England manager Sarina Wiegman insisted she has not waded into a rumoured row surrounding World Cup bonuses.
Wiegman’s side open their campaign in earnest on July 22 when they face Haiti in Brisbane, but they will first take on FIFA world number-seven ranked Olympic champions Canada behind closed doors on Friday at Queensland’s Sunshine Coast stadium.
Some reports ahead of England’s arrival Down Under claimed the Lionesses were unhappy with the Football Association about performance-based payments, but Wiegman was adamant it has not been a topic of discussion in camp.
“Players haven’t spoken to me about it,” she told Sky Sports. “We’ve been focusing on football and that is what I have seen.
“They’re focused on football in meetings. I don’t see any problems. I know that it is something that needs to be solved and I hope for a quick solution.
“I am not involved in those discussions. I hope it’s solved quickly before the tournament starts.”
Under a new model, players will receive payments directly from FIFA, with amounts increasing the deeper teams go in the tournament. They range from 30,000 US dollars (£23,367) per athlete for the group stage to USD 270,000 (£210,305) allotted to each champion.
Previously, it was up to individual national governing bodies to decide how money was allocated. Some federations have agreed to additional payments in 2023, though multiple reports have suggested the FA has no current plans to do the same.
The PA news agency has contacted the FA for comment.
The Dutch boss, who led England to their first major trophy at last summer’s home Euros, was more forthcoming when asked how her team feels about FIFA’s solution to the ‘One Love’ armband debate that swirled around the men’s World Cup in Qatar last autumn.
Captains of the nations involved in the ‘One Love’ campaign, including England and Wales, were threatened with sporting sanctions starting at a yellow card if the rainbow bands were worn, because they would have been a breach of FIFA equipment regulations.
The bands were seen as a potent symbol of tolerance in a country where same-sex relationships are criminalised.
Instead, FIFA has partnered with the UN to create eight stakeholder-sanctioned armbands that can be swapped out or worn throughout the month-long tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
Alongside inclusion, the other causes being highlighted are ‘unite for indigenous peoples’, ‘unite for gender equality’, ‘unite for peace’, ‘unite for education for all’, ‘unite for zero hunger’, ‘unite for ending violence against women’ and ‘football is joy, peace, love, hope and passion’.
Team captains will also have the option to wear a ‘football unites the world’ armband for the entire tournament, if they do not wish to choose a single cause or support different causes round by round.
None directly advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, of which a record number of players in the 2023 World Cup – including some Lionesses – are a part, so the decision has drawn some criticism.
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Wiegman added: “I think the players are happy with the solution. I think first of all it is good there is a solution ahead of the tournament.
“I think that with the armband, the team can have a voice and now it is up to the team what armband they want to wear. I think we are in a really good place with it.
“The players will decide and they will live by their values anyway. And we as staff will support them in any choice they make.”
LeBron James announced on The ESPYs on Wednesday that he will play another season for the Los Angeles Lakers.
James, 38, said he will return for his 21st NBA season and sixth with the Lakers after accepting the ESPY award for Best Record-Breaking Performance for surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the NBA’s all-time scoring list last season.
“I don’t care how many more points I can score or what I can or can’t do on the floor,” James said. “The real question for me, can I play without cheating the game? The day I can’t play without giving everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done. Lucky for you guys, that day is not today.”
At the end of last season following the Lakers’ loss to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals, James said he wasn’t sure if he would be back.
That was in stark contrast to James’ previous sentiments, when he said on several occasions that he would like to play alongside his oldest son, Bronny, in the NBA.
The superstar James had another stellar season in 2022-23, averaging 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 55 games.
Four players with the goal of winning a maiden Wimbledon title this weekend will take to Centre Court for the women’s semi-finals on Thursday.
Crowd favourite Elina Svitolina takes on Marketa Vondrousova while second seed Aryna Sabalenka could become the world number one when she goes up against Ons Jabeur.
Briton Neal Skupski’s hopes of a men’s doubles title remain alive as he is in the semi-finals while there are three Britons in the last eight of the junior singles events.
Here, the PA news agency unpacks day 11 of the Championships.
‘Super woman’ Svitolina ready to go again
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Elina Svitolina continues her remarkable Wimbledon journey with her first last-four appearance and she will likely have Centre Court on her side against Marketa Vondrousova.
