Sonny Baker, a fast bowler for England, says his long-term success should hopefully result in better results.
In a brutal seven-over ODI match against South Africa at Headingley, England were thrashed for 76 runs, including 14 boundaries.
The 22-year-old is now hoping for a softer day in Dublin to play a T20 match against Ireland on Sunday.
He continued, “From a figurative standpoint, it was obviously not exactly how I’d planned my debut, but not all good experiences are enjoyable experiences.
At the time, I was considering “15 an over for my first three or four overs is not what I had in mind!” But it’ll benefit me in the long run.
Although “Aiden Markram obviously fancied a piece and a few apiece, he’s a very, very good player.
Although it’s not the best I’ve ever bowled, a ball that was 89 mph, slightly above the top of the leg stump, and he hit me over the square leg for six was what I remember. I said, “OK, fair enough.” Good shots may be played by players.
“It’s really onward and upwards,” he said. The following one will undoubtedly be superior to that, or at least it will, “hopefully”!
Had the rain not prevented the second T20 in Malahide without a ball being bowled, Baker would have had a second chance against Ireland on Friday.
Before the weather intervened, he had been given the nod to return to the starting lineup for the series opener.
He is now hoping that Sunday’s final game will feature a clear sky and a good selection.
“I’m desperate to go back to the gym.” Although it’s not how you want your first game to go, he said that I had some time to reflect and responded fairly quickly.
Dina Asher-Smith, Success Eduan, Desiree Henry, and Daryll Neita all qualified for the women’s 4x100m relay, but the men’s team, led by Jona Efoloko and Eugene Amo-Dadzie, made a bad mistake that caused the men’s team to lose to Japan at the World Athletics Championships.
World athletics championships will be broadcast live.
Kate O’Connor, Ireland’s top female heptathlete, won the historic silver medal at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships.
After posting five personal bests over the course of the two competition days, the 24-year-old finished with 6, 714 points, putting her in second place behind American gold medalist Anna Hall (6, 888).
It is O’Connor’s fourth medal in 2025 and Ireland’s first global outdoor medal in the multi-events, first world medal in 12 years, and first international outdoor medal in the multi-events.
After finishing with 6581 points each in a dramatic finish, British competitors Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Taliyah Brooks shared bronze, while Belgian-born, three-time Olympic champion Nafi Thiam, who had been ranked eighth earlier on Saturday, withdrawn.
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O’Connor set herself firmly in medal contention at the Japan National Stadium on Friday, recording three PBs in the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, and 200-meter run.
Following a 6.22m long jump, she fell to fourth early in day two, 50 points off the podium.
After the long jump, the Newry-born athlete put on her right knee and performed a superb javelin run with a 53.06m PB on her first throw.
O’Connor has five personal bests.
Images courtesy of Getty
O’Connor ran a stunning 800-meter run for a fifth PB in seven events in two minutes, 9.56 seconds, in the final event.
O’Connor set a new national record at the World University Games for gold outside, winning bronze in the pentathlon at the European Championships, silver at the World Indoors, and silver at the European Championships with the silver medal.
The Commonwealth Games silver medalist finished 14th in Paris after suffering from injuries to qualify for her first Olympics last year, but she has excellent form to kick off the Los Angeles 2028 cycle.
O’Connor won his first world track and field medal in 2013 with a 50km race walk victory, which is also Ireland’s first since Sonia O’Sullivan’s 5, 000m gold in 1995.
Cian McPhillips competes in the men’s 800-meter final at 14:22 BST, giving us another chance to win an Irish medal on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Longford man won his semi-final on Thursday in a new Irish record time of 1:43.18.
Dani Dyer and Vicky Pattison are two stars who have a strong claim to not fall victim to the Strictly curse as tonight’s Strictly Come Dancing 2025 launch show kicks off.
Happily married stars Dani Dyer and Vicky Pattison aren’t worried about the ‘Strictly curse’ (Image: Jam Press)
The new series of Strictly Come Dancing starts tonight with the celebrity and pro dancer pairings revealed for the first time.
But two contestants who say they aren’t worried about the so-called ‘Strictly Curse’ – where celebs fall in love with their dance partners even if they are already married or in relationships – are Vicky Pattison and Dani Dyer.
Both shot to fame on reality shows – Vicky, 37, on Geordie Shore and 29-year-old Dani on Love Island, which she won with then boyfriend Jack Fincham only to split months after the show ended.
Dani has since gone on to have a four-year-old son Santi with another ex, Sammy Kimmence, before meeting current partner, West Ham and England footballer Jarrod Bowen, who she welcomed twins, Summer and Star, with last summer.
