Sport Updates
Same-day match highlights, records, team news and results from across the sports you follow.
Brydon Carse Withdrawn From England Squad as Cricket Regulator Investigates Derby Incident
Brydon Carse has been withdrawn from England's squad for the second Test against Pakistan at Lord's after being involved in an incident outside a nightclub in Derby, with the independent Cricket Regulator now investigating the matter. Footage emerged of Carse being led away by police in handcuffs on Saturday night, after Durham's players had gone out to celebrate their County Championship win over Derbyshire. A statement from Derbyshire Police confirmed a man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in Derby city centre, before being de-arrested shortly afterwards having agreed to leave the area. The ECB confirmed the incident had been referred to the Cricket Regulator, an independent body that now oversees discipline in English cricket. In a statement, the board said Carse would "no longer be available for selection for the Second Men's Rothesay Test Match while this investigation is ongoing and the full facts are obtained," with Hampshire seamer Sonny Baker called up as his direct replacement. Baker, who made his solitary Test appearance to date against New Zealand at The Oval in June, joins the squad as bowling cover for the pivotal clash starting Thursday. The timing is awkward for England, coming just under two weeks after new captain Joe Root confirmed the team's midnight curfew, introduced following a string of drink-related incidents on the winter tours of New Zealand and Australia, had been relaxed. Carse, who made his Test debut in late 2024 after serving a ban for historic betting offences, did not feature in England's dominant innings-and-103-run win over Pakistan in the series-opening Test at Headingley, having been released to play for Durham in the interim.
Chelsea Beat Fulham 3-2 to Give Xabi Alonso a Winning Premier League Debut
Chelsea began the Xabi Alonso era with a thrilling 3-2 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday night, with Joao Pedro , Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer all on the scoresheet in a west London derby that lived up to its billing. Pedro set the tone inside the first minute, latching onto a clever flicked pass from Palmer and lifting a fine finish over Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno after just 31 seconds. Fulham hit back through Josh King , whose effort squirmed through goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, before club-record signing Morgan Rogers restored Chelsea's lead on his debut just before half-time, sweeping home a low cross from fellow debutant Maxence Lacroix. Palmer added a third early in the second half, finishing off a slick move involving Rogers and Pedro, only for Fulham to pull one back almost immediately through Gonzalo Garcia, who headed home after Sanchez could only parry a low Timothy Castagne strike. Chelsea held on through a nervy finish to seal the win, giving Xabi Alonso a perfect start to life as Chelsea head coach in what was also a reunion of sorts, with Alonso outdoing former Real Madrid teammate and now Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa on the touchline. Rogers, who arrived from Aston Villa this summer to become the most expensive British player in history, impressed alongside close friend Palmer, who looked determined to bounce back from a difficult previous campaign that saw him miss out on England's World Cup squad. Alonso did have to make do without a couple of key names for the trip to Craven Cottage, with Marco Palestra and Moises Caicedo both missing out through minor fitness setbacks. Despite their absence, Chelsea's front three took the headlines on a dramatic opening night, giving the new head coach reason for optimism as he looks to lead the club back into contention following a difficult 10th-place finish last season.
India Declare on 503/9 as Dhruv Jurel Hits Unbeaten Century in Colombo
India declared their first innings on 503 for 9 late on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, with Dhruv Jurel 's unbeaten 115 anchoring a mammoth total that leaves the hosts facing a daunting deficit of 503 runs. India resumed the morning session with Devdutt Padikkal's overnight century behind them, and continued to pile on the runs through the middle order. Rishabh Pant made a fighting 63 on his return from a wrist injury, adding 112 for the sixth wicket with Jurel in a stand that formed the backbone of the innings. Jurel, promoted to bat as a specialist at No. 6, made the most of his opportunity, reaching his second Test century and going unbeaten on 115 off 177 balls, striking nine fours and two sixes along the way. The lower order chipped in too, with debutant Saransh Jain making a quickfire 6 and Manav Suthar adding a useful 18, before India called a halt to their innings with the score on 503 for 9 in 138 overs. Asitha Fernando was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, finishing with 4 for 106, while Prabath Jayasuriya and Keshara Nuwantha shared two wickets apiece, with Sri Lanka's spin duo left underwhelmed by their overall returns on a good batting surface. With rain briefly interrupting play, Sri Lanka were left with just a few overs to survive before the close, sending out a new-look opening pair of debutant Kamil Mishara and Lahiru Udara to face Mohammed Siraj's opening burst. India, 1-0 up in the series after their win in Galle, will feel they have more than enough runs on the board to push for a series-clinching result, with the game now firmly in their control heading into day three.
