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‘I had a lighthearted crack at Steve Smith’: James Vince on the Ashes, sandpaper and his T20 Blast record

As he bids for a fourth Finals Day title, Hampshire’s captain is enjoying a new life in Dubai as a T20 freelancer with few regrets over his England career

Finals Day beckons for James Vince this Saturday and to call it familiar territory would be an understatement. This is Hampshire’s 11th appearance at the T20 Blast’s annual jamboree – a record they share with Somerset – and their captain is the only man to play in every one.

However, Hampshire’s relationship with Finals Day is one of extremes: three titles, in 2010, 2012 and 2022 – a fourth would be the outright record – and seven times on the first bus home after a semi-final exit. “We have never lost a quarter-final either,” says Vince, in a freewheeling chat over the phone that spans his new freelance life, England and even sandpaper.

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Canelo Álvarez v Terence Crawford: all of your pre-fight questions, answered

Boxing’s biggest fight in years takes place on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Here’s everything you need to know about Canelo v Crawford, including how, when and why to watch

Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez and Terence Crawford, two of the most accomplished boxers of the past 20 years, will climb through the ropes on Saturday night in Las Vegas for one of the sport’s biggest events in years.

Álvarez, 35, will be defending his undisputed super middleweight title at his natural 168lb. Crawford, 37, is attempting the jump of a lifetime: moving up two full divisions to that weight for the first time after winning his fourth world title last year in his 154lb debut. That size gap is at the heart of Saturday’s intrigue. And because the fight will be carried globally on Netflix at no extra cost to subscribers, it could draw the largest audience ever for a major championship bout.

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Are The Penguins Teasing Marc-Andre Fleury Announcement?

The Pittsburgh Penguins put out a cryptic tweet regarding former goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury on Thursday. 

They tweeted a video of "Fleury Flakes" with a Fleury bobblehead next to it, along with the caption, "Starting our day with a balanced breakfast." The video also shows someone pouring milk into a bowl of cereal.

Allan Walsh, Fleury's longtime agent, has been posting cryptic tweets about that video throughout the day, including one with Fleury in a Penguins' uniform.

It doesn't seem like this is by accident since Fleury spent 13 seasons with the Penguins before spending time with the Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks, and Minnesota Wild. He helped the Penguins win three Stanley Cups and is one of the best goaltenders in NHL history. Fleury retired following the 2024-25 season after 21 NHL seasons.

He was a fan favorite during his time in Pittsburgh and got one heck of a standing ovation when he played his final game inside PPG Paints Arena last season. The Wild came from 2-0 down to beat the Penguins 5-3 in that contest. 

This could be about Fleury signing a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Penguins, so let's see where this goes. 

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Carlos Mendoza assumes responsibility to reset slumping Mets: 'It’s my job to get these guys going and I will'

Thursday saw a brutal loss by the Mets that capped off a brutal series.

Already in the midst of a five-game losing streak and dropping the first three games of their series to the Phillies, the Mets blew an early 4-0 lead and were ultimately swept by their division rivals. After putting up four first-inning runs on Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo, the southpaw shut down the offense over the next seven innings. Jhoan Duran struck out the side in the ninth to lock down the 6-4 win with Phillies pitchers retiring 25 straight batters.

"Whether you’re up four, down four, at the end of the day, you didn’t get the job done," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of the loss. "Frustrating, but nothing we can do about it now. We have to get back at it tomorrow, go back home and win some baseball games."

The Mets (76-71) are now losers of six straight games and hold a slim 1.5-game lead over the idle Giants and Reds for the final wild card spot. It wasn't too long ago that the Mets' spot in the postseason was inevitable, but going 5-10 over their last 15 games has hurt their chances of holding on. 

When Mendoza was asked if he's worried about their wild card spot, the second-year skipper said he's not, but acknowledged there aren't a lot of games remaining. 

"Teams are right behind us," he said. "The way you look at it is, we’re still in control of the situation, we’re still in control of the ultimate goal. We just have to go out and do it."

"Gotta play better. Simple as that," David Peterson said after his start on Thursday. "We’ve seen what this group can do. We got 15 [games] left, we have to take care of business. Past is the past, and we have to let it go and play better. It's as simple as that."

Peterson was solid, giving the Mets five innings while allowing three runs before the bullpen -- led by Reed Garrett -- gave up the lead in a three-run sixth. A part of that bullpen implosion was the misplay of Jeff McNeil in center field that led to the go-ahead run. The longtime Met didn't show concern about the team's standing in the playoff picture when asked after the game because of his teammates.

