Wales head coach Steve Tandy names his Nations Championship squad on Tuesday, 20 October and was given some late food for thought by the Welsh clubs in European action.
Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets made winning starts in the Challenge Cup while Cardiff competed hard but lost at Northampton on their return to the top-tier Champions Cup.
Wales will face ****** an, New Zealand and Australia in Cardiff before another fixture at Twickenham against a southern hemisphere opponent on finals weekend.
BBC Sport Wales looks at the players who grasped their last chance to make an impression on Tandy and his staff as opportunities run out before the 2027 World Cup.
Wales counting down the year until World Cup

#wales #tandy #championship #tuesday

Bears' Caleb Williams reached out to 'John Wick' for motivation before Falcons clash appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Bears bounced back from a loss to the Packers in Week 5 with a win over Atlanta that has fans thinking NFC North ******* le again. Caleb Williams broke a franchise record held by Mitch Trubisky and did it after a surprising celebrity call-out that went well for the former USC Trojans and current Bears star.
Williams revealed that he watched the violent action flick John Wick to prepare for his comeback game against Atlanta and had a chance to speak with lead actor Keanu Reeves, according to Jordan Schultz.
"I was watching John Wick for this week. One of my people reached out to him and he was a fan…I'm inevitable. That's always my mentality," Williams said.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#wick #reached

Alexander Skarsgård is letting his footwear do the talking.
The "Wicker" star attended the Oct. 8 London screening of his upcoming film in a shiny head-to-toe ensemble.
Skarsgård, who is never afraid to take fashion risks, looked like the epitome of the Hollywood golden boy in a gold metallic Saint Laurent suit, styling the jacket without a shirt, and topping it off with the brand's lucite elongated-toe derby shoes, which showed off the star's full feet. The actor stood out from his "Wicker" co-stars Peter ******* lage, Elizabeth Debicki and Olivia Colman, who chose simple all-black looks.
The viral shoes: YSL's latest in men's footwear may get a bit sweaty. Take a look
In June, the controversial clear shoes had the internet up in arms when they first debuted on the runway of the Saint Laurent's spring/summer 2027 menswear show. At the time, many took to social media to express their concerns with the amount of sweat the shoes might hold.

#skarsg #alexander #london #hollywood

Olivia Colman joined her Wicker co-star Alexander Skarsgård on the red carpet for the film's screening at the 2026 BFI London Film Festival this evening, returning to the festival after attending opening night yesterday.
Courtesy of Celine
Wearing her hair down this time, Olivia opted for a black Celine gown with asymmetrical draping that gives the otherwise simple design an interesting twist. The contrast between the matte upper half and the sheen of the skirt is another detail I appreciate, preventing the look from falling flat.
But I just can't ignore the length.
There's far too much fabric gathering at the bottom. The structured hemline only adds to the heaviness, making the skirt look unnecessarily bulky when the rest of the gown has such a beautiful flow.

#skirt #wicker

When Idina Menzel should've been celebrating some of her career's biggest accomplishments, the singer and award-winning performer was dealing with a deeply personal struggle. However, Menzel, who originated Elphaba in "Wicked" on Broadway, said booking roles in "Frozen" and the 2014 musical "If/Then" actually "saved" her when she needed it most.
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A post shared by Idina Menzel Fans (idinahere)
On a Comic-Con panel, Menzel reflected on two of her career's biggest highlights: "Frozen" and "If/Then," both of which came around 2013. According to Menzel, 55, she was also going through a "really hard" split from Diggs, whom she married in 2003, during that time.
Amid the complicated split, though, Menzel found solace in her role as Elizabeth in the Broadway musical "If/Then," playing a woman who returned to New York City after a divorce. "The story of the show was so much about a woman who's making different choices in her life and finding her identity," she said.

#biggest #post

Alexander Skarsgård attended the Wicker screening during the 2026 BFI London Film Festival this evening, delivering another red carpet look that won't be forgotten anytime soon.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI
You won't have forgotten the Saint Laurent thigh-wader boots he wore at Cannes, and I doubt you'll forget your first sight of these Saint Laurent PVC shoes either. We've seen all manner of unusual footwear this year, including Margaret Qualley's Chanel soleless shoes, but Alexander continues to find new ways to surprise us.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI
If you thought he was going to return to safer style choices after his Pillion press tour, think again. He's clearly having far too much fun with fashion, and I love this for him.