Shoriful Islam's 7/48 Makes Him First Visiting Bowler in 33 Years With a Seven-For in Australia
Shoriful Islam produced a career-defining spell on day two of the second Test between Australia and Bangladesh in Mackay, taking career-best figures of 7 for 48 to become the first visiting bowler in 33 years to claim a seven-wicket haul in a Test on Australian soil. The left-arm pacer's effort helped bowl Australia out for 210 on day two, after the hosts had earlier skittled Bangladesh for just 64. Shoriful repeatedly found ways to break through Australia's middle order after the hosts had briefly threatened to pull away from 41 for 3, extracting movement and attacking the stumps throughout a relentless spell of 15 overs. It also produced what many observers called the ball of the series, a delivery that castled Cameron Green. The 7 for 48 places Shoriful alongside West Indies great Curtly Ambrose , who was the last visiting bowler to take seven wickets in a Test in Australia, with figures of 7 for 25 against Australia at the WACA in Perth back in 1993. It's also the first seven-wicket haul by a Bangladesh bowler against Australia in Test cricket, and the best figures by a Bangladesh bowler in an away Test, surpassing Taijul Islam's 7 for 138 against Zimbabwe earlier this year. It even beats the previous benchmark set by his own teammate just one match earlier, with Hasan Mahmud's 6 for 55 in the Darwin Test having briefly held the record for best figures by a Bangladesh bowler against Australia before Shoriful bettered it in Mackay. Despite his heroics, Bangladesh's overall position in the match remained precarious given their first-innings collapse, with the tourists still trailing by over 100 runs after Australia's reply. Shoriful's spell nonetheless stands as one of the standout individual performances of the series, a rare bright spot with the ball for Bangladesh in a Test that has otherwise been dominated by Mitchell Starc at the other end.
ICC Sanctions Yashasvi Jaiswal and Asitha Fernando Over On-Field Altercation
India's Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sri Lanka's Asitha Fernando have both been sanctioned by the ICC following an on-field altercation on day one of the second Test in Colombo, with each player fined 25 percent of their match fee and handed a demerit point. The incident occurred in the 17th over of India's innings, moments after Fernando dismissed Jaiswal for 45. As Jaiswal walked back towards the pavilion, he appeared to change direction and approached Fernando, who was in the middle of Sri Lanka's celebratory huddle. Words were exchanged between the two, and Fernando moved his head towards Jaiswal, prompting Jaiswal to lean in as well, resulting in the two players making contact. Both players were found to have breached Article 2.12 of the ICC's Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel . In simple terms, this article covers inappropriate physical contact with another player, official, or any other person during an international match, essentially barring behaviour like pushing, shoving, or headbutting in the heat of the moment, even when it falls short of anything more serious. It's classified as a Level 1 offence, which carries a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 percent of a player's match fee, along with one or two demerit points. Both players admitted the offence and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel, meaning no formal hearing was required. Neither Jaiswal nor Fernando had committed a similar offence in the 24 months prior, so the punishment was applied at the lower end of the scale. India go into the match 1-0 up in the two-Test series following their win in Galle, with the Colombo Test continuing at pace despite the day-one flashpoint, which briefly overshadowed what had otherwise been a dominant batting display from the tourists.
Rishabh Pant Overtakes Dhoni as India's Leading Wicketkeeper Run-Scorer Away From Home
Rishabh Pant made a stirring return from injury on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, scoring a fluent 63 off 89 balls to go past MS Dhoni's tally and become India's leading run-scorer among wicketkeepers in away and neutral Tests. Pant had retired hurt on the first day after being struck on the wrist by a Lahiru Kumara bouncer, having managed just 3 off 15 balls at the time. He returned to the crease after debutant Saransh Jain was dismissed early on day two, and picked up right where he left off, striking two sixes and six fours before eventually falling caught at long-off off Keshara Nuwantha, having added 112 with Dhruv Jurel in a stand that formed the backbone of India's morning session. The knock, his 21st Test half-century and a second successive one after his fifty in the second innings at Galle, took him to 2,534 runs as a wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests , moving him past Dhoni's tally of 2,496 and also past former South Africa gloveman Mark Boucher's 2,514. Farokh Engineer (1,209) and Syed Kirmani (1,109) round out the top Indian names on the list, both well over 1,300 runs behind Pant's new benchmark. Among all wicketkeepers globally in this category, Pant now sits third, behind former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (2,696) and Australia great Adam Gilchrist (2,634). The innings also pushed Pant to 2,948 runs in World Test Championship history, leaving him just 52 shy of becoming the first Indian to reach 3,000 WTC runs. With India well placed in Colombo and Pant back among the runs after a scare with the wrist injury, the milestone adds another significant chapter to a Test career that continues to be defined by fearless strokeplay under pressure.
