South Africa won by 14 runs (DLS) on a wet and wild evening at Sophia Gardens
“Shame (but very predictable) about the current weather,” says Alfie Sparrow,although his email is actually about something else. “I’ve just moved into London, living in Tooting with some old uni mates. I was wondering if any readers have local cricket club recommendations? Played alongside Bas de Leede growing up in the Netherlands, winning 3 national titles in our age group. Wish I could say I was still near his quality but that’s far from the case – just after a friendly club for next summer.” Hope you find one.
“My girlfriend has very tentatively started to get into cricket,” reports Charles Aspden. “And we discussed potential telly programmes which would further entice her in. In true Alan Partridge fashion, she wants to see ‘Tea with Amol Rajan,’ a show somewhere between Bake Off and Grandstand. Amol travels the country to try the best and worst teas around the village, county and international grounds, interviewing the local eccentrics and giving tea ladies up and down the country some of the plaudits they deserve.”
The NCAA banned three Division I college basketball players by permanently revoking their eligibility on Wednesday, saying they had bet on their own games at Fresno State and San Jose State and were able to share thousands of dollars in payouts. The NCAA said the three bet on one another’s games and/or provided information that enabled others to do so during the 2024-25 regular season; two of them manipulated their performances to ensure certain bets were won.
Former Detroit Red Wings forward Cross Hanas has made a surprise appearance at the Dallas Stars’ training camp, reportedly attending on a professional tryout (PTO) agreement. The 23-year-old winger, once considered a promising prospect in the Red Wings organization as a second round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, is now looking to earn a spot in Dallas after becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Hanas spent the 2024–25 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s AHL affiliate, where he tallied 9 goals and 8 assists over 58 games. While his production showed flashes of skill and playmaking ability, it wasn’t enough to secure a long-term commitment from Detroit. The Red Wings declined to extend him a qualifying offer as a pending restricted free agent, making him available to other teams.
Now in Dallas, Hanas is aiming to reignite his career in a new environment. The Stars, known for giving young players a shot, could offer the change of scenery he needs. Whether he earns a contract remains to be seen, but his presence in camp signals both a second chance for him and a low-risk look at untapped potential for Dallas.
On Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced their rosters for the 2025 Prospects Challenge in Buffalo, which takes place Sept. 11-15.
And there is one particularly notable omission from the roster.
Forward prospect Rutger McGroarty - who was acquired from the Winnipeg Jets last summer and debuted with Pittsburgh last season - will not participate in the Prospects Challenge due to an undisclosed injury. 2025 draftees Bill Zonnon and Peyton Kettles will also miss the Challenge because of injury.
McGroarty, 21, missed the last few games of the NHL season as well as the remainder of the AHL season and playoffs due to a lower-body injury sustained in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Apr. 8. It is not known whether or not his current injury is an extension of the one he sustained previously.
The injury statuses of McGroarty, Zonnon, and Kettles will be updated by GM and POHO Kyle Dubas prior to the onset of training camp.
The roster for the Prospects Challenge includes 24 players (14 forwards, eight defensemen, two goaltenders), with some returning players and eight 2025 draft picks. Forwards Ville Koivunen and Tristan Broz as well as defensemen Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke are a few of the players returning, while draftees such as goaltender Gabriel D'Aigle, forward Ben Kindel, and defenseman Quinn Beauchesne will be making their Prospects Challenge debuts.
Here is the full roster for the Prospects Challenge:
Forwards: - Tristan Broz - Atley Calvert - Jordan Charron - Kale Dach - Brayden Edwards - Max Graham - Avery Hayes - Travis Hayes - Ben Kindel - Gabe Klassen - Ville Koivunen - Ryan Miller - Nolan Renwick - Carter Sanderson
Defensemen: - Quinn Beauchesne - Harrison Brunicke - Finn Harding - Daniel Laatsch - Brady Peddle - Owen Pickering - Emil Pieniniemi - Chase Pietila
The Penguins are one of five teams participating in the annual event, with the others being the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, and Boston Bruins. They will play in three games, including their first against the Bruins on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and their second against the Blue Jackets on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
Pittsburgh will conclude the challenge - same as last season - against Buffalo on Monday, Sept. 15 at 12:00 p.m. The Penguins will look to follow up on their performance in last season's challenge, when they were the only team to finish a clean 3-0.
