England ruthlessly privatised cricket – Australia embraces it with constant public displays of affection | Emma John

If there is one takeaway for England from this Ashes tour it should be how cricket thrives in a nation where it is readily and freely available as the dominant summer pastime

The drive to Bowral in New South Wales takes you through some of Australia’s most English countryside. Pastoral hills roll right up to the roadside and finish in grassy verges, flecked with yellow and white wildflowers. Alliums stand sentinel around vibrant lawns. Even the eucalypts are cosplaying as beech and oaks. You might be in Hampshire, if it weren’t for the dazzling sun.

Just a few roads from the high street – storefronts full of fancy cookware and country casuals – is the Bradman Oval. This small ground, with its pre-loved outfield, has become a pilgrimage stop for the Australian cricketing faithful. Head out to the middle and you’re walking across the sacred turf where Sir Don honed his skills. Stand at the crease, look past the white picket fence, and you can see the family homes where he grew from boy to man, on Shepherd Street and Glebe Street respectively.

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Yankees claim RHP Kaleb Ort off waivers from Astros

The Yankees have claimed reliever Kaleb Ort off waivers from the Astros. 

Ort was DFA'd earlier this week to make room for the recently-signed Tatsuya Imai on Houston's roster. 

The righty originally broke into the league with the Red Sox, but he spent the past two years in the Astros' bullpen. 

He enjoyed a breakout campaign during his first year with Houston, recording a career-best 2.55 ERA in 22 appearances in 2024, but took a step back last season. 

Ort pitched to 4.89 ERA over 49 innings before missing the final two months with elbow inflammation. 

The 33-year-old will now compete for a spot in the Yankees' bullpen in spring training. 

For first time, Grizzlies reportedly 'entertaining offers' to trade Ja Morant

The Atlanta Hawks just traded their star, in-his-prime point guard to Washington for an unimpressive return — no draft picks, no young players, mostly an expiring contract — because it was the only viable option. There was no meaningful trade market for Trae Young.

Now enter Ja Morant into the conversation.

The Memphis Grizzlies are, for the first time, "entertaining offers to potentially move two-time All-Star," reports Shams Charania of ESPN. "Multiple teams are pursuing Morant in trade talks and rival executives believe the Grizzlies would prioritize draft picks and young players in return," is the spin from Charania.

That kind of trade will be difficult to find. While there are front offices that like the potential of a Morant comeback story, not many teams are looking for a point guard, let alone a ball-dominant one who is a minus defender and on a max contract. Much as it was with Young, some teams will expect Memphis to add draft picks as sweeteners to the deal to get them to take on Monrant and his contract.

Morant, 26, will miss his fourth straight game Friday night due to a calf contusion, and he has missed 19 games already this season due to injuries and a one-game suspension for an incident with coach Tuomas Iisalo. A combination of injuries and suspensions — Morant comes with a lot of baggage — have kept him from playing in more than 65 games in any of the last seven seasons.

More concerning, when he has played this season, he has not looked as explosive as he once did when he was an All-Star and one of the most dynamic players in the league, scouts have told NBC Sports. Any flashes of that old Morant have been just that, flashes (although his injuries could have something to do with that). This season, he has averaged 19 points a game on 40.1% shooting (20.8% from 3-point range) and is dishing out 7.6 assists a night. He is a drive-and-dish player, not one who has ever spaced the floor with his shooting. And the fact that he is a target on defense is a serious issue in the modern NBA.

The biggest concern for teams may be the money. Morant is making $39.5 million this season, the third year of a five-year, $197 million max contract. He is guaranteed $87.1 million in the two seasons after this one. In the tax apron era, teams know they cannot miss on max contracts, and Morant is not everyone's flavor of point guard — ball-dominant, someone others have to adjust to play around. Being a player who has to have the ball in his hands can work in today's NBA if a player is Luka Dončić- or Jalen Brunson-level, but is Morant that player anymore?

How much would a team be willing to give up in a trade to find out? Enough to get a deal done at the deadline? There are teams willing to take a chance on Morant's potential — a fresh start, get him healthy, and bet he can find his form again — but this is more about teams understanding the risk they are taking on, being willing to take a bit of a flier, not trading for a current star player. The return on that kind of trade may be less than the Grizzlies envision, much as it was with the Hawks when they dealt Young.

