Category News

Quilter Nations Series: England v Argentina

Elliot Daly will play for the first time since breaking his arm on British & Irish Lions duty in June as he starts on the wing for England against Argentina on Sunday.

The 33-year-old replaces Tom Roebuck, who suffered a foot injury in last weekend’s 33-19 win over New Zealand.

Daly’s inclusion is one of six changes to the starting XV as coach Steve Borthwick, whose hand is partly forced by injury, experiments with more combinations.

Henry Slade makes his first England start since February with outside centre Ollie Lawrence ruled out with a hamstring problem.

Elsewhere, there is an all-new front row with Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie recalled alongside Asher Opoku-Fordjour, who makes only his second Test start.

Ben Spencer starts at scrum-half, while Theo Dan is named on the bench with Saracens team-mate Jamie George ruled out with hamstring trouble.

England: Steward; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Dingwall, Daly; Ford, Spencer; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, Coles, Pepper, Underhill, Earl.

England are chasing an 11th successive victory to round off a hugely encouraging 2025 in style.

Argentina are aiming to complete a hat-trick of wins on their northern hemisphere tour, having thrashed Wales 52-28 and fought back to overcome Scotland 33-24 last weekend.

Daly had impressed in the early stages of the Lions’ tour to Australia this summer and, with Ireland rival Hugo Keenan struggling with sickness, had staked his claim as a possible starting Test full-back.

However an innocuous collision with Queensland Reds’ Jock Campbell in the team’s second tour match, left Daly’s right forearm with a fracture running the length of the bone.

“I could feel that it was all wobbly and clicking,” he told the Times of his short-lived attempt to play on.

Daly required 16 screws and a metal plate to be inserted to fix the injury and, although he has yet to make his comeback for Saracens, he has been part of England’s training camp this autumn.

BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones:

Steve Borthwick is managing to both win matches and build depth at the moment; a perfect position for an international head coach to be in, especially halfway through a Rugby World Cup cycle.

Elliot Daly’s return to fitness is most welcome as it gives England another ball-playing option in the back three, while it’s a big afternoon for Henry Slade, who gets a chance for the first time this month and will be keen to prove he remains a key part of the midfield picture.

Quilter Nations Series: England v Argentina

Elliot Daly will play for the first time since breaking his arm on British & Irish Lions duty in June as he starts on the wing for England against Argentina on Sunday.

The 33-year-old replaces Tom Roebuck, who suffered a foot injury in last weekend’s 33-19 win over New Zealand.

Daly’s inclusion is one of six changes to the starting XV as coach Steve Borthwick, whose hand is partly forced by injury, experiments with more combinations.

Henry Slade makes his first England start since February with outside centre Ollie Lawrence ruled out with a hamstring problem.

Elsewhere, there is an all-new front row with Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie recalled alongside Asher Opoku-Fordjour, who makes only his second Test start.

Ben Spencer starts at scrum-half, while Theo Dan is named on the bench with Saracens team-mate Jamie George ruled out with hamstring trouble.

England: Steward; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Dingwall, Daly; Ford, Spencer; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, Coles, Pepper, Underhill, Earl.

England are chasing an 11th successive victory to round off a hugely encouraging 2025 in style.

Argentina are aiming to complete a hat-trick of wins on their northern hemisphere tour, having thrashed Wales 52-28 and fought back to overcome Scotland 33-24 last weekend.

Daly had impressed in the early stages of the Lions’ tour to Australia this summer and, with Ireland rival Hugo Keenan struggling with sickness, had staked his claim as a possible starting Test full-back.

However an innocuous collision with Queensland Reds’ Jock Campbell in the team’s second tour match, left Daly’s right forearm with a fracture running the length of the bone.

“I could feel that it was all wobbly and clicking,” he told the Times of his short-lived attempt to play on.

Daly required 16 screws and a metal plate to be inserted to fix the injury and, although he has yet to make his comeback for Saracens, he has been part of England’s training camp this autumn.

BBC rugby union correspondent Chris Jones:

Steve Borthwick is managing to both win matches and build depth at the moment; a perfect position for an international head coach to be in, especially halfway through a Rugby World Cup cycle.

Elliot Daly’s return to fitness is most welcome as it gives England another ball-playing option in the back three, while it’s a big afternoon for Henry Slade, who gets a chance for the first time this month and will be keen to prove he remains a key part of the midfield picture.

A 167 golden break in snooker is where a player completes a maximum break of 147 and then pots a 20-point golden ball immediately after it.