#getty #images #saint #forgotten

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick are one of Hollywood's most adored couples. Their decades long marriage and movie and TV success is a testament to their enduring love story but that's not to say they haven't faced hardship.
The couple — who are worth an estimated $100 million — previously faced a financial scandal that turned their lives upside dow.
It led to a huge lifestyle change and impacted their future in a way they never expected. Here's what happened.
They've been together since the '80s (@ AFP via Getty Images)
In the early 2000s, Kevin and Kyra Sedgwick, like many wealthy individuals, looked for opportunities to grow their bank balance through investments. They were introduced to a high-return investment opportunity that seemed too good to pass up... only it turned out to be a Ponzi scheme.

#kyra #sedgwick #turned #bacon

Bestselling British author and scandal-plagued Conservative politician Jeffrey Archer has died aged 86.
Archer died "suddenly and peacefully" at his home yesterday, a day before the global release of his final novel, "Adam and Eve," publisher HarperCollins said.
The new book out today, like his bestselling novel "Kane and Abel," follows a pair of biblically named characters born on the same day to different social classes. "Kane and Abel", released in 1979, remains one of the best-selling novels in the world, with an estimated 34 million copies sold globally.
Kate Elton, HarperCollins UK CEO and Archer's editor, said: "It has been one of the great privileges of my publishing life to have been Jeffrey Archer's editor. He was the master storyteller and an editor's dream - phenomenally hard-working, utterly committed to completing draft after draft to get every word as perfect as possible, and a true champion of the 'team' nature of great publishing."
Archer sold more than 300 million books in his five-decade writing career, including "Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less", the William Warwick series, and the Clifton Chronicles, which started with 2011's "Only Time Will Tell" and spanned seven novels up until 2016's "This Was A Man".

#archer #died

Why did John Thune say there's no path forward for the bill?
What safety concerns did Roger Wicker raise about the bill?
Why was Christa Pike’s execution halted in Tennessee?
Full Summary
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in an Oct. 5 interview that "there’s no clear path forward" for legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent.

#john #path #bill #Roger

John Leguizamo, the veteran stage and screen actor and leading activist for Latino representation in Hollywood, who is currently garnering career-best notices and Oscar buzz for his portrayal of Eumaeus in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, is our guest on this episode of The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, which was recorded in front of an audience of students at Chapman University.
Over the course of 42 years in the business, Leguizamo has worked with everyone. He has been directed by Brian De Palma, Spike Lee, Baz Luhrmann and Jon Favreau multiple times, as well as by Mike Nichols, George A. Romero, Ridley Scott, Todd Haynes, M. Night Shyamalan, Ava DuVernay and Christopher Nolan. And he has shared the screen with the likes of Sean Penn, Harrison Ford, Al Pacino, Leonardo DiCaprio, Wesley Snipes, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robert De Niro, Keanu Reeves, Nicole Kidman, Kevin Hart, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Matt Damon.

In the movies, he has starred in blockbuster studio franchises (Ice Age and John Wick), revered indies (Poison and Chef) and cult classics (Super Mario Bros. and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar). On TV, he has been on hit network shows (ER) and acclaimed limited series (Waco and When They See Us). And on the stage, he has written and starred in six acclaimed one-man shows. Between them all, he has accumulated an Emmy Award and a special Tony Award, as well as Golden Globe and Critics Choice award nominations.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
Universal Becomes First Studio to Cross $5B at 2026 Global Box Office
Charlize Theron Says 'The Odyssey' Just Gave Hollywood a Much-Needed Reminder

