes back afterjust 12 days of play. so, it's no surprise that he's been loving life over the last few weeks. everything has gone perfectly so far. ijust try everything has gone perfectly so far. i just try and everything has gone perfectly so far. ijust try and be me as much as i can. i'm not trying to impress anyone more than what i normally do. not trying to do much differently. there are times when you have to address the group, more so when you are a player, but i don't think the biggest challenges have happened yet. i am sure there will be some in the future but at the moment just trying to be me. so cummins says everything's gone perfectly and it's hard to disagree... however, the odds were heavily stacked in australia's favour. after all, england haven't won a single test down under in a decade. they've got two chances left. the first of them gets underway in sydney this evening and, if you can bear it, there's full ball—by—ball commentary on 5 live sports extra from 10.30pm. many thanks for that. let's have a quick look at a few of the other headlines today. bangladesh are eyeing up a historic victory over new zealand. they have never won a game in any format in new zealand, but the hosts are five wickets down in their second innings and lead byjust 17 runs heading into the final day of the first test. the second test between south africa and india is still in the balance after day 2. seven wickets from india's shardul thakur helped the saw the helped get the hosts out for 229, a lead of 27. india closed on 85—2 in their second innings, 58 runs ahead. there's been a take—over at southampton. chinese businessman gaojisheng has sold his 80% stake in the premier league club to sport republic, a company owned by the serbian media mogul dragan solak. paterson has signed a five and a half year deal. romelu lukaku has apologised to his teammates and maanger and is back in the chelsea squad for tomorrow's league cup semi final first leg against tottenham. the club's record signing was dropped for the match against liverpool at the weekend after saying in an interview that he wasn't happy under manager thomas tuchel and that he'd like to return to inter milan in the nearfuture. for me, the most important thing was to understand and clearly understand and believe it was not intentional. he did not do this intentionally to create this kind of noise in front of a big game, and the second one was at the very first time. there was never the slightest behaviour against the team and these are very important points to stay calm and understand it is not that big as may be people want it to be or you wanted to be. it's also not small, but it's small enough to stay, to accept an apology, and to move on forward. novak djokovic will defend his australian open title later this month after being given a medical exemption to compete. because of the strict covid protocols in australia, tournament chiefs had ruled that only vaccinated players could take part in melbourne , but the world number one has been given dispensation on medical grounds. let's speak to our tennis correspondent russell fuller, russell, so he hasn't beenjabbed, which we could have probably guessed by some of his comments about vaccinations, do we know on what grounds he's being allowed in to play? no. we are told the parameters by which the two independent panels decide whether anonymous individuals to them are deserving of a medical exemption. they are quite stringent hurdles to overcome. you need to have an inflammatory cardiac illness in the last three months or have another acute medical condition. it isn't an exhaustive list. just possibly the reason for novak djokovic's exemption is he's tested positive in the last six months. under the rules, even though he is not told anybody about that, you can defer the vaccination and therefore he would be able to come into australia with an exemption to play in this open championships. there will be some _ in this open championships. there will be some raised _ in this open championships. there will be some raised eyebrows - in this open championships. there will be some raised eyebrows about this. the australian public have been living under one of the longest and strictest lockdowns in th world, there's understandable unease with a sharp rise in cases, how's this going to go down with them, or some of the other players? i think ithinka i think a lot of the public and a lot of players will have thoughts that they will probably express. players may be a little bit more diplomatic. jamie murray was asked about it after great britain's loss at the atp cup earlier and he said he felt if he was the one without the vaccine he wouldn't be getting an exemption. there are some players, jamie murray aren't in this bracket, who decided to have a vaccine just to compete at the australian open. players are human beings. lots of people are thinking, yes, one rule for one and a different rule for another, the number one has an exemption, but as i pointed out, it is a stringent process, and the process is meant to be anonymous. they've had lockdown is for 262 days in australia, so we have to wait and see how they greet the nine time champion as he makes the nine time champion as he makes the defence of his title. yes! the nine time champion as he makes the defence of his title.