Logo
dNrC2
15 mins. ago
First-inning runs alone won't get you over the line most of the time. Stopping at a pair of early solo shots—at least until the ninth inning—the Dodgers' offense left a lot to be desired in a 4-3 loss to the Marlins, as Tyler Glasnow went through plenty of issues in his shortest regular start of the season (4+ IP). The hard-throwing right-hander walked four and seldom looked in rhythm.
Beginning with a bang, the Dodgers made a statement against Tyler Phillips in the first, taking a 2-0 lead with back-to-back long ****** from Mookie Betts and Max Muncy—the one from Betts had special value, given it represented the 10,000th home run in Los Angeles Dodgers history. The problem is that this so-called statement was left at that, with the offense failing to record another hit in Phillips' three-plus innings of work, pitching with a short leash.
By the time Phillips was removed from the game in the fourth, the Marlins had already taken the lead courtesy of a three-run second against Glasnow. Josue De Paula came back from down in the count to earn a walk against Phillips in the fourth, enough for the Marlins to make the call to the bullpen and bring in left-hander Cade Gibson to retire Hunter Feduccia.
The Dodgers trailed at this early point because Tyler Glasnow seemed to be swimming against the tide for the better part of this one, meshing small periods of dominance with worrisome rallies. After squeezing his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, Glasnow coughed up three runs in the second. The damage started with a two-run shot from Graham Pauley and later on with three straight singles, the last one an RBI knock from Otto Lopez.
It then looked like Glasnow would figure things out with clean innings in the third and fourth, including striking out the side in the latter, but that calmness was short-lived. Walking the first two batters of the fifth, Glasnow was removed, recording just 12 outs and leaving quite a mess for Jack Dreyer, who did himself no favors by loading the bases with an 0-2 HBP. In what felt like a pivotal inning for the Dodgers to remain in this game, they caught all the breaks—an errant throw from Mookie Betts on a routine grounder was snagged by Alex Freeland, preventing multiple runners from scoring, and in the following at-bat, Kyle Tucker flashed the leather with a smooth sliding grab to keep everyone at their stations. With one out, Dreyer induced a timely double play as Agustin Ramírez absolutely smoked a groundball right at Betts. And just like that, the score was at a still manageable 4-2 deficit.

#phillips
SyEkYjdwcyanpr
2 hours ago
If Carlos Correa is able to return to the Houston Astros lineup by the end of the regular season, he could play second base, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reports.
Correa, who turns 32 on Sept. 22, has been on the injured list since May 6 with a torn tendon in his left ankle that required surgery to repair. His 2026 season was believed to be over, as a result.
However, the 12-year veteran has been progressing well in his recovery and ran the bases earlier this week. The plan is for Correa to take up to 10 at-bats in live batting practice at the Astros' spring-training complex in West Palm Beach, Florida. If he doesn't deal with any setbacks, Correa could go on a minor-league rehab **** ignment with Triple-A Sugar Land next week.
Carlos Correa has reported to West Palm Beach and hit in the cages and took grounders there today, Joe Espada said. The plan is for Correa to start hitting on the field Monday.
In 32 games this season, Correa recorded a .279/.369/.418 slash average with 3 home runs, 8 doubles and 16 RBI. He played 23 games at shortstop and 14 at third base.

#season
gu8e9d
8 hours ago
NEW DELHI: Social media has found a fun new way to bring the 1980s back, with AI turning modern-day pictures into vintage portraits. The trend has now reached the Indian cricket team, with several players enjoying a hilarious surprise ahead of their T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi.
Two days before the series, the Indian players gathered at their hotel for a photo session. But before it began, they found a table filled with AI-generated pictures of themselves.

The portraits, featured in a video shared by the BCCI, showed the players in classic 1980s looks, complete with bell-bottom jeans, big sunglasses and retro hairstyles.

India allrounder Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma picked up the portraits and burst out laughing as they showed them to their teammates. Jasprit ****** rah also joined in the fun.

Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube checked out their retro pictures and appeared amused by their new 1980s avatars.
Ishan Kishan, who recently led East Zone to Duleep Trophy glory, fully embraced the retro look. He held up his AI-generated picture, sang and posed for the camera as his teammates enjoyed the moment.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yash Thakur and Ravi Bishnoi also broke into smiles after seeing their 1980s avatars.
India and Afghanistan will face each other in a three-match T20I series, starting Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

The second and third T20Is will be played on Tuesday and Thursday at the same venue.

#portraits
sazequlagukidifenozo
16 hours ago
India's search for consistency in T20I cricket will continue with a three-match series against Afghanistan, but the team's batting combination could once again come under scrutiny, particularly with vice-captain Tilak Varma's role yet to appear fully settled.

India, led by Shreyas Iyer, endured a difficult run following their second consecutive T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. The team lost all six of its T20Is against Ireland and England before finally putting together a 3-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe.

The Afghanistan series begins on September 13 (Saturday), with India also scheduled to play a historic T20I against ******* an before featuring in the Asian Games 2026.
With several established batters competing for places, former South Africa star AB de Villiers believes India could face a selection headache, particularly when it comes to deciding where Tilak Varma fits into the batting order.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers pointed to the number of batting options available to India and questioned how the team would accommodate its vice-captain.

"There will definitely be some selection issues with regard to the batters. Obviously, Shreyas, captain, Ishan Kishan, Samson, Sooryavanshi, and then there are all-rounders, Tilak Varma; I think that's where the balance is quite tricky. Where will he bat?" de Villiers said.

Tilak's recent numbers also underline why his position could become a talking point.

Since the 2026 T20 World Cup, the left-hander has scored 255 runs from 10 innings at a strike rate of 159.36, with three scores of 50 or more. However, the numbers need some context. One of those half-centuries came during the recent Zimbabwe series, while another was scored in the fifth T20I against England, by which point India had already conceded the series.