Harry Kane Named Germany's Player of the Year, Kompany Wins Coach of the Year
Harry Kane has been voted Germany's Player of the Year for 2026 , while Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany claimed the Coach of the Year award, capping off another outstanding season for the Bavarian giants. Kane enjoyed a stunning campaign, scoring 61 goals across all competitions as Bayern defended their Bundesliga title and added the German Cup, with the England captain scoring a hat-trick in the final against Stuttgart. The England forward comfortably topped the yearly poll, organised by Kicker magazine among 659 members of the Association of German Sports Journalists, gathering 272 votes ahead of teammate Michael Olise on 203. Stuttgart's Deniz Undav finished third with 61 votes, followed by Bayern's Joshua Kimmich and Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann. Vincent Kompany collected close to half the votes cast for the coach's award, comfortably ahead of Freiburg's Julian Schuster, who had won the honour the previous year. It continues a remarkable turnaround for the Belgian, who arrived at Bayern in 2024 and has since guided the club to sustained domestic success, with Florian Wirtz having claimed the player's prize the year before Kane's win. The awards also extended to the women's game, with Bayern's Giulia Gwinn named Women's Player of the Year, giving the club a rare sweep of both the men's and women's top individual honours in the same year. Club president Herbert Hainer hailed the achievement, calling it the first time a club has won both awards simultaneously and a reflection of Bayern's strength across the men's and women's game alike. The player of the year award has been handed out since 1960, with Franz Beckenbauer the record holder on four wins, while the coach's prize has been awarded since 2002.
Ferran Torres' Debut Brace Rescues PSG in 2-2 Draw at Rennes
Ferran Torres marked his PSG debut with a stunning late brace to rescue a 2-2 draw away at Rennes in the Ligue 1 season opener, coming off the bench to spare Luis Enrique's side an opening-day defeat. Rennes made a dream start at the Roazhon Park, going ahead in the 9th minute when Sebastian Szymanski's shot cannoned in off the post from 25 yards. PSG failed to respond, and were dealt a second blow just before the break when Esteban Lepaul converted a Przemyslaw Frankowski cross to make it 2-0, leaving the reigning champions with a mountain to climb after a below-par first-half display, with the fixture only taking place at Rennes due to the poor state of the Parc des Princes pitch. Ferran Torres, a summer signing from Barcelona, was introduced at half-time alongside Mika Godts and transformed the game. He pulled one back in the 71st minute, latching onto a Fabian Ruiz through-ball, before completing his brace 11 minutes later, glancing home another Ruiz delivery to level the score. Willian Pacho then produced a crucial goal-line clearance to deny Rennes a late winner as PSG held on for a share of the points, finishing with 69.6% possession and 19 attempts to Rennes' nine. The result means PSG's Ligue 1 title defence begins with a draw, following on from a difficult pre-season that also saw them lose the Trophee des Champions to Lens. Ferran Torres's introduction offers an encouraging sign for Luis Enrique going forward, with the Spaniard now level with two other players as PSG's leading scorer in the fledgling campaign after such an eye-catching start to life in Paris.
Barcelona Thrash Elche 5-0 in La Liga Title Defence Opener
Barcelona made an emphatic start to their La Liga title defence, thrashing Elche 5-0 away at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero, with braces from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez and a debut goal from new signing Karim Adeyemi . Raphinha broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, converting a penalty after being brought down in the box, before Adeyemi doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time, latching onto a Lamine Yamal pass to slot home on his league debut following his summer move from Borussia Dortmund. Barcelona were forced into an early reshuffle before the break when Gavi had to be replaced due to a knee issue, but continued to dominate after the interval. Raphinha added his second and Barcelona's third after the hour mark, teed up by fellow debutant Anthony Gordon, who had come on at half-time and looked lively throughout. Fermin Lopez then struck twice in quick succession, first tapping in after more good work from Gordon before rounding off the scoring with a stunning turn-and-finish from the edge of the box. Hansi Flick's side were missing several key names, including new marquee signing Rodri, who was left out of the matchday squad entirely as he continues to build fitness. The result gives Barcelona the perfect start as they chase a third straight La Liga title, with the Catalans looking sharp in attack despite a rotated lineup, and sends an early statement to the rest of the division ahead of what promises to be another closely fought title race in Spain this season.
