The news had been widely expected with Cummins yet to resume bowling

Andrew McGlashan26-Oct-20257:05

Advantage England if Cummins misses first Ashes Test?

Pat Cummins has officially been ruled out of the first Ashes Test in Perth due to his back injury but he will return to bowling this week in a bid to be ready for the second match in Brisbane.Steven Smith will captain Australia in the opening Test against England which begins on November 21. The second Test in Brisbane begins on December 4.Cummins’ absence had been widely expected since the news emerged earlier this month that he had not been able to return to bowling after being diagnosed with a lumbar stress injury in September having experienced discomfort after returning from the tour of West Indies.”We’ve run out of time,” head coach Andrew McDonald told reporters in Canberra. “We sort of flagged this a week or so ago that it would take sort of four plus weeks to get him up and running and we’ve run out of time, unfortunately, but really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match.”So I suppose the next question is what’s the time frame? What does it look like for the second Test? Not really going to be able to answer that other than to say that he’ll be back bowling this week and that’s a huge step. That was the big variable that we wanted to add in and get that information. So we’re on the journey to that second Test and very hopeful that that will be a positive outcome.”How Cummins reacts to his early stages of bowling will now be critical to whether Brisbane is a realistic target or whether a return later in the series will be the aim.”[We’ll] see how he pulls up and then we’ll make decisions moving forward,” McDonald said. “I know that sounds really boring and everyone wants a time frame and what’s the risk associated with it. There’s better people than I to speculate on what that is.”With the nature of this injury, it’s never going to be a clear time frame and I think that’s what everyone here today wants is a time frame to say, this is definitely what will happen. We’re not in a position to do that and I’d never put the medical team under that sort of duress either.”Ashes race: Pat Cummins goes through a running session•Getty Images

Since the back injuries that Cummins suffered earlier in his career, leading to a five-and-a-half year gap between his first and second Tests, he has had a very impressive fitness record.Smith has captained Australia six times as Cummins’ understudy since 2021, winning five of those matches, including once in the 2021-22 Ashes when Cummins was a Covid close contact in Adelaide.Cummins’ absence from Australia’s attack for the first Test means that Scott Boland will likely keep his place from the team’s most recent outing in West Indies where he claimed a hat-trick.”Losing your captain’s not ideal, but when you talk about Scott Boland being the potential replacement, it’s not a bad position to be in,” McDonald said. “Ideally we want the captain available for stability and decision making but…Steve Smith will slide into that position.”I suppose you get excited about when he does come back, what an injection that will be to the group, a fully fit Pat Cummins returning some stage during the Ashes and that’s what we’re hopeful for.”Australia’s squad for the first Test is due to be named next week following the third round of Sheffield Shield matches which begins on Tuesday. Cummins will travel with the team even when he is unable to play.”It’ll almost be one of those things where you’ll see him in work and it’ll almost be a question of why isn’t he playing in Perth?” McDonald said. “That’s where we think he’ll be placed by that stage. So we’re excited by getting eyes on him in a bowling capacity.”

It was a series that nearly went the full distance, and India and England almost matched each other blow for blow (except when they didn’t)

Shubh Agarwal05-Aug-20253:49

Bangar: Series result proves India is growing in stature

Series-defining scoring patterns

It was another series that confirmed the shift in nature of Test pitches in England: from being bowling friendly to helping batters score big. A total of 6736 runs were scored by the batters, the second highest in any series, only 20 runs short of the 1993 Ashes.There were a total of 19 century partnerships too, the joint-most for a series. The 21 hundreds hit were the joint-most alongside Australia’s tour of West Indies in 1955. Had Harry Brook not got out on 99 in Leeds, it would have been a record.The 12 hundreds scored by India were the most for them in a series while England struck nine tons. Interestingly, they had different templates for their success.England looked most in charge until losing their first wicket. Their opening wicket averaged 65.44 versus India’s 34.10. India lost their first wicket within the first 10 overs eight out of the 10 times they batted. England lost it only five times in their nine innings.
Moreover, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley scored 4.34 runs per over while India scored a run slower in this phase going at 3.36. Even though India’s opening pair of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal scored four hundreds between them, Duckett and Crawley were more assertive as an opening duo.Jadeja scored 516 runs in the series batting at Nos. 6 or 7. He had the most 50-plus scores (six) and became only the sixth batter to score over 500 runs in a series batting at Nos. 6 or 7. He was out in the second innings only once in these five Tests.