The Ukrainian has channelled the atrocities that are going on in her home country during a thrilling run which has seen her beat grand slam champions Venus Williams, Sofia Kenin, Victoria Azarenka and Iga Swiatek.
It is no wonder that Vondrousova has called her opponent “super woman” considering that Svitolina gave birth last October.
But Czech world number 42 Vondrousova has gone under the radar at this tournament and will present Svitolina with a big threat as she enjoys a career-best run in SW19.
Practice partners become foes
After gaining revenge for last year’s final defeat against Elena Rybakina in the quarter-final, things do not get much easier for Ons Jabeur as waiting for her in the last four is Aryna Sabalenka.
Jabeur has been a joy to watch with her industry and craft getting her to this point, but Sabalenka will offer a different proposition.
The Belarusian is playing as well as she ever has, with sheer brute force from the baseline, and she is eyeing a win that would not only take her to a first Wimbledon final but also earn the world number one spot.
Sabalenka is wary of the Tunisian, though, after revealing that they practised together before the tournament and her opponent played “unbelievable”. Jabeur would give anything to bring that level to the match.
Neal carrying the flag
Neal Skupski is the last Briton standing in this year’s tournament as he is into the semi-finals of the men’s doubles with partner Wesley Koolhof.
The Liverpudlian is just two wins away from a Wimbledon hat-trick, having won the mixed doubles in 2021 and 2022, but admits that if he could win with Koolhof, that would be the pinnacle for him.
Matthew Ebden and Rohan Bopanna await in the semi-final, to be played on Court One, and with Skupski being the only adult British player left in the singles or doubles, he will have the home support.
Brit kids rock
The juniors are making waves with 14-year-old Mika Stojsavljevic, 18-year-old Ranah Stoiber and 17-year-old Henry Searle ensuring there are three British singles players in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2018.
Stojsavljevic, ranked 282nd and making her Wimbledon debut, meets Slovakian fifth seed Renata Jamrichova, while Stoiber, who is in her final year of juniors, will next face Czech Nikola Bartunkova.
Searle, from Wolverhampton and in his second successive grand slam quarter-final, took out top seed Juan Carlos Prado Angelo in the first round and on Wednesday beat France’s Arthur Gea to set up a clash with eighth seed Joao Fonseca.
Order of playCentre Court
Elina Svitolina v Marketa Vondrousova
Ons Jabeur v Sabalenka
Mate Pavic/Lyudmyla Kichenok v Joran Vliegen/Xu Yifan
Court One
Kevin Krawietz/Tim Puetz v Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos
Wesley Koolhof/Neal Skupski v Rohan Bopanna/Matthew Ebden
Alfie Hewett/Gordon Reid v Martin De La Puente/Gustavo Fernandez
Venus King/Yaroslava Shvedova v Cara Black/Caroline Wozniacki
Weather
Warm and staying dry
The Boston Celtics announced Wednesday that they have signed forward Kristaps Porzingis to a two-year contract extension.
While terms of the deal were not announced, multiple reports indicated that the deal would pay Porzingis $60 million over the next two years. The extension will go into effect after the upcoming season, during which Porzingis will earn $36 million.
The extension comes two-plus weeks after the Celtics acquired the 7-foot-3 Porzingis in a three-team trade with the Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs.
Porzingis had a career year last season with the Wizards, averaging a personal-best 23.2 points to go with 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 blocks in 65 games.
Boston hopes the versatile native of Latvia can play a major role alongside all-NBA forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Porzingis, who has also played for the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks, has averaged 19.6 points and 7.9 rebounds in 402 career games.
While signaling their interest to head back to the negotiation table, Patrick Smellie, president of the United Racehorse Trainers Association of Jamaica (URTAJ), chided local promoting company Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) for being unreasonable in blocking the race course which thwarted trainers from exercising their horses on Wednesday.
Smellie believes the move allegedly by SVREL to place two trucks across the track was their way of showing their discontent after stakeholders in the local horse racing sector rejected a $27-million purse increase offered on Tuesday.
By virtue of that rejection, owners, breeders, jockeys, trainers, and grooms withheld nomination of their horses for racing which resulted in the planned Saturday-Sunday race meets being cancelled.
"That (blocking the track) was totally unreasonable, unconscionable and possibly illegal. We had a meeting this morning while we were here and they came and removed the trucks and are now wetting the surface again which is a good sign that there is a possibility that we may be able to meet at the table again,” Smellie said.