The prize for completing this feat is $1m (£760,000) and it only applies in the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in Saudi Arabia.

The concept of adding the golden ball in order to create the big-money 167 break was introduced at the Riyadh event in 2024, although no player was able to achieve the 167 break in either of its first two iterations.

Before the tournament, which starts on Thursday, players have been debating whether they would rather win the tournament or achieve a 167 break.

The prize money for winning in Riyadh is £250,000, less than a third of the prize money for a single 167 break.

“I think I’d rather get the big break to be honest with you,” said seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.

“I’ve won the tournament before and it’s great to win the tournament, but to get the 167 I think would be amazing.”

John Higgins added: “It would be a crazy sum of money to win, wouldn’t it? Just for 10 minutes work.

“I’d rather get a 167. That will do me. It is the equivalent of winning three tournaments, isn’t it?

“If you think about the World Championship and what it takes to win that, it’s 17 days of torturous snooker to win that and half a million pounds. To actually do it in 10 or 12 minutes and win probably win the biggest prize in snooker, it would be crazy.”

Judd Trump said that he would still “rather win the tournament” itself than the payday for a single 167 break.

“I think that’s probably the next step up [from the 147 maximum break],” former player Shaun Murphy told BBC Sport.

“I think the 167 will go this week. The million-dollar bonus was a bit of a surprise for everyone last time round, but I think everyone’s been gearing their practice around that this time and everyone’s prepared for it.

“I’ve had a few days with nothing to do so I’ve been practising them myself, and I just think the 167, with everything it means out here, is probably the next step for snooker.”

O’Sullivan disagreed that a 167 would happen this week.

“I don’t think anyone will do it, that’s just my personal opinion,” he added.

“I’d be happy to be wrong because if someone did it, it would be an amazing achievement.”

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Ben Stokes, England captain, has urged his team to “create history” by winning the Ashes in Australia.

Only five England teams have won an Ashes series since World War II, and only two of those victories have taken place in the last 40 years.

England haven’t won a Test in Australia since 2010-11, which is also their last opportunity to win one.

Since taking over as England’s Test team in 2022, Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum have given the game new life.

The most eagerly awaited matchup between cricket’s oldest rivalry in recent memory comes after a thrilling and content Ashes series in the UK was ended by a draw of 2-2 in 2023.

And Stokes’ side has a good chance of bringing on a rare away Ashes victory on Friday when the first Test in Perth is played there.

Stokes noted that “a lot has been said about the history and how England has evolved.”

“We have the right to make our own history, and it’s up to us to decide how it turns out.”

Since making his Ashes debut in 2013, Stokes has participated in one Ashes-winning team once. He has some legendary Ashes moments, most notably his epic unbeaten 135 victory over Headingley Ashes Test in 2019.

The all-rounder’s exploits in Test cricket and match-winning performances in each of the 2019 50-over World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup finals guarantee him a place in English sporting history.

Stokes would be considered one of England’s greatest cricketers if he and the other five post-war leaders left with the urn.

He said, “I am aware that this series probably gets highlighted above all the other series I’ve been a captain in.”

“But it won’t diminish the time, effort, and effort I put in as England’s captain.”

Five pacemen will start for England’s series opener at Perth Stadium, giving them the opportunity to unleash their fastest attack in a Test.

Can’t touch 90 mph without Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Stokes.

The tourists’ selection of fast bowlers for this series is the result of long-term planning to travel to Australia with the pace England think is necessary for success.

We would have bitten your hand off if we had gone back two years before selecting the squad, Stokes said.

He added that it was “fortunate” for England to have bowlers who could “add skill” to their pace as well.

Stokes is back in shape after recovering from a shoulder injury that prevented him from playing in England’s most recent test, which was against India in July.

Due to a number of injuries, the Durham man hasn’t played in any of England’s previous four games, so keeping him fit will be key to regaining the urn.

He said, “I’ve fully assumed that all-rounder role with bat and ball” since joining the series.

In 14 of their 14 meetings in Perth, England defeated Australia in 1978 to claim a win.

The famed Waca, a notoriously hostile environment for visiting teams, hosted all previous Ashes Tests in this city.

For the first time in a series of Ashes, Perth will host. The new 60, 000-seat Perth Stadium will serve as the venue instead of the Waca.

In the run-up to this series, Australia suffered injuries. Pat Cummins, the captain, is out for at least the first Test because of a back problem, while Josh Hazlewood, the fellow pace bowler, is also out because of a hamstring problem.

