Australia strikes gold in men's 4x100m free relay
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
England face searching Ashes questions after India series thriller
England suffered an agonising six-run loss to India at the Oval on Monday as one of the most dramatic Test series of recent times ended in a 2-2 draw. Their next major red-ball assignment is a five-match Ashes series away to arch-rivals Australia -- where England have gone 15 Tests without a win -- starting in November. Below AFP Sport looks at some of the key issues that emerged from England's rollercoaster contest with India and what they mean for their quest to regain the Ashes 'Down Under'. Stokes central to England's hopes What England gain from having Ben Stokes in their side was never more evident than when their inspirational captain missed the fifth Test with a shoulder injury -- a fresh worry following his history of hamstring trouble. The 34-year-old all-rounder was the most threatening member of England's attack against India, taking 17 wickets at 25 in 140 overs -- the most he has bowled in a series. Stokes also looked back to his best with the bat, scoring 141 in England's mammoth total of 669 in the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford. By contrast specialist opener Zak Crawley failed to reach three figures in nine innings. And at the Oval, the sight of vice-captain Ollie Pope running off to the dressing room to receive what appeared to be tactical guidance from Stokes did not say much for England's depth of leadership. England limited-overs captain Harry Brook, also a mainstay of the Test team and a lively skipper in the Stokes mould, could yet prove a better fit as vice-captain against Australia. Fast-bowling plan under threat England have long believed a battery of genuinely fast bowlers is essential if they are to win an Ashes series in Australia for the first time since 2010/11. But fitness issues could blight their best-laid plans. Jofra Archer made an encouraging return to Test cricket against India but played just two matches as England looked to manage the express paceman's workload. Mark Wood, another bowler with genuine pace, has not played Test cricket for nearly 12 months and had knee surgery earlier this year. The inconsistent Josh Tongue's return of 19 wickets at under 30 in the India series could well see him selected for Ashes duty, with Gus Atkinson's five-wicket haul on his return to Test duty at the Oval doing his cause no harm. Spin dilemma England, and Stokes in particular, have shown huge faith in Shoaib Bashir, a 21-year-old off-spinner unable to hold down a regular place in a county side but who has now taken 68 wickets in 19 Tests at 39. In the India series, Bashir's 10 wickets came at an expensive average of 54.1, before a finger injury ruled him out of the last two Tests. But Hampshire stalwart Liam Dawson failed to seize his chance in the drawn fourth Test, with Stokes appearing to tell the left-armer where he should be bowling on the Old Trafford pitch. Leicestershire's 20-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, already England's youngest Test cricketer, is another option. England, however, didn't bother with a specialist spinner at the Oval, deploying Joe Root and Jacob Bethell -- clean bowled following a reckless charge down the pitch during a second-innings collapse -- for a mere 11 overs combined. But former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes England should stick with Bashir for the Ashes because of his similarity to outstanding Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. "Australia will have probably three or four left-handers in their line-up which will aid the right-arm off-spinner as well," Ponting told Sky Sports. "And it's the over-spin that you need in Australia." jdg/ea
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Indigenous group in legal bid to stop Olympic park plan
An Indigenous group has launched an application to stop controversial plans to develop a park with cultural significance as the 2032 Olympic centrepiece. The group wants the Commonwealth to step in and save inner Brisbane's Victoria Park, which is set to become the 2032 games hub, hosting a $3.7 billion, 63,000-seat main stadium. The Yagara Magandjin Aboriginal Corporation has lodged an application with the federal government to protect the park, warning the 2032 plans will cause "long-term injury" to a site of Indigenous significance. The main stadium is set to be built at a park that contains stories, archaeological evidence, possible ancestral remains and ancient trees, the corporation's Uncle Steven said. He also believes there's potential for further Aboriginal heritage research at the park, but fears that won't happen if it's bulldozed for the Olympics. "Once it's lost, it's gone forever," the Yagara elder told AAP. "This is about trying to protect the cultural heritage for future generations, for our First Nations children, for non-First Nations children - it's the history of Queensland." The clock is ticking to construct the 2032 venues after Queensland's Liberal National government finally unveiled its blueprint in March, more than 1300 days after Brisbane was named the Olympics host. It also fast-tracked legislation to override 15 environmental and heritage acts to speed up the 2032 build. This ensured the government could bypass existing laws to construct the main stadium at Victoria Park, despite half of it being state heritage-listed. "The state government has gone to a lot of trouble to take away any democratic rights that we had to be consulted, or to make submissions about the proposals, so we've gone to the federal legislation," Save Victoria Park's Sue Bremner told AAP. Save Victoria Park has backed the corporation lodging an application