Gvardiol's Stoppage-Time Winner Gives Maresca Winning Man City Debut
Manchester City produced a dramatic late fightback to snatch a 2-1 win over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium, handing new head coach Enzo Maresca a winning start in his first Premier League match since succeeding Pep Guardiola. Bournemouth, themselves under a new manager in Marco Rose , took a shock lead in the 26th minute through Marcus Tavernier , who slotted home at the back post to threaten a memorable opening-day upset. City created plenty of chances throughout, with Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo all going close, but couldn't find a way through until deep into the second half. The equaliser finally arrived six minutes from time when Marc Guehi rose to head home a Rayan Cherki corner, sparking hope of a City turnaround. That turnaround was completed a minute into stoppage time, when Josko Gvardiol latched onto another Cherki assist to fire home from close range. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but a lengthy VAR check overturned the decision, sending the Etihad into raptures and completing a dramatic late win. The result offers real relief for Maresca, whose first home game in charge threatened to end in disappointment against a well-organised Bournemouth side that had Rose five minutes away from becoming the first Bournemouth manager to win at the Etihad. Instead, City's pressure and resilience were rewarded at the death, giving the new boss the perfect start to life after Guardiola as the post-Pep era at City begins with a hard-fought three points.
Brighton Thrash 10-Man Aston Villa 4-0 as Joao Gomes Sees Red on Debut
Brighton produced one of the most one-sided opening-day performances in recent Premier League history, hammering Aston Villa 4-0 at the Amex Stadium in a first half that saw Villa concede four goals in just 31 minutes and finish with 10 men. The rout began when a wayward Pau Torres back-pass gifted Brighton an early lead via an own goal, before Maxim De Cuyper doubled the advantage soon after, converting a Georginio Rutter cross. Brighton then produced a devastating quickfire double through Jack Hinshelwood , scoring in the 30th and 31st minutes to put the game to bed inside the opening half hour, with Villa's summer rebuild already under serious scrutiny. Villa's afternoon got even worse five minutes before the break. New signing Joao Gomes , a £38 million arrival from Wolves making his competitive debut, was shown a straight red card after a VAR review for kicking out at Rutter, having already been booked earlier in the half. It made him the first player to receive a first-half red card on his Premier League debut for a club in more than 14 years, with former QPR midfielder Samba Diakite the last to suffer a similar fate, back in February 2012. Gomes had also been directly involved in the buildup to Brighton's fourth goal, losing possession on the edge of his own box moments before Hinshelwood struck. The result leaves Unai Emery's heavily rebuilt Villa side with plenty of questions to answer after a chastening start, having also been without a recognised centre-forward with Ollie Watkins left out of the squad amid transfer interest from Saudi Arabia. For Brighton, it's about as perfect a start to the season as they could have hoped for, with the Seagulls firing on all cylinders in what was an emphatic statement result against one of last season's top-four contenders.
Bangladesh Climb to All-Time High No. 6 in ICC Test Rankings
Bangladesh have climbed to No. 6 in the ICC Men's Test team rankings, their highest-ever position, despite losing the second Test to Australia by an innings and 51 runs in Mackay. The Tigers jumped three places, moving past West Indies, Pakistan and Sri Lanka on the back of their historic first-ever Test win in Australia, achieved in the series-opening Darwin Test. Bangladesh now sit on 78 rating points from 24 matches, marking the first time the side has ever risen above the No. 9 spot in the format's history. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto called it a "huge achievement" after the defeat in Mackay, while acknowledging the side's own inconsistency, noting it would have been better if they had played better cricket in the Test itself. He also pointed to the challenges of touring Australia so infrequently, with most of the squad never having previously played in the conditions. The wider table remains topped by Australia , unaffected by their earlier Darwin defeat, with 126 rating points from 27 matches. Bangladesh's rise means Sri Lanka (76 points) and Pakistan (75 points) have both been overtaken, while West Indies also slip below the Tigers in the standings. The result also has implications in the World Test Championship 2025-2027 standings, where Bangladesh remain fourth, one place above India, having recorded three wins, two losses and a draw from six matches in the cycle. The Darwin win proved decisive for both metrics, with the Mackay defeat doing little to dent the historic rankings rise that followed it.
