But it’s probably not surprising the Gaza conflict has spilt onto the sporting field… Cricket Australia has quashed a plan by batsman Usman Khawaja to wear shoes with pro-Palestinian messages written on them in the first Test match of the Aussie summer that starts today against Pakistan. Khawaja had been wearing the shoes in training but was told by the sport’s administrators that there were strict rules about bringing politics into the game. He disagrees, calling the ‘all lives are equal’ message a “humanitarian appeal” that will see him fight the ruling. Aussie captain Pat Cummins says “I don’t think his intention was to make too big of a fuss, but we support him”. And speaking of navigating sticky wickets, Australia’s netballers have cracked a pay deal. After a long standoff, Netball Australia has agreed to give them back pay and a slice of the game’s revenue.