His overall returns therefore look stronger in isolation than his performances across the entire period suggest. Tilak endured a particularly difficult run during India's tour of the UK, and his inconsistency has remained a concern despite the occasional big score. That makes his position in India's batting order an even bigger talking point ahead of the Afghanistan series.

The presence of Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gives India several batting options, while the team also has to factor in its all-rounders.

For de Villiers, the challenge is not simply about selecting the strongest players but finding a combination in which every batter has a clearly defined role.

He believes India have enough quality in their squad to deal with Afghanistan, but stressed that clarity will be particularly important against a side he considers dangerous.

"Really, really strong squad, but the balance will be tricky to figure out. It is T20 cricket, so they can play around with the squad a little bit. There are different roles, but the role clarification will still be incredibly important for India, as
pspzqubvbdniiks
1 day ago
Clippers, Kings predicted to battle for $19M Pistons' former first-rounder, elite versatile athlete originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Early in the summer, it was hard to tell what was going to be next for the Detroit Pistons and Jalen Duren as they worked through their contract negotiations. The two sides were warned that it could be a long process because of Duren's camp and other factors.
It was known that the center wanted a max contract. It was his postseason play that had Detroit skeptical about giving him everything he wanted in a contract.
"The longer Jalen Duren remains unsigned in free agency, the Detroit Pistons will be forced to reconsider whether the hassle is worth the reward. Duren's All-NBA season officially made him eligible for a five-year supermax extension, but his underwhelming play in the postseason immediately made the chances of the big man landing that payday at an all-time low," Pistons Powered's John Canady wrote.
The latest update for Duren and the Pistons is not good. Both sides currently sit at a $5 million contract rift.

#jalen #postseason #play
czmqfgwbpd72xe
4 days ago
India continue to make their presence felt at the top of the Women's T20I bowling rankings, with Sree Charani holding on to the No. 1 spot and Deepti Sharma making a two-place jump to sixth following her strong showing at the Asia Cup 2026.

Deepti has been one of India's standout performers in the tournament, claiming eight wickets in three matches as the team booked its place in the semi-finals.
The right-arm spinner's consistent performances have earned her a significant rise in the latest rankings. Deepti, who had previously reached the top spot in December last year, is now within 60 rating points of Charani. Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, Nonkululeko Mlaba and Lauren Bell are the four bowlers positioned between the two Indian stars.

With Charani and Deepti occupying the top two positions, India continues to dominate the upper reaches of the T20I bowling rankings.
Several players also made significant gains in the latest T20I rankings after their performances at the Asia Cup. Bangladesh's Marufa Akter was among the biggest movers, climbing 19 places to 18th in the bowling rankings. Chamari Athapaththu moved up five spots to 28th, while Sultana Khatun gained nine places to share 37th.

Thailand's Thipatcha Putthawong rose four places to 47th, while teammate Suleeporn Laomi jumped 10 spots to 53rd. There were also gains among Bangladesh's batters, with Sobhana Mostary moving up three places to 36th and Dilara Akter climbing five spots to 62nd.
The latest ODI rankings also saw notable movement following England's home series against Ireland. Stand-in England captain Charlie Dean moved up one place to jointly occupy ninth in the ODI all-rounders' rankings. She also climbed two spots to share 11th among ODI bowlers after taking three wickets in the three-match series.

England's Lauren Filer made an impressive 14-place jump to 39th, while Ireland's Cara Murray rose 16 places to 50th in the ODI bowling rankings.

Ireland youngster Amy Hunter emerged as the biggest winner among ODI batters, moving up nine places to 11th. England's Maia Bouchier climbed 13 spots to 42nd, while Sophia Dunkley made an even bigger leap of 26 places to reach 43rd.

#rankings #places #three #latest
WtL_7
5 days ago
The season is just a few days away and we are ready to share our hottest takes yet. Matt Harmon, Justin Boone and Josh Norris provide their boldest fantasy takes for the 2026 season. Strap in folks, there's some takes that will leave you jaw dropping. Lastly, the guys deliver the case for the guys they believe will win fantasy MVP.
(4:00) Norris prediction #1 : Kenneth Walker III was always a 1st rounder
(10:30) Boone prediction #1 : Jahmyr Gibbs breaks the single-season scrimmage yards record
(17:00) Harmon prediction #1 : Emeka Egbuka leads the NFL in catches
(25:15) Norris prediction #2 : One of the 4th round WRs finishes as a Top 7 WR

#prediction #harmon #boone #justin
6M0koBCzcTfZImlQ
5 days ago
Triple. Strikeout. Walk. Hit batter. Hit batter. Error.
That's how the Tigers scored two runs in an ugly second inning by the Twins on Monday, and it proved devastating as Detroit would go on to defeat Minnesota by a score of 5-4.
Joe Ryan, in his return from the injured list, gave up a solo homer to Rookie of the Year favorite Kevin McGonigle in the first inning, and then struggled with control in the second inning.
The All-Star right-hander gave up a triple and struck out a batter to start the second inning, and then his control vanished. Ryan walked Max Clark and then hit John Peck and Colt Keith on back-to-back pitches, the second hit batsman coming with the bases loaded.
The next batter, McGonigle, hit a grounder to Royce Lewis at first base, and Lewis threw home to catcher Ryan Jeffers. What should've been a routine force out turned into a disaster as the throw forced Jeffers to stretch to make the catch, causing his foot to drift an inch away from home plate, allowing the runner to score.

