OptaJason
@optajason.optajoe.com
1 - The official Bluesky page for Opta's coverage of sport in Australia and New Zealand, brought to you by OptaJason. Illuminating.
78* - Bevon Jacobs' (Auckland Aces) 78* today is his 5th consecutive 50+ score in men's #SuperSmashNZ (55, 54, 53, 88*, 78*) - the outright longest run of any player in the history of the competition, surpassing Devon Conway (4 inns for Wellington Firebirds from Jan to Feb in 2021). Momentum.
January 12, 2026 at 7:52 AM
78* - Bevon Jacobs' (Auckland Aces) 78* today is his 5th consecutive 50+ score in men's #SuperSmashNZ (55, 54, 53, 88*, 78*) - the outright longest run of any player in the history of the competition, surpassing Devon Conway (4 inns for Wellington Firebirds from Jan to Feb in 2021). Momentum.
142* - Annie Wikman's 142* today is the second highest score by an ACT Meteors player in #WNCL history, behind only Kris Britt's 145* vs Western Australia (13 November 2010); it's Wikman's first century in the competition. Breakthrough.
January 8, 2026 at 2:51 AM
142* - Annie Wikman's 142* today is the second highest score by an ACT Meteors player in #WNCL history, behind only Kris Britt's 145* vs Western Australia (13 November 2010); it's Wikman's first century in the competition. Breakthrough.
71* - Beau Webster's (Australia) 71* today is the 3rd highest score batting at No.9 or lower in a men's Test innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground without being dismissed. Immediate. #Ashes
85* - Albert Trott at No.9 (Feb 1895 for Aus vs Eng)
83* - John Bracewell at No.10 (Nov 1985 for NZ vs Aus)
85* - Albert Trott at No.9 (Feb 1895 for Aus vs Eng)
83* - John Bracewell at No.10 (Nov 1985 for NZ vs Aus)
January 7, 2026 at 12:54 AM
71* - Beau Webster's (Australia) 71* today is the 3rd highest score batting at No.9 or lower in a men's Test innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground without being dismissed. Immediate. #Ashes
85* - Albert Trott at No.9 (Feb 1895 for Aus vs Eng)
83* - John Bracewell at No.10 (Nov 1985 for NZ vs Aus)
85* - Albert Trott at No.9 (Feb 1895 for Aus vs Eng)
83* - John Bracewell at No.10 (Nov 1985 for NZ vs Aus)
138 - Steve Smith's 138 today is his 11th 100+ score as captain of Australia in men's Tests in Aus, equalling Ricky Ponting (11 in Aus) for the most by a player as captain in a country; Greg Chappell (10 in Aus) & Virat Kohli (10 in India) are the next best. Phenomenal.
#Ashes
#Ashes
January 7, 2026 at 12:52 AM
138 - Steve Smith's 138 today is his 11th 100+ score as captain of Australia in men's Tests in Aus, equalling Ricky Ponting (11 in Aus) for the most by a player as captain in a country; Greg Chappell (10 in Aus) & Virat Kohli (10 in India) are the next best. Phenomenal.
#Ashes
#Ashes
163 - Travis Head's (Australia) 163 today is his 3rd 100+ score in the 2025/26 men's #Ashes series; only 3 players have made more in an Ashes series. Mastered.
4 - Herbert Sutcliffe in 1924/25 for Eng
4 - Walter Hammond in 1928/29 for Eng
4 - Donald Bradman in 1930 for Aus
4 - Herbert Sutcliffe in 1924/25 for Eng
4 - Walter Hammond in 1928/29 for Eng
4 - Donald Bradman in 1930 for Aus
January 6, 2026 at 5:10 AM
163 - Travis Head's (Australia) 163 today is his 3rd 100+ score in the 2025/26 men's #Ashes series; only 3 players have made more in an Ashes series. Mastered.
4 - Herbert Sutcliffe in 1924/25 for Eng
4 - Walter Hammond in 1928/29 for Eng
4 - Donald Bradman in 1930 for Aus
4 - Herbert Sutcliffe in 1924/25 for Eng
4 - Walter Hammond in 1928/29 for Eng
4 - Donald Bradman in 1930 for Aus
53 - Bevon Jacobs' 53 today is his third 50+ score in the 2025/26 men's #SuperSmashNZ season; only Martin Guptill (4 in 2011/12) & Glenn Phillips (4 in 2016/17) have made more in a single season for Auckland Aces in the history of the competition. Progressing.
January 6, 2026 at 4:36 AM
53 - Bevon Jacobs' 53 today is his third 50+ score in the 2025/26 men's #SuperSmashNZ season; only Martin Guptill (4 in 2011/12) & Glenn Phillips (4 in 2016/17) have made more in a single season for Auckland Aces in the history of the competition. Progressing.
125* - Georgia Redmayne's 125* today is the fourth time she's scored a century in #WNCL for #QLDFire without being dismissed; no other player has done this more than once for the Fire (Mikayla Hinkley, Julia Price, Grace Harris, Jodie Fields, Lauren Winfield-Hill). Unshakeable.