#hollywood

Kate Middleton showed that green is one of her go-to colors for fall. While visiting the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London, England, on September 11, 2026, the Princess of Wales arrived in a green apple midi dress by the British brand Suzannah London. The silk dress, known as the Flippy Wiggle Dress, featured black ****** ons running down the front with a tonal belt and short, capped sleeves. The dress was a re-wear for the royal; she first stepped out in the frock on May 18, 2023, while visiting the Anna Freud Centre in London. She likes that particular dress style so much that she also stepped out in a white version of the Flippy Wiggle dress with black detailing in July 2026. The white dress was Middleton's summer choice, while the green apple version is better suited to fall.
The hospital visit was a deeply personal one for the princess; Middleton received cancer treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital in 2024, and so her visit during fall 2026 was an opportunity to connect with current patients and hospital staff. While it was obviously a very meaningful visit, it was also fitting that she chose to wear a green dress. In fashion, green symbolizes hope and new life, so her dress was a gesture of goodwill toward those in recovery.
Read more: Pamela Anderson & Kate Middleton Love The 'No-Manicure Manicure' Right Now
Wpa Pool/Getty
Kate Middleton has become an undisputed muse of fall fashion, and her enviable wardrobe provides endlessfall outfit inspo, featuring green as her signature color for the season. She wore the green apple Suzannah London dress on September 11, 2026, as proof. A few days earlier, on September 8, 2026, the princess wore a green Emilia Wickstead dress when she and Prince William dropped off Prince George for his first day at the elite boarding school, Eton College. It seems she's all about green for these meaningful events.

#green #september #hospital

Like every job in Hollywood, managers have grappled with plenty of change in their work in the last decade. Luckily for Range Media Partners' Cora Olson and Michael Diamond, they have each other.
The duo has worked as a unit for 10 years, since being brought together at Mgmt Entertainment and eventually grew to run the lit division. They joined Range as partners in 2024 with a desire to evolve alongside the modern talent management firm, founded during the pandemic by a collective of former CAA, UTA and WME agents hoping to shake things up in the entertainment marketplace. The management company operates its talent representation business alongside an in-house production studio, allowing the operation to finance, develop and build equity in intellectual property.
All those contributing factors can help when putting together the right package to get a film or TV project off the ground in today's precarious Hollywood model — one with fewer greenlit projects and a reliance on safer bets from major distributors. But Olson and Diamond, who represent Hollywood big shots like "Schitt's Creek" Emmy winner Dan Levy, actress-producer-director Kyra Sedgwick and "Pig" filmmaker Michael Sarnoski, counter the ****** umption that original ideas are a tougher sell.
It just takes more work to get there.
"You're not just marrying this actor with this part, or this writer with this ****** ignment. It's not as much mix-and-match as it used to be, because there isn't that same amount of volume," Olson told Office With a View. "If you look at the shows and movies that are breaking through right now, it's those really fresh points of view that seem to resonate with audiences."

#diamond #partners

On September 14, Dave & Buster's Entertainment (NASDAQ:PLAY) reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 results that read like two different companies at once. Revenue fell, and the company posted a net loss for the period ended August 4, yet comparable sales, which had been sliding for more than a year, kept getting less bad every month from June through the first five weeks of the third quarter. New CEO Darin Harper is betting that improvement compounds into something bigger.
The clearest evidence is the trend line itself. Comparable store sales fell 5.4% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, then 2.9% in the second quarter, then just 1.6% in July after a 5% decline in June, and Harper said trends improved further over the first five weeks of the third quarter. Food and beverage sales are moving in the opposite direction entirely, up 7.6% in the quarter and positive for five straight quarters, helped by the Eat & Play Combo, a bundled meal and game credit offer sold through kiosks. Special event sales have now grown for seven consecutive quarters.
Behind that shift sits a rebuilt leadership bench. Dave & Buster's went more than a year without a chief marketing officer, and Harper has since added a CMO, a chief operations officer, a chief technology officer, and a chief legal officer since taking over. The company also leaned on new content, launching 10 games and attractions this year, including tie-ins with Mandalorian and Grogu, John Wick and Stranger Things, after research found more than 70% of guests said new games would bring them back more often. Changes to game pricing pushed play and dwell time up 16% to 20% or more. Six remodeled stores are already outperforming the rest of the chain, and management says the newest remodel template costs less to build than the last one. Net capital spending dropped to $127.6 million through the first half of the year from $155.4 million, and adjusted free cash flow swung to positive $19.5 million from negative $36.5 million, a $56 million improvement.
The headline figures were still rough. Total revenue slipped 2.4% to $544.1 million from $557.4 million a year earlier, and adjusted EBITDA dropped to $98.9 million, an 18.2% margin, from $129.8 million and a 23.3% margin. On a GAAP basis, the company posted a net loss of $12.5 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, versus net income of $11.4 million in the same quarter last year. About $15 million of the EBITDA decline came from items management calls non-normalized, including a $10 million noncash deferral adjustment that did not repeat this year, $3 million in extra preopening costs and $2 million in higher insurance expenses, but even stripped of those, the underlying decline was still roughly $16 million.

