In their third Ashes Test match against England, Jofra Archer defeated Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon to record a 5-53 run-out in the opening innings of the match.
Third Test of the Ashes, day two
Lewis Miley nodded his head.
It was the morning of Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Fulham.
And head coach Eddie Howe had informed the 19-year-old midfielder that he would be starting at right-back for the first time following a series of injuries across the backline to Kieran Trippier, Lewis Hall, Dan Burn, Emil Krafth and, now, Tino Livramento.
As Howe put it, Miley would have just one training session to walk through “how to be a right-back”.
But not only did he selflessly deliver in an unfamiliar role – he also stepped up when his side needed a match-winner, heading home in the 92nd minute.
“I’m reluctant to put more pressure on his shoulders than he’s already got, but he can be as good as anyone in his position, whichever position he plays,” Howe said.
“I thought he was outstanding at right-back and he’s really grown in central midfield in terms of stature and confidence and belonging, which are all really important qualities – and the goals will only add to that.
“He’s got a bit of everything so I couldn’t rate him any higher.”
The game had been heading for penalties after Sasa Lukic’s equaliser for Fulham had cancelled out Yoane Wissa’s opener.
But Miley rose highest at the near post to get on the end of Sandro Tonali’s corner and send the watching Geordies wild as the holders booked a semi-final against Manchester City.
What a contrast to the feeling just a few days earlier at the Stadium of Light.
Newcastle players and staff recognised they won’t truly be able to make amends for that damaging derby defeat against Sunderland until they meet their bitter rivals again in the reverse fixture in March.
But going out of the cup as holders on home soil would have been unthinkable after such a painful loss.
“The training ground has been a sombre place,” Howe said. “We fully recognise what we did in the last game and what that left with the people of Newcastle. We had to live with that. I’m not going to lie.”
Howe, tellingly, made six changes to freshen up his side for the visit of Fulham as Wissa was handed his first start since completing his protracted £55m move from Brentford, having recovered from a knee injury.
You could sense the DR Congo forward was in the mood, smiling as he walked out, and it only took him 10 minutes to open his account.
Fabian Schar picked out Jacob Murphy out on the right with a raking crossfield pass and the winger hit a first-time ball across, knowing Wissa would be there.
Although Fulham goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte got a hand to the cross, he palmed the ball into the path of Wissa, who could not miss.
It was a glimpse of the poacher’s instincts Wissa will bring to Newcastle.
Wissa did not look content, however, not least after Lukic’s leveller.
He was not afraid to throw his arms up and scream at his team-mates if they failed to pick him out quickly.
He earned a huge roar after getting back to make a crunching tackle on Emile Smith Rowe at one point.
He was handed a standing ovation when he was replaced by Nick Woltemade.
Although Wissa is not 100% fit yet, clearly, he will help ease the burden on Woltemade, who endured a sobering afternoon against Sunderland, heading the ball into his own net for the game’s only goal.
He will also give Newcastle something different with his pace and movement.
“I’ve been here and knew it was special,” Wissa told Sky Sports. “Now playing with the Newcastle shirt, it is different. Very happy today.
Howe will also be determined to get back to Wembley.
This has been a curious stop-start season for Newcastle, who are 12th in the league, and who have won just two away games in all competitions this season.
There have been painful defeats against Brentford, West Ham and Marseille in recent weeks.
But the manner of Sunday’s loss at Sunderland was a new low.
Out of Newcastle’s 157 Premier League games under Howe, his side ranked 155th for tackles, 153rd for possession won in final third, 151st for expected goals and 143rd for ground duels won and shots at the Stadium of Light.
That’s how poor they were.
But, as always, Howe and his players found support rather than hostility back at St James’.
There was a huge Howe banner in the Gallowgate End alongside one of captain Bruno Guimaraes before kick-off, while supporters repeatedly chanted “Eddie Howe’s black and white army” throughout the game.
Tough tests lie in wait, but that show of support did not go unnoticed.
Presenter Lorraine Kelly has taken a swipe at Meghan Markle, after the Duchess of Sussex claimed she’d tried reaching out to her sick father Thomas Markle following his hospital admission for an emergency procedure that led to his leg being amputated.
During a recent instalment of her daytime programme, the 66 year old mother discussed the situation with a correspondent reporting live from outside Buckingham Palace, who suggested the Duchess had only been in touch with her unwell father to dodge bad press.
Lorraine’s disapproval was clear as she pulled a face before commenting: “Yeah that’s very true. I mean the press have tracked him down, she could always give them a call. I don’t know if that will happen, though.”
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The 44 year old wife of Prince Harry hasn’t spoken to her dad, who’s currently recuperating from surgery in a hospital in the Philippines, since 2018. Despite insisting she’d attempted to send him a message, she’s apparently wiped his phone number and hasn’t arranged any plans to see him.
According to The Sunday Times, the mother of two avoided ringing him directly at the hospital, worried that a phone conversation might be listened in on, reports the Express.
On Wednesday 10 December, Meghan’s representative confirmed she’d finally managed to make direct contact with her father. “Given that a Daily Mail reporter has remained at her father’s bedside throughout, broadcasting each interaction and breaching clear ethical boundaries, it has been exceedingly difficult for the Duchess to contact her father privately, despite her efforts over the past several days.
“With the support of reliable and trusted contacts, her correspondence is now safely in his hands,” the statement confirmed.
Thomas has been outspoken about his desire for reconciliation with his daughter in recent years. Speaking from his hospital bed to friend Caroline Graham, Mail on Sunday US Editor, he revealed: “Of course I want to speak to her (Meghan) but I am not sure if these are the right circumstances.