"Got a bunch of great guys in here. We’ve been through a lot this year. Right now, we’re still in a playoff spot," he said. "Could be worse. We’re going to come tomorrow, tough game tomorrow, and be ready."

After a 10-game road trip, where the Mets went 3-7, the team returns home for nine games.  The Mets are 45-27 at home this season, the fourth-most in the NL this year, so perhaps going back to Citi Field could cure what ails them. 

Mendoza said it's "always nice to go home," but repeated that it comes down to the Mets playing better and winning games. When asked how the Mets can "reset," he put the inenviable task on himself.

"I’m responsible. I’m the manager, it’s my job to get these guys going and I will," he said. "I have a lot of confidence in myself, my coaches and the players. It’s not easy right now. We are all frustrated, but we still got an opportunity here to achieve our goal."

He later added, "As bad as it looks right now, as bad as it’s been, we’re still in control. But we got to play better, that’s the bottom line."

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Aaron Judge homers twice, Yankees pound Tigers, 9-3

Aaron Judge smacked two home runs and the Yankees knocked around the visiting Detroit Tigers for 14 hits in a 9-3 win Thursday night in The Bronx.

The Yanks avoided the sweep and kept their hopes of winning the American League East alive as they improved to 81-65 on the season (44-31 at home) and are now 3.0 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays, who won earlier in the day to improve to 84-62.

Here are the takeaways...

- Judge put the Yanks ahead in the bottom of the first, crushing a 3-2 pitch into the visitor’s bullpen for a solo home run when a Tyler Holton cutter found the middle of the plate and it got smoked: 413 feet, 110.1 mph off the bat.

In his very next at-bat, Judge launched his second homer of the game to nearly the exact same spot, this time belting it 21 feet further, for a 434-foot solo shot to lead off the third. This one, off righty Sawyer Gipson-Long, was 114.9 mph off the bat and was the slugger’s 361st career home run, leveling him with Joe DiMaggio for fourth on the all-time Yankees home run list. He now has 46 home runs and 100 RBI for the season.

His hardest-hit ball (115.6 mph) came on a single up the middle to start the sixth. He finished 3-for-4 with a hit by pitch, but struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch to leave the bases loaded to end the seventh. 

- Yanks’ starter Cam Schlittler retired the first four batters with three strikeouts before allowing back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners with one out in the second. Schlittler jammed Dillon Dingler on the 11th pitch of the at-bat but was able to muscle it into right to level the score. After an early mound visit from Matt Blake, a strikeout and groundout got the righty out of the jam.

Again pitching with a lead, Schlittler allowed a leadoff double in the third, but a lineout doubleplay set up six straight retired to get the next seven outs. That came to an end with Parker Meadows’ single to right with one down in the fifth. After back-to-back two-out walks, the Tigers had the bases loaded, and Blake was out for another visit. But on a fifth straight fastball, Schlittler got Riley Greene swinging at a 98 mph heater at the top of the zone to leave ‘em full.

A quick sixth finished the day for the 24-year-old, his final line: 6.0 innings, one run, five hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts on 95 pitches (62 strikes). His ERA stands at 3.05 on the year. Schlittler tossed first-pitch strikes to 17 of 24 batters he faced.

- With one out in the third, Giancarlo Stanton got a 3-2 hanging breaking pitch and smacked it 429 feet into left field stands (108.9 mph off the bat). It was his 20th home run of the year, giving the Yanks seven players with 20 or more on the season, which ties a franchise record. Stanton now has 449 in his big league career. He finished 1-for-5 with three strikeouts and bounced into a 5-4-3 twin killing.

- Jazz Chisholm opened the home half of the second inning by cracking a two-strike single to right before stealing second with one out, his 28th steal of the season. Chisholm came around to score on Ben Rice’s double to the right field corner for his 55th RBI of the year.

Jose Caballero, playing short for the second straight game as Anthony Volpe had a cortisone shot on Wednesday, kept the line moving with an RBI single to left and immediately stole second for his 44th steal of the year, but was left stranded there.

- Rice cracked another double down the right field line to start the fourth and was moved to third on a single slapped into right by Caballero, who then stole second with one out. Austin Slater, batting leadoff and starting for the first time since August 4, was hitless his first two times up, but cracked a single against a drawn-in infield for an RBI. After Judge was hit on the elbow pad to load the bases, the Tigers brought in Bailey Horn, who promptly allowed an RBI single to Cody Bellinger. With two down, Chisholm muscled a broken-bat two RBI single to right to make it a 9-1 game. 