#year #first #harper #play

On September 14, Dave & Buster's Entertainment (NASDAQ:PLAY) reported second-quarter fiscal 2026 results that read like two different companies at once. Revenue fell, and the company posted a net loss for the period ended August 4, yet comparable sales, which had been sliding for more than a year, kept getting less bad every month from June through the first five weeks of the third quarter. New CEO Darin Harper is betting that improvement compounds into something bigger.
The clearest evidence is the trend line itself. Comparable store sales fell 5.4% in the first quarter of fiscal 2026, then 2.9% in the second quarter, then just 1.6% in July after a 5% decline in June, and Harper said trends improved further over the first five weeks of the third quarter. Food and beverage sales are moving in the opposite direction entirely, up 7.6% in the quarter and positive for five straight quarters, helped by the Eat & Play Combo, a bundled meal and game credit offer sold through kiosks. Special event sales have now grown for seven consecutive quarters.
Behind that shift sits a rebuilt leadership bench. Dave & Buster's went more than a year without a chief marketing officer, and Harper has since added a CMO, a chief operations officer, a chief technology officer, and a chief legal officer since taking over. The company also leaned on new content, launching 10 games and attractions this year, including tie-ins with Mandalorian and Grogu, John Wick and Stranger Things, after research found more than 70% of guests said new games would bring them back more often. Changes to game pricing pushed play and dwell time up 16% to 20% or more. Six remodeled stores are already outperforming the rest of the chain, and management says the newest remodel template costs less to build than the last one. Net capital spending dropped to $127.6 million through the first half of the year from $155.4 million, and adjusted free cash flow swung to positive $19.5 million from negative $36.5 million, a $56 million improvement.
The headline figures were still rough. Total revenue slipped 2.4% to $544.1 million from $557.4 million a year earlier, and adjusted EBITDA dropped to $98.9 million, an 18.2% margin, from $129.8 million and a 23.3% margin. On a GAAP basis, the company posted a net loss of $12.5 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, versus net income of $11.4 million in the same quarter last year. About $15 million of the EBITDA decline came from items management calls non-normalized, including a $10 million noncash deferral adjustment that did not repeat this year, $3 million in extra preopening costs and $2 million in higher insurance expenses, but even stripped of those, the underlying decline was still roughly $16 million.

#quarter #sales

Sep. 14—BEMIDJI — Oliver Peer is already winning 2026-27 CCHA honors.
The Bemidji State men's hockey team's top-line center was named the league's Preseason Player of the Year in the Coaches and Media Polls.
Bemidji State was picked to finish fifth in both polls. Michigan Tech was selected as the league's top team in both polls as well.
Peer, a native of Burlington, Ontario, had 20 goals and 16 ******* ists last year in his first season with the Beavers. He transferred from the University of New Brunswick (U Sports) ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Naturally, Peer was also selected to be on both of the All-CCHA Preseason Teams. Among coaches, Peer is joined by Michigan Tech forwards Max Koskipirrti and Isaac Gordon and Bowling Green's Ben Doran. Augustana's Hayden Hennen and Bowling Green's Breck McKinley round out the coaches' defender picks, while MTU goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz was selected as well.

#peer #polls

Wide receiver Hollywood Brown was active for Sunday's game, but the veteran never got on the field during the Eagles' 24-22 win over the Commanders.
DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks started for the Eagles with first-round pick Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper also seeing time on offense. At a Monday press conference, head coach Nick Sirianni was asked about how Brown fits into the team's plans.
"So, with yesterday, you know, we have our rotations that we're doing, you know, Hollywood could obviously help us," Sirianni said, via Brooks Kubena of TheAthletic.com. "We obviously want to get him into the football game because his speed is real. It just didn't work out that way yesterday. There are games like that. There are games where you get shut out on catches. Unfortunately, there are games, they get shut out on reps. But we know that Hollywood can help us win football games, and his speed is real, and, quite frankly, just from my end, we want to get him into the football game, right? And so, you know, we'll make a better effort to do that next time, 'cause I know the playmaking ability that he can bring with his speed. But was pleased with how the wideouts played as a whole. Of course, there were things that you want back. They made a lot of plays down the field — and with different things with their job description. But, you know, I do want to see him in that football game and getting reps and contributing to this football team."
The Eagles' offense looked like a work in progress for considerable portions of Sunday's game, which was their first with offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. Quarterback Jalen Hurts engineered enough big plays to overcome the rough spots and we'll see if Brown fits into the Week 2 plan to create more of them.

