England captain Ben Stokes will retire from international cricket after the third Test against New Zealand, saying the demands of captaincy had burned him out after a remarkable career featuring World Cup glory and Ashes heroics.
England Test captain Ben Stokes is reportedly considering retirement following his involvement in a nightclub incident with teammate Gus Atkinson after the first Test against New Zealand. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has launched an investigation into the breach of team protocols, while former pacer Steve Harmison has defended Stokes, urging caution until all facts emerge.
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Captain Ben Stokes and speedster Gus Atkinson will return to the side for the third Test against New Zealand in Nottingham following conclusion of a disciplinary hearing.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes has announced his retirement from international cricket, ending a career defined by match-winning brilliance, iconic Ashes moments, World Cup glory, and a transformative impact on English cricket across all formats.
New Zealand head coach Rob Walter has revealed plans to utilise explosive batter Finn Allen in a middle-order role during the upcoming ODI series against India.
Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in the U.S. Open final, securing his first title at Flushing Meadows and his second Grand Slam championship of the year, following his French Open victory.
England cricket experienced a turbulent home summer marked by Ben Stokes's unexpected retirement, the sacking of Test coach Brendon McCullum, and several off-field disciplinary incidents. Despite these challenges, the team achieved mixed results in various formats. They are now preparing for a demanding winter schedule, with Stephen Fleming taking over as the new Test coach, aiming for a more measured approach.
England cricket captain Ben Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson are under investigation by the ECB after reportedly breaking a midnight curfew and being involved in an incident at a Chelsea nightclub. A security guard accompanying the players was injured, and the controversy has raised questions about team discipline and Stokes's future as captain.
England head coach Brendon McCullum expressed anger and concern over Ben Stokes's involvement in a nightclub incident, leading to his omission from the second Test against New Zealand. Stokes and Gus Atkinson breached the team's midnight curfew. This incident adds to a series of off-field issues for the England team, prompting McCullum to focus on Stokes's well-being while deferring decisions on his captaincy.
The flydubai near-tragedy showed how the gratuitous conflicts their governments started in West Asia have made the world unsafe for them (and unfortunate co-passengers of other nationalities), points out Kanika Datta.
Season 3 of the Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL) will feature nearly 150 riders from 21 countries, including 30 Indian participants, competing across four racing categories. Reigning champion Matt Moss is set to defend his title amidst a strong international field.
German tennis star Alexander Zverev has secured the ATP's year-end world number one ranking, a 'dream come true' for the 29-year-old, following Carlos Alcaraz's shock defeat to Zizou Bergs at the Shanghai Masters.
Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar lauded American tennis player Ben Shelton's thrilling five-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open quarter-finals, while also expressing sympathy for Alcaraz's tough luck after returning from injury.
New Zealand recalled Adam Milne and Michael Bracewell for their upcoming T20 series against India, while Rachin Ravindra remains sidelined due to a shoulder injury sustained during a promotional shoot.
England named a 16-man squad for the Pakistan tri-series, recalling Adil Rashid and Sam Curran, handing three players maiden ODI call-ups to the side led by Harry Brook.
Formula One will return to Africa after 33 years, with Rwanda securing a 10-year deal to host a Grand Prix from the early 2030s, promising tourism, investment and jobs.
Alexander Zverev hilariously admitted to Carlos Alcaraz that he felt zero pressure and mistakenly thought the score was 4-1 while serving for his US Open championship victory.
Alexander Zverev defeated Karen Khachanov in a hard-fought US Open semi-final, winning in three sets. This victory propels him to his sixth major final and second at Flushing Meadows, marking a significant achievement in his career.
While Smit Machchhar is rightly being lauded as a hero, the curious thing is that the name of the Omani copilot responsible for this attempt to hijack or crash the aircraft has been withheld. His name and face should have been splashed all over the international media. This was not done and it therefore raises legitimate suspicion. Is it possible that his involvement could expose some powerful entity? Could it point to a blatant intelligence failure that would have left certain powers shamefaced? Could it be that he may have revealed things that could prove severely damaging to certain vested interests? asks Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
Ben Shelton has reached his first Grand Slam final at the U.S. Open, defeating compatriot Frances Tiafoe. He credits his newfound consistency for this breakthrough. Shelton will face Alexander Zverev in the final, aiming to end a 23-year American drought for a men's singles Grand Slam champion and become the first Black American man to win the New York title since Arthur Ashe in 1968. He expresses excitement and a business-like approach despite the nerves.
'If you do that, you automatically make him one-dimensional.'