Still, he pointed out that missing exercise could have an effect on the horses.
“It can affect the horse badly because this is not best practices for the animals anywhere in the world and we have spoken with our veterinarians here and they have agreed with us in total that this is not best practice at all. But we are glad that good sense has prevailed, they have removed the truck, and they are wetting and raking the track, so I assume the track will be reopened for exercise tomorrow (Thursday),” Smellie shared.
Smellie and other stakeholders based their rejection of the $27 million purse increase as unacceptable, arguing that SVREL has seen profits of $6.2 billion, but only want to distribute $5.3 billion.
According to Smellie, based on a deed signed by horsemen with SVREL from last year, they are supposed to receive 49 per cent of Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR). This means that after sales and payout, horsemen are entitled to 49 per cent of what is left and SVREL would keep 51 per cent.
As such, he explained that of the $6.2 billion SVREL makes in sales, according to the regulatory agency, the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC), horsemen’s percentage would work out to $168 million and not the $27 million being offered.
On that note, the URTAJ president is awaiting word from the promoting company, inviting stakeholders back into negotiations to rectify the issue.
“They are supposed to call us today (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday). Everybody knows we don't agree with their $5.3 billion because we are sticking to the $6.2 billion that the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission have gotten paid from them on their taxes.
“We are open to having dialogue, but our trainers will not be relenting. We are tired of this now, and when you see 120 trainers say no more, along with owners and grooms, then you know that everybody is united to the cause,” Smellie reasoned.
Meanwhile, SVREL in a release on Wednesday, said it is open for dialogue and stands ready to work with owners to have the earliest resumption of live racing.
“Since assuming oversight of Caymanas Park, SVREL, has made significant investments and undertaken extensive measures to improve the racing product and to develop a sustainable industry. Last year, in one such effort to improve the sustainability and stability of the industry, SVREL and key industry owners and trainers arrived at a milestone agreement whereby purses will be 49% of gross game revenue (GGR) on live racing,” the release explained.
“SVREL’s hope was, and still remains, that this GGR agreement will bring a measure of stability to the industry and so it is reiterating its readiness to continue discussions with the owners and trainers and other relevant stakeholders with a view to resolve the issue expeditiously. The company is steadfast in its commitment to horseracing and will continue to invest in the future of the industry,” it stated.
The New York Giants open the 2023 NFL regular season against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in 60 days.
If Saquon Barkley doesn't have a long-term deal signed in five days, he'll reportedly consider sitting out the Giants' Week 1 game on September 10.
Barkley's "availability for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys will be in serious question" if he doesn't have a new deal, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini.
In search of long-term contract, Barkley has not yet signed the $10.091million franchise tag he received by the Giants earlier this offseason.
The deadline for franchise-tagged players to reach long-term deals is Monday, and if he doesn't have a contract finalised by then, he'll have to wait until after the 2023 season to reach a new agreement.
Barkley did not report to any of the Giants' offseason programs and apparently is willing to continue to hold out if the negotiations remain at a standstill.
The 26-year-old Barkley is coming off a bounce-back season following injury-marred years in 2020 and 2021.
He ranked fourth in the NFL with a career-high 1,312 rushing yards in 2022, while scoring 10 touchdowns to earn a Pro Bowl selection - his first since 2018, when he was also named the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
His 57 receptions were tied for the team lead last season and his 1,650 scrimmage yards were seventh most in the league.
In 60 career games, the former No. 2 overall pick has 4,249 rushing yards, 1,820 receiving yards and 37 total touchdowns.
Joe Marler has revealed he was convinced to chase his World Cup dream again by looking England head coach Steve Borthwick “in the eye” to determine whether he was a “liar”.
Eighteen months after his last international appearance, the 33-year-old Harlequins loosehead is back in the England reckoning as part of a preliminary training squad currently out in Italy.
While he has been given no assurances about a place in the World Cup squad, which will be announced on August 7, Marler admitted he was persuaded to chance his arm after a frank conversation with Borthwick.
“I said to him…I needed to come and actually speak to you face-to-face, look you in the eye and see if you’re a liar or not,” said Borthwick, speaking to several national outlets in Verona.
“I said ‘I don’t trust anyone, but you can tell a lot about someone from their eye contact. So I need to look you in the eye and ask you if there’s a real chance of getting in your 33 (World Cup squad). But you’re saying there’s a chance if I work at it, not a guarantee but a chance, then I’m all yours’.