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues announced their roster and training camp schedule, which is slated to get started with on ice sessions on Thursday, Sept. 18.
Practices will be held at Centene Community Ice Center and run through Friday and Saturday before beginning the 2025 preseason schedule with a road game against the Dallas Stars on Saturday, Sept. 20.
Ice times for the first three days of camp and the full 2025 preseason schedule can be found below. All camp practice sessions will be free and open to the public.
Blues 2025 TrainingCampOn-Ice Schedule (practice times subject to change)
Thursday, September 18 & Friday, September 19
Early Group
9:30 a.m. (USA Rink)
10 a.m. (NHL Rink)
Late Group
11:30 a.m. (NHL Rink)
Noon (USA Rink)
Saturday, September 20
Non-Playing Groups
9:30 a.m. (Group A – NHL Rink, Group B – USA Rink)
CHICAGO — Anthony Rizzo will officially retire as a member of the Chicago Cubs on Saturday and will join the organization as team ambassador.
The 36-year-old Rizzo spent 10 of his 14 major league seasons with Chicago. The infielder hit .272 with 242 home runs and 784 RBIs for the Cubs and helped them win the World Series in 2016.
“Anthony Rizzo was the face of one of the most successful eras in Chicago Cubs history, and we are so excited he will be a part of our organization for many years to come,” Cubs executive chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement.
Rizzo was a three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner, one-time Platinum Glove winner and one-time Silver Slugger award winner for the Cubs. He played his rookie season with the San Diego Padres and spent his final seasons with the New York Yankees. He completes his major league career with 1,644 hits, 303 home runs and 965 RBIs in 1,727 games played.
The Cubs said Rizzo, who survived Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, has raised millions of dollars through the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation for cancer research and to help families dealing with the disease. He received the 2017 Roberto Clemente Award, the league’s highest community service honor.
Other Cubs ambassadors are Andre Dawson, Ryan Dempster, Fergie Jenkins, Lee Smith, Billy Williams, Kerry Wood and Ben Zobrist. In memoriam ambassadors include Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg and Ron Santo.
Defensive back Danny Odem (Orlando, FL/ The First Academy), the four-star prosect has officially accepted his invitation to the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl.
Isaac Howard (Ike) has arrived in Edmonton and is now on the ice and skating with the rest of his new Edmonton Oilers teammates.
Captain's skates began last week with informal skates continuing this week. Howard was not on the ice with the Oilers prior to Tuesday, only because he was at the NHL/NHLPA’s Player Orientation Program as the Oilers representative.
The Oilers are hoping for big things out of Howard this season. He was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning over the summer and he'll be inserted into the lineup right away. Whether he plays in the top six or top nine is unclear, but his elite release and ability to score is something the Oilers are hoping shows itself right away.
As one fan on X.com (Twitter) wrote, "Has there ever been more pressure, on two rookies. In the history of the NHL? Go deep into the playoffs, or lose McDavid and start a rebuild."
To say that Howard's success will determine whether McDavid stays or go is hyperbole. There are many factors that McDavid will consider as he determines the length of term on his next deal with the Oilers. That said, Howard is a key part of what the Oilers hope is a very bright future beyond this season.
If Howard can score 15-20 goals and 40 or more points, that's a great sign for the Oilers, who would love for some youth and energy to join their elite, but aging veterans.
Matt Savoie is another player the Oilers are counting on, but he's an old pro at camps by now. Having spent time in the Sabres and Oilers system, Savoie will be making the jump to the NHL as well this season, but he's used to the grind of getting prepared and hoping to make an NHL roster.