Morant joins Anthony Davis as the biggest names available at the trade deadline. Whether either of them finds a new home before Feb. 5 is up for debate, but they will generate a lot of headlines between now and then.

Imminent Return Feels Inevitable For Hurricanes Star With Latest AHL Reassignment

The Carolina Hurricanes announced that they have reassigned defenseman Joel Nystrom to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL Friday morning, meaning that Jaccob Slavin should be returning to the lineup very, very soon.

The 31-year-old defenseman has been recovering from an upper-body injury he suffered after getting boarded from behind by Florida Panthers forward A.J. Greer on Dec. 19.

It was a tough blow for Slavin, who was just three games into his return from a lower-body injury that had sidelined him for 28 games previously, but perhaps the new injury gave him even more time for that injury to heal as it was one that had pestered him from the preseason and the team had been extra cautious on.

Slavin, who has been practicing with the team for a little over a week now and recently also shed the non-contact jersey, has been a much missed piece on the Hurricanes' blueline.

The team has done an admirable job stepping up in his and the plethora of other absences they've had to deal with this year, but there's simply no replacing the best defensive defenseman in the game.

With the reassignment, Slavin will be able to be activated off of IR, as the Canes needed to free up a roster spot, and barring no immediate setbacks, he should play Saturday night against the Seattle Kraken as Carolina looks for a fourth straight win.


Nystrom, 23, has been a real gem of a find for Carolina this season.

The sheer amount of injuries the Canes dealt with to start the year meant he got the chance to showcase himself and what an impression he made.

The Swedish blueliner parlayed his opportunity into an extended stretch of games — he now has 33 under his belt, with eight points in that span — and he proved that he can be an everyday NHL defenseman.

That's why the team signed the 2021 seventh-round pick to a four-year extension earlier in the year and if it wasn't for the fact that he can be reassigned to the AHL without the need for waivers, he'd probably still be with the team as the seventh defenseman.

But it'll also be better for him in the long run to get regular playing time down with Chicago Wolves rather than sitting up in the press box with Carolina.

He's gonna be a good player for years to come and his development also gives the Canes a little more flexibility when it comes to potential trade packages as well.

A Perfect Storm: Hurricanes Rookie Defenseman Joel Nystrom Making Most Of OpportunityA Perfect Storm: Hurricanes Rookie Defenseman Joel Nystrom Making Most Of OpportunityA rare seventh-round pick defies the odds, showcasing an already high-level hockey sense. Discover how Joel Nystrom's rapid development landed him a a spot in the Hurricanes lineup.

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With trade to Washington official, Trae Young releases statement discussing change

It's official: Trae Young is a Washington Wizard.

The trade reported a couple of days ago — with Young going to Washington and CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert headed to Atlanta — became official on Friday morning. That is when Young released this statement on X.

The key parts of that discuss his acceptance of change for the man who had been the face of the Atlanta Hawks for more than seven years, since the team traded for him on draft night in 2018.

"The last few years weren't how I wanted them to be, expectations that were created for ourselves, reaching heights that Atlanta has never reached before...However, between the injuries, the setbacks, and situations that didn't make sense, we never truly got to see our full potential. The city that raised me and taught me so much will always be a chapter in this story. However, the pain of staying the same eventually outweighed the uncertainty of change."

Young also showed off his new jersey in the Wizards locker room.

Young goes to Washington in what is essentially a trial run, but how much we see of Young the remainder of this season is in doubt. Washington brought Young in to be a floor raiser with their young core, but this is also a team that owes its first-round pick to the Knicks, top-eight protected. Currently, the Wizards have the fourth-worst winning percentage in the league, and if the NBA Draft Lottery were today, they would retain their pick regardless of how the ping-pong balls bounce. But if Young plays a lot this season and lifts the Wizards up the standings, that dynamic changes. Which is why most people around the league expect it will be next season before we see a lot of Young on the court in a Wizards uniform and the real test of his ability to be a leader and mentor to this team will begin.

MLB Returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026: Full schedule announced

Major League Baseball returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026 with an exciting slate of exclusive games and programming, including Sunday Night Baseball, the return of MLB Sunday Leadoff, a special all-day "Star-Spangled Sunday" showcase on July 5, the Wild Card round of the MLB playoffs, and much more.

It all starts with an Opening Day doubleheader on March 26, as 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates take on Juan Soto and the New York Mets, followed by the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers raising their championship banner at Dodger Stadium before they host the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers’ season opener will be the only primetime MLB game on Opening Day and is one of 27 primetime MLB games across NBC, Peacock, and NBCSN in 2026.