READ MORE: Strictly ‘curse’ romances – Corrie star’s jealous tirade to bitter love triangle
Dani Dyer recently married West Ham footballer Jarrod Bowen (Image: Instagram)
Just a few months ago, the couple wed in the opulent The Langley hotel in Buckinghamshire in a ceremony in the Bridgerton style. While Vicky and her long-term partner Ercan Ramadan tied the knot in August of 2024 at Marylebone Town Hall in London.
Speaking to the Daily Mail Weekend magazine, as they graced the cover, Dani said “I’m newlywed for God’s sake”, when asked for her thoughts on the Strictly curse.
Although she claims that her new mother-in-law, who she refers to as “a bit of a white witch,” both knew who her professional dance partner would be and who she would be on the show this year. The identity of the actor will have to be revealed until tonight, though.
Vicky is also adamant that when asked if she might get the hots for her dance partner, she would never fall for the “cure.” She remarked, “Have you seen my husband? ” The dancers are lovely lads, but he is gorgeous and wonderful in every way.
While Vicky Pattison tied the knot with long-term partner Ercan last summer(Image: Instagram)
La Voix, the 45-year-old drag queen who is the first drag queen to compete in the show, is one of the contestants who will make history this year.
While 23-year-old Ellie Goldstein, is the first person with Down’s Syndrome to appear on Strictly main show. The model has previously appeared on the cover of British Vogue and other high fashion magazines.
Other celebs taking to the dance floor in a bid to win the coveted Glitterball trophy this year are EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal, 46, who is best known for playing Suki Panesar-Unwin in the BBC soap.
She will be joined by actress Alex Kingston, 62, known for her roles on shows like Doctor Who and medical drama ER, Neighbours legend Stefan Dennis, 66, who played Paul Robinson and Good Morning Britain and Lorraine correspondent Ross King, 63.
Sports stars taking part are rugby ace Chris Robshaw, 39, retired footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, 53, former Lioness footballer turned pundit Karen Carney, 38, and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, 37, who isknown as Nitro on the show.
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YouTuber and podcaster George Clarke, 25, has also been signed up. But this year’s most controversial contestant so far – former The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, 34, who has hit the headlines this week after admitting he cheated on his wife just weeks after their wedding in 2022. Quite how he’ll go down with the public we’ll have to see…
READ MORE: Holidaymakers can stay in Omaze winners’ mansions in the Lake District and Bath from £77
West Ham’s management has been criticized by thousands of supporters, and they have demanded resignations from vice-chair Karren Brady and chairman David Sullivan.
Graham Potter’s team are currently 18th in the Premier League with just three points from four games and already out of the Carabao Cup, and their home game against Crystal Palace was the subject of the demonstrations.
In two separate protests close to their London Stadium home, thousands of supporters marched to the ground with banners and flags demanding change.
The flags at West Ham, which have been in place since 2010, read “sold us a dream, we are living the nightmare,” while others read “sold us a dream, we are living the nightmare.”
The larger protests were organized by the fan organization Hammers United, who argued that they were the beginning of a “sustained campaign and a series of protests that needed to be vigorous, but within the law.”
They continued, “Our fanbase will have to fight if we want to win our club back.” Our club will end with Brady and Sullivan in charge. It is slowly dying and in serious decline.
We cannot allow this to happen on our watch as thousands of loyal, time-served fans leave, a new relegation fight is looming, and an additional early cup exit is afoot.
“We must convince the public that Brady and Sullivan’s position is untenable, and they must step down for the club’s sake.”
They must no longer be a part of West Ham United’s operations, which must be handled by professionals with the necessary knowledge and drive to advance the club.
In a deal that gave West Ham United its $ 105 million valuation, with Brady joining as vice-chair, David Gold and Sullivan, former owners of Birmingham City, 15 years ago.
Two weeks after West Ham’s fan advisory board, which includes more than 25 000 supporters, declared a vote of no confidence in the club’s board, the protests came as a result.
Potter respects “fans’ right to protest,” and says “Everyone is hurting.”
Getty Images
Hammers United claimed they planned to line Marshgate Lane up to the London Stadium’s directors’ entrance, with a 45-minute protest before kick-off.
According to a second protest, which Crossed Hammers organized with other fans, they anticipated a crowd of at least 100 fans to march from Stratford train station to the ground via the Carpenters’ Arms pub. At the directors’ entrance, the protest was scheduled to end as well.
On Monday, October 20, 2018, their next home game against Brentford will be marked by a further protest, this time a fan boycott. The goal is to show banks of empty seats during the match, which will be televised live on Sky Sports.
West Ham are in their 14th Premier League season in a row, but their only points are those resulting from a strong 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in 2025-26.
They have also lost to Sunderland, Chelsea, and Tottenham, and they have also lost to Wolves, who have lost all of their Premier League games.