Toil for the bowlers

A record series for the batters means a hard toil for the bowlers. The series had 1860.4 overs, the highest for a series in England in the 21st century. There were 14 350-plus team totals and 14 times an innings lasted over 80 overs – both a record for any Test series.England were in the park for 1052 overs, the most they have bowled in a series since 2000. It was only the second time they bowled over 1000 overs in a series with their Ashes tour of 2017/18 being the other occasion. Their captain Ben Stokes embraced this challenge, sending down 140 overs, the most he has bowled in a series despite missing the fifth Test due to an injury.Mohammed Siraj had a big hand to play here. Playing all five Tests, Siraj bowled 1113 deliveries in the series, becoming only the second bowler in the series alongside Chris Woakes to bowl over 1000 balls. With 23 wickets, he was the highest wicket-taker too, coming at 48.3 balls per dismissal. This is the best bowling strike-rate for an India pacer in an away series (min. 1000 balls bowled).

Butter fingers at big moments

The series also topped the charts for most dropped catches. A total of 41 catching opportunities went down, the most in a series since ball-by-ball data is available for fielding (since 2018). Both sides have also developed a reputation of spilling catches. Three of the top four series for most dropped chances are between India and England, the other two being when India toured England in 2021/22 (37) and in 2018 (32).On this tour, India spilled 23 chances, the most for them in a series – seven more than the time they toured Australia in 2018/19.When it came to reviewing lbw decisions while bowling, both teams could overturn the on-field call only twice each across these five Test matches.

Conditions could give Sri Lanka a leg up as they look to pull off an upset over unbeaten visitors

Madushka Balasuriya10-Oct-20252:46

Beaumont: Sri Lanka are a team on the rise

Two of the best batting units in world cricket – India and Australia – have in the Women’s World Cup 2025 struggled to come to terms with the some of the more sluggish pitches, stumbling to 124 for 6 and 76 for 7 against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, respectively.England, one of two undefeated sides in the tournament alongside Australia, meanwhile struggled in their chase against Bangladesh in Guwahati last time out. Now they arrive in Colombo to face a Sri Lanka side that they have lost to just once in 18 WODIs, but on a surface that might bridge the gap considerably.”I think the conditions here, obviously it being a lot more spin-friendly, is certainly bringing all the teams together,” Tammy Beaumont said. “I think that you see a team like Bangladesh playing us in the last game, [they were] so well-disciplined with the ball that it makes life a lot harder when you can’t necessarily trust the spin off the wicket and go to those big release shots; you have to really earn your runs.Related

• Sciver-Brunt ton, Ecclestone four-for help England brush aside Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka focus on the present as England challenge looms

• Unbeaten England prepare for Sri Lanka spin test

• Knight scraps to help England overcome Bangladesh scare

• Mooney's rescue act for the ages denies Pakistan a historic win

“I think that means that it’s a lot closer together for all the teams, and certainly the standard and depth of every single team has risen in the last four years. And we’re certainly going to see a few upsets in this World Cup, but hopefully not involving us.”Against Bangladesh it was Heather Knight’s 79 off 111 that took England past the finish line, and according to Beaumont the learnings and takeaways from that innings – primarily being patient and taking the game deep – will likely prove crucial in how they handle the conditions in Colombo.”What we spoke about mainly from Heather’s innings was about how patient she was and how precise she was in the balls she went to score off. And almost putting maybe your ego to one side and just trying to really graft one out for the team and be gritty.”I think that’s the kind of words we’re trying to use, to make sure that we’re working incredibly hard. And we might have to sit in for a bit, but we know that the longer you bat, the easier it gets. It certainly seems like a lot of runs have been scored in the last 15 overs in a lot of games, and actually sometimes you’ve just got to try to make it to that point as a batter.”One unique challenge England will face on Saturday is Sri Lanka’s left-hand heavy top order – three of Sri Lanka’s top five bat left-handed.”I think they’re a really well-structured team and certainly a team on the rise. They’re really well-organised. Obviously, they’ve got a lot of left-handers, which is not something we’re that used to. Not having any left-handed batters in our squad, I think makes things a little bit trickier.”With left-arm spinner Linsey Smith the solitary southpaw in the English side, it has forced some out-of-the-box thinking in terms of preparation.”Actually there’s been a few of us that have batted left-handed for her [Smith]. She’s obviously the only left-handed batter we have in the squad, so she’s also getting a lot of batting, but obviously she doesn’t get to practise against left-handers.”Smith has had a good tournament thus far, picking up five wickets across two games. And against Sri Lanka, she is likely going to play a crucial role once more in deciding the direction of the game.”I think she’s someone that maybe hasn’t played that much international cricket, but actually she’s a little bit older. She’s very experienced. She’s played some franchise cricket, so she doesn’t need too much support from us. She knows what she’s doing. She knows her craft so well.”What I love about her is she had a tough couple of games against India in our summer, and she really reflected, worked incredibly hard and has actually upped her game since then in a very short space of time, and I think that’s why it’s paying off out here. Obviously the conditions are helping, but getting the new ball I think really suits her.”