Chisholm finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a walk. Rice went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk.

- Ryan Yarbrough was the first man out of the bullpen and surrendered a homer to Dingler down the line in left on the third pitch he threw. He allowed a two-out walk in the seventh and a two-out walk and single in the eighth, but no further damage. Javier Báez drove a triple off the wall in center with one out in the ninth before scoring on a groundout before the Tigers' 27th out. But Yarbrough's three innings of work were enough to earn him the save. 

Game MVP: Judge

Judge entered the game batting .319, the lowest his average had been since he started 1-for-4 on Opening Day. He fixed that with his three hits, bringing it back up to .322, and raising his OPS to 1.112 for the year.

Highlights

What's next

New York, with a half-game lead over the Red Sox for the top Wild Card spot, heads to Boston for a three-game set at Fenway Park, starting with Friday night's 7:10 p.m. first pitch.

New York has yet to name starting pitchers for the series. Boston is sending out right-hander Lucas Giolito for the first game, with RHP Brayan Bello and LHP Garrett Crochet following.

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Mets' bats cool down after hot start, bullpen blows lead in 6-4 loss to Phillies

The Mets got off to a roaring start, but the bats fell asleep and the bullpen gave up the lead in New York's 6-4 loss to the Phillies in Philadelphia on Thursday night.

Philadelphia completed the four-game sweep and the Mets have now lost six games in a row. With the loss and the Giants and Reds idle, the Mets' lead for the final wild card spot is now at 1.5 games.

Here are the takeaways...

-The Mets' offense has struggled mightily during this losing streak, but broke out early in this one. Back-to-back singles from Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto, to go along with a double steal, gave the team an early scoring chance. Pete Alonso struck out looking before Mark Vientos stung an RBI single to right field. Brandon Nimmo followed with a single to drive in the game's second run. Starling Marte then crushed a double off the top of the left field wall to give the Mets a 4-0 lead.

But that's all the offense would get on Jesus Luzardo, who retired 22 straight batters, not allowing a baserunner since that four-inning first. It's the first time a Phillies pitcher has allowed four runs in the first inning and gone eight innings since Steve Carlton in 1977. 

Luzardo allowed four runs across eight innings (97 pitches/68 strikes), on five hits, no walks and 10 strikeouts.

-Down just two runs in the ninth against closer Jhoan Duran, Soto (strikeout), Alonso (strikeout), and Vientos (strikeout) were retired in order to end the game with 25 straight Mets batters retired.

-David Peterson worked in and out of trouble early on, allowing the leadoff hitter in the first two innings to reach, including two who reached scoring position, but the young lefty pitched out of it. In the fourth, Otto Kemp jumped all over a first-pitch hanging slider for a two-run shot to get the Phillies back in the game. It's the second homer Kemp has hit in this series. An RBI double from Bryce Harper in the fifth cut the Mets' lead to 4-3, but Peterson would get through five innings.

Peterson's final line: five innings pitched (86 pitches/61 strikes), three earned runs on seven hits, one walk, while striking out eight batters.

-Reed Garrett was the first arm out of the 'pen, and allowed back-to-back doubles to lead off the sixth and tie the game at 4-4. Jeff McNeil, starting at center, misjudged the Kemp liner that allowed Nick Castellanos to score. After getting two batters out, with a walk sandwiched in between, Harrison Bader singled to give the Phillies the lead.

Brooks Raley came in to try and get the final out of the sixth, but a walk to Kyle Schwarber and a Harper single put a cap on the three-run inning before J.T. Realmuto flew out to put an end to the frame.

Tyler Rogers and Edwin Diaz pitched a perfect inning each. 

-Bader went 2-for-5 with an RBI and is now 19-for-36 in nine games against his former team.

Game MVP: Jesus Luzardo

Although he struggled early, the southpaw shut down the Mets' offense and allowed the Phillies to come back.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets return home for a three-game set with the Rangers starting Friday. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.

Jonah Tong (1-1, 4.09 ERA) will make his third MLB start and will be going up against former Mets great Jacob deGrom (11-7, 2.78 ERA).

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Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Biggest Piece In Guentzel Trade Proving Himself

Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

With more talent in the system than Pittsburgh has had in years - and 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft - top prospects lists are becoming more competitive and more difficult to discern. Since the prospect pool is deepening, The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins takes a look at the top-20 prospects in the organization. 

I have already mentioned how the Penguins - by most accounts - have a pretty clear-cut top-three prospects, and it is very difficult to rank between the three. 