— the defence of his title. yes, the rece tion the defence of his title. yes, the reception he _ the defence of his title. yes, the reception he gets _ the defence of his title. yes, the reception he gets will— the defence of his title. yes, the reception he gets will be - the defence of his title. yes, the reception he gets will be very . reception he gets will be very interesting. thanks for that. andy murray has lost his first match of the year. it was a three—set defeat to the world number 76 facundo bagnis at the melbourne summer series event. some of murray's fellow—britons are playing in the atp cup in sydney — the team beat germany over the weekend and dan evans got them off to a great start against canada, beating denis shapovalov in straight sets in the opening match. but british number one cameron norrie was beaten by felix auger alliasime, who's ranked one place higher than him at 11 in the world, so that forced a deciding match. it all came down to the doubles that's where shapovalov and auger alliasime teamed up to beatjamie murray and joe salisbury, in straight sets. team gb have now got to beat the usa in their last group game to have any chance of making the semi—finals. there was a brilliant final at the world darts championship last night. some really high quality arows as scotland's peter "snakebite" wright beat bully boy michael smith 7—5 for his second title at alexandra palace. tyrone smith reports. two years after claiming darts biggest prize, for the first time peter wright has it in his possession again after a remarkable comeback win over england's michael smith. it’s comeback win over england's michael smith. �* , ., , comeback win over england's michael smith. �*, . , ,, u, smith. it's really special. especially _ smith. it's really special. especially as _ smith. it's really special. especially as people - smith. it's really special. especially as people in i smith. it's really special. | especially as people in the beginning took me as a duke, a clown, a guy who dresses ridiculously, silly hair, and everything. to change peoples views, and, you know, you can played dance as well as look silly. chuckles peter wright won the opening two sets. but smith turned things around and looked to put himself in pole position to prevail. however, wright hit back to win the sid waddell trophy and the cash prize. livingstone born wright has earned a place in the history books, the 51—year—old has become only the sixth player to win the pdc title twice, joining an elite band of names which includes the legendary phil taylor and fellow scot gary anderson. i phil taylor and fellow scot gary anderson. , phil taylor and fellow scot gary anderson-— anderson. i definitely thought i could win it _ anderson. i definitely thought i could win it again. _ anderson. i definitely thought i could win it again. i _ anderson. i definitely thought i could win it again. i didn't - anderson. i definitely thought i | could win it again. i didn't know anderson. i definitely thought i i could win it again. i didn't know it would be this soon but i'm happy with that. i want to win at another three times at least before i retire, you know? i've been practising hard all this year to make sure i can win it again. i'm looking forward to, you know, bringing sid home again next year. it'll be very difficult. a lot of darts to be thrown between now until then. i believe i can do it.— then. i believe i can do it. despite his siemen— then. i believe i can do it. despite his sjoman reputation, _ then. i believe i can do it. despite his sjoman reputation, the - then. i believe i can do it. despite his sjoman reputation, the world | his sjoman reputation, the world number two's celebrations were understated to say the least. ihla understated to say the least. fir? celebration at all, to be honest, just a nice cup of tea and a pot noodle. , ., ,, �* �* , no better way to celebrate than that. beijing's winter olympics are due to begin injust one month but the growing number of coronavirus infections threatens to overshadow the games as teams prepare to head to china from all over the world. china's solution is strict isolation bubbles for those coming from omicron—affected areas. our china correspondent stephen mcdonell reports from the mountains outside beijing, where access to the olympic region has now been closed. when athletes arrive in beijing from overseas, if their events are in the mountains they'll be able to take a high—speed train there, that's because some of these are operating completely within the bubble. ladies and gentlemen. _ completely within the bubble. ladies and gentlemen, welcome. _ and gentlemen, welcome. soon they will find themselves racing along at 350 kilometres per hour, zooming through beijing's arid north and taking in the views. though freezing cold, this is an area of low winter precipitation, meaning snow will be needed for the coming games. this is one of the main stations for the winter olympics. it's cold up here! from today, this entire station is closed to the public. the bubble walls are coming up. only those with olympic clearance on special trains can ride on these. on arrival, covid test results and travel visas are checked. well, here we are, this is one of the sites for the mountain events. where are the people? there are no people here because the local ski resorts have already been closed in preparation for the games which start in a month. behind where that big green screen is, that is where the medals will be awarded for the events in this area. but there won't be any general admission tickets available, it seems. they haven't gone on sale yet and they probably won't. the spectators in the stands are likely to be from government organisations or the army, or something along those lines. the challenge for the games organisers will be to host an event which can overcome the controversy which has surrounded this olympics following the allegations made by a former chinese tennis star in relation to the relationships she had with the former chinese leader. there has been a lot of pressure on the beijing olympics because of these allegations. the organisers will be hoping that once the sports start they can still host a successful games here. let's speak to one of the athlete who's just been added to the athlete who's just been added to the team gb squad for beijing, cornelius kerstin. what a great start to the year!