Nathan Lyon Reaches 600 International Wickets, Fifth Australian to the Milestone
Nathan Lyon reached the milestone of 600 international wickets during Australia's innings win over Bangladesh in the second Test at Mackay, becoming just the fifth Australian bowler in history to the mark, and only the second Australian spinner after Shane Warne to get there. Lyon got there with figures of 3 for 25 in Bangladesh's second innings, having not been needed at all in the tourists' meagre first-innings total of 64. The veteran off-spinner now has 601 wickets from 174 international matches at an average of 31.00, with 24 five-wicket hauls and five ten-wicket hauls to his name, and career-best figures of 8 for 50. The vast majority of his wickets have come in the Test arena, where he has taken 571 scalps in 143 matches at an average of 30.20. Lyon now sits fifth on Australia's all-time international wicket-taking list, behind only Shane Warne (999 wickets), Glenn McGrath (948), Mitchell Starc (771), who himself completed a 10-wicket match haul in the very same Test, and Brett Lee (718). It caps a landmark match for Australia's bowling attack, with Starc's dominant display taking the headlines while Lyon quietly ticked over yet another significant career milestone in the background. Having made his Test debut back in 2011 with a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in Galle, Lyon's longevity and consistency have made him one of the most reliable spin options in world cricket for well over a decade. Reaching 600 international wickets extends an already extraordinary legacy, and cements his place among the finest bowlers Australian cricket has produced.
Devdutt Padikkal Hits Back-to-Back Test Centuries With 117 in Colombo
Devdutt Padikkal struck his second Test century in as many matches, top-scoring with a brilliant 117 off 193 balls on day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC in Colombo, continuing a red-hot run of form on the tour. Padikkal, who arrived in Colombo on the back of a match-winning 167 in the series-opening win at Galle, batted with the same fluency here, striking 12 fours in a knock that anchored India's innings after they were put in to bat first. He shared useful stands through the middle order, including a lively 60-run partnership with captain Shubman Gill, who made 50, before eventually being bowled by Keshara Nuwantha, undone by a quicker, flatter delivery that snuck past the outside edge and clattered into off stump, with India well placed at 281 for 4 at the time of his dismissal. The century is a continuation of the kind of form that has made Padikkal one of the standout performers of India's tour so far. Having struggled for a settled place in the side over recent years, back-to-back hundreds in his last two Test innings mark a significant statement, and go a long way toward cementing his position in the middle order heading into a busy home season. India, chasing a series win having already gone 1-0 up in Galle, will look to build a big first-innings total on the back of Padikkal's knock, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (45), KL Rahul (18) and Gill (50) all getting starts earlier in the day without going on to make it count. Ravindra Jadeja and Dhruv Jurel were at the crease as play continued, with India well placed to post a substantial total on a good batting surface in Colombo.
Saransh Jain Makes Test Debut at 33 After Decade-Long Domestic Wait
Saransh Jain has made his Test debut for India in the series-deciding second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, capping off a remarkable domestic career that has spanned more than a decade before finally earning international recognition at the age of 33. The Madhya Pradesh off-spinning all-rounder, who is also employed with India Post, made his first-class debut for the state all the way back in the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy against Tamil Nadu, claiming a five-wicket haul on debut. Since then, he has built a reputation as one of Indian domestic cricket's most reliable dual threats, a rare off-spinning all-rounder in a system that has traditionally produced far more left-arm orthodox options. If he takes the field, Jain will be the first India player to debut at age 33 since Robin Singh back in 1998. Jain's rise to a maiden call-up has been built on standout performances across multiple domestic competitions. He was the hero of Madhya Pradesh's maiden Ranji Trophy title in 2022, taking 13 wickets and scoring a half-century in the final. In the 2024 Irani Cup, he claimed a six-wicket haul against Mumbai, dismissing Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Ayush Mhatre, Sarfaraz Khan, Shardul Thakur and Shams Mulani in a single spell. His most productive season came in 2025-26, when he became one of only four Indian players to complete the rare double of 300-plus runs and 40-plus wickets in first-class cricket over a 12-month period, finishing with 518 runs at an average of 57.55 and 30 wickets at 20.43 in his last Ranji season alone, while also topping the wicket charts among all off-spinners in the country with 44 scalps. His stock rose further still in the recent Duleep Trophy, where he was named Player of the Series for Central Zone after scoring two half-centuries and taking 16 wickets across two games, including a match-winning 5 for 49 in the final against South Zone that sealed Central Zone's first Duleep title in nearly 11 years. That form, combined with a strong showing for India A in Sri Lanka, ultimately paved the way for his maiden Test call-up. Jain now gets his chance on the biggest stage, coming in for Kuldeep Yadav in a Sri Lankan spin-friendly setting tailor-made for his skill set.