Jake Weatherald, the hosts’ starting batter, and Brendan Doggett, the hosts’ pace bowler, are expected to make their Test debuts.

Stokes, however, does not think the upheaval with Australia’s selections made England’s task any easier.

He said, “We really like to concentrate on ourselves while keeping a close eye on the opposition.”

If they could field what everyone would consider to be their strongest XI, “this game won’t be taken more easily than it would normally be.”

Frequently, England teams make significant changes during unsuccessful Ashes tours. After England lost to England by a score of 4 to 1 four years ago, head coach Chris Silverwood lost his job, and captain Joe Root resigned shortly afterward.

Stokes has indicated his intention to play for England in the following home Ashes by signing a new two-year contract, which McCullum already has until 2027.

When asked whether it was an “easy decision,” Stokes responded that it was, “very easy,” considering that he could have chosen to spend the last few years of his career playing for the popular franchise circuit.

Ben Stokes, England captain, has urged his team to “create history” by winning the Ashes in Australia.

Only five England teams have won an Ashes series since World War II, and only two of those victories have taken place in the last 40 years.

England haven’t won a Test in Australia since 2010-11, which is also their last opportunity to win one.

Since taking over as England’s Test team in 2022, Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum have given the game new life.

The most eagerly awaited matchup between cricket’s oldest rivalry in recent memory comes after a thrilling and content Ashes series in the UK was ended by a draw of 2-2 in 2023.

And Stokes’ side has a good chance of bringing on a rare away Ashes victory on Friday when the first Test in Perth is played there.

Stokes noted that “a lot has been said about the history and how England has evolved.”

“We have the right to make our own history, and it’s up to us to decide how it turns out.”

Since making his Ashes debut in 2013, Stokes has participated in one Ashes-winning team once. He has some legendary Ashes moments, most notably his epic unbeaten 135 victory over Headingley Ashes Test in 2019.

The all-rounder’s exploits in Test cricket and match-winning performances in each of the 2019 50-over World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup finals guarantee him a place in English sporting history.

Stokes would be considered one of England’s greatest cricketers if he and the other five post-war leaders left with the urn.

He said, “I am aware that this series probably gets highlighted above all the other series I’ve been a captain in.”

“But it won’t diminish the time, effort, and effort I put in as England’s captain.”

Five pacemen will start for England’s series opener at Perth Stadium, giving them the opportunity to unleash their fastest attack in a Test.

Can’t touch 90 mph without Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Stokes.

The tourists’ selection of fast bowlers for this series is the result of long-term planning to travel to Australia with the pace England think is necessary for success.

We would have bitten your hand off if we had gone back two years before selecting the squad, Stokes said.

He added that it was “fortunate” for England to have bowlers who could “add skill” to their pace as well.

Stokes is back in shape after recovering from a shoulder injury that prevented him from playing in England’s most recent test, which was against India in July.

Due to a number of injuries, the Durham man hasn’t played in any of England’s previous four games, so keeping him fit will be key to regaining the urn.

He said, “I’ve fully assumed that all-rounder role with bat and ball” since joining the series.

In 14 of their 14 meetings in Perth, England defeated Australia in 1978 to claim a win.

The famed Waca, a notoriously hostile environment for visiting teams, hosted all previous Ashes Tests in this city.

For the first time in a series of Ashes, Perth will host. The new 60, 000-seat Perth Stadium will serve as the venue instead of the Waca.

In the run-up to this series, Australia suffered injuries. Pat Cummins, the captain, is out for at least the first Test because of a back problem, while Josh Hazlewood, the fellow pace bowler, is also out because of a hamstring problem.

Jake Weatherald, the hosts’ starting batter, and Brendan Doggett, the hosts’ pace bowler, are expected to make their Test debuts.

Stokes, however, does not think the upheaval with Australia’s selections made England’s task any easier.

He said, “We really like to concentrate on ourselves while keeping a close eye on the opposition.”

If they could field what everyone would consider to be their strongest XI, “this game won’t be taken more easily than it would normally be.”

Frequently, England teams make significant changes during unsuccessful Ashes tours. After England lost to England by a score of 4 to 1 four years ago, head coach Chris Silverwood lost his job, and captain Joe Root resigned shortly afterward.

Stokes has indicated his intention to play for England in the following home Ashes by signing a new two-year contract, which McCullum already has until 2027.

When asked whether it was an “easy decision,” Stokes responded that it was, “very easy,” considering that he could have chosen to spend the last few years of his career playing for the popular franchise circuit.