“Then he did the longest blink in history. It felt like a minute, before finally opening his eyes and saying ‘Joe, there’s a real chance that if you work hard enough, you can make it in my 33’.
“So that was the meeting with Steve. It was a weird encounter – for Steve mainly.”
Marler announced his international retirement in 2018 but reversed the decision a year later ahead of helping England to the World Cup final, where they were beaten by South Africa in Japan.
He made the last of his 79 Test appearances in last year’s Six Nations, but now back in the fold, the prop is motivated by the possibility of a third World Cup campaign – and going one step further.
“Imagine if we could go from the low of the 2019 (final) to 2023 and shock the world and lift that trophy,” he added. “That’s a massive driver for me.”
Alice Capsey warned Australia that England are yet to play their best cricket despite levelling the Women’s Ashes by winning the opening ODI at Bristol.
England secured a nerve-shredding two-wicket win to wipe out the 6-0 deficit suffered after losing the series’ solitary Test and the opening T20 clash.
Australia need to win only one of the two remaining ODIs at Southampton and Taunton to retain the Ashes but they have now lost three consecutive games for the first time since 2017.
“We were 6-0 down but we took a lot of confidence from the Test match because we saw how close we were to winning that,” said number three batter Capsey, 18, who struck 40 from 34 balls in England’s victorious reply of 267 for eight.
“We had another narrow loss in the opening T20 at Edgbaston, but we were pretty confident that once we got that first win we would go on a streak.
“The whole series we haven’t been at our best. In the T20s we were playing at 80 per cent and we weren’t at our best again here.
“But to get over the line in pressure moments when previously we would have crumbled a little bit is great. We were so calm out there, which is something we have focused on.
“It’s really exciting we haven’t played our best cricket and it’s six-all.”
The power hitting of Capsey and Tammy Beaumont was in danger of going to waste after England had reached 103 for one in the 12th over, chasing 264 to win.
Wickets fell at regular intervals and it was left to skipper Heather Knight and Kate Cross, coming in at 10, to get England over the line.
Cross joined Knight in the 44th over, with their partnership of 32 proving pivotal as England triumphed with 11 balls to spare.
Knight made 75 from 86 balls while Cross’ cameo of 19 from 20 deliveries included an audacious ramp shot over the head of Australia’s wicketkeeping captain Alyssa Healey.
Capsey said: “Crossy batted brilliantly – she can bat at three! She came in and played to her strengths.
“We saw her bravery whether it was the ramp or hitting Jonno (Jess Jonassen) down the ground. It was unbelievable to watch.
“She loves the ramp and probably plays it the best out of the whole group. If you don’t see a Kate Cross ramp you might be asking her: ‘Are you OK?'”
Looking ahead to the Ashes’ climax, Capsey added: “We’ve shown a lot of fight in this series that previously we might not have.
“Australia are the most successful cricket team and we knew it was going to be a real challenge.
“We were the underdogs coming into the series but we have put the pressure on the Aussies. They are still a quality side and we go again at the Ageas (in Southampton).”
Australia benefited from the hosts spilling four catches while wicketkeeper Amy Jones missed out on a stumping from a legside wide.
“It would have been really nice to snatch that one at the end when they were under the pump and eight down,” said Australia batter Beth Mooney, who top scored for the tourists with an unbeaten 81.
“We certainly haven’t put out best foot forward at this point and we know we’ve got to give a lot more when it comes to executing our skills.
“I don’t think we’re that far off. Unfortunately we didn’t capitalise on the opportunities to put pressure on England.
“We’ve let ourselves down in the last couple of games, but there’s no complacency.”
New crowd favourite Chris Eubanks believes he is able to compete with the world’s best following his remarkable run at Wimbledon but intends to avoid setting “lofty goals”.
The world number 43 arrived in SW19 with just two grand slam wins to his name and a dislike of playing on grass but emerged as one of the stories of the Championships.
He upset seeded stars Cameron Norrie and Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to the quarter-finals and looked set to once again punch above his weight before his progress was halted by defeat in a five-set thriller with 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev.
American Eubanks revealed a whirlwind experience in south-west London has transformed how he views his career.
“I would say I definitely believe a lot more in my ability to contend with some of the best players in the world,” he said following his 6-4 1-6 4-6 7-6 (4) 6-1 loss on Court One.