Expanding NBC’s marquee Sunday night lineup alongside the NFL and NBA, Sunday Night Baseball will debut on March 29 with a matchup between two 2025 first-place teams, as the Mariners host the Guardians. The 18-game MLB Sunday Leadoff schedule begins May 3, with the defending AL champion Toronto Blue Jays visiting the Twins in Minnesota. On Sunday, July 5, all 15 MLB games will be presented nationally across Peacock and NBC as part of a special all-day “Star-Spangled Sunday” showcase.

NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.

Opening Day can’t come soon enough. Check out the full schedule below.

2026 SUNDAY NIGHT BASEBALL & SPECIAL EVENTSCHEDULE

**All Times ET**
**NOTE: Most Peacock Exclusive Games Will Be Simulcast on NBCSN

DateTimeGamePlatforms
March 26*1 p.m.Pittsburgh Pirates at N.Y. MetsNBC/Peacock
March 26*8 p.m.Arizona Diamondbacks at L.A. DodgersNBC/Peacock
March 297 p.m.Cleveland Guardians at Seattle MarinersPeacock
April 57 p.m.St. Louis Cardinals at Detroit TigersPeacock
April 127 p.m.Cleveland Guardians at Atlanta BravesNBC/Peacock
April 197 p.m.Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia PhilliesPeacock
April 267 p.m.L.A. Angels at Kansas City RoyalsPeacock
May 37 p.m.Texas Rangers at Detroit TigersPeacock
May 107 p.m.Detroit Tigers at Kansas City RoyalsPeacock
May 177 p.m.San Diego Padres at Seattle MarinersPeacock
May 247 p.m.Texas Rangers at L.A. AngelsPeacock
May 317 p.m.Chicago Cubs at St. Louis CardinalsNBC/Peacock
June 78 p.m.San Francisco Giants at Chicago CubsNBC/Peacock
June 147 p.m.Texas Rangers at Boston Red SoxNBC/Peacock
June 217 p.m.N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia PhilliesNBC/Peacock
June 287 p.m.N.Y. Yankees at Boston Red SoxNBC/Peacock
July 5**12:30 p.m.N.Y. Mets at Atlanta BravesNBC/Peacock
July 57 p.m.San Diego Padres at L.A. DodgersNBC/Peacock
July 197 p.m.L.A. Dodgers at N.Y. YankeesNBC/Peacock
July 267 p.m.N.Y. Yankees at Philadelphia PhilliesNBC/Peacock
August 27 p.m.Boston Red Sox at L.A. DodgersNBC/Peacock
August 98 p.m.Houston Astros at San Diego PadresNBC/Peacock
August 167 p.m.Seattle Mariners at Houston AstrosNBC/Peacock
August 233 p.m.San Francisco Giants at Boston Red SoxNBC/Peacock
August 303 p.m.Cincinnati Reds at Chicago CubsNBC/Peacock
August 307 p.m.Houston Astros at N.Y. MetsNBC/Peacock
Sept. 63 p.m.Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia PhilliesNBC/Peacock
Sept. 67 p.m.Toronto Blue Jays at Kansas City RoyalsPeacock
Sept. 7***8 p.m.St. Louis Cardinals at San Francisco GiantsNBC/Peacock
Sept. 137 p.m.San Diego Padres at San Francisco GiantsPeacock
Sept. 207 p.m.Milwaukee Brewers at Baltimore OriolesPeacock

*Opening Day (Thursday)
**Also on MLB Sunday Leadoff schedule (below)
***Labor Day (Monday)