#know #Eagles

India will look to seal the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan when the two teams meet in the second match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.

India lead the series 1-0 after a convincing seven-wicket win in the first T20I. Afghanistan will need a much better performance to keep the series alive.
Afghanistan were in trouble early in the first T20I after losing five wickets for 43 runs inside the Power-play. Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi then put the innings back on track with an 83-run partnership.

Omarzai remained unbeaten on 64 off 44 **** as Afghanistan finished with 156/8. However, the total was not enough against India's strong batting line-up.

Arshdeep Singh was India's best bowler, taking 3/9. Jasprit **** rah also made an impact on his return to international cricket by picking up an early wicket. Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy also took wickets as Afghanistan struggled to build momentum.
India made the chase look easy thanks to an explosive innings from Abhishek Sharma.

The left-handed opener smashed 82 off just 32 **** , hitting seven fours and seven sixes. Ishan Kishan also made a useful contribution with 42.

India reached 157/3 in only 13.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Afghanistan's biggest concern will be their top order.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed for a duck in the first over of the opening T20I. Afghanistan will need their top-order batters to give the team a stronger start and provide a platform for players such as Omarzai, Nabi and Rashid Khan.

The visitors have several match-winners in their squad, including Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Naveen-ul-Haq.

Captain Ibrahim Zadran, who is leading Afghanistan in his first series as full-time T20I captain, will hope his team can turn its individual talent into a more disciplined performance.
India also have some selection decisions to make despite their comfortable win in the first T20I.

Abhishek's 82 has strengthened his position at the top of the order, while Sanju Samson scored only 10 runs.

Ishan Kishan also scored 42, giving India another option in the batting line-up. Teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could also be in contention after missing the first T20I.

India will also be without Harshit Rana, who has been ruled out after suffering a rectus femoris strain. Yash Thakur has joined the squad as his replacement.

A win on Tuesday will give India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Afghanistan, meanwhile, need a victory to take the series into a decider.

#first #lead #seven #need

The line-up for one of a city's biggest Christmas pantomimes has been announced.
Craig Revel Horwood, Andy Ford and BBC Radio Bristol's Joe Sims are all joining the cast for a rendition of Sleeping Beauty at the Bristol Hippodrome for the month of December.
Strictly Come Dancing judge Revel Horwood has been cast as this year's pantomime villain, Sleeping Beauty's wicked aunt Carabosse and is relishing the prospect.
"She's a wicked fairy, which is totally unlike me darling," said Revel Horwood.
Main Post Office branch to close in November

#christmas #craig

Sept. 14 (UPI) -- The planned West End revival of Sunday in the Park with George has been delayed to 2028.
Empire Street Productions announced Monday that the musical "will no longer proceed as scheduled" in 2027, with the company to "retain the rights with a view to presenting the production in 2028."
The news follows word that Wicked co-stars Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey have dropped out of the production. Grande announced in August that she "will be taking a step back from visibility" after the conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine tour, with Bailey later confirming he has "decided to also step back" from the revival.
Sunday in the Park with George features music and lyrics by famed composer Stephen Sondheim. The musical, inspired by the Georges Seurat painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, debuted on Broadway in 1984 and on West End in 2006.
Marianne Elliot was to direct the West End revival, which was originally scheduled to open at London's Barbican Centre in summer 2027.

#grande #musical

Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey's planned reunion will no longer happen after their exits from a new project. The two stars previously appeared together in the blockbuster Wicked franchise, playing Glinda and Prince Fiyero Tigelaar, respectively.
The London revival of the popular musical Sunday in the Park With George has been canceled following Grande and Bailey's exits, according to Variety. The planned 2027 production will no longer proceed as previously thought.
"Empire Street Productions will retain the rights with a view to presenting the production in 2028. Further details will be announced in due course."
The revival was set to take place at London's Barbican Centre next summer. Ariana Grande was supposed to play both Dot and Marie. Bailey was set to star opposite her as George Seurat.
Moving forward, Ariana Grande will be busy with her upcoming The Eternal Sunshine Tour. She will also appear on the big screen in a new movie. The 33-year-old will feature alongside Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller in the comedy Focker-In-Law. It's set to hit theaters on November 25, 2026. Despite her plans to take a break, Grande will appear in the promotional events for the movie.