“It’s tough to really know until you’ve played some of the best players in the world.
“I’ve seen how my game stacks up against them, how I can disrupt them, how I can frustrate them.
“I think it just gives me added confidence in my ability that I know I can compete with some of the best players in the world, whereas maybe I didn’t fully know or believe that before.”
Charismatic Eubanks delighted crowds on and off court during his best grand slam appearance to date.
His explosive exploits – on the back of winning the Mallorca title on grass in June – included hitting a staggering 321 winners, breaking a 31-year-old tournament record held by compatriot Andre Agassi.
Speaking about his future, he said: “It’s a bit tough right after the match to jump right into setting lofty goals at this point.
“If I can continue to have the joy that I had on court for these past three weeks, continue to work as hard as I’ve been doing over the past year, I think good things are going to happen and it’s kind of going to take care of itself.
“I’m having a great time. I’m probably having the most fun I’ve ever had in playing tennis. I’m going to continue to try to ride this momentum out.”
In addition to his standout results and all-action performances, Eubanks also attracted attention due to having a similar name to British former boxing world champion Chris Eubank.
The 27-year-old admits he knew nothing of his “flamboyant” near-namesake until a few years ago.
“I think the first I heard about him was probably right after I went pro,” he said.
“I had a Wikipedia page. All of a sudden I saw there was a name very similar to mine.
“That was when I started to be like, ‘who is this guy? He seems to be a pretty cool guy’.
“I don’t know nearly that much about him. I do know he is a pretty sharp dresser and I guess I’d say flamboyant – is that a right word to use about him?”.
Carlos Alcaraz walked out of Centre Court and into a spying controversy after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time.
The world number one beat fellow 20-year-old Holger Rune in straight sets to reach the last four.
He then had to respond to reports his father Carlos, a regular member of his entourage, recorded Novak Djokovic – who he is seeded to meet in the final – while the seven-time champion was training at Wimbledon’s Aorangi Park.
“Oh, probably it is true. My father is a huge fan of tennis. He doesn’t only watch my matches,” said Alcaraz.
“I think he gets into the club at 11am, gets out at 10pm, watching matches, watching practice from everyone.
“Being able to watch Djokovic in real life, yeah, probably it is true he’s filmed the sessions.”
Pressed on whether having the video footage would give him a competitive advantage, Alcaraz said: “I don’t think so.
“I mean, I have a lot of videos from Djokovic on every platform. I think it’s not an advantage for me.”
Alcaraz did not need any inside information to beat Rune 7-6 (3) 6-4 6-4.
The Spaniard and sixth seed Rune grew up playing against each other and teamed up for a doubles tournament when they were 14.
On Wednesday they became the first men under 21 to face each other in a Wimbledon quarter-final in the open era.
Just six days separate the pair – Rune being the older – and as they headed into a first-set tie-break there was virtually nothing to choose between them either.
Alcaraz had hit 12 winners to Rune’s 13, both had made 12 unforced errors and both had won a total of 38 points.
Both had also double-faulted once, but Rune picked the wrong time to add to that particular tally to hand Alcaraz the advantage in the tie-break, which he went on to win with a stunning backhand return.
They exchanged further blows until 4-4 in the second set when Rune netted a simple overhead, and Alcaraz punished a second serve with another pin-point return to secure the first break of the match.
With England captain Ben Stokes watching in the crowd, it was Rune’s title hopes that were turning to ashes.
The weary Dane was given a warning for a time violation and was promptly broken for 3-2 in the third.
Rune saved a match point on his own serve but could not get near Alcaraz’s as the top seed wrapped up victory in two hours and 20 minutes.
Alcaraz, still a relative grass-court rookie despite his win at Queen’s Club a fortnight ago, said: “Honestly it’s amazing for me, a dream since I started playing tennis, making good results at Wimbledon, such a beautiful tournament.
Alcaraz will play Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev, who beat him in the second round two years ago when he really was a novice on grass, in the semi-final.
“We played two times, once here at Wimbledon,” added Alcaraz. “It’s going to be a tough one.
“But right now I’m going to enjoy this moment. You don’t play a semi-final every year.”
Rune looked frazzled in the final two sets and he revealed he did not feel 100 per cent.
“This morning I didn’t feel very good when I woke up. But, again, it’s normal. You don’t feel good every time you wake up,” he said.
“But, yeah, I had to do everything I could to feel better for the match, but I didn’t have the same energy as I normally have when I play.”