As used to be an almost annual tradition, LeBron James recently toured China to promote Nike and his signature shoes (his 15th such trip). However, this time, LeBron faced backlash at home in the United States — and in Hong Kong — when his name appeared as the author of an essay for the state-controlled daily news outlet the People's Daily. In the essay, LeBron was very complimentary of China.
Despite James' name being attached to the story, two sources close to James confirmed that he did not submit an essay to People's Daily. Instead, he conducted group interviews with reporters in the two cities he visited... comments made by the Los Angeles Lakers star in group settings throughout his Chinese tour last week, to Shanghai and Chengdu, were printed in Mandarin by the newspaper. At the bottom of the article, according to three Chinese translators advising The Athletic, it refers to James as the "author," but also states that James was interviewed — and the piece was edited — by a reporter from People's Daily.
James was understandably complimentary of the people of China in those interviews. He talked about basketball as a bridge between the countries, exactly the kind of thing a seasoned pro would say when touring a country trying to sell shoes. LeBron is not the only NBA star to tour China late this summer, both James Harden (for Adidas) and Stephen Curry (for Under Armor) did as well.
This was James' first trip to China post-COVID. The last time he was in the country was in 2019, when the Lakers and Brooklyn Nets had come there for an NBA preseason game just as then Rockets GM Daryl Morey Tweeted support for protestors in Hong Kong. That led to a chill that lasted for years between the NBA and China, with NBA games not being broadcast legally in the country. The relationship between the NBA and China has largely thawed, and it appears things are back to business as usual.
When it comes to gold medal talent, Team USA's projected Olympics roster seems to check all the right boxes.
They've got Matthew Tkachuk, who just won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships. They've got Auston Matthews, who is two years removed from scoring 69 goals. They've got a deep and mobile defense, led by former Norris Trophy winners Quinn Hughes and Adam Fox.
And in Connor Hellebuyck, who is the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner, they've got arguably the best goaltender in the world.
What they don't seem to have is experience. Or, put differently, they don't have anyone who was participated the last time NHLers participated in the Olympics.
In fact, Brock Faber was only 12 years old when Team USA finished fourth at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.
There is no Sidney Crosby, who scored the golden goal in 2010 and won gold again in 2014. No Drew Doughty, who was won gold at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics . There's not even a Brad Marchand or Mark Stone, who are in their late 30s. On a team that skews young, the Americans have too many millennials and not a single Gen X.
That could change if Patrick Kane works his way onto the team.
The 36-year-old Kane, who turns 37 in November, was one of the 44 players who attended to the U.S. Team's orientation camp last month. If he makes the team, he would be participating in his third Olympics. But having been left off Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, the veteran winger is considered a long shot.
Still, the idea of capturing gold to go along with his two Stanley Cups is something that is motivating him as he begins what could be his final NHL season.
Having Kane around at the Olympics, even as a 13th forward, could be more than just a sentimental gesture.
The Olympics is not just some random hockey tournament. This is a global event, where the pressure far exceeds playing for a World Cup or even a Stanley Cup. The U.S. team is young, with only six players on NHL.com's projected roster aged 30 or older. Compare that to Team Canada, where 11 players are 30 or older.
While age is not always a determining factor in skill, the lack of international experience could be an area of concern, especially as pressure ramps up.
Kane, who combined for three goals and nine points in 12 games at the Olympics, is obviously not the same player he was back in 2010 or even 2014. But he is coming off a decent season where he scored 21 goals and 59 points in 72 games for the Detroit Red Wings.
With 492 goals and 1,343 points, he is 31 points away from surpassing Mike Modano as the all-time scoring leader among U.S. born players.
"Obviously a tremendous impact," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said of Kane at Tuesday's NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas. "He’s been a great player. He came in very, very young. Certainly, he’s matured as a player professionally over that time and he’s one of the greatest U.S. players of all time. I don’t think anyone can argue that."
The question is whether Kane is still one of the greatest American players.
Does he belong on a team with Tkachuk and Matthews? Does he warrant a look, even if it means knocking someone younger like Matt Boldy or Cole Caufield off the team?