#planned #previously

India will begin their three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in New Delhi on Sunday, with the team facing a selection call between young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and experienced wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson.

Sooryavanshi played in the first two T20Is during India's England tour before Samson returned to the playing XI for the final match. The team management now has another chance to ******* s both players ahead of the Asian Games in ******* an.
Samson and Abhishek Sharma have formed a more settled opening combination for India in T20Is. However, Sooryavanshi's attacking style gives the team another option at the top.

During Friday's net session, Samson appeared slightly more in control, while Sooryavanshi spent time facing Jasprit ******* rah and learning how to deal with movement off the surface.

The 15-year-old could enjoy the Afghanistan attack, with none of their bowlers matching ******* rah's quality. Afghanistan's pace could also suit Sooryavanshi's aggressive, stand-and-deliver style.

Samson's omission in England after three failures also raised questions, especially given his experience in the format.
India could also consider playing both Samson and Sooryavanshi if Ishan Kishan is ruled out.

Kishan had a back injury scare during Friday's net session. He comes into the series after a brilliant Duleep Trophy final, where he scored 270 and 80.

Kishan will be keen to play because T20Is remain the only format in which he is currently a regular for India.
The three-match series will give India's Asian Games-bound players valuable preparation against a strong Afghanistan side.

Afghanistan have a world-class spin attack featuring Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Facing them in three T20Is will be a major test for India's batters ahead of the Asian Games in ******* an.
When will the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I be played?

The first T20I between India and Afghanistan will be played on Sunday, September 13, 2026.

Where will the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I be played?

The match will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

What time will the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I start?

The first T20I will start at 7 PM IST on Sunday.

When will the toss take place?

The toss is expected to take place at around 6:30 PM IST, 30 minutes before the scheduled start of play.

Where can fans watch the India vs Afghanistan 1st T20I on TV?

The match will be telecast live in India on the Sony Sports Network.

#played

England and Canada set up a rematch of their Women's Rugby World Cup final from last year with crushing wins to begin the new WXV Global Series on Saturday.
The Red Roses overturned their first halftime deficit since 2020 and blew away Australia 48-15 with a seven-try second half in Salford.
Canada outclassed Scotland 64-26 in Edinburgh.
England will host Canada next Saturday in Exeter in their first matchup since the World Cup final a year ago at Twickenham, where England won 33-13.
In their first match since winning a record eighth straight Women's Six Nations ***** le in May, England was plagued by errors in the first half and thwarted by Australia's scrambling defense.

#england #canada #since #half

NEW DELHI: England captain Joe Root went past Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar's record for most fifties in Test cricket during England's eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Root remained unbeaten on 62 off 69 ****** , hitting nine fours, as England chased down 130 to complete a 3-0 Test series whitewash.

His unbeaten half-century took his tally of Test fifties to 69, moving him past Tendulkar's 68.

West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul is third on the list with 66 fifties, while Allan Border and Rahul Dravid have 63 each. Ricky Ponting has 62.
69* – Joe Root
68 – Sachin Tendulkar
66 – Shivnarine Chanderpaul
63 – Allan Border

#past

NEW DELHI: England completed a 3-0 Test series clean sweep over Pakistan at Edgbaston, but the series produced an unusual statistic.

It was only the eighth three-match Test series in history to finish without a single individual century. It was also only the second such series in England, after the 1888 Ashes.

England's batting was led by Joe Root, who remained unbeaten on 62 in the third Test, while Jordan **** scored an unbeaten 59 as England chased down 130 with eight wickets in hand.

The result gave England their second 3-0 Test series clean sweep over Pakistan, after their success in the 2022/23 series. It was also England's 15th three-match Test series sweep overall.

For Pakistan, it was their 11th Test series defeat by a 3-0 margin.
England's chase got off to a shocking start when Ben Duckett was dismissed for a duck with the first ball. Emilio Gay then fell later in the same over bowled by Mohammad Abbas.

At 2 for 2, Pakistan had a chance to put England under serious pressure.

But Root settled things down. He survived a major scare when Mohammad Ali bowled him for 23, only for the delivery to be called a no-ball.

It was Ali's 17th no-ball of the series.

