4 d. ago Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua undercard confirmed with two of YouTuber’s former opponents battling it out

THE UNDERCARD for the fight between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul has been announced. And it includes a bout between two former MMA stars, who previously fought Paul, 28. The controversial YouTuber and Joshua, 36, will lock horns on December 19 at the Kaseya Center in Miami. And The Problem Child's Most Valuable Promotions announced...

Events

4 d. ago Ben Stokes leads brilliant England bowling response on wild first day of Ashes

England were bowled out for 172 – but then reduced the hosts to 123 for nine by stumps in Perth.

Politics

5 d. ago Marnus Labuschagne confronts Brydon Carse as tempers flare in Ashes first Test

The Australia batter stepped down the pitch after an unsuccessful review from England as the hosts responded to a short first innings in Perth

Events

5 d. ago The bizarre reason why Usman Khawaja didn’t open the batting for Australia in first Ashes Test

Marnus Labuschagne joined debutant Jake Weatherald in the middle for the start of Australia’s innings after bowling out England for 172

Politics

5 d. ago ‘I made mistakes on TV, he made his on a field’: Panesar strikes back at Smith’s Mastermind jibe

Captain launches attack on former bowler’s quiz answersEx-Test player later urges England to use it as ‘ammunition’Steve Smith, Australia’s acting captain, has confirmed his team for Friday’s opening Ashes Test – but saw his team announcement was overshadowed by an extraordinary verbal attack on Monty Panesar after the former England spinner suggested Ben Stokes and his touring team should try to upset him by rehashing the infamous sandpaper ball-tampering controversy of 2018.Smith insisted the comments “didn’t really bother me”, but apparently demonstrated the opposite by raking over Panesar’s notoriously miserable appearance on the TV quiz Mastermind in 2019. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Brett Lee fondly recalls 2005 Ashes despite Australia losing the urn to England

England hit back from losing the Lord’s curtain-raiser to claim a 2-1 win.

Politics

6 d. ago Steve Smith fires up over sandpaper sledge as Australia confirm team for Ashes opener

Captain hits out at comments made by Monty PanesarWeatherald gets nod to open in series opener in PerthAustralia captain Steve Smith has confirmed his team for Friday’s opening Ashes Test – but the announcement was overshadowed by an extraordinary verbal attack on Monty Panesar after the former England spinner suggested Ben Stokes and his touring team should try to upset him by rehashing the infamous sandpaper ball tampering controversy of 2018.Smith insisted the comments “didn’t really bother me”, but apparently demonstrated the opposite by raking over Panesar’s notoriously miserable appearance on the TV quiz Mastermind in 2019. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Steve Smith bites back at Panesar’s sandpaper sledge with Mastermind jibe

Captain launches attack on former bowler’s quiz answersWeatherald gets nod to open in Ashes opener in PerthAustralia captain Steve Smith has confirmed his team for Friday’s opening Ashes Test – but the announcement was overshadowed by an extraordinary verbal attack on Monty Panesar after the former England spinner suggested Ben Stokes and his touring team should try to upset him by rehashing the infamous sandpaper ball tampering controversy of 2018.Smith insisted the comments “didn’t really bother me”, but apparently demonstrated the opposite by raking over Panesar’s notoriously miserable appearance on the TV quiz Mastermind in 2019. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Dozens of schools in Australia and New Zealand shut after play sand recalled over asbestos fear

Closures follow laboratory results confirming traces of tremolite and chrysotile asbestos in several sand products widely used in early-learning classrooms

Politics

9 d. ago Schools close in New Zealand after play sand recalled over asbestos fears

Six coloured sand products recalled in New Zealand after testing in Australia found asbestos in similar itemsMultiple schools have temporarily closed in New Zealand and hundreds of education facilities are seeking advice from officials after asbestos was detected in several brands of widely used coloured play sand.Last week, the ministry for business, innovation and employment confirmed a voluntary recall was under way for two brands of coloured sand sold in New Zealand, after testing in Australia found asbestos in similar products. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Australia recalls alfalfa sprouts linked to ‘unusual’ salmonella strain after dozens fall ill