“I’ve always said I am open to reconciling with my daughter. I have never stopped loving her. I don’t want to die estranged from Meghan. I want to meet my grandkids. It might be nice to meet her husband too.”
Presenter Lorraine Kelly has taken a swipe at Meghan Markle, after the Duchess of Sussex claimed she’d tried reaching out to her sick father Thomas Markle following his hospital admission for an emergency procedure that led to his leg being amputated.
During a recent instalment of her daytime programme, the 66 year old mother discussed the situation with a correspondent reporting live from outside Buckingham Palace, who suggested the Duchess had only been in touch with her unwell father to dodge bad press.
Lorraine’s disapproval was clear as she pulled a face before commenting: “Yeah that’s very true. I mean the press have tracked him down, she could always give them a call. I don’t know if that will happen, though”.
READ MORE: Brit Bondi Beach survivor’s escape – from dodging bullets to heartbreaking call
READ MORE: Heartbreaking comment Bondi Beach hero made before approaching gunman
The 44 year old wife of Prince Harry hasn’t spoken to her dad, who’s currently recuperating from surgery in a hospital in the Philippines, since 2018. Despite insisting she’d attempted to send him a message, she’s apparently wiped his phone number and hasn’t arranged any plans to see him.
According to The Sunday Times, the mother of two avoided ringing him directly at the hospital, worried that a phone conversation might be listened in on, reports the Express.
On Wednesday 10 December, Meghan’s representative confirmed she’d finally managed to make direct contact with her father. “Given that a Daily Mail reporter has remained at her father’s bedside throughout, broadcasting each interaction and breaching clear ethical boundaries, it has been exceedingly difficult for the Duchess to contact her father privately, despite her efforts over the past several days.
” With the support of reliable and trusted contacts, her correspondence is now safely in his hands, “the statement confirmed.
Thomas has been outspoken about his desire for reconciliation with his daughter in recent years. Speaking from his hospital bed to friend Caroline Graham, Mail on Sunday US Editor, he revealed:” Of course I want to speak to her (Meghan) but I am not sure if these are the right circumstances.
“I’ve always said that I’m willing to reconcile with my daughter.” I still adore her forever. I don’t want to end my relationship with Meghan. My grandchildren would like to meet me. It might be nice to meet her husband as well.
Following a contentious error on the third Ashes Test’s opening day, England will discuss improving decision-making technology with cricket’s governing body.
At the Adelaide Oval, Australia’s wicketkeeper Alex Carey managed to escape being caught behind, but he later admitted he had beaten the delivery bowled by England’s Josh Tongue.
Because of a discrepancy between the sound and the image of the edge, Carey was not released.
The supplier of Snicko, BBG, has acknowledged responsibility for the error.
England’s head coach Brendon McCullum and team manager Wayne Bentley met with match referee Jeff Crowe at the end of day one of the series.
Crowe stated that the situation would be looked into, and that England would receive a review for their opening innings.
In an effort to review and raise the standards of the decision-review system (DRS), the England and Wales Cricket Board will also be in discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC).
DRS must be operational throughout all World Test Championship games in accordance with the ICC requirements.
When Carey was reprieved, he made a crucial 106 and was on the same level as him.
The left-hander said, “I thought there was a feather or some sort of noise when it passed the bat,” Carey said at the play’s conclusion.
“I think I would have re-read it if it had been given to me, probably not with confidence. As it passed the baton, it was a nice sound.
The review’s error was described as Snicko using the stump microphone’s end rather than the striker’s end to record the sound.
The only thing that can be derived from Alex Carey’s admission that he had hit the ball in question was that the Snicko operator at the time had to use the incorrect stump microphone for audio processing, according to BBG, according to BBG.
Helen Flanagan took aim at her ex Scott Sinclair in a foul-mouthed Instagram rant this week.
The former Coronation Street actress, 35, called Scott “a piece of s**t” in the scathing rant, said to be the “final straw” for Helen three years after ending her relationship with the footballer. Helen’s friends have today shed light on the star’s frustration, claiming she wanted to “make a point” online.
They said Helen is working full-time at the moment, with a role in a pantomime in Liverpool, and Scott is without a club having been released from Bristol Rovers in the summer. Sources say Helen was upset that Scott, 36, was unable to find time to watch their son Charlie in his school nativity.
“She wasn’t happy and took to her social media to vent her frustration and make a point. Their relationship is difficult at times — co-parenting is hard,” one pal said yesterday.
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That friend added: “Helen is working full-time at the moment in panto so was expecting Scott to cover the nativity and go for her, as she has a lot on her plate and he is retired.” Although Scott left Bristol Rovers in the summer and he has not found club since, the winger is yet to announce his retirement from the game.
Helen, who is currently starring as The Wicked Queen in a production of Snow White, and Scott split in 2022 after a 13-year relationship. They have been co-parenting their three children, including four-year-old Charlie, since then.
The latest spat happened after Scott had posted snaps from his VIP weekend in the United Arab Emirates where he watched Lando Norris secure his maiden Drivers’ Championship title. Standing in front of a huge F1 sign, he posed gleefully, tagging the post “What a weekend — Abu Dhabi F1.” He added: “Happy Days, blurry nights.” Charlie’s school nativity happened in the past week or so, it is understood.
The Sun reports Scott, who played for Celtic, Swansea City and Chelsea among other teams, recently split with family friend Lauren Davies, 32, who is from his home city of Bath. Things were reportedly going well up until the start of this year, when they are said to have decided they were better off as friends.
The source said: “Helen really liked Lauren and thought she was really good for Scotty. She has great values and felt it was important that Scott sees his kids and she wanted everyone to get along.”