#ryan #score #gave
13thread
6 days ago
BALTIMORE (AP) — Aroldis Chapman notched his 400th career save, Eli White hit a three-run homer following an error by Gunnar Henderson and the Boston Red Sox capped a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 3-1 victory Sunday.
Chapman gave up a one-out single in the ninth before striking out Coby Mayo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand to become the ninth player in major league history to record 400 saves. The 38-year-old Chapman earned his first save in 2011 with Cincinnati went on to have 10 seasons with 30 or more, including 33 this season.
Over his lengthy career, Chapman has totaled 24 saves against Baltimore. The lefty got one Friday night that started Boston on its sweep of the sinking Orioles.
Coming off two straight shutout losses, the Orioles used successive two-out doubles by Mayo and Encarnacion-Strand to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
In the second, with two outs and a runner on, Henderson failed to make a backhand stab of a grounder to shortstop. White followed with a drive off Kyle Bradish (7-13) that cleared the left-field wall.

#baltimore #mayo #encarnacion #Career
dasH
6 days ago
The San Francisco 49ers waived tight end Brayden Willis Saturday to make room for long snapper Jon Weeks on the active roster.
Per the NFL's transaction wire, Willis went unclaimed. Willis showed positional versatility during the preseason, but he was also a 7th-rounder from '23 with as many regular-season receptions since then as you and I.
That means the team can bring him back to the practice squad and potentially elevate him to the active roster for this upcoming week against the Rams. He's expected to practice with the team after re-joining the practice squad, as he did not leave Australia, per Matt Maiocco.
Willis's best chance to contribute offensively is at fullback. During this past preseason, he lined up at fullback 15 times. Kyle Juszczyk recently returned to practice after breaking his finger. If Juszczyk can't perform his usual duties or gets hurt again, Willis is his logical backup — ***** uming the team would have him on the active roster so he can play special teams.
Juszczyk is entering the final year of his two-year contract. He's 35. It makes you wonder if the 49ers want to keep Willis around to take over for Juszczyk if this ends up being Juice's final year as a Niner. In my opinion, Willis offers more out of the backfield than as a tight end. That was likely part of the reason he was waived.

#willis #juszczyk #roster #team
659_qHUP_ucqvy_wdhf
7 days ago
Chennai: Veteran India speedster Mohammed Shami maybe out of India reckoning for now, but he still refuses to give up. When East Zone play South Zone in the Duleep final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Sunday, the 36-year-old will be appearing in his 100th First-Class match, with a prolific record of 382 wickets so far.

East Zone skipper Ishan Kishan was effusive in his praise of the senior bowler on the eve of the **** le clash, stressing that age remains irrelevant when backed by exceptional work ethic and fierce determination.

"For Shami, age is just a number. If he is working hard, it doesn't matter. Having someone like him in our team gives us immense confidence. His approach towards the game, his intensity, and his energy this season have been very different from how I've seen him in the past," Kishan said after a practice session.

Comparing this version of Shami to his sensational 24-wicket run at the 2023 ODI World Cup, Kishan stressed on the pacer's sheer appetite for a national comeback.

"It is 2026 now, three years since that World Cup. It is hard when you are not regularly playing for the Indian team to still summon that same motivation for domestic games...Who better than me can judge hunger right now? I see that hunger and drive in him, he wants to make that comeback and be part of the Indian squad again. You can see it in the way he helps me lead, constantly coming up with strategic options. You can instantly tell when a player is desperate to win you the match," the skipper added.

Kishan also hailed Shami's tireless attitude during East Zone's semifinal victory over Central Zone, where the veteran ran in and picked five wickets in the game.

"He is a legend of the game. Looking at his effort in the semifinal, as a captain, it felt incredible when Shami came up and asked for extra overs to break partnerships. That willingness gives a skipper immense confidence. Plus, he finished with two boundaries in the last game, so he's practically an allrounder nowadays," Kishan quipped.

South Zone captain Tilak Varma acknowledged the massive challenge awaiting his batting unit against Shami's probing spells with the red ball, but they are confident to face him.

"It will be great competition. We are up against a quality bowling attack led by Shami. Facing that calibre of bowling is why you love this sport," Tilak said.

#kishan #skipper #south #Indian
ms46p9xntl4
7 days ago
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Spencer Jones hit a two-out RBI double against his hometown team to start a four-run rally in the second inning, and the New York Yankees beat the San Diego Padres 5-1 on Saturday.
Carlos Rodón and four relievers held the Padres to three hits as the Yankees (81-61) pulled within a victory of clinching their 34th straight winning season. They've won five of seven games and 13 of 19, and are in control of the American League's top wild-card spot.
The Padres, who have lost six of eight, came into the day a half-game ahead of Arizona for the third National League wild card.
The Yankees drew seven walks, with three of those players scoring, and loaded the bases in three different innings.
Jones, a rookie who attended La Costa Canyon High in Carlsbad, doubled into the right-field corner off left-hander Robbie Ray in the second to bring in Ben Rice, who hit a leadoff single and advanced on George Lombard Jr.'s grounder.

#second #seven #card
p8cketdrif8frost
7 days ago
Every baseball fan is familiar with the scam known as the shell game— after all, it's present, in more innocuous form, in the cap shuffle ubiquitous to scoreboards. Tonight Zack Wheeler offered the visiting Braves a shell game, tempting them with three baserunners through three at-bats… but when the Braves selected their shell, there weren't very many runs underneath.
The start was rather subpar for the home crowd, with Wheeler allowing a pair of singles to the first two Braves, then walking Matt Olson to load the bases with none away. But a pop fly and a strikeout (aided by a canny ABS challenge from J.T. Realmuto) put him just a single out away from pulling off the great escape. Ozzie Albies flew out to center, and the Braves trudged back to the dugout with the dreaded ****** LETIGER (No Outs, Bases Loaded, Ending in Team Incapable of Getting Easy Runs, it's a real term) nipping at their heels.
But the Phillies would give Atlanta starter Martin Pérez a rougher start. Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner worked walks to start off the game, with the former dashing for third on a fly out from Bryce Harper, and slipping right past the tag. A single to right from Luis Arraez scored him, and the bases were then loaded on a walk of Alec Bohm. Realmuto walked to bring in a run (an ABS challenge on ball four proved fruitless for the visitors). The inning ended when Ronald Acuña Jr, looking truly superb, leapt into the air to turn a line drive from Bryson Stott into out number three.
Wheeler's second inning of work was a far smoother affair, with three up and three down. Pérez could not say the same. Derek Hill lined a ball to right, and Acuña suddenly looked far less superb, stumbling and allowing Hill to reach third. He then scored when Matt Olson bobbled a grounder at first.
The roller coaster ride that is Ronald then took another sudden swerve in the top of the third as he sent a Wheeler sweeper deep, deep into the left field seats. But the Phillies were certainly not inclined to let themselves be outslugged in their own ballpark: in the bottom of the fourth, Schwarber knocked a Pérez pitch over the fence in right. Two more hits, both with two outs, ensued, and Pérez's night ended.