Chelsea legend John Terry has made a huge claim about star left-back Marc Cucurella after his masterclass against Barcelona and Lamine Yamal in the Champions League.

Chelsea thrash Barcelona as Marc Cucurella shines

Cucurella delivered the performance of his Chelsea career on Tuesday night, completely neutralizing Barça’s sensation Yamal as the Blues cruised to a commanding 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.

While another teenage sensation, Estevao, grabbed all the headlines with his spectacular solo goal, it was Cucurella’s disciplined defensive work that provided the foundation for Chelsea’s dominant display against the Spanish champions.

The left-back’s ability to lock down his international teammate proved instrumental in suffocating Barcelona’s primary attacking threat throughout the ninety minutes, with Cucurella earning a deserved player of the match award.

Yamal, who finished second in the recent Ballon d’Or voting, endured one of the most frustrating evenings of his early career to date as Cucurella shadowed his every movement.

The Chelsea defender repeatedly intercepted passes intended for the teenage prodigy and forced him into ineffective wide areas where he posed minimal threat, with Cucurella continuing to make his previous doubters look pretty silly.

Beyond his defensive responsibilities, Cucurella contributed going forward too — providing an outlet down the left channel and delivering dangerous crosses into Barca’s penalty area. His energy and work rate exemplified the intensity Chelsea brought to the contest, setting the tone for teammates to follow.

The 27-year-old, who has been a standout performer for both Enzo Maresca’s side and Spain over these last two seasons, was also awarded a secret contract extension in August to reflect his star player status, according to Fabrizio Romano this week.

Now, Terry has had his say on the former Brighton star in a statement of real praise.

John Terry makes big Marc Cucurella claim after Chelsea masterclass

Speaking on Wednesday, Terry branded Cucurella as one of the best left-backs in the world right now and everything he wants to see in a Chelsea player.

Right now, there is no question that he is one of Chelsea’s most important players, but a time will come when the club must replace him considering he one day wants to return to play in Spain.

According to some reports, Chelsea already have a succession plan in mind.

Journalist Simon Phillips reported earlier this week that Chelsea are trying to convince Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly to join them as a long-term replacement for Cucurella, but for now, the Hale End sensation isn’t keen on going anywhere.

The original Estevao: Chelsea lead race to sign "best player in the world"

Chelsea could sign the original Estevao for a mega-money fee.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 28, 2025

Jamie Vardy made headlines as he stepped onto the pitch for Cremonese wearing “Becky” on the back of his No.10 shirt, a heartfelt tribute to his wife as part of the ‘A Red to Violence’ campaign. The gesture formed part of a league-wide initiative marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and instantly captured attention across Italy and beyond.

• Vardy wears Becky's name on his back

  Vardy wore his wife Rebekah’s name on the back of his Cremonese shirt during the club’s Serie A match against Roma, taking part in the league-wide ‘A Red to Violence’ initiative. Instead of featuring their own names, players were encouraged to display the names of women close to them, aligning with efforts to raise awareness around domestic abuse. Vardy chose to honour his wife of nine years, joining teammates and several other Serie A sides in the touching campaign.

  The initiative saw Cremonese join clubs including Lazio, Parma, Udinese and Lecce in marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Players opted for the names of partners, daughters, mothers, grandmothers or friends as symbols of support and solidarity. Vardy’s shirt stood out, with “Becky” sitting above his trademark No.10 as he lined up at the Stadio Giovanni Zini.

  The 38-year-old striker has made a decent start to life in Italy after leaving Leicester, and the gesture highlighted his commitment to participating fully in club and league initiatives. His involvement also underscored the personal significance of the moment, given his long-standing relationship with Rebekah and the family they have built together.

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  The 'A Red to Violence' intiative

  The ‘A Red to Violence’ initiative represents a growing movement within Italian football to use matchdays as a platform for social awareness campaigns. Serie A’s decision to coordinate club participation magnified the message, encouraging both players and fans to reflect on violence against women and the importance of support networks. Vardy's involvement, as one of the league’s most high-profile foreign stars, helped broaden international visibility for the campaign.

