Reuters Sports Schedule at 0001 GMT on Friday
Reuters sports schedule at 0001 GMT on Friday:
CRICKET
The Ashes: Australia v England, fourth test
Cook double-century has England in command
MELBOURNE - England were bowled out for 491 on the first ball of day four of the fourth Ashes test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, taking a first innings lead of 164 runs over Australia. England opener Alastair Cook carried his bat through the innings and finished on 244 not out. (CRICKET-ASHES/ (PIX), expect throughout, by Ian Ransom)
SOCCER
Serie A
Leaders Napoli visit Crotone
MILAN - Serie A leaders Napoli visit lowly Crotone where a win will guarantee that they reach the halfway mark at the top of the table. (SOCCER-ITALY, expect by 2200 GMT/5 PM ET, 300 words)
Premier League
We will bring you all the build-up to the weekend matches with coverage of team news and injury updates plus the managers' news conferences. (SOCCER-ENGLAND-TEAM/, expect throughout)
Sanchez double ensures Wenger can enjoy landmark night
LONDON - Arsene Wenger celebrated another landmark night in his garlanded Premier League career as an Alexis Sanchez double inspired his Arsenal charges to a pulsating 3-2 win at Crystal Palace on Thursday. (SOCCER-ENGLAND/, moved, 500 words)
OLYMPICS
Ice hockey without borders, Canada gives Korea an assist
SEOUL - What does it mean to represent your country at the Olympics? For Brock Radunske, that question requires some contemplation given the towering, blond-haired Canadian will be suiting-up for South Korea's ice hockey team at the 2018 Winter Games. (OLYMPICS-2018/NATURALISATION (FEATURE, TV, PIX), expect by 0800 GMT/3 AM ET, by Peter Rutherford, 900 words)
NBA
Rockets seek to avoid fourth straight loss
The James Harden-led Houston Rockets try to put a three-game mini-slump behind them when they visit the East-leading Boston Celtics in one of five games on the National Basketball Association schedule. (BASKETBALL-NBA/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0700 GMT/2 AM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 400 words)
NHL
Canadiens face Lightning storm as league-leading Tampa Bay host Montreal
The middling Montreal Canadiens will have their work cut out when they visit the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning (26-7-2), while the top two teams in the Pacific Division battle as the Vegas Golden Knights visit the Los Angeles Kings in two of the seven games on the National Hockey League schedule. (ICEHOCKEY-NHL/HIGHLIGHTS, expect by 0200 GMT/9 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words)
NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS
Roundups of off-field developments in the major North American professional sports leagues. (expect by 0100 GMT/8 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 500 words)
ALPINE SKIING
Women's World Cup Giant Slalom
LIENZ, Austria - American Mikaela Shiffrin is way ahead of the field in the overall standings ahead of the Lienz Giant Slalom after her victory in Thursday's slalom. (ALPINE-SKIING/WOMEN (PIX), expect by 1500 GMT/10 AM ET, 300 words)
Men's World Cup combined
BORMIO, Italy - Italy's Dominic Paris will be looking to add victory in the Bormio combined event to his downhill win on Thursday. (ALPINE-SKIING/MEN (PIX), expect by 1600 GMT/11 AM ET, 300 words)
2017 IN REVIEW
TENNIS
Serena, Fed and Rafa make it landmark year for the greats
LONDON - Serena Williams needed just one January fortnight to underline her greatness before Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal then spent the rest of 2017 reminding us of why tennis really is still basking in its age of sporting wonders. (TENNIS-YEARENDER/ (PIX), by Ian Chadband, moved, 687 words)
RUGBY
North closes gap but All Blacks remain the benchmark
SYDNEY - A humdinger of a British and Irish Lions series in New Zealand was the highlight of the test rugby year and although it finished all square, the All Blacks remain the benchmark in international rugby. (RUGBY-UNION-YEARENDER/, expect by 0800 GMT/3 AM ET, by Nick Mulvenney, 600 words)
MOTOR RACING
Hamilton joins Vettel in the fight for fifth title
LONDON - Formula One entered a new era in 2017 and next year promises another first even if Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton keep on winning. (MOTOR-F1-YEARENDER/ (PIX), moved on Dec 28, by Alan Baldwin, 717 words)
GOLF
"Lexi' rule dominates golf chatter in 2017
A rules violation prompted an overhaul of the controversial trial-by-television rule in 2017, and the ascendancy of youth continued unabated, all the while played against a backdrop of a certain 14-times major champion whose occasional health updates kept his fans hopeful that a comeback awaits. (GOLF-YEARENDER/PIX), moved on Dec 28, by Andrew Both, 719 words) (Asia desk editor: Nick Mulvenney)