#wheeler #start #matt
duwi_poq_kuwexa_kemh
8 days ago
India are set to renew their rivalry with Pakistan in their final league-stage match of the Women's Asia Cup on Saturday, with senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma confident that the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side can maintain its recent dominance over its neighbours.

India have already secured their place in the semifinals after registering convincing victories over Thailand and Hong Kong. They currently sit at the top of Group A and will enter the Pakistan clash as clear favourites.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Friday, Deepti pointed to India's strong record against Pakistan and said the team would aim to maintain that edge.

"Look, there is no advantage as such. The only thing is that whatever we have won against them (Pakistan), whether it is the Asia Cup or any other matches, we are always one step ahead of them. And that's it," Deepti said.
Deepti stressed that India would not get distracted by Pakistan's strengths and instead concentrate on maintaining their own balanced approach.

"The whole team is performing well. If you look at the bowling unit or the batting unit, I think both things are balanced. The one who has a good day, she tries to do better and take the game further. And those around her, they try to stay positive things so that they step in more in their game," she said.

Asked about Pakistan's bowling attack, Deepti acknowledged the threat but insisted India would stick to their plans.

"Our team is also good and their bowlers are also good. We know that. But we focus more on the strengths we have. And as I said, we want to play a good brand of cricket. That's what we are focusing on. We just want to play good cricket. As a bowling unit, as a batting unit, the team should be as compact as we are playing in two games. That's the mindset," she added.
India have dominated the rivalry in women's T20Is, winning 14 of their 17 meetings with Pakistan, while Pakistan have three victories. The recent record is even more emphatic. India defeated Pakistan by 64 runs in the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup, while also winning their previous two meetings in the 2024 T20 World Cup and Asia Cup.

Pakistan's most recent victory over India came in the 2022 Women's Asia Cup, when they secured a 13-run win.

#deepti #good #team #recent
zxety42
8 days ago
England have named the uncapped Aneurin Donald and Henry Crocombe in their squads for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka.
Opener Donald has been included in the 16-player squad for the T20 series, while seamer Crocombe makes the 16-man line-up for the one-day internationals.
England men's national selector Marcus North said the pair are "two promising players who have earned their places on the back of impressive performances in domestic cricket".
He added: "Aneurin has had an exceptional season for Derbyshire in the Vitality Blast and also with Trent Rockets in The Hundred while Henry is a player we have had an eye on all summer."
England all-rounder Jacob Bethell "underwent successful surgery on his injured knee earlier this week" and is targeting the white-ball series against Australia in November for his comeback.

#series #crocombe
va_xze214
10 days ago
HOUSTON (AP) — Nelson Velázquez hit a two-run single in the eighth inning to break a scoreless tie, Hayden Wesneski and two relievers combined on a three-hitter and the Houston Astros defeated the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Wednesday night.
With one out in the eighth, Yordan Alvarez singled and Isaac Paredes walked before Jose Altuve was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Pinch-runner Nick Allen was thrown out at home trying to score on a grounder by Daulton Varsho back to Sean Newcomb (2-4) before Velázquez laced his single into left-center field.
Wesneski allowed one hit with five strikeouts over seven shutout innings. He has allowed one run and five hits over his last three starts, a span of 17 innings. A.J. Blubaugh (5-2) gave up two hits in the eighth before Josh Hader pitched the ninth for his 22nd save.
Wesneski retired 14 of the last 15 batters he faced, including 12 straight between a one-out walk to Sam Antonacci in the third and a one-out walk to Braden Montgomery in the seventh.
Davis Martin scattered five hits with three strikeouts over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his first start since Aug. 13. Martin, who had been on the 15-day injured list with a right middle finger blister, was activated before the game.

#wesneski #eighth #martin #zquez
zZIrdPD_H
10 days ago
After months of speculation and anticipation, the NBA dropped the hammer on the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday over their reported scheme to circumvent the salary cap for Kawhi Leonard.
And what a hammer it was. The league has stripped the Clippers of five first-round draft picks, fined owner Steve Ballmer $30 million, fined Leonard $700,000 and suspended Ballmer, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and president of business operations Gillian Zucker.
It is a team-changing blow to LA, which many have noted also gave up five first-rounders, two pick swaps and future MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in a trade for Paul George at Leonard's request.
The Clippers have already released a statement rejecting the NBA's findings and promising to challenge them. It remains to be seen how that will play out, but the NBA has certainly thrown down a harsh first move.
But how harsh is it compared to other cheating scandals in recent sports history? Let's compare the Clippers' sanctions to the bites other teams have received for bending the rules for a competitive advantage in recent sports history, which we are cutting off at the year 2000.

#fined #operations
7calm
10 days ago
Mumbai/New Delhi: The future of Rohit Sharma and the shape of India's ODI team for the next World Cup cycle are set to dominate discussions when the BCCI's top brass meets in Mumbai on Thursday for a wide-ranging performance review.