Starc's 10-Wicket Haul Seals Innings Win for Australia, Series Levelled 1-1
Mitchell Starc produced a career-defining performance to seal a commanding win over Bangladesh in the second Test in Mackay, taking his fourth career 10-wicket haul in Test cricket as Australia won by an innings and 51 runs inside just two days to level the series 1-1. Bangladesh, who had stunned the cricket world with a 9-wicket win in the series opener at Darwin, were completely undone by Starc's new-ball burst on day one, bowled out for just 64 as he claimed 6 for 12 . Australia's reply was far from serene, stumbling to 165 for 8 at one stage as Shoriful Islam hit back with 6 for 35, before Cameron Green's gritty unbeaten 67 and useful support from the tail lifted the hosts to 210 all out , a lead of 146. Bangladesh's second innings brought little relief. Starc struck twice more early, and though Najmul Hossain Shanto (31) and Mushfiqur Rahim (29 not out) briefly offered resistance, the tourists were bowled out for 95 , handing Australia the win comfortably inside the second day. Starc finished with match figures of 10 for 51 , and Pat Cummins chipped in with 3 for 10 in the second innings as Bangladesh's batting fell away for the second time in the match. Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Match for his 10-wicket haul, and also collected the Player of the Series award for his all-round body of work across both Tests. It's a stunning turnaround after Bangladesh's historic win in Darwin, and the result levels the two-match series at 1-1, with both sides sharing the spoils in what turned out to be a dramatic, fast-moving contest played out largely across just three days combined.
2nd Test XI Changes: Saransh Jain Debuts for India, Sri Lanka Field Mishara and Sooriyabandara
Both India and Sri Lanka have made changes to their playing XIs for the second and final Test of the series at the SSC in Colombo, with the hosts forced into reshuffles through injury and India opting for a like-for-like spin swap. India have made one change, bringing in off-spin all-rounder Saransh Jain for his Test debut in place of Kuldeep Yadav . Kuldeep had a relatively quiet outing with the ball in Galle, and despite public backing from spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule during the buildup, the team management has opted to hand Jain his first cap. The rest of the winning combination from Galle has been retained, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, captain Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna all keeping their places. Sri Lanka have made two enforced changes to their XI. Kamil Mishara comes in for his first Test cap in place of Nishan Fernando, who had a quiet outing in Galle filling in for the injured Pathum Nissanka. The bigger change is enforced: Dinesh Chandimal misses out after entering concussion protocols following a blow sustained on day four in Galle, with the mandatory stand-down period ruling him out. Pasindu Sooriyabandara , who deputised for Chandimal as a concussion substitute in the first Test, has now been named in the starting XI on merit for Colombo. Sri Lanka remain without regular gloveman Kusal Mendis, sidelined by a hamstring injury, with Niroshan Dickwella continuing behind the stumps. With Sri Lanka needing a win just to keep the series alive, the changes reflect a squad under pressure from both form and fitness, while India have shown faith in personnel by making only the one alteration to a side that delivered a convincing 165-run win in the series opener.
Ravindra Jadeja Set to Become First Indian and Asian to Play 50 WTC Matches
Ravindra Jadeja is set to become the first Indian, and the first Asian, to play 50 World Test Championship matches , reaching the milestone in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC in Colombo, starting August 23. Jadeja has been a mainstay of India's Test side since the WTC's inception in 2019, and his consistency across all three cycles so far has made him one of the format's most reliable performers. He remains only the second bowler in WTC history, after R Ashwin, to take 50 wickets in a single cycle, and became the first player to combine 2,000-plus runs with 100-plus wickets in the competition's history during last year's tour of England. His numbers across the WTC era reflect a rare blend of control with the ball and calm under pressure with the bat, qualities that have repeatedly bailed India out of tricky situations. The milestone comes at a significant juncture for India in the current cycle. Sitting fifth in the standings after a 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the series opener at Galle, India will be eager to seal a series win in Colombo and continue building momentum in a campaign that has been mixed so far. Jadeja's experience in Sri Lankan conditions, dating back to India's 2017 tour, makes him one of the more seasoned campaigners in the current squad alongside KL Rahul. Reaching 50 WTC appearances also underlines the remarkable longevity Jadeja has shown at the top level, spanning multiple head coaches, captains and eras of Indian cricket since the format's introduction. As India chase a series-clinching result in Colombo, all eyes will be on whether the veteran all-rounder can mark his landmark appearance with another significant contribution, the kind that has defined his career in whites for over a decade.