Root had another lucky escape when, on 38, he edged Abbas between first and second slip. Neither fielder went for the catch.

The England batter made Pakistan pay for the missed opportunities. He went on to complete his 110th score of 50 or more in Test cricket, including 41 centuries.
Jordan **** provided excellent support for Root as the pair took control of the chase.

Cox remained unbeaten on 59 and helped England reach the target in just 25 overs.

Pakistan had shown plenty of fight in the third Test after conceding a massive 320-run first-innings lead. But England's dominance in the first two Tests meant the series was already heavily tilted in their favour.

Had Pakistan shown the same fight earlier in the series, the contest could have been much closer.
England's fast bowlers were the biggest difference between the two sides.

Ollie Robinson led the attack and finished the series with 21 wickets. Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson also played important roles as England's pace attack made the most of helpful conditions.

The batting, however, was less convincing.

No England batter scored a century across the three Tests, making the series only the eighth three-match Test series without an individual hundred and just the second in England after the 1888 Ashes.
Pakistan's biggest positive came from debutant Razaullah, who produced an exciting counter-attack at Edgbaston.

His thrilling 81 off 63 **** gave Pakistan hope and briefly brought the third Test to life.

But it was too late to change the outcome of the series.

Pakistan have now lost 16 of their 21 Tests. Their difficult tour was followed by major changes, with seven players replaced in the squad after the second Test and coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and his **** istant

Joe Root led England to a 3-0 Test series whitewash over Pakistan after scoring an unbeaten 62 in the third Test at Edgbaston. England were chasing 130 for victory but got off to a poor start. Ben Duckett was dismissed by Mohammad Abbas with the first ball of the innings, while opener Emilio Gay also fell later in the same over.

At 2 for 2, Pakistan had a chance to put England under pressure. But Root and Jordan **** remained calm and slowly took control of the chase.

It was the first time England had whitewashed Pakistan in a home Test series.

Root survived a big scare when Mohammad Ali bowled him for 23, only for the delivery to be called a no-ball. It was Ali's 17th no-ball of the series.

Pakistan then missed another opportunity when Root, on 38, edged Abbas between first and second slip. Neither fielder went for the catch.

Root made Pakistan pay for the missed chances. His unbeaten 62 was his 110th Test innings of 50 or more, a tally that includes 41 centuries.

Cox remained unbeaten on 59 as England reached the target in the 25th over with eight wickets in hand.
Pakistan had shown more fight in the third Test after conceding a huge 320-run first-innings deficit.

Root said the difficult chase was useful for England after Pakistan had put them under pressure.

"Fair play to Pakistan, ?they threw some punches last night. They made it very difficult for us and in some ways it's a good thing to go through that," said Root.

"Test cricket is not always going to go your own way but to see us actually be quite clinical with the bat off the back of that was good too. So ?in many ways we're better for it.

"Of course there's things we will want to improve on but we ?came into this ?series with a lot of question marks and a lot of noise around the team and we've walked away 3-0 winners so ?in that respect I'm quite ?pleased."
The series came after a difficult period for England, who had been looking to recover from their defeat to New Zealand following the Ashes loss.

Root's return to the captaincy after Ben Stokes' retirement from international cricket ended with a series whitewash.

Pakistan had one major positive in the third Test. Debutant Razaullah scored an impressive 81 off 63 **** , giving his team hope and bringing energy to the contest at Edgbaston.
England's fast bowlers were once again too strong for Pakistan on helpful surfaces.

Ollie Robinson led the attack and finished the series with 21 wickets to be named England's player of the series.

"I'm a realist, I know it's not always going to be like this," said Robinson, England's player of the series.

"We know there's ?going to be tougher times ahead. We have some tough opposition coming up and we're looking forward to the challenge."

Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson also played important roles in England's dominant series win.

England's batting was less convincing, with no batter managing to score a century in the three Tests.