Dan Lawrence delivered a message to England ahead of the fourth Ashes Test, bludgeoning nine sixes as he recorded a second successive LV= Insurance County Championship hundred for Essex.
After missing out at Headingley last week as England went with an extra bowler following Ollie Pope’s injury, Lawrence, celebrating his 26th birthday, took the attack to Lancashire to rescue Essex from nought for two at Blackpool.
He was out from the final ball of day three but his belligerent 135 off 125 deliveries was his third century of the season and lifted Essex to 292 for eight and a lead of 429 in the Division One clash.
Lawrence is in the squad for next week’s penultimate Test at Emirates Old Trafford and his recent form could give England something to think about as they mull over whether to change a winning XI.
Essex were also bolstered by Doug Bracewell’s unbeaten 61 off 35 balls after earlier bowling Lancashire out for 145, with Sam Cook taking four for 42 while Paul Walter chipped in with three wickets.
Half-centuries from Dom Sibley and Tom Latham carried Division One leaders Surrey to a lead of 156 against Nottinghamshire at the Kia Oval.
Nottinghamshire carved out a 44-run advantage on first innings, largely thanks to 145 from Will Young, whose time at the crease was ended by an excellent agile catch from England discard Ben Foakes.
Surrey captain Rory Burns bagged his second duck of the match but Sibley’s 87 and Latham’s 60, plus 25 from Foakes, carried the hosts to 200 for five at stumps.
Warwickshire recorded an innings-and-46-run win inside three days over Kent, who were all out for 332 second time around at Canterbury, where Oliver Hannon-Dalby collected four for 59.
Felix Organ (97) and Kyle Abbott (89) put on 177 for the ninth wicket for Hampshire, who were asked to follow-on after posting 330 in response to Somerset’s 500. Hampshire closed on 34 for two at Taunton.
Sam Whiteman’s 114 plus 85 not out from Emilio Gay ushered rock-bottom Northamptonshire to 372 for seven and a lead of 314 against fellow strugglers Middlesex at Merchant Taylors’ School.
Matthew Potts took four for 55 as Division Two leaders Durham completed a nine-wicket victory over Gloucestershire at Chester-le-Street.
Potts’ haul included bowling Gloucestershire’s top-three of Ben Charlesworth, Chris Dent and Oliver Price as the visitors were all out for 188, and Durham knocked off a 52-run target in 11.4 overs.
Ben Coad’s five for 33 led to Worcestershire being skittled for 242 in reply to Yorkshire’s 407 at New Road, where the hosts were grateful for nightwatchmen Ben Gibbon and Adam Finch as they ended the day on 22 without loss in their follow-on.
James Coles’ 101 not out steered Sussex from 72 for four to 193 for five and a lead of 188 against Derbyshire, who were earlier all out for 407 after Brooke Guest’s 105 at Hove.
Michael Neser, an outside bet for Australia in Manchester next week, thumped an unbeaten 176 as Glamorgan rallied from 93 for seven to post 403 for nine declared against Leicestershire, who closed on 28 without loss in their rain-hit clash.
England levelled the Women’s Ashes series with a thrilling two-wicket win over Australia in their opening ODI at Bristol.
The multi-format series now stands at six points apiece with remaining ODI matches at Southampton and Taunton to play.
Australia need to win only one of those games to retain the Ashes, but the momentum is very much with England after three successive victories.
Back-to-back T20 wins had revitalised England but crossing this particular line against opponents who had won 41 of their last 42 ODI matches will generate huge belief that they can upset the odds.
Australia’s 263 for eight was overhauled with 11 balls to spare, thanks largely to captain Heather Knight’s unbeaten 75 from 86 balls and a brilliant late cameo from Kate Cross, and their fate would have been worse had England not dropped four catches and shelled a stumping opportunity.
Six England bowlers shared the wickets as bowlers as Beth Mooney, reprieved on 19 and 39, top scored with an unbeaten 81.
England were always ahead of the required rate after Tammy Beaumont and Alice Capsey brought up a rapid hundred in the 12th over, but Australia’s ability to take wickets at regular intervals left the contest in the balance.
Australia chose to bat as morning showers and overcast conditions gave way to blue skies but captain Alyssa Healy – who made 170 against England at the 2022 World Cup final – fell third ball after opening up with two boundaries.