  For Vardy personally, the decision to honour Rebekah resonated because of the couple’s long-standing relationship and their blended family. The moment underscored his grounded character and the strong family values that have followed him throughout his career from non-league football to Premier League triumphs. His choice added an emotional dimension to a symbolic gesture already rich in meaning.

• Jamie and Rebekah Vardy's relationship

  Vardy and Rebekah have been together since 2014 and married two years later in Cheshire, building a family that includes six children across their previous and shared relationships. The couple recently relocated to Italy after Vardy ended his historic Leicester spell in May, marking a new chapter in both their lives. Their move to Cremonese has brought fresh challenges, but also a continuation of the tight-knit family life they have cultivated for over a decade.

  The striker’s arrival in Italy came after an extraordinary Leicester career, where he won the Premier League, FA Cup and Golden Ball award, breaking multiple goalscoring records along the way. His time at the King Power also included memorable Champions League nights, a Premier League Player of the Season title and selection for England at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.

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  Vardy helping Cremonese navigate through Serie A

  Cremonese will hope Vardy can continue blending emotional leadership with on-field impact as they navigate the challenges of Serie A survival. His early influence, both as a goalscorer and a figure of seniority, positions him as a key part of the squad’s development in the coming months. Maintaining his form and fitness will be central to the club’s ambitions as they look to build stability in Italy’s top tier.

  For Vardy personally, his start in Italy suggests he still has plenty to contribute despite nearing the twilight of his career. A strong first season at Cremonese could extend his stay, particularly as he continues adapting to Italian football and life off the pitch.

The New York Yankees and New York Mets will play in a very special Subway Series matchup in 2026, per MLB's official schedule reveal for next season, which was released on Tuesday.

Sept. 11, 2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11. In tribute of the tragic events from a quarter-century ago, the two New York teams will play a game at Yankee Stadium.

The Mets and Yankees did similarly for the 20th anniversary in 2021. That game was played at Citi Field in Queens in front of a soldout crowd, and the Yankees won 8–7.

The Sept. 11 game at Yankee Stadium will be the first of a three-game Subway Series that will run from the 11th through the 13th. The in-state rivals will also play a three-game set at Citi Field from May 15 to 17.

عبر فيران توريس مهاجم برشلونة عن سعادته بعد تسجيل هاتريك والفوز على ريال بيتيس بخماسية لثلاث أهداف في الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

وقال توريس في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية: “إنهم منافس مباشر للفرق المتصدرة في الليجا”.

وأضاف مهاجم برشلونة: “كنا نعلم أنه علينا أن ننافس منذ الدقيقة الأولى، تفاعل الفريق بشكل رائع مع هدفهم المبكر”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. فيديو | 8 أهداف وهاتريك.. برشلونة يبتعد بصدارة الدوري الإسباني بخماسية أمام ريال بيتيس

وواصل عن تسجيله هاتريك: “كنت أعلم مسبقاً أنني قادر على اللعب أساسياً مع برشلونة، لتسجيل المزيد من الأهداف، قد لا تسجل هاتريك كل يوم لكن الأهم هو الفوز ضد أحد أفضل الفرق”.

وسئل فيران توريس عن اعتماد فليك على لامين يامال في مركز صانع الألعاب: “لاعب مثل لامين يامال بارع لدرجة أنه يتكيف مع أي مركز”.

Eight Tigers employees have been accused of misconduct toward women over the last two years, according to a wide-ranging Wednesday morning report from Alex Andrejev and Brittany Ghiroli of

Per Andrejev and Ghiroli—who interviewed 45 current and former employees of the organization—that group includes at least four vice presidents.

"Seven of those eight were accused of mistreating women employed by Ilitch Sports and Entertainment [Detroit's parent company]," Andrejev and Ghiroli wrote. "The allegations against the men ranged from offensive comments to physical confrontation."

The report comes amid much excitement in Michigan over the Tigers' best on-field record since 2013, which employees told masks a misogynistic, dysfunctional culture.

"We are committed to a culture of respect, safety, and inclusion. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment, and when concerns are raised, we investigate promptly and take decisive action, which has included terminating employees for misconduct, regardless of seniority or tenure," the team's parent company said in a statement. "We are committed to accountability and to upholding the standards essential to our workplace."