Recall follows joint investigation between state and federal food regulators and health authorities after spike in infections

Politics

2 w. ago ‘I didn’t want to make it all about me’: Jake Weatherald on his path to an Ashes call

The opener is in line for an Australia debut after twice taking time away from cricket to protect his mental health and piling on the runs for TasmaniaJake Weatherald and Justin Galeotti travelled separately on the short journey from the coffee shop to the nets for their scheduled hit. They trained as usual and with Galeotti oblivious to the fact Weatherald had just fielded a life-altering phone call from Australia’s chair of selectors, George Bailey, telling him his baggy green dream had almost arrived. The uncapped Weatherald was in the 15-player Ashes squad for the first Test.“It lasted about two minutes,” Weatherald says about the call with Bailey. “I didn’t want to bring it up [with Galeotti] because I felt like it would distract from the net session. I didn’t want to make it all about me. We’d have been talking about it the whole time and not training.” Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Australia recall Marnus Labuschagne for Ashes with three uncapped players in first Test squad

Tasmania’s Weatherald or Labuschagne will replace the dropped Sam Konstas at the top of the order

Sport

3 w. ago Australia keep options open with Ashes squad selection containing few surprises | Geoff Lemon

The line-up for the Perth Test appears to be locked in after a question at the top of the order was answered and the dominoes tumbled further down In the end, there were few surprises. Even the most forgone conclusion of an Ashes squad will still create weeks of speculation one way or another, but answering one question at the top of the order has knocked over the other unresolved ones, tipping like dominoes as we make our way down the list.Barring injury, the only new player in the eventual XI will be Jake Weatherald, the 31-year-old Northern Territorian who in cricketing terms became a South Australian and then a Tasmanian, earning his place over severals seasons of unflashy consistency and a willingness to counterattack. Weatherald would not have made the squad if he were not going to open the batting, which means that Marnus Labuschagne, who was always going to make the team one way or another after getting his run-scoring groove back, will bat three rather than moonlighting at ...

Politics

3 w. ago Australia recall Marnus Labuschagne and include Jake Weatherald for Ashes opener

Tasmania’s Weatherald or Labuschagne will replace the dropped Sam Konstas at the top of the order.

Events

3 w. ago Jake Weatherald in contention for Test debut after being named in Australia’s Ashes squad

Opener included in 15-man squad for first Test in PerthAnalysis: Australia keep options open with few surprisesOpener Jake Weatherald has won a place in Australia’s Ashes squad and is the leading contender to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order for the first Test in Perth.But the Tasmania batter has not yet secured a spot in the XI for the series opener, with chief selector George Bailey saying he would wait until the end of the coming round of Sheffield Shield matches before making a decision on the final line-up. Continue reading...

Politics

last month Crunch time nears for Australia as selectors try to fit Ashes batting puzzle pieces together | Martin Pegan

Plot twists have thrown up more uncertainty over which six batters will be included in the hosts’ squad just under a month out from the first TestThe Great Australian Bat Off has returned for a brand new season with fresh faces and forgotten favourites bidding to join the cast for the Ashes series opener. In a major subplot, captain Pat Cummins is officially out of the first Test and is all but certain to be replaced by understudy Scott Boland, while the final auditions to claim a spot in the squad will be staged across the Sheffield Shield matches that begin on Tuesday as much as the T20 series against India.The main storyline will be familiar to seasoned fans as the Australia selectors largely repeat last year’s search for an opener to partner Usman Khawaja. But the return to form of Marnus Labuschagne, and injury concerns for Cameron Green and Beau Webster, are plot twists that have thrown up more uncertainty over which six batters will be included for the Perth Test. Continue re...

Politics