While recent defeats in Ireland, England and Sri Lanka will be ***** sed, board officials are understood to be more concerned about the lack of a clearly defined ODI roadmap at a time when preparations for the 2027 World Cup should be taking shape.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, president Mithun Manhas, head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Centre of Excellence chief VVS Laxman will attend the meeting, with ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill and T20I skipper Shreyas Iyer also expected to be present.

At the centre of the discussions lies the most sensitive issue facing Indian cricket: Rohit's future. Though there is immense respect for the veteran opener's stature and achievements, selectors and members of the team management are increasingly aware of the need to prepare for a post-Rohit era.

According to sources, one option under consideration is to evaluate Rohit's role on a series-by-series basis rather than committing to a long-term plan through the entire World Cup cycle.

"It's very tough on a young captain like Shubman Gill when there is no clear direction. The dressing-room environment in the ODI team hasn't been the best, especially when it comes to dealing with stalwarts," a BCCI source said.

The uncertainty around Rohit reflects a broader concern. Of India's three national teams, the ODI side is regarded as the least settled. Injuries and workload management have prevented selectors from identifying a stable core, leaving several key positions unresolved.

The fast-bowling allrounder's role remains a particular headache. Hardik Pandya continues on a managed workload programme after recurring fitness issues, while Nitish ***** ar Reddy is yet to receive full clearance following rehabilitation.

"Hardik, at the moment, has been cleared to bowl six overs in a day. Reddy is still to clear his fitness tests. The ODI team doesn't have even half of the core ODI team ready. It has to be a joint effort between the CoE and the team management to zero in on players and formulate a roadmap to get them all on the park as soon as possible," the source said.

The review was initially planned after the Ireland and England tours but was postponed because of the subsequent Sri Lanka ***** ignment. It will now cover India's performances across multiple tours, including Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

India's 2-0 T20I series defeat in Ireland and the 4-0 drubbing in England raised alarm bells, with the 125-run loss at Nottingham viewed internally as one of the team's poorest performances in recent years. Gill's ODI side also lost the England series 2-1.

However, officials insist the exercise will focus on solutions rather than ***** igning blame, with particular emphasis on recurri
1fuzzy
10 days ago
Ravindra Jadeja has been a mainstay of India's Test team for more than a decade, but former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes the time has come for the team to start looking beyond the veteran all-rounder in the longest format.

Jadeja aged 37, finished India's recent two-Test tour of Sri Lanka with eight wickets across four innings. However, Dasgupta felt the Indian spin attack failed to consistently exert pressure on the hosts, particularly on surfaces where the visitors would have expected their spinners to play a major role.

The former India player singled out the second Test in Colombo, where Sri Lanka were forced to follow on but managed to fight back strongly. Sonal Dinusha's century helped the hosts frustrate India and build a substantial lead before the match eventually ended in a draw.
While Jadeja picked up three wickets in Sri Lanka's second innings, Dasgupta felt India needed more penetration from their experienced spinners.

"Apart from Manav, our spinners didn't look as lethal as we expected. I'm not saying there is no ability. On such pitches, Jadeja has always been very destructive and lethal. I thought he would be crucial on the fifth day. He has been a great servant, but it's done now. He was not as accurate as he is. His action is very shoulder-dominant," Dasgupta said on his YouTube channel.
The Sri Lanka series also highlighted an issue with India's bowling discipline, with the spinners repeatedly overstepping. Saransh Jain, making his Test debut in Colombo, bowled four no-balls, while Jadeja overstepped once. Dasgupta believes such problems need to be addressed during training rather than waiting for them to surface in matches.

"If you are not careful in the nets, it will happen. Even when I was playing, a lot of them would bowl from ahead and say it would not happen in the match, but they would repeat the same thing in the match. You need to avoid this in the nets. This issue is not new with Jadeja; it has only gotten worse," he added.
133717849
India won the two-match series 1-0, with victory by 165 runs in the opening Test in Galle before the second Test in Colombo ended in a draw. India's next Test ******* ignments will come with a tour of New Zealand scheduled for November before Australia travel to India for a five match Test series beginning in January 2027.

#India #dasgupta #colombo #second
GlidelazY
10 days ago
Ben Stokes is set to make his mark in the Big Bash League with the Adelaide Strikers, and coach Tim Paine believes the England all-rounder could be particularly effective if he opens the batting.

Stokes' one-year deal with the Strikers was confirmed on Tuesday, making him available for the entire BBL season. Paine believes the 35-year-old can make an impact across all three departments while also bringing his leadership experience to the side. The Strikers had Matt Short and Chris Lynn as their regular opening combination last season, but Lynn is currently off contract, meaning the pair could be split up even if he returns to the franchise.
Paine sees Stokes as an ideal candidate to take the new ball with the bat, particularly on Australia's traditionally pace-friendly and bouncy pitches.

"Stokes gives us a lot of flexibility. I think initially my chats around how we would use him would probably be opening the batting. I think he's made to open the batting in Big Bash. I think the pacy, bouncy wickets in Australia really suit him," Paine said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

The former Australia captain also highlighted Stokes' ability to attack all areas of the ground and change the momentum of an innings almost instantly.

"I have been on the end of a couple of these devastating innings in Test cricket where you feel like you cannot defend the field. He can play 360 degrees. He has got power. He has got some real class," he added.

Although Stokes has opened in only 16 of his 148 T20 innings, the numbers suggest he is at his most productive in that role. He averages 36.53 and has a strike rate of 138.48 as an opener. One of his two T20 centuries also came while opening, when he smashed an unbeaten 107 off 60 ****** for Rajasthan Royals in the 2020 IPL. His other T20 century came for Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017, when he scored 103 off 63 deliveries.