As the Colts begin their season with a home matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, who do the experts predict will win the game?
ESPN's Mike Clay, Benjamin Solak, Seth Wickersham, Jason Reid, Dan Graziano, Jeremy Fowler, Matt Bowen, Eric Moody, Pamela Maldonado, Kalyn Kahler, Lindsey Thiry: RAVENS
NFL Network's Bucky Brooks, Colleen Wolfe, Nick Shook, Grant Gordon, Kevin Patra, Lance Zierlein, Tom Grossi, Brandon Perna: RAVENS
NFL.com's Jeremy Bergman, Brooke Cersosimo, Bobby Kownack, Dan Parr: RAVENS
NFL.com's Gennaro Filice: COLTS

#colts #jeremy #clay #solak

England have wrapped up victory over Pakistan in the third Test by eight wickets to seal a 3-0 series win.
Here's how the players rated at Edgbaston.
Emilio Gay - 6 - A gritty Test-best of 60 in tricky batting conditions in the first innings looked to have gone some way towards securing his place on the plane for a winter tour of South Africa, only for a duck next time round to bring back some uncertainty. (Series - 6)
Ben Duckett - 2 - A miserable end to the summer for the opener who will now come under some scrutiny. Made 11 and zero in this match and finishes this three-Test series well down the averages with a disappointing 44 runs at 8.8. (Series - 2)
Jordan **** - 7 - A cheap dismissal in the first innings but made a nerveless unbeaten 59 to take the sting out of Pakistan after a wobble in the chase. A particularly impressive effort with the gloves - taking five dismissals - after being called upon to keep following Jamie Smith's injury may have given the selectors food for thought in the role. (Series - 7)

#england #edgbaston #south

Third Rothesay Test, Edgbaston (day four of five)
Pakistan 133 (Tongue 4-42) & 449 (Masood 95, Razaullah 81, Babar 76, Awais 59)
England 453 (Brook 75, Smith 69, Lawrence 65, Gay 60, Robinson 50; Razaullah 4-148) & 130-2 (Root 62*, ****** 59*)
England won by eight wickets, won series 3-0
Scorecard

#england #babar

India's next Test **** ignment will take them to New Zealand for a two-match series beginning November 19, and former Kiwi fast bowler Trent Boult believes KL Rahul will be one of the Indian batters worth watching closely.

The two Tests will form part of India's marathon New Zealand tour, which begins on October 22 and features 12 matches across the three formats. With India needing a strong result to remain in contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, the spotlight is expected to fall on several key players, including captain Shubman Gill and pace spearhead Jasprit **** rah.

Boult, however, has picked Rahul and his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal as the two Indian batters he is particularly looking forward to seeing in action.

"I'm always a big fan of KL Rahul and his style of batsmanship. So he's a big player at the top of the order for the Indian side. And yeah, I believe Jaiswal is there as well. Two classy batters to see bat. So yeah, be interesting to see," Boult said in an interview to PTI.
The timing of the series could make conditions particularly interesting. Unlike India's previous Test tours of New Zealand, which have often taken place in the February-March window, this series will be played in late October and November.

Boult feels the timing could bring colder weather into play, while he is hoping the New Zealand pitches retain some grass and offer **** istance to the home attack.

"It's always an exciting chance when the Indian team comes down to play Test cricket in New Zealand," Boult said.

"The only thing I can see happening is it's going to be late October. I believe, just coming out of winter. So it's going to be quite cold. Hopefully, there's a bit of greenness in the wickets for some of our bowlers. It's going to be a good series, I'm sure," the star former Kiwi pacer added.
Boult also backed the current New Zealand bowling unit to make an impact against India, pointing to the variety available to the team.

Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Nathan Smith and Will O'Rourke bring different qualities to the attack, and Boult believes that gives New Zealand enough options to develop its own identity.

"I think the bowling is very well balanced. It's got bases covered in terms of a good pace, obviously, with Will O'Rourke. Obviously, a bit of swing and a bit of bounce from Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry with his accuracy.

"So yeah, I think the way me, Tim (Southee) and Wags (Neil Wagner) did it over the years was a unique way in itself. But there's other strengths and other game plans that our younger bowlers can follow," Boult further said.
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#test

'His time will come': Ajinkya Rahane wants India to drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to play Sanju Samson in Afghanistan T20Is originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ajinkya Rahane wants India to reinstate the T20 World Cup top three of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan for the Afghanistan series.
Rahane believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should play his natural game without overthinking, given how early this stage of his international career is.
Samson won the T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament but has struggled for consistency in the UK series since that triumph.
Ajinkya Rahane has thrown his weight firmly behind Sanju Samson, and urged the Indian team management to reinstate the wicketkeeper-batter in the top three for the Afghanistan T20I series ahead of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

#rahane #samson #ajinkya