2026 MLB SUNDAY LEADOFF SCHEDULE
**All Times ET**
**NOTE: Most Peacock Exclusive Games Will Be Simulcast on NBCSN

DateTimeGamePlatforms
May 312:30 p.m.Toronto Blue Jays at Minnesota TwinsPeacock
May 10NoonWashington Nationals at Miami MarlinsPeacock
May 17NoonMiami Marlins at Tampa Bay RaysPeacock
May 24NoonPittsburgh Pirates at Toronto Blue JayesPeacock
May 31NoonToronto Blue Jays at Baltimore OriolesPeacock
June 73 p.m.Washington Nationals at Arizona DiamondbacksPeacock
June 14NoonMiami Marlins at Pittsburgh PiratesPeacock
June 213 p.m.Minnesota Twins at Arizona DiamondbacksPeacock
June 283 p.m.Athletics at L.A. AngelsPeacock
July 512:30 p.m.N.Y. Mets at Atlanta BravesNBC/Peacock
July 12NoonMilwaukee Brewers at Pittsburgh PiratesPeacock
July 19NoonChicago White Sox at Toronto Blue JaysPeacock
July 26NoonCleveland Guardians at Tampa Bay RaysPeacock
August 23 p.m.Milwaukee Brewers at L.A. AngelsPeacock
August 9NoonCincinnati Reds at Washington NationalsPeacock
August 16NoonBaltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay RaysPeacock
August 234 p.m.Cincinnati Reds at Arizona DiamondbacksPeacock
August 30NoonMiami Marlins at Washington NationalsPeacock

NBC SPORTS’ JULY 5 MLB “STAR-SPANGLED SUNDAY”
EVERY MLB GAME PRESENTED NATIONALLY ON NBCUNIVERSAL PLATFORMS
**All Times ET**
**NOTE: Most Peacock Exclusive Games Will Be Simulcast on NBCSN

Time
Game
Platforms
12:30 p.m.*
N.Y. Mets at Atlanta Braves
NBC/Peacock
1 p.m.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Washington Nationals
Peacock
1 p.m.
Baltimore Orioles at Cincinnati Reds
Peacock
1:30 p.m.
Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees
Peacock
2 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Guardians
Peacock
2:30 p.m.
St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs
Peacock
3 p.m.
Philadelphia Philles at Kansas City Royals
Peacock
3:30 p.m.
Detroit Tigers at Texas Rangers
Peacock
3:30 p.m.
Tampa Bay Rays at Houston Astros
Peacock
4:00 p.m.
San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies
Peacock
4:00 p.m.
Milwaukee Brewers at Arizona Diamondbacks
Peacock
4:30 p.m.
Miami Marlins at Athletics
Peacock
5:00 p.m.
Toronto Blue Jays at Seattle Mariners
Peacock
7 p.m. **
San Diego Padres at L.A. Dodgers
NBC/Peacock
9:30 p.m.
Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels
Peacock

*MLB Sunday Leadoff
**Sunday Night Baseball

Watch Anthony Edwards become third youngest player ever to reach 10,000 points

LeBron James. Kevin Durant.

Those two legends and future Hall of Famers are the only two players to reach 10,000 points in the NBA younger than Anthony Edwards. The Timberwolves star reached that milestone Thursday night with a fourth-quarter step-back jumper along the baseline.

"To be honest, it's cool, but I know I've got a lot more to go, so it's really nothing, for real," Edwards said postgame, via the Associated Press. "I'm kind of sick that I got in front of Kobe. I wished I would've waited like 100 days or something, but yeah, it's all good."

Edwards, the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, reached the milestone in 412 games. Only two other Timberwolves — Kevin Garnett and Karl-Anthony Towns — have reached this milestone with the team.

Edwards hit 10,000 on a night he scored 25 points with nine assists and seven rebounds as the Timberwolves picked up an impressive 131-122 win over the Cavaliers. The Timberwolves have won four in a row and 8-of-11.

‘Why can’t it be us?’: Weston-super-Mare hope FA Cup dream run can go on

National League South side face Grimsby in the third round and those at the club are desparate for the ride to continue

Weeks on from the FA Cup third-round draw, inside Weston-super-Mare’s modest clubhouse at their stadium a couple of miles from the holiday haven beachfront, there is still a tinge of incredulity at what might have been. Bridget Bolland, operations manager and one of the mini-army of staff who keep the part-time sixth-tier side ticking, relays how, normally, visiting teams have their post-match meal on a bench beside the skittles alley, sausage and chips usually the offering. The thought of Bruno Fernandes or Erling Haaland tucking in here is yet to fully evaporate.

But the draw meant Weston, the promotion-chasing National League South side who have reached this stage of the Cup for the first time, have been preparing for a different challenge: a tie at fourth-tier Grimsby Town, who beat Manchester United in the Carabao Cup in August. “As a United fan, I hated them that night,” says Weston’s manager, Scott Rogers. “I was going mad at the TV. But I’m hoping we can do something similar. There’s always an upset in the Cup: why can’t it be us?”

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