However, much of Stokes' T20 career has seen him bat at No. 3, 4 or 5. He has not played a T20 match since The Hundred in 2024, where he managed only four runs across three innings.

"I think he can do a terrific job opening the batting. Playing pretty normally, as we have seen in the past, he can flick a switch, and he has got amazing power. His skill level with the bat and his play of spin, he has just a well-rounded, world-class batter. We think that is probably the best fit for him and for us," Paine said.
Paine also believes Stokes could have an impact with the ball, suggesting his pace and ability to move the ball could make him a useful option in different phases of an innings.

"He is a bit quicker than people think. He has got great skill. He can swing the ball both ways. We feel like we can use him in all phases of the game with the ball as well. He will impact in the field with his athleticism and just the way he competes," he said.

Stokes has taken 352 wickets for England across international cricket, with his best figures of 6/22 highlighting his ability to produc
tinyw0tty6
10 days ago
A senior member of Pakistan's selection committee has questioned the seriousness of Imam-ul-Haq's calf injury and called for an inquiry after the opener did not bat in either innings during Pakistan's 194-run defeat to England in the second Test at Lord's.

Aaqib Javed, who is part of Pakistan's four-member selection panel, said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will investigate how Imam was managed after suffering the injury during the match.

"An inquiry will be conducted into this matter," Aaqib Javed told Pakistan's private news channel Geo TV during an interview aired on Tuesday night, as quoted by news agency AP.

Javed questioned how a player could miss both innings because of a muscle injury.

"How is it possible that you failed to come out to bat in both innings after pulling up a muscle?" Javed said.
He added that players have batted through injuries in the past and described Imam's case as a matter of concern.

"Injuries do occur and we have seen instances in the past where players -- even with casts -- have gone out and made an effort. This situation is different. It is a matter of great concern, and action will be taken regarding it."

Imam injured his calf while fielding on the opening day of the Lord's Test and took no further part in the match.

After former chief selector Mohammad Wasim questioned Imam's absence, the opener appeared on the outfield before play on the fourth day. He was seen shadow batting with his left calf heavily strapped but was visibly limping.

Imam was one of seven players recalled from England after Pakistan lost the first two Tests at Headingley and Lord's. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also sent back by the PCB.

Pakistan have appointed white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke to take charge of the team for the third Test, which starts in Birmingham on September 9.

The selectors have picked five uncapped players for the final Test, along with openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who have played a combined 10 Tests.

Javed also addressed reports of differences between the selectors and the team management over the playing XI for the Lord's Test.

According to Javed, he wanted the team to include fast-bowling all-rounder Ubaid Shah, wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori and another pace option instead of Mohammad Rizwan. Instead, only Salman Ali Agha was dropped after leading Pakistan in the first Test in Babar Azam's absence.

"We can't just keep waiting," Javed said. "I had actually spoken to both the captain and the coach after the first Test, suggesting they include Ubaid, who bowls at 140 kph. Agha was rightly rested, Ghazi Ghori was available on the tour and should have played instead of Rizwan."

#Pakistan #coach
quiET1
11 days ago
Fantasy Football draft season is in full swing. Those with teams are perusing rosters and stats to see what players are worth selecting. The quarterback position creates a great divide. Many believe it pays to wait because there won't be that big of a difference over the course of a season. Those who have selected Josh Allen in recent years would beg to disagree. What quarterbacks are worth a pick and when? And for leagues that go with a team quarterback, will look at the overall picture.
Jacoby Brissett and his QB room is worthy of a mid-to-late round pick. The Cardinals have a wealth of receivers, starting with Michael Wilson and TE Trey McBride. Those two alone will catch a ton of footballs and should find the end zone.
Lord, no. Hard pass.
So, Lamar Jackson is going to be more of a pocket passer? Does that mean the days of his 1,000-yard rushing seasons are finito? If so, he goes from a high pick to a mid-rounder. The question is whether Jackson can keep his mind on throwing the football and not take off.
Josh Allen is a must pick even at age 30. He can deliver points with his arm and legs.

#Football
917blinkslowl4sweep
11 days ago
J.J. McCarthy stays on the Vikings 53 — and the injury story still doesn't add up. The Minnesota Vikings set their 53-man roster with J.J. McCarthy still on it, then spent Monday shuffling the edges. On The Real Forno Show, Tyler Forness and Dave Stefano unpacked the leak that McCarthy's ankle is suddenly "week to week," Ben Goessling's report that McCarthy himself chose not to play Friday, the Max Brosmer and Dillon Bell cuts, waiver claims of Trevor Keegan and Nick Samac, and a practice squad still taking shape.
Forness opened with the elephant in the room: he expected Minnesota to move on from McCarthy before the deadline. Then Adam Schefter said on Pat McAfee that the ankle is a multi-week injury — 10 days after the sprain, after McCarthy practiced fully Monday and Tuesday. "I don't buy it for a second," Forness said. "If it really was a multi-week injury… now we're calling it a week-to-week injury after he goes out and practices in full?" Stefano called a grade-one deltoid sprain "100% playable" and asked why sitting Friday or leaking "week to week" would help trade stock. Forness noted other backups (Quinn Ewers, Kyle McCord) already moved for sixth-rounders, and that waiting only shrinks the market. Goessling reported the sit-out was McCarthy's call, not the organization's. "It was him not being comfortable playing in the game," Forness quoted. "The whole thing just smells rotten."
Monday's moves were clearer. Minnesota claimed interior linemen Keegan and Samac after trading Walter Rouse, then waived Brosmer and Bell to make room. Forness said if McCarthy can't go Week 1, Kevin O'Connell will want a third active-roster quarterback because an emergency QB must be on the 53, not the practice squad. They also ran the rest of the roster: four tight ends with T.J. Hockenson in a contract year; Tyler Batty's torn ACL thinning the edge; Caleb Banks as a long-term "unicorn" pick, not a Year 1 finished product. "You drafted him for '27, '29, and '30," Forness said. "Trading him now would be incredibly shortsighted."
J.J. McCarthy saga: McCarthy practiced fully Monday and Tuesday before sitting out Wednesday. He chose not to play Friday's preseason finale despite the plan being for him to start the first half. Trade talks reportedly occurred but no deal materialized. Tyler expects a new quarterback added if McCarthy can't play Week 1.
Offensive line: The Vikings claimed Trevor Keegan (fourth-ranked PFF guard) and Nick Samac (top PFF preseason center), both with center versatility. Walter Rouse was traded for a sixth-round pick. Max Brosmer and Dillon Bell were waived.