West Ham’s head coach Graham Potter stated in his pre-game press conference that while he respects supporters’ right to protest, “everyone at the club was hurting at the struggles.”
Since replacing Julen Lopetegui in January, Potter has only won six of 22 league games. “We have to just concentrate on the game,” he said. It’s really that easy. That’s why we’re here. Our job is to do that.
Because it is obvious that the supporters are the most important people, “we completely respect the supporters’ right to protest or speak.” The football team is here for that.
What did West Have say in response to the demonstrations?
Getty Images
In response to the unrest, the club responded on Thursday by publishing a lengthy statement on its website, saying they were “going to listen to fan feedback,” had made significant investments in the football operation, and “will do everything we can” to enhance the matchday experience.
We accept that the outcomes and performances over the past two seasons have not lived up to the expectations we have set for ourselves. Nobody at the club is happy about that.
“Our main priority is on developing a team that can consistently compete in domestic and international competitions.”
We accept that regular winning performances are the best way to enhance the atmosphere, as is the case with every football stadium in the nation.
We encourage all supporters to stay engaged as we move forward together, the statement reads on behalf of the club’s supporters.
Ross Kemp, a former EastEnders star, has spoken out about what the St George’s Cross means to him after protests took place in London last weekend. He has expressed his outrage at far-right activities.
EastEnders star Ross Kemp has hit out at far-right thugs(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Ross Kemp has no intention of letting the far-right claim his beloved St George’s Cross, and he is as English as rainy days, sticky pub floors, and fish ‘n’ chips.
The actor and documentary maker has been disturbed by recent instances in which the English flag has been used as a bulwark against the right. Thousands of people chanted offensive slogans and slammed the flag at the Unite the Kingdom rally last weekend as they waved it.
But EastEnders legend Ross says: “If it’s hijacked by other people for their means, then that’s entirely up to them, but that’s not what it means to me.
Protesters have been brandishing the flag of St George in a so-called ‘re-claim the flag’ movement(Image: Getty Images)
Simply put, being English is. Being English is very important to me.
It reads, “It’s on the back of a rugby shirt, not the back of an English football shirt.” When winning an Olympic medal, athletes don it regardless of their color or religion. It’s the norm, in my opinion. The mainstream is represented by the flag.
Ross made his EastEnders debut as Grant Mitchell 35 years ago and has since travelled the world through his Bafta-winning documentary work.
He was the ideal choice when looking for a host to host 40 Years on the Square, a show that celebrated EastEnders’ anniversary earlier this year.
He claims that it was a good look back at 40 years of British culture.
“I think it really showed how things in the 80s and 90s have evolved into acceptable and commonplace, as they should be,” said one critic.
In the 1960s and 1970s, people wouldn’t show domestic violence on TV because it was “like gay and lesbian relationships” like domestic violence.
“I think EastEnders was quite groundbreaking; it still is, in fact, because it continues to tell stories that would be too dry to watch in a documentary.
Barbara Windsor and Ross Kemp shared a close relationship.
However, if they are centered on a storyline with intriguing characters, it can be effective at educating or explaining what is happening.
During his time on the BBC soap, Ross formed a close relationship with his on-screen mother, the late Barbara Windsor, who played Peggy Mitchell.
Babs passed away in 2020 at the age of 83, but she continues to be a part of his life.
He says, “Oh, Barbara’s never far away,” with fondness. In my office, I have a photo of her, and I speak with her widower frequently. I had a very positive relationship with Barbara and we got along very well.
“I delivered her a funeral eulogy.” She and I had a very special relationship, and we were very close.
“And it’s interesting that a lot of people frequently pass away. Does she not appear to have significantly faded away? That demonstrates how long she spent with the public and how much time she had for them.
Ross, like his late co-star, respects soap fans and refuses to criticize the television series that earned him a star.
He acknowledges that some jobs may not be available for him because of his role as such an iconic character.
He admits, “I’d like to do a little more acting,” to be honest. The spice of life is abundance. I have a lot of freedom to switch between those genres and produce programs about interesting subjects.
“I don’t rule out anything,” he says. Some people, in my opinion, do soaps and then pretend to never be there because they succeed elsewhere. And if that’s the way they want to proceed, I admire that. There’s no problem with that at all.
I don’t look very different from Grant Mitchell, so I don’t think it would be difficult for me to change my hairstyle! Without Grant, I’ve always been very honest about the fact that I don’t believe I would have received a documentary commission.
Ross Kemp, who won a Bafta for Best Factual Series in 2006 for his role in Gangs, says: “It was up to me as Ross Kemp to make it as good of a documentary as I possibly could.
“I’ve won a few documentary awards, and I’m very proud of the team I work for, and they’ve grown close friends over the years.
What I’ll say is, “If I have the opportunity to act in something I think is good and they want me,” I’ll accept the position.