Joao Pedro Signs New Chelsea Contract Until 2034, Takes on No. 9 Shirt
Joao Pedro has signed a new contract with Chelsea that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2034 , with the Brazilian striker also taking on the club's No. 9 shirt as he enters his second season in west London. The 24-year-old joined Chelsea from Brighton last summer and made an immediate impact, scoring in the Club World Cup final win over Paris Saint-Germain shortly after his arrival. He went on to finish his debut campaign with 20 goals and nine assists, a return that saw him overwhelmingly voted Chelsea's Player of the Season. Pedro's improved deal, on extended terms from a contract that was previously set to run until 2032, comes as recognition of that impact, with the extension reportedly seeing off interest from Barcelona, who had considered him as an alternative to Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez. Pedro takes over the No. 9 jersey vacated by Liam Delap, stepping into a shirt with a difficult recent history at the club. Since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's era, a string of high-profile attackers including Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Gonzalo Higuain and Romelu Lukaku have struggled to make a lasting impact wearing the number, a trend some fans have dubbed the "curse of Khalid Boulahrouz." Pedro is set to begin the new season as Xabi Alonso's first-choice striker, with both Delap and Nicolas Jackson made available for transfer as the club reshapes its forward options. "I always dreamed of playing for a big club, and it means a lot to me to give my long-term commitment to this club," Pedro said following the announcement. Chelsea open their Premier League campaign away to Fulham on Monday, with Pedro expected to lead the line as the club looks to build on a season that ended with the Club World Cup title in the bag.
Anton Stach's Late Free-Kick Gives Leeds 1-0 Win Over Nottingham Forest
Anton Stach curled home a stunning 88th-minute free-kick to hand Leeds United a 1-0 opening-day win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, giving Daniel Farke's side their first Premier League win at the venue since 1972. It looked to be heading for a goalless draw for long spells, with both sides struggling to find a breakthrough despite decent chances at either end. Forest, under new manager Oliver Glasner for his first match in charge, had the better of the openings, hitting the woodwork twice through Nikola Milenkovic and, later, via a free-kick that bounced back off the post from a crowded box. James Trafford, making his Leeds debut in goal, produced a smart save to deny Igor Jesus early on, while Matz Sels kept out efforts from Brenden Aaronson and Tarik Muharemovic at the other end as the game remained finely balanced. The decisive moment came in the 88th minute when Milenkovic fouled Stach just outside the penalty area. The German midfielder stepped up himself and curled a low effort past Sels at his near post, sending the away end into raptures and securing a smash-and-grab victory for the visitors. It capped an ideal start for Leeds following last week's 4-0 win over Augsburg, while Forest, who fielded no new signings in their starting eleven, were left to rue their missed chances on Glasner's first outing at the helm. The result gives Leeds a perfect start to the season as they look to build on last term's survival fight, while Forest, with ambitions of a top-half finish under their new manager, will need to sharpen their finishing quickly with a Carabao Cup rematch between the two sides already on the horizon this week.
Jack Clarke's Late Winner Sinks Former Club Sunderland as Ipswich Win 2-1
Jack Clarke scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner as Ipswich Town beat former club Sunderland 2-1 at Portman Road, marking a triumphant Premier League return under new head coach Gary O'Neil. Ipswich, newly promoted and fielding several debutants after a summer of 12 signings, took the lead in the 24th minute when Emersonn steered home a low cross from Julio Enciso following a slick counter-attack. Sunderland, back in the top flight themselves after a strong 2025-26 campaign, levelled just before the break through a stunning Nilson Angulo free-kick from the edge of the box. The game looked set to finish level until Enciso was forced off through injury with 19 minutes remaining, with substitute Jack Clarke coming on in his place. Clarke, who made 114 appearances for Sunderland before his £15 million move to Ipswich in 2024, made an instant impact. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Sunderland substitute Omar Alderete gave the ball away cheaply, and Sasa Lukic found Clarke in space, who cut inside and curled a finish beyond goalkeeper Robin Roefs for his first-ever Premier League goal. The strike sparked wild celebrations at Portman Road and gave Ipswich a first opening-day league win since 1993-94, having lost four straight top-flight openers before this. The result also handed O'Neil a winning start in his first competitive match since replacing long-serving boss Kieran McKenna over the summer. Ipswich outshot their visitors and finished with the better expected-goals numbers on the day, a promising sign as they look to establish themselves back in the top flight. For Sunderland, there will be disappointment at throwing away a point so late, but they'll have chances to bounce back as the new season gets underway.