#injury #bell
yhb2hajpfeafp7u
12 days ago
Marnus Labuschagne has been left out of Australia's ODI squad for the upcoming tours of Zimbabwe and South Africa, raising more questions about his future in the national team.

The batter had a poor run during Australia's recent ODI series in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Although he finished the Bangladesh campaign with an unbeaten 55 after being moved down the batting order, it was not enough to secure his place.

With Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh returning, Australia's selectors decided to leave Labuschagne out. His omission could also affect his chances of playing in the upcoming three-Test series against South Africa, especially after his disappointing performances against Bangladesh.

The six ODIs against Zimbabwe and South Africa are important for Australia's preparations for the 2027 World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Australia will be led by Mitchell Marsh in Zimbabwe, while Pat ****** mins will join the team for the South Africa leg. ****** mins and Marsh could share captaincy duties depending on ****** mins' workload. Mitchell Starc will return for the South Africa matches, while Josh Hazlewood has been selected for both series.

Australia's ODI squad:Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Pat ****** mins (SA only), Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc (SA only), Adam Zampa.
New South Wales all-rounder Joel Davies has received his first ODI call-up after impressing in the T20I series against Bangladesh. Left-handed batter Ollie Peake has also kept his place.

Australia have added fast bowlers Spencer Johnson and Billy Stanlake. Johnson returns after recovering from a lengthy injury, while Stanlake recently ended a more than seven-year wait for another international appearance.

Cooper Connolly will remain with the ODI squad after his impressive 149 against Bangladesh.

The Zimbabwe series starts on September 15 in Harare, followed by matches on September 18 and 20. Australia will then play South Africa on September 24, 27 and 30.

#bangladesh
com8t334
12 days ago
IND vs AFG T20I series 2026: Hardik Pandya unlikely to feature as India all-rounder suffers fresh injury originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India star Hardik Pandya's comeback faces another setback after a fresh niggle emerged during training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Selectors are set to meet this week, though Pandya's fitness timeline may rule him out of the Afghanistan T20Is.
Pandya hasn't featured for India since the T20 World Cup final on March 8.
Hardik Pandya's road back to the Indian team has reportedly hit yet another speed ****** p, with a fresh leg issue threatening to keep him out of the upcoming three-match T20I series against Afghanistan.

#India #t20i #series
wokibjifelofa
12 days ago
Luke Keaschall was a much-needed spark plug, Walker Jenkins doinked his first MLB homer off the right field pole, Jeffers added two bombs of his own, his first since the last day of July, and Taj Bradley delivered one of his best starts of the season when the Twins most needed it. It was a fun night at the ballpark when the Twins really needed a win!
Let's start on the offensive side. Facing Jackson Jobe, the former top pitching prospect in all of baseball, the Twins struck in the first inning, as they are wont to do of late, with a leadoff double from Keaschall eventually coming around on Kody Clemens sac fly. And then things went eerily quiet for Minnesota's hitters, also as they are wont to do of late.
They had chances to add on before the game exploded, but still didn't hit well with runners in scoring position despite the big number on the scoreboard. They went 2-9 with RISP against actual pitchers, with an added hit off of position player Zach McKinstry in the eighth to juice the stats. A leadoff double from Kaelen Culpepper in the third gave them a good run scoring opportunity, but a Jenkins pop out and Brooks Lee GIDP after a Keaschall single kept the game at 1-0 after three innings.
Clemens came back around and added a run on his own in the fourth inning, a no-doubt solo shot over the dock in right field to put the Twins up 2-0. They had another great opportunity to add on that inning with the bases loaded and just one out, but the rookies Culpepper and Jenkins both popped out to end the threat.
Then came the fifth inning when things finally broke open. Keaschall reached first base on an error by the Tigers' third baseman. Hao-Yu Lee couldn't get the grip on a soft grounder hit his way, trying to get it quickly to nab a hustling Keaschall. Keaschall then stole second easily off one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, Dillon Dingler. Keaschall had third easily in the same at-bat as well, but Clemens fouled off a pitch to send Luke back to second. Clemens eventually walked before Ryan Jeffers hit a three run blast to give the Twins their first comfortable lead of the night.

#jenkins #inning
7calm
12 days ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Daylen Lile homered twice and drove in four runs, Erik Tolman pitched out of a bases-loaded jam to earn his first major league save, and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins 6-3 on Monday night.
The Marlins dropped three of four to the Nationals and fell four games behind Arizona in the race for the final NL wild-card spot.
Lile, named the NL player of the week earlier Monday, finished 3 for 3. The second-year outfielder has five homers over his past eight games to reach 20 for the season.
Brady House was 2 for 4 with an RBI for the Nationals. Andrew Pinckney and Keibert Ruiz also had two hits apiece.
Tolman replaced Matt Waldron with the bases loaded and **** ody out in the eighth. He struck out Kyle Stowers, then induced a double-play grounder from Leo Jiménez. Tolman then struck out the side in the ninth.