— start to the year! yes, it's absolutely _ start to the year! yes, it's absolutely amazing. - start to the year! yes, it's absolutely amazing. a - start to the year! yes, it's - absolutely amazing. a childhood dream come through for me to represent team gb. to get the news today, it's official right now, and i couldn't be more happy. you must be so happy — i couldn't be more happy. you must be so happy with — i couldn't be more happy. you must be so happy with your _ i couldn't be more happy. you must be so happy with your form - i couldn't be more happy. you must be so happy with your form in - i couldn't be more happy. you must be so happy with your form in all. i couldn't be more happy. you must be so happy with your form in all of| be so happy with your form in all of those world cup event in november and december because you were setting personal bests, you were the first man to finish in the top ten in a world cup event for 36 years. everything is moving in the right direction for you.— everything is moving in the right direction for you. right now i'm in the riaht direction for you. right now i'm in the right place. — direction for you. right now i'm in the right place, i'm _ direction for you. right now i'm in the right place, i'm in _ direction for you. right now i'm in the right place, i'm in the - direction for you. right now i'm in the right place, i'm in the right. the right place, i'm in the right time, everything feels good, training is going well. at every world cup i've been able to improve either in time or ranking, so onwards and upwards. british fans of the winter olympics _ onwards and upwards. british fans of the winter olympics are _ onwards and upwards. british fans of the winter olympics are used - onwards and upwards. british fans of the winter olympics are used to - the winter olympics are used to short track speed skating, all of the thrills, spills, and crashes, but you are going to be the first british representative in long track. just explain to us about that. for30 track. just explain to us about that. for 30 years, as well. short track and long — that. for 30 years, as well. short track and long track, _ that. for 30 years, as well. short track and long track, both - that. for 30 years, as well. short track and long track, both nice, l that. for 30 years, as well. sniff-t track and long track, both nice, but quite different. short track you are racing your opponent on a 400 metre track. only two people on the ice at the same time. long track is basically a time trial. everybody blasts off the starting line as fast as they can. but if you win your race it doesn't actually mean you win the race. usually there will be 20 people on the starting list, and it is just a race for the fastest time. that's the difference between. if you win your race onto the next round in short track, but in long track you need to beat everybody in the field. ~ ., ., ,., track you need to beat everybody in the field. ~ ., ., ., , , the field. what do you realistically think ou the field. what do you realistically think you can _ the field. what do you realistically think you can achieve? _ the field. what do you realistically think you can achieve? at - the field. what do you realistically think you can achieve? at the - the field. what do you realistically - think you can achieve? at the games? i'm not think you can achieve? at the games? i'm not focused _ think you can achieve? at the games? i'm not focused on _ think you can achieve? at the games? i'm not focused on that _ think you can achieve? at the games? i'm not focused on that at _ think you can achieve? at the games? i'm not focused on that at all. - think you can achieve? at the games? i'm not focused on that at all. i'm - i'm not focused on that at all. i'm only focused on the things i can control. my goal for the games is to be there in the best shape i can possibly be, and be there, put in the best possible race i can put down. i'm only focused on what i can control and that's my training, and whatever happens during the race, i don't know yet. i'm not focused on that. ijust want don't know yet. i'm not focused on that. i just want to put down a don't know yet. i'm not focused on that. ijust want to put down a race i can make everybody proud with, make myself proud with, and then we shall see. we make myself proud with, and then we shall see. ~ ., ., ~' make myself proud with, and then we shall see. ~ ., ., ., shall see. we look forward to watchinu shall see. we look forward to watching you _ shall see. we look forward to watching you at _ shall see. we look forward to watching you at the - shall see. we look forward to watching you at the winter i shall see. we look forward to - watching you at the winter games in speed skating. watching you at the winter games in speed skating-— so the winter olympics are a month away. last year was all about the summer olympics and paralympics and after a gold medal in tokyo, charlotte henshaw has had a terrific start to this year with an mbe in the new year's honours list. she's been speaking to david jackson. ten yea rs ten years ago, charlotte henshaw returned home to mansfield having won a silver medal at london 2012 as a swimmer. fast forward a decade and she is now a gold para— canoeist. she ended 2021 with a special delivery with news of an impending mbe. it delivery with news of an impending mbe. , ., ., ,.,, mbe. it is a letter through the post that looks very _ mbe. it is a letter through the post that looks very official. _ mbe. it is a letter through the post that looks very official. it's - mbe. it is a letter through the post that looks very official. it's a - that looks very official. it's a lovely cream—coloured envelope, and a lovely cream coloured paper, so you already know it is a bit posh. it was very much a moment of, is this for me and have you sent it to the right person?