Cross’ lbw review was upheld and England rejoiced knowing a major blow had been struck.
England should have built on that but Ellyse Perry was dropped on six driving Cross to Sophie Ecclestone at first slip, an initial sign that Australia would ride their luck.
Perry and Phoebe Litchfield were quick to punish anything pitched short as Australia reached 62 for one off 10 powerplay overs.
Litchfield – 36 from 34 balls – saw her innings end in spectacular style as she targeted a seventh boundary off the bowling of Nat Sciver-Brunt.
The ball looked as if would clear Ecclestone but the spinner thrust out a left hand above her head and celebrated the dismissal by putting a hand over her mouth in amazement.
Perry survived again on 36 attempting to hit Ecclestone over the top and Sarah Glenn spilled a presentable chance at mid-on.
But Perry did not have a third life on 41 as Glenn the bowler atoned and Sciver-Brunt accepted the chance at short mid-wicket.
England were left to rue careless hands again as Tahlia McGrath flashed Cross hard to point and Beaumont failed to hold on diving to her left.
Mooney was also fortunate as she miscued a Glenn full toss and Cross put it down diving forward at mid-off. Those errors ended up costing England 79 runs.
McGrath, dropped on seven, reached 24 before Capsey beat her defensive prod for a first ODI wicket and Mooney breathed again after striding down the pitch to Ecclestone only for Amy Jones to miss a stumping wide down the legside.
Australia’s progress was slowed by losing two wickets in the space of three Lauren Bell deliveries.
Ashleigh Gardner departed to an excellent Sciver-Brunt catch over her shoulder running towards the mid-wicket boundary, while Annabel Sutherland lost her off stump for nought as Australia slipped to 185 for six.
But Mooney and Jess Jonassen prevented a late-innings collapse by sharing a seventh-wicket partnership of 55 as England were set a challenging target on a slow surface.
England’s reply was aided by wayward bowling which saw the amount of extras in the first three overs exceed the entire number of the Australia innings.
Darcie Brown and Perry sent down two no-balls and 10 wides as England sped away, despite the early departure of Sophia Dunkley for eight.
Beaumont and Capsey went on the offensive to such an extent that 84 runs came from the opening 10-over powerplay.
Three figures were brought up by Beaumont smashing Sutherland for a six over long-off, but she soon holed out after making 47 from 42 balls.
Capsey contributed 40 from 34 before picking out Sutherland on the long-on boundary off Gardner and it was often a case of poor shot judgement as Australia profited and piled on the pressure.
Sciver-Brunt (31) top edged a reverse sweep off Jonassen, Danni Wyatt (14) drove Megan Schutt to backward point and Amy Jones gave Georgia Wareham a return catch.
England’s self-destruct button was pressed again as Ecclestone found Wareham on the boundary and Gardner claimed a third victim as Glenn drove straight to Litchfield at short cover.
But Cross made a superb 19 not out from 20 balls, including an audacious ramp shot as she provided the cameo Knight craved to get England home.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz continued his march towards a potential final showdown with Novak Djokovic on another dramatic day at Wimbledon.
The Spaniard powered past fellow 20-year-old Holger Rune, while in the women’s draw Ons Jabeur avenged defeat to Elena Rybakina in last year’s final.
Elsewhere, Daniil Medvedev delivered the knockout blow on Chris Eubanks’ remarkable run in SW19 and Aryna Sabalenka sailed into the semi-finals with a demolition of Madison Keys.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at how day 10 at the All England Club unfolded.
Rune punished by Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz beat fellow young gun and childhood friend Holger Rune to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
Alcaraz and sixth seed Rune played doubles together when they were 14 and were the first men under 21 to face each other in a Wimbledon quarter-final in the open era.
It was the first time they had met at a grand slam, the start of a rivalry which could last for over a decade, and it was the top seed who came out top with a 7-6 (3) 6-4 6-4 victory on Centre Court.
“I think I’m playing at a great level, I didn’t expect to play such a great level on this surface so for me, it’s crazy,” he said.
Tweet of the dayJabeur marches Ons
Ons Jabeur found it too painful to rewatch last year’s Wimbledon final defeat by Elena Rybakina but she will happily take another look at the rematch.
The sixth seed, who also lost to Iga Swiatek in the US Open final last year, will take on world number two Aryna Sabalenka in the last four after fighting from a set down to defeat Rybakina 6-7 (5) 6-4 6-1.