#Monday
stormtrulyfl
12 days ago
Twelve months out from the World Cup, the writing is on the wall for Marnus Labuschagne after he was axed from Australia's ODI squad for tour Zimbabwe and South Africa.
After a poor 50-over tour in Pakistan and Bangladesh, Labuschagne was among five players dropped for September's tour, with Matt Short, Ben Dwarshuis, Todd Murphy and Liam Scott also left out.
Victorian teenager Ollie Peake has been an opportunity to impress with the bat, while NSW all-rounder Joel Davies could also make his ODI debut in the matches against Zimbabwe.
Lynchpin fast bowlers Pat ****** mins and Mitchell Starc have both been selected, showing their intention to feature in next year's World Cup and also be raring to go for the Australian summer of cricket.
MORE: When does Australia play its next Test match? Opponents, dates, venues for Australia's upcoming Test schedule

#labuschagne #africa
wizerutgnlyutu1
12 days ago
In the longer format, patience and discipline are traditional routes to building an innings. The beauty lies in embracing that challenge when the situation demands it.

South Zone found themselves in a similar situation on Monday. At 80/5, they were staring at the prospect of conceding first-innings lead to North Zone, who had posted 195 in their Duleep Trophy semifinal at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here.

What followed over the next 271 minutes was an exhibition of restraint and disciplined batsmanship as Tilak Varma (106 batting, 225b, 7x4) and Shreyas Gopal (87, 169b, 11x4) took centre stage with a 175-run sixth-wicket partnership. Their stand eventually turned the tide, helping South secure a first-innings lead. They were 285/9 at stumps, 90 runs ahead on the second day.

South, who resumed on 40/2, were rocked by the brilliance of pacer Gurnoor Brar (4/70), who arrived in the city from the Sri Lanka tour on Friday. Making the most of windy conditions, Brar produced a peach in his fifth delivery of the day to disturb Narayan Jagadeesan's stumps. He struck again soon after, producing a similar delivery to castle R Smaran's off stump before dismissing Kodimela Himateja for a duck.

With their backs against the wall, Tilak and Shreyas joined hands and tested the North bowlers' patience.

The Karnataka all-rounder brought up his first four off the 42nd ball he faced. Tilak did not find the boundary again until his 154th delivery, with that four taking South into the lead. Having curbed his instincts and reached his fifty without a boundary, the Hyderabad batter gradually shifted gears.

Shreyas, meanwhile, completed his fifty in 107 ******* and looked in control as he appeared on course for his seventh first-class hundred. But pacer Arshdeep Singh ended his vigil when he edged one through to stand-in wicketkeeper Abdul Samad.

With South's tail beginning to crumble, Tilak was in danger of missing out on a deserved century. The Hyderabad batter, though, held his nerve, smashing two successive fours off Gurnoor to bring up his eighth first-class hundred in 219 ******* .

Interestingly, all seven of Tilak's fours came after he reached his fifty — a reflection of the restraint that underpinned his innings. With South nine down, he will be eager to carry that momentum into the third day and stretch their lead into three figures and beyond.
Brief scores: North Zone 195 vs South Zone 285/9 in 94 overs (o/n: 40/2) (Narayan Jagadeesan 36, Tilak Varma 106 batting, Shreyas Gopal 87; Arshdeep Singh 2-59, Anshul Kamboj 2-53, Gurnoor Brar 4-70).

#lead
hardly_rocket_buffer
12 days ago
The Ravens released several players they likely want to re-sign to their practice squad over the weekend, but most are subject to waivers. All 31 teams will have a chance to claim them, in reverse order of last year's standings.
Waivers are set to process at 1 p.m. ET. Here are Baltimore's biggest risks, according to Beatdown's staff.
Dustin's take: The biggest waiver risks for me would be Robert Longerbeam, Adisa Isaac, and Rayshaun Benny. Longerbeam had a very strong preseason in his rebound from a season-ending injury that derailed his rookie season before it began last year. He deserved to make the roster, but the Ravens had too many quality cornerbacks ahead of him. Cornerback depth is of utmost importance in the NFL, so it would not surprise me to see someone claim Longerbeam. Isaac has the pedigree of being a former third-rounder, but injuries have kept him from showcasing his potential so far. I am sure that at least one team will be willing to take a chance on a young athletic pass rusher like Isaac. Similar to Longerbeam, Benny was victim to a loaded position group. Benny played well this preseason, but the team decided to go with Aeneas Peebles as the final defensive lineman over Benny, which is a decision I support.
Zach's take: The Ravens have five main guys I want on the practice squad that I'm worried about getting claimed. The first is recent seventh-round pick defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny, who flashed a bit during the preseason but not enough to steal a spot from Broderick Washington. Benny has pass potential on a brand new rookie contract so there's a chance somebody with lacking defensive line depth could put in a claim. The next is offensive tackle Gerald Lichtenhan. He was maybe the most steady offensive lineman during the preseason and a guy they had last year as well. Offensive line depth is always a luxury in the NFL, so it wouldn't be too shocking to see somebody grab him. Next is the pair of pass rushers the Ravens waived, Adisa Isaac and Kaimon Rucker. Both flashed plenty in the preseason and had sacks but Ethan Burke simply made more plays and impacts more phases of the game. I think at least one of these guys gets claimed, likely Isaac, but hopefully the Ravens can get back at least one, if not both on the practice squad. Lastly, cornerback Robert Longerbeam finally had a chance to show what he could do after suffering an injury during his rookie year last preseason. He showed great coverage and open field tackling ability and I think a team would be lucky to grab him as depth. But hopefully the Ravens can sneak last years draft pick back on their practice squad.
Now, it's time to see if any Ravens get claimed off waivers! Keep up with the latest updates in our tracker and let us know which ones you will miss the most in the comments section!

#longerbeam #preseason #last #squad

Nothing found!

Sorry, but we could not find anything in our database for your search query {{search_query}}. Please try again by typing other keywords.