January 6, 2026 at 3:57 AM
62 - Rhys McKenna's 62 today is the highest score of any player batting at No.9 or lower in an innings for Victoria in #WNCL history; the previous record was 59* by Kristen Beams (batting at No.9) on 16 Feb 2018 vs Queensland. Rescued.
January 6, 2026 at 2:03 AM
62 - Rhys McKenna's 62 today is the highest score of any player batting at No.9 or lower in an innings for Victoria in #WNCL history; the previous record was 59* by Kristen Beams (batting at No.9) on 16 Feb 2018 vs Queensland. Rescued.
95* - Nick Kelly's 95* today is the third highest score by a Wellington Firebirds player as captain in men's #SuperSmashNZ history. Bronze.
Michael Bracewell (141* vs Stags, 8 Jan 2022)
Hamish Marshall (100* vs Volts, 28 Dec 2016)
Michael Bracewell (141* vs Stags, 8 Jan 2022)
Hamish Marshall (100* vs Volts, 28 Dec 2016)
December 31, 2025 at 5:22 AM
95* - Nick Kelly's 95* today is the third highest score by a Wellington Firebirds player as captain in men's #SuperSmashNZ history. Bronze.
Michael Bracewell (141* vs Stags, 8 Jan 2022)
Hamish Marshall (100* vs Volts, 28 Dec 2016)
Michael Bracewell (141* vs Stags, 8 Jan 2022)
Hamish Marshall (100* vs Volts, 28 Dec 2016)
4.6 - Juan Mata has created 4.6 scoring chances per 90 minutes in the 2025/26 A-League Men season, the most of any player (min. 90 total minutes). Flow.
December 30, 2025 at 6:02 AM
4.6 - Juan Mata has created 4.6 scoring chances per 90 minutes in the 2025/26 A-League Men season, the most of any player (min. 90 total minutes). Flow.
106* - Melie Kerr's (Wellington Blaze) 106* today is her 1st 100 in women's #SuperSmashNZ; only Sara McGlashan (131* for Hearts v Brave, 10 Jan 2014) & Sophie Devine (108* for Blaze v Sparks, 14 Jan 2021) have made higher scores without being dismissed in the competition. Ton.
December 29, 2025 at 1:51 AM
106* - Melie Kerr's (Wellington Blaze) 106* today is her 1st 100 in women's #SuperSmashNZ; only Sara McGlashan (131* for Hearts v Brave, 10 Jan 2014) & Sophie Devine (108* for Blaze v Sparks, 14 Jan 2021) have made higher scores without being dismissed in the competition. Ton.
4th - Tom Lawrence is just the 4th Perth Glory player to score a hat-trick away from home in the A-League Men (also Andy Keogh, Billy Celeski, Damian Mori). Connect.
December 28, 2025 at 11:27 PM
4th - Tom Lawrence is just the 4th Perth Glory player to score a hat-trick away from home in the A-League Men (also Andy Keogh, Billy Celeski, Damian Mori). Connect.
4 - Holly McNamara's hat-trick today is her 4th match of 3+ goals for Melbourne City FC - the joint 2nd most of any player for a team in A-League Women history (also Sam Kerr x4 for Perth Glory); only Michelle Heyman (x5 for Canberra United) has recorded more. Superstar.
#MCYvPER
#MCYvPER
December 28, 2025 at 8:06 AM
4 - Holly McNamara's hat-trick today is her 4th match of 3+ goals for Melbourne City FC - the joint 2nd most of any player for a team in A-League Women history (also Sam Kerr x4 for Perth Glory); only Michelle Heyman (x5 for Canberra United) has recorded more. Superstar.
#MCYvPER
#MCYvPER
14 - #NEWvMAC tonight is the 14th A-League Men match with nine goals or more; it's just the fifth of those 14 games to be won by the away team - Macarthur FC (W2) are the only away team to have won more than once in this regard (SYD - W1, NEW - W1, WEL - W1). Epic.
December 26, 2025 at 11:33 AM
14 - #NEWvMAC tonight is the 14th A-League Men match with nine goals or more; it's just the fifth of those 14 games to be won by the away team - Macarthur FC (W2) are the only away team to have won more than once in this regard (SYD - W1, NEW - W1, WEL - W1). Epic.
110* - Sam Harper's 110* tonight is the 3rd century on Boxing Day in BBL history (Michael Klinger 105*, PS vs MR in 2014 & James Vince 101*, SS vs MS in 2024) & 2nd highest score by a Melbourne Stars player outside Victoria (Luke Wright 117 vs HH, 9 Jan 2012 in Hobart). Insane.
#BBL15
#BBL15
December 26, 2025 at 10:43 AM
110* - Sam Harper's 110* tonight is the 3rd century on Boxing Day in BBL history (Michael Klinger 105*, PS vs MR in 2014 & James Vince 101*, SS vs MS in 2024) & 2nd highest score by a Melbourne Stars player outside Victoria (Luke Wright 117 vs HH, 9 Jan 2012 in Hobart). Insane.