— the right person? charlotte had talked about _ the right person? charlotte had talked about retiring _ the right person? charlotte had talked about retiring after - the right person? charlotte had talked about retiring after the l talked about retiring after the london games but now fully appreciates that being a paralympian is about more than what you can achieve in and on the water. in the ast i did achieve in and on the water. in the past i did not _ achieve in and on the water. in the past i did not think _ achieve in and on the water. in the past i did not think there _ achieve in and on the water. in the past i did not think there was - achieve in and on the water. in the past i did not think there was a - past i did not think there was a reason to be on an honours list, but post—tokyo i had a message from a lady on instagram who had said how much of an impact watching somebody with the same disability as her daughter had on her. that really brought home to me what we do as sportspeople. it is more than racing a kayak at speed. i sportspeople. it is more than racing a kayak at speed-— a kayak at speed. i wonder what becomin: a kayak at speed. i wonder what becoming an _ a kayak at speed. i wonder what becoming an mbe _ a kayak at speed. i wonder what becoming an mbe will _ a kayak at speed. i wonder what becoming an mbe will do. - a kayak at speed. i wonder what becoming an mbe will do. i'm i a kayak at speed. i wonder what - becoming an mbe will do. i'm really assionate becoming an mbe will do. i'm really passionate about _ becoming an mbe will do. i'm really passionate about visibility _ becoming an mbe will do. i'm really passionate about visibility and - passionate about visibility and representation for not only disabled people about women and smaller sports, and all of those things, i hope it would show that there is that profile there if you aren't the typical, normal, whatever that is, person. i will get back to you once i'm allowed to put those letters after my name and i shall see if it changes. chuckles charlotte henshaw there. well done to her. an mbe in the new year's honours list. it is the league cup semifinals this week. we have some breaking news in the last few minutes. liverpool due to be playing their semifinalfirst leg at arsenal on thursday but liverpool have requested that that game, this thursday at the emirates, is postponed due to further covid—19 cases and player availability issues with the liverpool squad. they have had to cancel training today. they have requested that game is postponed. that's going to cause all sorts of issues. remember, there was some talk that these league cup semifinals should be reduced to one leg because of the fixture pile—up over christmas. well, livable now wanting that game postponed against arsenal on thursday. —— liverpool. more information on the bbc sport website on that story. that's all from sportsday. today came as a shock to the system after that exceptionally warm start of the year. temperatures were in the mid teens. this afternoon, barely a few degrees above freezing. that said, closer to how it should feel injanuary. cold conditions continue tonight. most snow showers across the north of scotland. more sleet and snow showers for northern ireland, wales, may be into north west midlands. certainly a much colder start with widespread frost as we begin wednesday for the cold and frosty out there will be a sunny start in a sunny day headed for many. still want to do one of snow flurries feud then today for the wanted to wintry showers, northern isles, wales and the west was a few showers on the east coast of england during the afternoon for the wanted to wintry showers, northern isles, wales and the west was a few showers on the east coast of england during the afternoon. the vast majority it will be a sunny and crisp to the rest of the week it's been up and down really for that was up to the rest of the week it's been up and down really put up will see after the friday for the muldur, whether other back on saturday. i for now. hello, i'm ros atkins, this is outside source. lawyers for prince andrew argue in court that the sexual assault civil lawsuit against him should be thrown out. they say he can't be sued, because of an agreement signed by his accuser. more records are broken for daily coronavirus infections — the us registers more than a million new cases, while the uk surpasses 200,000 for the first time. borisjohnson had this message. we have a good chance of getting through the omicron wave without the need for further restrictions and without the needs certainly for a lockdown. we'll be live in cape town where a man has appeared in court suspected of setting south africa's parliament on fire. and tennis star novak djokovic is heading to the australian open