If you're basing the decision on offensive production, the answer is probably no. But if you're looking at all the intangibles, having Kane's experience could be the final X-factor that helps the U.S. team win gold.
"I don’t want that to be a thing, either, where you’re getting
selected for the team because of all that stuff,” Kane told NHL.com. “You want
to be selected for the player you are and what you can bring to the
team.”
SAN FRANCISCO – The red-hot Giants were cooled off in their pursuit of an MLB playoff push Wednesday at Oracle Park with a frustrating 5-3 loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Carson Seymour earned his first big league win last Friday in his second career start. He wasn’t close to as successful in his third start. Seymour’s start began with a leadoff home run, and it ended with six hits and four earned runs over 1 1/3 innings pitched.
Offensively, he and the rest of the Giants’ pitching staff didn’t get much help. The Giants were no-hit until Eduardo Rodriguez’ bid ended with one out in the fifth inning. At that point, the Giants already were trailing 4-0.
Rodriguez was sporting a 5.22 ERA on the 2025 MLB season and stifled the Giants up and down the lineup. The veteran left-hander gave up only two hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings.
Though Rafael Devers did drive in two of the Giants’ three runs with a deep double to right-center field in the eighth inning, the Giants’ first three batters – Heliot Ramos, Devers and Willy Adames – were a collective 2-for-13 and totaled five strikeouts.
Here are three takeaways from the Giants’ loss, dropping them to 74-72 on the season.
Seymour’s Rough Start
The Giants’ two MLB All-Star starting pitchers, Logan Webb and Robbie Ray, secured a series win to inch San Francisco one step closer to the third and final NL wild-card spot. Seymour, making his third career MLB start, couldn’t complete the sweep.
It was a bad day for Seymour right from the jump. After putting leadoff batter Geraldo Perdomo in an 0-2 hole, Seymour on the fourth pitch of the at-bat hung a sinker right over the heart of the plate. Perdomo made him pay, launching a solo shot 380 feet over the right-field wall.
All Seymour allowed the rest of the inning was a single to right field. The real damage came in the second inning. The Diamondbacks began the top half of the inning reeling off three straight singles to make it a 2-0 game.
A sacrifice bunt brought Perdomo up for his second at-bat, and this time he knocked Seymour out of the game, hitting a sharp line drive to right field to bring in another run and put men on first and third. Seymour faced 10 batters in 1 1/3 innings, fooling nobody along the way.
He now has a 7.71 ERA in 15 innings at Oracle Park this season.
Bats Get Silenced
Through the first two games of this three-game series, the Giants scored 16 runs and hit seven home runs. The Giants’ offense ran out of juice Wednesday afternoon. Their first 14 batters failed to get a hit before Casey Schmitt finally ended Rodriguez’s no-hit bid with one out in the fifth inning.
What looked to be a rally in the making was nothing more than a tease in the bottom of the seventh inning. Adames walked and then was 90 feet from giving the Giants their first run after a single from Matt Chapman, putting runners at first and third with no outs. The Giants then laid an egg.
As Adames begged to cross home plate, Wilmer Flores instead hit a pop fly sky-high to the catcher. The inning then ended when Schmitt struck out and the Giants had a gaffe on the bases, ending with Adames getting in a pickle and being tagged out at home.
The two runs Devers drove in the next inning were simply too little, too late. As was the fight they showed in the bottom of the ninth.
Now What?
There are two critical games the Giants will be watching as the day continues. First, the New York Mets, who came into the day two games ahead of the Giants for the third NL wild-card spot, play the Philadelphia Phillies. Then, the Giants will be glued to what happens between the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds.
The Padres have a firm hold of the second wild-card spot, but the Reds entered Wednesday just one game back of the Giants.
To make matters even more intense, the Giants after a day off will serve as host to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series that starts Friday night. By the sound of things, manager Bob Melvin wants to ensure the trio of Webb, Ray and Justin Verlander toe the rubber against the Giants’ biggest rivals.
Every game will have to be managed like a Game 7 going forward. The Giants will need help from others, but first they’ll have to get back to controlling their own destiny against the Dodgers.