US President Donald Trump has stated his personal belief that Iran was responsible for the attempted mid-air hijacking and crash of Flydubai Flight FZ1073, where an Omani co-pilot attacked the Indian captain.
Carlos Alcaraz left fans stunned after appearing to vomit into his towel during his US Open clash with Ben Shelton.
Ben Shelton achieved a career-defining victory by defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling five-set match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Shelton overcame losing the first set to win in a super tiebreak, ending Alcaraz's title defence in a dramatic upset.
England test captain Ben Stokes is set to play for Durham against Worcestershire in the County Championship, marking his return since fracturing his cheekbone in February.
The Premier League resumed after the international break with Arsenal securing a 2-1 comeback victory over Leeds United. Chelsea thrashed Bournemouth 5-1, while Tottenham salvaged a late draw against Manchester United. The return of the league was overshadowed by Manchester City's alleged financial breaches, which the club denies.
A flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after an apparent altercation in the cockpit. Israeli officials confirmed a "severe disaster" was averted, with initial fears of a hijacking prompting fighter jet deployment. Passenger accounts described panic and a pilot being stabbed, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar is being hailed as a hero for preventing a Flydubai flight from crashing after being stabbed by his co-pilot. His friend, Dr. Jinit Shah, attributes his ability to avert the tragedy to "muscle memory" and his extensive pilot training. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also praised Captain Machchhar's immense courage.
Eighth seed Ben Shelton defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets at the US Open, advancing to the quarter-finals. He will now face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, with Shelton expressing confidence in his game and acknowledging Alcaraz's impressive return from injury.
Frances Tiafoe discusses his U.S. Open semi-final loss to Ben Shelton, acknowledging the need to improve his match-closing ability. Despite the defeat, he expresses pride in his season, which will see him re-enter the world's top 10, and reaffirms his goal of becoming a Grand Slam champion.
Ben Shelton defeated Frances Tiafoe in an electric U.S. Open semi-final, setting up a title clash with Alexander Zverev. Shelton's victory marks a significant moment for American men's tennis, as he aims to become the first American Grand Slam champion since 2003 and the first Black American man to reach the U.S. Open final since Arthur Ashe in 1972.
Young Indian fast bowlers Gurjapneet Singh, Arshad Khan, and Yash Thakur are set to feature in the India A vs Australia A one-day series, aiming to showcase their talent and address the senior national team's current scarcity in the pace department. The series, initially anticipated for Hardik Pandya's return, now serves as a crucial platform for these emerging pacers to catch the attention of national selectors amidst injuries and inconsistent form among established bowlers.
All-rounder Suryansh Shedge has been named as a replacement for the injured Hardik Pandya in the India A squad for the upcoming three-match one-day series against Australia A in Puducherry, with Pandya ruled out due to a fresh injury concern preventing him from bowling pain-free.
Brydon Carse has been charged over an alleged ECB conduct breach following a Derby nightclub incident, with the case referred to an independent panel amid heightened scrutiny of England players.
Sri Lanka defeated England by 16 runs in the second One-Day International at Headingley, levelling the three-match series 1-1. Captain Kusal Mendis's century and a dramatic return by an injured Jos Buttler highlighted the high-scoring encounter, with Sri Lanka ultimately prevailing despite England's strong start.
American tennis player Ben Shelton secured a hard-fought victory against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in the U.S. Open third round. Shelton, an eighth seed, was buoyed by a supportive home crowd in New York as he overcame a challenging match, winning 6-3 5-7 7-6(3) 7-5. This win keeps his hopes alive for ending a long U.S. men's major title drought.
Nikhil Chaudhary, who once dreamt of an IPL contract and playing for Punjab, made his international debut for Australia in a T20I against Bangladesh in June, a turn of events he describes as his "life's biggest moment" after being stranded in Australia during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown.
Coco Gauff celebrates the historic U.S. Open semi-final clash between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe, marking the first time two Black American men will compete at this stage in a Grand Slam in the Open Era. Gauff, also in the women's semi-finals, expressed her pride and admiration for Tiafoe's inspiring presence on tour.
US President Donald Trump recounted an unconfirmed story about a flydubai flight where an Indian pilot, Smit Machchhar, fought off a knife attack from a co-pilot attempting to crash the aircraft. Trump also detailed a dramatic intervention by an Israeli plumber-passenger who helped subdue the co-pilot, learning flying basics from a TV show. Trump stressed that he was merely relaying an account from Israeli PM Netanyahu, not independently confirmed facts.