#BBL15
#BBL15
55 - Bevon Jacobs' 55 today is the second time an Auckland Aces player has scored 50+ on Boxing Day in men's Super Smash history (Ben Horne - 54* in 2022 vs Canterbury Kings). Exciting.
#SuperSmashNZ #CricketNation
#SuperSmashNZ #CricketNation
December 26, 2025 at 9:47 AM
55 - Bevon Jacobs' 55 today is the second time an Auckland Aces player has scored 50+ on Boxing Day in men's Super Smash history (Ben Horne - 54* in 2022 vs Canterbury Kings). Exciting.
#SuperSmashNZ #CricketNation
#SuperSmashNZ #CricketNation
60 - Daniel Hughes' 60 this evening is the third time he's scored 50+ for the Sydney Sixers on Boxing Day (96 vs MS in 2020 & 50 vs ST in 2021); he's one of only three Sixers players to have done so even once in BBL history (James Vince x2 & Moises Henriques x1). Excel.
#BBL15
#BBL15
December 26, 2025 at 9:17 AM
60 - Daniel Hughes' 60 this evening is the third time he's scored 50+ for the Sydney Sixers on Boxing Day (96 vs MS in 2020 & 50 vs ST in 2021); he's one of only three Sixers players to have done so even once in BBL history (James Vince x2 & Moises Henriques x1). Excel.
#BBL15
#BBL15
81 - Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian) has made the most tackles (81), interceptions (46) & contested the second most duels (258) of any player in the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership season. Battler.
#Socceroos #SocceroosAbroad
#Socceroos #SocceroosAbroad
December 23, 2025 at 6:13 AM
81 - Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian) has made the most tackles (81), interceptions (46) & contested the second most duels (258) of any player in the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership season. Battler.
#Socceroos #SocceroosAbroad
#Socceroos #SocceroosAbroad
100 - Tom Latham (137, 101) and Devon Conway (227, 100) are the first pair of opening batters to both score a century in both innings of a match in Test history. Argonath.
December 21, 2025 at 10:51 PM
100 - Tom Latham (137, 101) and Devon Conway (227, 100) are the first pair of opening batters to both score a century in both innings of a match in Test history. Argonath.
4 - The top 4 players for shots on target in A-League Men 2025/26 play for either Auckland FC or the Wellington Phoenix, with no players for any other club making more than 10 shots on target. Kiwi.
December 21, 2025 at 10:06 PM
4 - The top 4 players for shots on target in A-League Men 2025/26 play for either Auckland FC or the Wellington Phoenix, with no players for any other club making more than 10 shots on target. Kiwi.
23y 102d - Corban Piper (23y 102d) scored a goal and provided an assist in #WELvCCM today; he's the youngest player to do so for Wellington Phoenix in an A-League Men match since Reno Piscopo (21y 208d vs Sydney FC - 21 December 2019). Presents.
December 21, 2025 at 6:19 AM
23y 102d - Corban Piper (23y 102d) scored a goal and provided an assist in #WELvCCM today; he's the youngest player to do so for Wellington Phoenix in an A-League Men match since Reno Piscopo (21y 208d vs Sydney FC - 21 December 2019). Presents.
20 - Tom Latham (137 & 101) today becomes the 1st New Zealand captain to score 100+ in each innings of a men's Test match & 20th overall in the history of the format. Excellent.
#NZvWI
#NZvWI
December 21, 2025 at 5:30 AM
20 - Tom Latham (137 & 101) today becomes the 1st New Zealand captain to score 100+ in each innings of a men's Test match & 20th overall in the history of the format. Excellent.
#NZvWI
#NZvWI
10 - Devon Conway (227 & 100) today becomes the 10th player to score double hundred & a hundred in a men's Test & 1st for New Zealand; the most recent previous instance came earlier this year (Shubman Gill - 269 & 161 for India vs England in Birmingham in July). Busy.
#NZvWI
#NZvWI
December 21, 2025 at 5:28 AM
10 - Devon Conway (227 & 100) today becomes the 10th player to score double hundred & a hundred in a men's Test & 1st for New Zealand; the most recent previous instance came earlier this year (Shubman Gill - 269 & 161 for India vs England in Birmingham in July). Busy.
#NZvWI
#NZvWI
7-0 - Only Sydney FC (11-0 vs PER, 3 Dec 2011) & Newcastle Jets (8-0 vs ADL, 29 Mar 2024) have recorded bigger winning margins & kept a clean sheet in A-League Women history than Wellington Phoenix today (7-0). Dominant.
#WELvSYD
#WELvSYD
December 20, 2025 at 5:30 AM
7-0 - Only Sydney FC (11-0 vs PER, 3 Dec 2011) & Newcastle Jets (8-0 vs ADL, 29 Mar 2024) have recorded bigger winning margins & kept a clean sheet in A-League Women history than Wellington Phoenix today (7-0). Dominant.
#WELvSYD
#WELvSYD