Australia drop Mitch Marsh for fifth Test with Beau Webster to debut in series decider

  • All-rounder pays price for poor form with only 73 runs against India
  • Mitchell Starc to play in Sydney despite carrying a rib injury

Struggling all-rounder Mitch Marsh has been dropped for Australia’s SCG finale against India, giving Tasmanian Beau Webster a Test debut. But star quick Mitchell Starc has been named for the fifth and final match of the Border-Gavaskar series despite dealing with rib soreness at the MCG.

The 34-year-old had scans on Wednesday, but received the all-clear to take his spot in a bowling line-up alongside captain Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon. Taking Starc in meant Australia needed more bowling options, with Webster providing the versatility of sending down pace and spin.

Continue reading...

Manchester United, Ryder Cup and Lions tour: 12 sport storylines for 2025

Everton’s new stadium, Women’s Rugby World Cup and potentially close Ashes series – new year has much to offer

Next season one narrative will surely dominate F1 when Lewis Hamilton dons his new scarlet race suit and climbs into a Ferrari for the first competitive session at the opening race in Australia. His move from Mercedes after 12 seasons and six titles was a huge shock and this new start could not be more gripping. How will he fare in a new team at the age of 40, a new culture at Maranello, a team that has a history of making and breaking drivers? Better still the prospect of him ending Ferrari’s drivers’ title drought that now stretches back to 2007 and in so doing claiming a record-breaking eighth world championship across three different teams. Or will it be a testing and turbulent opening year, far from his comfort zone? One way or another Hamilton and Ferrari will be impossible to ignore and it’s mouth-watering stuff. Giles Richards

Continue reading...