under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act. If successful, the federal government could declare the long-term protection of the park and halt any development. But the legal process may take years, sparking fears among activists that the park may be bulldozed before a decision is made. Ms Bremner warned the group is willing to look at alternative emergency action to halt shovels in the ground in support of the corporation. Uncle Steven said the application was not about stopping development for the 2032 Games at other locations but instead about protecting Victoria Park's values and history. "We don't want to hold progress up. We don't want to stop people from enjoying the facilities that may come with 2032," he said. "But just stop a moment and have a look at what's already been destroyed and impacted in southeast Queensland, and have a little bit of thoughtfulness towards it and work out something more appropriate." A state government spokesperson defended the 2032 venue plan, claiming recent legislation would still recognise Aboriginal heritage matters. "The Crisafulli government's new laws underpin the delivery of Games infrastructure on time, on budget, and with a clear legacy for communities beyond 2032," the spokesperson said. "The new laws provide a bespoke process that recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage matters, incorporating engagement and consultation with relevant parties and preparation of a cultural heritage management plan." A damning report last week revealed the Games blueprint may not be completed in time due to a productivity drop. But Treasurer David Janetzki said the government was up to the 2032 challenge.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tigers sponsor detail singled out as players face NRL action over 'offensive' act
The Wests Tigers have been urged to get 'on the front foot' and sanction players accused of a vulgar act towards Bulldogs fans, amid suggestions it's a terrible look for the club and its sponsors. Several Tigers players are at the centre of an NRL investigation into an incident that occurred after the final try of their side's shock 28-14 victory over the high-flying Dogs on Sunday afternoon. Samuela Fainu's 70th minute four-pointer saw the Tigers forward and a number of teammates appear to taunt Canterbury fans with what has widely been accepted as the "khod" gesture, which is the equivalent of "flipping the bird" in the Arabic community. The Bulldogs have a proud contingent of Arabic-speaking supporters and the club reportedly contacted the NRL integrity unit to lodge a complaint about the 'offensive' hand gestures. Veteran league reporter Phil Rothfield told NRL 360 on Monday night that the NRL was not happy about the incident and indicated the Wests Tigers players involved were each facing fines. 'I can say that the NRL didn't like it and I'm told there will be a punishment,' Rothfield said. 'We had a similar incident in the AFL last week when a Hawthorn player gave the bird to the crowd. He was fined $1500. I'm told the Wests Tigers players who did the same will cop a $1500 fine.' Fainu and his brother Latu, as well as Sunia Turuva and Brent Naden were the Tigers players seen on camera making the hand gesture towards the crowd. Calls for Wests Tigers to reprimand players over incident The controversy has overshadowed the Tigers' memorable win, and veteran NRL commentator Andrew Voss has questioned why the club has remained silent in the wake of the backlash. Voss pointed out that the situation was a poor look for the club and its sponsors and insists the Tigers should not wait for the NRL to act before handing down their own sanctions to the players. 'What happens if a player just flips the bird to the crowd? Would the NRL take action to that? 100% they would,' Voss said on SEN radio on Tuesday. 'What sport in the world wouldn't (sanction a player). What are the Tigers' players thinking and where are their heads at? 'If you're a sponsor, is that how you want the club to represent you? Should the Tigers have waited for the NRL to take action? Or should the Tigers have got on the front foot and said that 'we don't stand for that'? I believe they should've taken action on their players straight away and told them to pull their heads in.' Some Tigers players reportedly said the gestures were in response to relentless abuse they claimed to have copped from Bulldogs fans during the contest. Tigers centre and former Bulldogs star Naden was also at the centre of a post-game controversy after appearing in a since-deleted TikTok video in which he made the same gesture and yelled "f***ing dogs" to the camera. The video was reportedly sent by Naden to a friend and then leaked publicly. Lachie Galvin reportedly abused in pre-game incident It follows reports Bulldogs recruit Lachie Galvin was also abused by a fan before the grudge match against his former club. AAP was told the incident occurred after Tigers members and fans left the ground, having formed a guard of honour for the players before kick-off. RELATED: Warriors in brutal setback amid fury over NRL's response to illegal act Classy Jayden Campbell act missed in Panthers trainer furore The incident left Canterbury officials privately questioning why security was not on hand, given the tensions around Galvin after his unpopular mid-season switch to the Dogs. The 20-year-old was mercilessly booed by Tigers fans every time he touched the ball on Sunday, with Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo proud of how Galvin handled the hostile reception. "Nothing much flusters him," the Bulldogs coach said about the young playmaker after the game. "I thought he went out there, he did his job... I don't think it rattled him that much. It's just we got beaten as a team." with AAP