Forward prospect Rutger McGroarty was at No. 3, and I stayed on the forward front for this one, too. At No. 2, we have Ville Koivunen, who has already displayed some serious potential at the NHL level.

#2 F Ville Koivunen

<span style=Apr 11, 2025; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Ville Koivunen (41) skates with the puck while being defended by New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic (8) during the third period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images" />

Again, it's worth noting that the top-three prospects for the Penguins is a really tight race right now, and any one of them could have slotted anywhere. So, at this point, a lot of this is based on pure observation, but it's also about positional need.

Even if the Penguins may have more pressing needs than top-six wingers, Koivunen is certainly one to watch as a top-six - and, likely, a top-line winger. 

Koivunen, 22, was selected in the second round (51st overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2021. He was brought to Pittsburgh as the cornerstone piece of the Jake Guentzel trade ahead of the 2024 NHL trade deadline, and - up to this point - he has done nothing but live up to the expectations - even if a lot of people didn't even realize what the Penguins were getting in Koivunen at the time.

Fans were understandably devastated about losing Guentzel, a perennial 30-plus goal-scorer and near-point-per-game player - truly one of the elite left wings in the league. Even though Koivunen has big shoes to fill - and it's not fair to expect him to match Guentzel's production, especially in the goal department - he keeps getting better and better, and it's encouraging when considering what he's already done.

Penguins Should Give Exciting Prospect Big ChancePenguins Should Give Exciting Prospect Big ChancePittsburgh Penguins prospect Ville Koivunen is easily one of the team's most promising youngsters. The 22-year-old forward had a strong start to his NHL career this past season with Pittsburgh, as he recorded seven assists in eight games. He also performed well down in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2024-25, posting 21 goals and 56 points in 63 games. 

For starters, Koivunen finished his first full season in professional hockey with 21 goals and 56 points in 63 AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS). Had he not gotten the call to the NHL late last season, he likely would have finished first in AHL rookie points and in the top-three in goals. His 56 points were only four behind AHL rookie points leader Justin Hryckowian, and his 21 goals were only three behind Florian Xhekaj for third.

But Koivunen would certainly choose the NHL call over an AHL rookie scoring title. And he didn't disappoint in that stint, either.

When called up from WBS along with McGroarty in late-March, he was placed in the top-six alongside Evgeni Malkin, and he later got a stint with Sidney Crosby after an injury ended McGroarty's season prematurely. In eight NHL games, Koivunen recorded seven points - and he easily could have had himself a few goals, too.

He and McGroarty were trusted in the top-six, were on the ice at the end of games for six-on-fives, and - in Koivunen's case - even saw time in the top power play unit.

Mar 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Ville Koivunen (41) takes the ice for his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Penguins think the world of Koivunen, and they should. The 5-foot-11, 161-pound winger may not be the biggest and certainly needs to add some size, but his hockey smarts and vision rival those of some seasoned NHL stars. He knows exactly where to go with the puck, has some deception to his release in terms of shooting and passing, and anticipates to a tee. 

He also isn't afraid to hold onto the puck, survey the ice, and find the open man, something that a lot of rookies and players his age don't have the patience to pull off.

Koivunen's playmaking ability alone is enough to indicate that he'll be an impact NHL player. He also has an underrated shot, skates well, and has many of the details that most young players need to round out already present in his game. And if he can add more of a two-way dimension to his repertoire, the sky is the limit.

Koivunen could end up being a point-per-game player at the NHL level, but even if he doesn't, he should still be an impact middle-six player at minimum, given his toolset.

Yes, there are other pieces of the Guentzel trade yet to be determined, too. But Koivunen is beginning to show that he alone may be worth the cost a few years down the road.

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Young Forward Keeps Getting Better And BetterTop-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Young Forward Keeps Getting Better And BetterHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

The list so far:

- No. 3: F Rutger McGroarty
- No. 4: F Ben Kindel
- No. 5: G Sergei Murashov
- No. 6: D Owen Pickering
- No. 7: F Tanner Howe
- No. 8: G Arturs Silovs
- No. 9: G Joel Blomqvist
- No. 10: F Tristan Broz
- No. 11: F Will Horcoff
- No. 12: F Mikhail Ilyin
- No. 13 F Filip Hallander
- No. 14: F Bill Zonnon
- No. 15: F Melvin Fernstrom
- No. 16: D Emil Pieniniemi
- No. 17: F Avery Hayes
- No. 18: F Cruz Lucius
- No. 19: D Finn Harding
- No. 20: D Peyton Kettles

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Colorado Avalanche Rookie Tournament Opens Up With Practice on Thursday

Denver, Colo. - One of the big markers of the return to hockey season is the Rookie Tournament that takes place before training camps. The Colorado Avalanche prospects officially kicked things off at Family Sports Center, the official practice facility of the Avalanche, on Thursday morning. 