Jabeur missed a set point in the opener but fought back impressively, hitting more winners and making fewer errors than her opponent, who has established a fledgling big three in the women’s game this season with Sabalenka and Swiatek.
“Until this day, I couldn’t watch this match,” said Jabeur. “I can watch today’s match. That’s OK.”
Shot of the dayEubanks floored
Daniil Medvedev delivered the knockout blow on Chris Eubanks’ remarkable Wimbledon run by booking a semi-final spot with a thrilling five-set win.
World number 43 Eubanks looked set to once again punch above his weight in south-west London after leading the 2021 US Open champion 2-1 going into a fourth-set tie-break.
But third seed Medvedev battled back to win 6-4 1-6 4-6 7-6 (4) 6-1 in a match played under the Court One roof, despite glorious sunshine.
Quote of the dayPicture of the dayStat of the day
Tyson Fury’s next outing will be against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in a major crossover contest on October 28 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Both combatants are widely thought of as the best heavyweights in their fields but while mixed martial artist Ngannou is renowned as a fearsome puncher, he is ultimately stepping into Fury’s world.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the talking points arising from a bout that has excited some, bemused many others and has been dubbed a clash to determine the ‘baddest man on the planet’.
Was this announcement expected?
The pair have traded barbs on social media for many months so it was not a total surprise, but it is underwhelming to a lot of boxing fans. Fury, the WBC champion, has seen negotiations for fights against WBA, IBF and WBO titlist Oleksandr Usyk and British rival Anthony Joshua collapse. An undisputed world title showdown against Usyk falling by the wayside is especially disappointing for the sport with each fighter blaming the other for talks breaking down. With Usyk and Joshua now tied up, Fury’s team have argued he was out of credible challengers so in steps Ngannou, who has risen to the top of mixed martial arts but never boxed professionally.
Surely there was someone more capable for Fury?
Usyk will defend his world titles against mandatory challenger and Fury’s promotional stablemate Daniel Dubois while Joshua has elected for a rematch against London rival Dillian Whyte next month. Fury was also linked with former world champion Andy Ruiz Jr, who seems to be leaning towards a fight against Deontay Wilder. Fury taking on a novice will grate with traditionalists but the WBC granted the self-styled Gypsy King permission to fight Ngannou without the title being at stake because there is “no official challenger”.
Is this a gimmick?
While Fury will not be defending his world title, his team have insisted this is not an exhibition. There will be three ringside judges present and the 10-point must system – the scoring criteria used in all of professional boxing – is being implemented. It remains unclear how many rounds are scheduled and if this will count towards Fury’s professional record. Fury’s co-promoter Frank Warren called this a ‘game changer’ but MMA stars crossing over into boxing has been increasingly prevalent since Conor McGregor faced Floyd Mayweather in a lucrative battle.
What is Ngannou’s story?
Ngannou left extreme poverty in his native Cameroon, where he worked in a sand quarry from the age of 10, to pursue a boxing career in Europe. He ended up homeless in Paris in his mid-20s but his potential was recognised in a gym and he was persuaded to switch his focus to MMA, rising through the ranks to become top dog in the UFC. Ngannou was stripped of his title in January amid an acrimonious departure from the UFC and has signed with the Professional Fighters League on an MMA deal only. This has opened the avenue for Ngannou to pursue his first true passion.
What chance does Ngannou have?
MMA fighters have not transitioned well to boxing, with McGregor losing to Mayweather in 2017 while Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva have been beaten by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Going in Ngannou’s favour is his devastating power – he has highlight-reel knockouts few others can match – but the 36-year-old will be wearing bigger gloves against Fury. The Briton knows how to handle formidable punchers having beaten Wilder twice and has promised to stand toe-to-toe with Ngannou. This may open the door fractionally for Ngannou but in any situation he is a massive underdog. Fury is superb technically, can adapt to any situation and has shown he possesses frightening power himself.
What next for Fury, assuming he wins?
A frequent criticism of boxing is it is hard to distinguish who is the best fighter in a weight category given there are four major world titles although the sport has recently got its act together. There have been several undisputed world title fights in the past couple of years but the heavyweight division is the anomaly. Irrespective of who is to blame, this does not reflect well on anybody. Fury, who has attracted the most criticism, argues he is the greatest of this era but fights against Derek Chisora and Ngannou do not pass the muster. No ifs or buts for Fury, Usyk must be next.
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