4 h. ago Alex Matthews to captain England in final World Cup pool game against Australia

Victory would cement England’s position at top of Pool AJess Breach will win 50th cap on the left wing in BrightonAlex Matthews will captain England for only the second time in her career in their final pool match of the Rugby World Cup against Australia, among one of 12 changes made to the Red Roses’ starting XV.Jess Breach will win her 50th cap on the wing in Brighton and Holly Aitchison will potentially make her first appearance of the tournament from the replacements bench with a victory cementing a top of the pool finish. The Red Roses have already secured their quarter-final place. Continue reading...

Sport

4 h. ago ‘We are hunting them’ – Jess Breach urges England to turn into predators not prey against Australia

Breach will win 50th cap and has never lost in England jerseyAlex Matthews captains team aiming to win to seal Pool AJess Breach said England want to be “the predator” not other teams’ prey at the Rugby World Cup after she was named to win her 50th cap against Australia in the Red Roses’ final pool game.Australia need to beat the World Cup hosts on Saturday or pick up bonus point to secure a quarter-final spot; beyond that it will come down to points difference and on how the USA v Samoa game pans out.Messaging in the England camp this week has been about flipping the script to being viewed as the hunters. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Alex Matthews to captain England against Australia as Jess Breach wins 50th cap in Women’s World Cup

Matthews, a 2014 World Cup winner, leads the side in the continued absence of skipper Zoe Aldcroft as England seek top spot in Pool A

Politics

24 h. ago Pat Cummins ready to ‘take a few risks’ with rehab to be fit for first Ashes Test

Australia captain to miss white-ball series against IndiaStarc retires from T20Is as squad named for New ZealandPat Cummins is prepared to “take a few risks” and be “aggressive” in his recovery from a back injury to lead Australia in this winter’s Ashes series.Australia’s captain will be absent for their forthcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India because of lumbar bone stress, a common injury among fast bowlers with intense workloads. Cummins remains upbeat about being able to take to the field in the first Test against England, starting on 21 November in Perth, and he says he will do everything in his remit to avoid missing out. “That would be devastating [to be sidelined for the series opener], so we’ll be doing everything we can to try to be right for that,” Cummins said in Brisbane on Wednesday. “It’s a big Ashes series. It doesn’t get much bigger, so I think you’re willing to take a few risks and be a little bit aggressive to try and play as many Tests as you c...

Events

24 h. ago Pat Cummins ready to ‘take a few risks’ in bid to be fit for Ashes

The Australia captain is recovering from lumbar bone stress.

Events

27 h. ago Australia captain Pat Cummins ‘doing everything’ to be fit for Ashes opener

Cummins has been ruled out of upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India after scans revealed signs of lumbar bone stress in his back

Politics

54 h. ago Australia captain Pat Cummins facing race to be fit for Ashes after injury set

Australia are confident Cummins will be ready for the series-opener in Perth despite a worrying back issue

Events

57 h. ago Pat Cummins no certainty for first Ashes Test due to ongoing back issue

Australia captain to miss home white-ball series against IndiaMitchell Starc retires from T20Is as squad named to tour New ZealandPat Cummins is no certainty to captain Australia in the first Ashes Test as he deals with stress in his back.The star quick will miss the upcoming T20 tour of New Zealand and back-to-back home white-ball series against India due to lumbar bone stress.Ahead of finals sign up for our free weekly AFL newsletter Continue reading...

Politics

57 h. ago Pat Cummins faces race to be fit for first Ashes Test due to ongoing back issue

Australia captain to miss home white-ball series against IndiaMitchell Starc retires from T20Is as squad named to tour New ZealandPat Cummins is no certainty to captain Australia in the first Ashes Test as he deals with stress in his back.The star quick will miss the upcoming T20 tour of New Zealand and back-to-back home white-ball series against India due to lumbar bone stress.Ahead of finals sign up for our free weekly AFL newsletter Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Australia v South Africa: third men’s T20 international – live

Updates from the T20I series decider in CairnsPlay at Cazalys Stadium starts 7.15pm localAny thoughts? Get in touch with Geoff Lemon1st over: South Africa 2-1 (Rickelton 1, Pretorius 0). Hazlewood takes no time to find his line and length. Markram and Rickleton pick up a single each before the Australia quick strikes with a trademark delivery outside off stump.Josh Hazlewood gives Australia the ideal star as the removes the South Africa captain. Markram steps onto the back foot and swings hard but a thick edge is comfortably grasped by Green at slip. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago Bob Simpson, former Australia cricket captain and coach, dies aged 89

Simpson played 62 Tests across more than two decades after debut in 1957Australia’s first full-time coach helped guide team’s reemergence in 1980sFormer Australia cricket captain and coach, Bob Simpson, has died in Sydney aged 89.Robert Baddeley Simpson was an influential figure in Australian cricket for more than four decades as a player, captain and coach, and also made his mark on the game as a law-maker, referee and commentator. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Chris Woakes could reject surgery on shoulder in bid to be fit for Ashes

The series gets under way on November 21 and an eight-week period of rehabilitation would increase Woakes’ chance of featuring

Politics