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.
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
5 - Alex Carey today (106 & 72) becomes just the 5th wicketkeeper for Australia to score 50+ in both innings of a men's Test. Sublime. #Ashes
B Haddin (94 & 53 v Eng, 2013)
A Gilchrist (78 & 55 v India, 1999)
I Healy (74 & 51* v Eng, 1995)
J Blackham (57 & 58* v Eng, 1883)
B Haddin (94 & 53 v Eng, 2013)
A Gilchrist (78 & 55 v India, 1999)
I Healy (74 & 51* v Eng, 1995)
J Blackham (57 & 58* v Eng, 1883)
December 20, 2025 at 1:30 AM
5 - Alex Carey today (106 & 72) becomes just the 5th wicketkeeper for Australia to score 50+ in both innings of a men's Test. Sublime. #Ashes
B Haddin (94 & 53 v Eng, 2013)
A Gilchrist (78 & 55 v India, 1999)
I Healy (74 & 51* v Eng, 1995)
J Blackham (57 & 58* v Eng, 1883)
B Haddin (94 & 53 v Eng, 2013)
A Gilchrist (78 & 55 v India, 1999)
I Healy (74 & 51* v Eng, 1995)
J Blackham (57 & 58* v Eng, 1883)
170 - Travis Head's (Australia) 170 today is his fourth 100+ score in men's Test innings at Adelaide Oval; only Michael Clarke (7) & Ricky Ponting (6) have recorded more in the history of the format. Travball.
#Ashes
#Ashes
December 20, 2025 at 1:27 AM
170 - Travis Head's (Australia) 170 today is his fourth 100+ score in men's Test innings at Adelaide Oval; only Michael Clarke (7) & Ricky Ponting (6) have recorded more in the history of the format. Travball.
#Ashes
#Ashes
202 - Devon Conway (202) is just the third batter to score a Test double-century at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui (Rachin Ravindra, BJ Watling). Combo.
December 18, 2025 at 11:10 PM
202 - Devon Conway (202) is just the third batter to score a Test double-century at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui (Rachin Ravindra, BJ Watling). Combo.
2 - Liam Scott (Adelaide Strikers) has scored 50+ in his last 2 BBL innings (67 v PS - 18 Jan 2025 & 51 v SS tonight); the last player to record more consecutive 50+ scores for the Strikers was Matt Short from Dec 2023 to Jan 2024 (3). Crucial.
#BBL15
#BBL15
December 17, 2025 at 1:48 PM
2 - Liam Scott (Adelaide Strikers) has scored 50+ in his last 2 BBL innings (67 v PS - 18 Jan 2025 & 51 v SS tonight); the last player to record more consecutive 50+ scores for the Strikers was Matt Short from Dec 2023 to Jan 2024 (3). Crucial.
#BBL15
#BBL15
3 - Alex Carey became just the third wicketkeeper to score a century for Australia in a men's Test innings at Adelaide Oval with his 106 today. Brilliant. #Ashes
Brad Haddin (169 vs NZ in 2008 & 118 vs Eng in 2013)
Rod Marsh (132 vs NZ in 1974 & 118 vs Pak in 1972)
Brad Haddin (169 vs NZ in 2008 & 118 vs Eng in 2013)
Rod Marsh (132 vs NZ in 1974 & 118 vs Pak in 1972)
December 17, 2025 at 10:13 AM
3 - Alex Carey became just the third wicketkeeper to score a century for Australia in a men's Test innings at Adelaide Oval with his 106 today. Brilliant. #Ashes
Brad Haddin (169 vs NZ in 2008 & 118 vs Eng in 2013)
Rod Marsh (132 vs NZ in 1974 & 118 vs Pak in 1972)
Brad Haddin (169 vs NZ in 2008 & 118 vs Eng in 2013)
Rod Marsh (132 vs NZ in 1974 & 118 vs Pak in 1972)
22 - Usman Khawaja's (Australia) 82 today is his 22nd 50+ score in men's Tests since turning 35; only 4 players have made more since the start of 2000 (according to age at start of matches). Magnificent. #Ashes
Misbah-ul-Haq (46)
S Tendulkar (31)
R Dravid (25)
S Chanderpaul (23)
Misbah-ul-Haq (46)
S Tendulkar (31)
R Dravid (25)
S Chanderpaul (23)
December 17, 2025 at 4:57 AM
22 - Usman Khawaja's (Australia) 82 today is his 22nd 50+ score in men's Tests since turning 35; only 4 players have made more since the start of 2000 (according to age at start of matches). Magnificent. #Ashes
Misbah-ul-Haq (46)
S Tendulkar (31)
R Dravid (25)
S Chanderpaul (23)
Misbah-ul-Haq (46)
S Tendulkar (31)
R Dravid (25)
S Chanderpaul (23)
66.7 - Caitlin Foord (Arsenal) has a take-on success rate of 66.7% (18/27) in the 2025/26 #BarclaysWSL season - the best of any player in the campaign (min. 20 take-ons). Zealous.
#Matildas #MatildasAbroad
#Matildas #MatildasAbroad
December 16, 2025 at 12:43 PM
66.7 - Caitlin Foord (Arsenal) has a take-on success rate of 66.7% (18/27) in the 2025/26 #BarclaysWSL season - the best of any player in the campaign (min. 20 take-ons). Zealous.
#Matildas #MatildasAbroad
#Matildas #MatildasAbroad
6 - Jimmy Peirson's 50 tonight is just the 6th instance in BBL history of a player scoring 50+ batting at No.8 or lower, & the 1st by a Brisbane Heat player; the Heat's previous best score in this regard was 45* by Michael Neser (4 Jan 2023 v SS, batting at No.8). Resourceful.
#BBL15
#BBL15
December 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM
6 - Jimmy Peirson's 50 tonight is just the 6th instance in BBL history of a player scoring 50+ batting at No.8 or lower, & the 1st by a Brisbane Heat player; the Heat's previous best score in this regard was 45* by Michael Neser (4 Jan 2023 v SS, batting at No.8). Resourceful.
#BBL15
#BBL15