Everton Beat Crystal Palace 2-0 as Chadi Riad Suffers Serious-Looking Injury
Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at Hill Dickinson Stadium in a Premier League opener overshadowed by a serious-looking injury to Palace defender Chadi Riad , who was stretchered off in tears late in the match. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall broke the deadlock shortly before half-time with a thunderous strike into the top corner, before Thierno Barry doubled Everton's lead eight minutes into the second half, heading home a pinpoint Iliman Ndiaye cross. Palace, in Pierre Sage's first game in charge following his move from Lens, had chances of their own, twice striking the woodwork through Eddie Nketiah and Jean-Philippe Mateta, but couldn't find a way past David Moyes' well-organised hosts. The result gave Everton their first opening-day win since 2021 and ended a run of four straight defeats to start a season without scoring. The bigger story by full time was the fitness of Chadi Riad, who appeared to twist his knee attempting to block a Vitaliy Mykolenko cross in the second half. The Morocco international was in visible distress, pulling his shirt over his head as he was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Takehiro Tomiyasu. The 23-year-old has already endured a difficult run of injuries at Palace, having previously missed a combined 430 days through a cruciate ligament issue and other setbacks, and the club will now face an anxious wait for the results of scans before knowing the extent of the latest blow. Everton, who ended last season without European qualification after a poor run of form, will look to build on the win, while Sage and Palace turn their attention to assessing the fallout from Riad's injury ahead of their next fixture.
Hull City Shock Manchester United 2-0 to Ruin Carrick's Opening Day
Newly-promoted Hull City stunned Manchester United 2-0 at the MKM Stadium, ruining Michael Carrick's first game in charge of United's opening-day campaign and delivering one of the shock results of the Premier League's opening weekend. Hull, back in the top flight for the first time since 2017, were without 10 players through injury but still put in a vibrant, disciplined display under manager Sergej Jakirović. The hosts took the lead in the first half through defender Semi Ajayi , who capitalised on defensive hesitancy from United to poke the ball home from close range. They doubled their advantage before the break when centre-back Nobel Mendy headed home from a free-kick in the 38th minute, leaving United with a mountain to climb after just over half an hour. United huffed and puffed after the interval without ever really threatening a way back into the game. Bryan Mbeumo had United's best chance when he broke through one-on-one, only to be denied by Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis . Carrick made changes at the break, bringing on Marcus Rashford for a struggling Patrick Dorgu, and later introducing Kobbie Mainoo and Benjamin Sesko as United chased the game, but they lacked a cutting edge throughout and Hull comfortably held out for a memorable win. Hull even had late chances of their own to add a third, with Cody Drameh's effort drifting just wide. It is a chastening start for Carrick, who takes charge with United expected to challenge for the title after finishing third last season. The result leaves the Red Devils under early pressure following a dismal afternoon on Humberside, with fans already calling for further defensive reinforcements before the transfer window shuts. For Hull, it is a dream return to the Premier League and an immediate statement that they won't be there just to make up the numbers.
Starc's 6/12 Bowls Out Bangladesh for 64, Enters Top 10 Wicket-Takers as Australia Stumble to 50/3
Mitchell Starc completed a stunning spell to finish with 6 for 12 as Bangladesh were skittled for just 64 in 34 overs on day one of the second Test in Mackay, extending the destruction that had already left the tourists reeling at 35 for 6 at the lunch break. Starc struck with the first ball of the match for the fourth time in his career, removing Shadman Islam, and continued to run through the top and middle order as Bangladesh, who arrived in Mackay leading the series 1-0 after their historic Darwin win, endured a horror reply. Four batters, including Darwin centurion Tanzid Hasan and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, failed to open their account. It was the sixth-fastest five-wicket haul in Test history, with the six-wicket haul completing one of the most destructive new-ball spells seen in Australia in years. The performance moved Starc to 440 Test wickets , taking him into the top 10 wicket-takers of all time and past South African great Dale Steyn's mark of 439. He now sits just behind Nathan Lyon among Australians, with only James Anderson, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Stuart Broad and Glenn McGrath ahead of him on the all-time list, an extraordinary achievement for a bowler who came into the series just one wicket shy of Kapil Dev's tally. Australia were far from untroubled in their reply. Despite the huge first-innings advantage, the hosts stumbled to 50 for 3 at stumps, losing three wickets in the final session to leave the game finely poised heading into day two, only 14 runs ahead of Bangladesh's meagre total. Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw and Travis Head all fell relatively cheaply as Bangladesh's bowlers fought back after their batting horror show, keeping the tourists' hopes of a series-levelling turnaround alive on a lively Mackay surface being used for Test cricket for the first time.