The Avalanche released their rookie showcase roster on September 2nd. Of the listed names on the roster, the only skater not dressing is Taylor Makar, who is recovering from what is believed to be an injury sustained during the off-season.

Among the list of participants, Linus Funck (D), a 4th round pick in this most recent NHL Entry Draft, will play before he joins the OHL's London Knights for the upcoming 2025-26 season. 

Cooper Gay (F), a name to keep an eye on, made his professional debut with the Eagles after finishing his collegiate career at the University of St. Thomas. Once he joined the Eagles in Loveland, he tallied a single point in the form of a goal in two games played.

Gavin Brindley (F), also listed on Colorado's roster, will be a player to watch during this tournament. Brindley, acquired in the trade that sent Miles Wood and Charlie Coyle to the Columbus Blue Jackets, registered 6g/11a in 52 GP with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) last season. While nothing spectacular on the scoresheet, he's a smaller forward, listed at 5'9", and known for his speed and skills as a two-way player, making him a valuable asset in Colorado's arsenal of prospects.

Nikita Prishchepov (F), who made his NHL debut in the 2024-25 season, could be facing a positive opportunity to make a case for himself as a trusted call-up this upcoming season. He did not register any points in the 10 games he played with the Avalanche last season, but totalled 9g/14a in 59 GP with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

This most recent NHL season saw 40+ players dress for the Avalanche amid roster management due to suspensions and, mainly, injury. A tournament like this allows players to showcase their skills on a larger stage while also receiving valuable instruction from coaching and skills staff as they move on to their respective teams for the upcoming season. While Colorado's front office has spent a lot of the organization's prospect pool in trades in recent years, there's still a lot of exciting talent to keep an eye on this upcoming weekend.

Colorado's rookies will feature in two of the three games during this tournament, the first of which will occur on Friday, September 12th, at 6:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) against the Utah Mammoth's rookies. Their second appearance will come on Sunday, September 14th, at 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) against the Vegas Golden Knights. Both games are set to be played at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, on Rink #2.

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Patrick Kane Eyes Career Milestones Ahead Of Second Full Season With Red Wings

For the second consecutive offseason on June 30, future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane signed a one-year contract extension to remain a member of the Detroit Red Wings. 

If things go according to plan, it won't be long before he overtakes former longtime Dallas Stars forward (and brief one-time Red Wing) Mike Modano for the highest-scoring player born in the United States in NHL history. 

Kane is only 32 points away from reaching the mark of 1,374 set in 2011 by Modano. He's also only 57 points away from reaching 1,400, and when he scores for the eighth time this season, it will be the 500th goal of his career. 

While speaking at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour on Tuesday in Las Vegas, Kane looked ahead to the upcoming season and acknowledged that it's something in the back of his mind. 

"The first thing you think of is, if you play long enough, you're going to reach some of these milestones, right?" he said via NHL.com.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Kane's production in the first three months of last season dropped considerably, but he almost immediately began resembling his old self when the Red Wings mad the coaching change from Derek Lalonde to Todd McLellan on December 26 following a 13-17-4 start. 

After McLellan's hiring, Kane lit the lamp 16 times while adding 29 assists. 

"Obviously, last year I wish I would have had more production," he said. "I got off to a tough start. But I feel like I should be about a point-a-game guy. I always felt that way, so that's kind of where the bar is for me."

Have Your Say: Will Patrick Kane Reach 60 Points In 2025-26? - Community PostHave Your Say: Will Patrick Kane Reach 60 Points In 2025-26? - Community PostThe Detroit Red Wings and Patrick Kane expressed mutual interest in a contract extension at the end of last season, and it came to fruition with a one-year, $3 million deal that was finalized on June 30. 

At 36, Kane is one of the elder statesmen on the Red Wings. But if you think that he's growing tired of coming to the rink every day, think again. 

"For me, it's just the love of the game. I love being on the ice," he said. "I love practicing. I love playing. I love being in a moment where the team needs to count on you and you need to step up, right? That's the kind of thrill that drives me now. It's not necessarily the numbers."

Kane and the Red Wings will begin Training Camp in Traverse City, Mich. on Sept. 18. 

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