Per Andrejev and Ghiroli, six of the men have left the company, and a seventh was suspended after the reporters requested comment.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo enviou, nesta terça-feira (23), um ofício à CBF solicitando que o árbitro Raphael Claus não apite o clássico contra o Flamengo, no domingo (28), e ainda pediu para que ele fique de fora das escalas do Glorioso enquanto correr a CPI da Manipulação de Jogos e Apostas Esportivas.

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A Confederação Brasileira de Futebol designou uma equipe de arbitragem polêmica para a partida. Raphael Claus seria o principal, e Anderson Daronco atuaria como o quarto árbitro, algo que não acontece há anos.

O que ligou o alerta da diretoria foi o histórico de Claus nas últimas partidas que apitou do clube alvinegro. Em depoimento à CPI, John Textor citou supostos erros do árbitro, que também apitou Botafogo 1×2 Flamengo no Brasileiro 2023, clássico que ficou marcado por diversas polêmicas com a arbitragem, incluindo os dois gols rubro-negros, segundo o Glorioso.

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“O árbitro em questão não goza da necessária independência e imparcialidade – nem da confiança do público e demais atores envolvidos, incluindo o próprio CR Flamengo – para arbitrar partidas da SAF Botafogo, pelo menos não enquanto as investigações da CPI não forem concluídas”, diz documento enviado pelo Botafogo.

O documento também cita a árbitra de vídeo Daiane Caroline Muniz dos Santos. Após o depoimento do dono da SAF, o presidente da CPI, Jorge Kajuru (PSB-GO), pediu para que Claus e Daiane sejam convidados a depor, na condição de testemunha e em sessão secreta.

De acordo com o relatório, ambos os árbitros foram escalados juntos em 11 das 38 rodadas do Campeonato Brasileiro, causando estranheza, já outras duplas foram escaladas juntas em no máximo três rodadas. E que ambos, “infelizmente”, acabaram “se envolvendo em lances polêmicos”.

continua após a publicidadeConfira a equipe de arbitragem completa para Flamengo x Botafogo:

Árbitro: Raphael Claus (Fifa/SP)
Assistente 1: Danilo Ricardo Simon Manis (Fifa/SP)
Assistente 2: Evandro de Melo Lima (SP)
Quarto-árbitro: Anderson Daronco (Fifa/RS)
Assessor: Raimundo Nonato Lopo de Abreu (DF)
VAR: Rodolpho Toski Marques (VAR-Fifa/PR)
AVAR: Sidmar dos Santos Meurer (PR)
AVAR 2: Bruno Arleu de Araújo (Fifa/RJ)
Observador de VAR: Hilton Moutinho Rodrigues (RJ)

O Botafogo enfrenta o Flamengo, no próximo domingo, às 11h, no Maracanã, pela 4ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, em jogo que pode valer o topo da tabela. O Botafogo é o terceiro colocado com 6 pontos, enquanto o rival é o vice-líder com 7 pontos.

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BotafogoBrasileirãoFlamengoJohn Textorraphael claus

Thakare, Dubey then dismissed the Rest of India openers late in the day, leaving them with only eight wickets in hand

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2025Vidarbha put themselves in a strong position to win the Irani Cup by setting Rest of India a target of 361 and then taking two wickets in the fourth innings.Starting the day at 96 for 2, Vidarbha were troubled by Anshul Kamboj and Saransh Jain but useful contributions from the lower-middle order lifted them from 105 for 5 to 232. No. 6 and Vidarbha captain Akshay Wadkar made 36, No. 7 Harsh Dubey contributed 29 and No. 9 Darshan Nalkande scored 39.Kamboj, the pick of the Rest of India bowlers, dismissed Vidarbha’s Nos. 3 to 6. Danesh Malewar’s inside edge onto his pads was taken in the slip cordon. Dhruv Shorey was lbw by a length ball angling in. Yash Rathod was caught behind with a ball moving away. Wadkar was also dismissed to a catch by wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan with the new ball. It took Kamboj only 12 overs to return figures of 4 for 34.In their chase of 361, Rest of India lost both openers before stumps. Aditya Thakare bowled Aryan Juyal through his defences to knock his poles back. Dubey then dismissed Abhimanyu Easwaran lbw which the batter reviewed unsuccessfully.Ishan Kishan (5*) and Rajat Patidar (2*) were not out at stumps, leaving Rest of India needing a further 331 runs with eight wickets in hand. Vidarbha are chasing a third Irani Cup title in the last decade, having won in 2017-18 and 2018-19.