Australia won’t play a spinner in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, which Melbourne pitch stand-in Steve Smith described as “quite furry, quite green.”
For the fourth Ashes Test against England, which will begin on Friday (23:30 GMT on Thursday), the home side has selected a 12-man squad.
Off-spinner Todd Murphy misses out because the group only has experienced pace bowlers.
Australia will play four seamers, including Cameron Green, according to Smith, who will serve as Pat Cummins’ captain. In the final XI, Michael Neser, Brendon Doggett, and Jhye Richardson are competing for two spots.
Smith has missed his third Test due to illness, so he is back. In Adelaide, Smith was replaced by Usman Khawaja, who was initially dropped from the third Test and came in with scores of 82 and 40.
Josh Inglis is kept in Melbourne while Khawaja is retained. With Green becoming the seventh-rounder, Khalifa will start at number five.
England were bowled out for 185 and 68 in the previous Ashes Test in Melbourne in 2021, but the match was over in three days.
In his Christmas Day press conference, Smith said, “I daresay it’s going to offer quite a bit.”
“Tomorrow’s weather is similar today: quite cold and cloudy.” That surface is going to have a lot of movement going for it.
According to Smith, the description is furry and green because there is 10mm of grass on the surface.
After winning the first three Tests with a 3-0 lead, Australia has already won the Ashes. England are now aiming for a fourth straight win while the home team are also aiming for an 18-game winless streak.
On Christmas morning, England’s players and staff sat side by side in the nets while many of them donned Father Christmas hats.
Before the squads left to celebrate, families made their way to the Melbourne Cricket Ground outfield for a brief period of time.
As a result of Josh Hazlewood’s absence from the series, Australia are without captain Cummins, who is still dealing with a back issue.
In the third Test, off-spinner Nathan Lyon was called into the squad because he suffered a series-ending hamstring injury in Adelaide.
a day ago
a day ago
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After making his Perth debut in the series opener, Doggett made his debut in the first two Tests. In the second match of the series in Brisbane, Neser took five wickets in England’s second innings, which was his first Test for three years.
Four years ago, Richardson played the final of his three Test matches in this nation’s final Ashes series match. The 29-year-old recently had shoulder surgery and had only been out for ten months.
We are aware of his abilities, despite his lengthy layoff, Smith said. “He’s back in the fold, I think it’s exciting.”
On Wednesday, England announced their starting lineup. Ollie Pope has been replaced at number three by Jacob Bethell, and Jofra Archer, the series’ starting pace bowler, has been sidelined.
In the past, Smith and Archer have engaged in thrilling on-field combat. Archer struck Smith in the head during his Lord’s Test debut in 2019.
When Archer bowled Smith in the final match of this series in Brisbane, the two men exchanged words.
Smith hasn’t stated whether or not he will play in the 2027 Ashes series, which raises the possibility that he won’t face Archer in Test cricket.
“You never want to see good players squandering chances,” Smith, a 36-year-old man, said. Fast bowlers are the cause of injuries. Although it’s unfortunate that he won’t be around, they still have some top seamers.
Following rumor reports of excessive drinking during a break between the second and third Tests in Noosa, England has come under fire. Rob Key, the director of cricket, has confirmed that he will look into the behavior of Queensland’s players.
Ben Stokes, the captain, expressed “empathy” toward his players on Thursday. Following his involvement in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that led to his dismissal as Australia’s captain, Smith has undergone extensive public scrutiny.
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Anne Soy, Kelvin Kimathi, and Kelvin Kimathi
Nairobi, BBC Newsday
Eliud Kipchoge ran with history on his back for almost 20 years and won almost anything.
He rewrote what was thought the human body could do, and he became the all-around best marathon runner ever.
The 41-year-old claims that the medal-hunting and validation race is over.
He claims that he is not retiring and is. I’m “evolving,” I’m “going for the reason.”
With the Eliud Kipchoge World Tour, Kipchoge intends to demonstrate his greatness while also spreading his wings around the world.
The two-time Olympian champion will run a marathon on all seven continents in the next two and a half years.
He claims on the BBC World Service that running is the most widely practiced sport.
It “unites us all,” he said. I want to compete for the people with this project, not just for the records.
A limitless legacy
AFP via Getty Images
It is important to comprehend the magnitude of Kipchoge’s success in order to fully grasp the significance of this moment.
Along with those Olympic victories, Kipchoge also won two official world records and 11 World Marathon Major victories.
He broke the two-hour marathon barrier in Vienna in one of sport’s most impressive feats, clocking in at an unofficial time of one hour, 59 minutes, and 40 seconds, breaking the one-hour mark in special circumstances.
Making history is what he says, “If I look back on the last 23 years, it was.”
Not winning medals or even breaking world records, but rather empowering people to realize that they have no limitations in what they do.
His next chapter will be anchored in that conviction.
The tour will be supported by Eliud’s Running World, a long-term platform that aims to encourage running participation while raising money for global causes.
The Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, which focuses on education, environmental sustainability, and health, will receive money from each marathon.
Kipchoge aims to fund projects that are customized to local needs with a $1 million (£739, 000) goal at each stop.
His vision for Kenya includes constructing libraries in every county. He wants the tour to leave behind tangible outcomes rather than just memories in other cities.
I want to leave behind an educational legacy, Kapchoge asserts.
Books contain knowledge, they say. We must become aware of and comprehend the thinking of others if we want to think outside the box.
Running a marathon in the harsh Antarctic cold is not Kipchoge’s idea as a stunt but rather as a statement.
He explains, “It’s about pushing your limits.” I want to demonstrate to everyone that, even in the most challenging circumstances, you can still push your limits.
His response is typically direct when asked whether he is pushing himself too hard.
He says, “Life is about moving forward.”
No one defends young athletes.
AFP via Getty Images
Kipchoge’s shift in perspective was influenced by what he witnessed and not just his success.
He has spoken out more frequently about the welfare of thousands of athletes who work hard and have high ambitions but are left with little protection when they don’t succeed.
He claims, “I’m not happy with how athletes are treated or how much money they make.
The sports industry is profitable, but only a small portion of it benefits the athlete.
He thinks there is a dangerous divide in the system. Elite athletes typically lack education, guidance, or long-term support while the majority struggle to survive.
It’s a real concern, they say. And there is a significant gap. They will leave, according to Kapchoge, if you do not appreciate them.
And that opens up a real window of opportunity for exploitation if they leave without being aware.
Evans Kibet, a Kenyan middle-distance runner who once hoped to succeed in the sport but is currently imprisoned in Ukraine as a prisoner of war after fighting for Russia, is a subject of Kipchoge’s rebuke.
Kibet claims that he was lured into signing up for paid competition and employment only to be conscripted and placed on the front line.
His case has shown how vulnerable athletes can be in times of limited opportunity and resentment.
It’s unfortunate, claims Kapchoge.
Young people want to help their families, they say. They desire a more satisfactory life. However, they are not protected.
The issue is systemic failure, according to Kipchoge.
If you don’t nurture it, he says, “Talent doesn’t look like talent.
Kipchoge contends that federations, agents, and governing bodies have inadvertently invested in education, mentorship, and safeguarding, particularly for athletes who do not succeed right away.
He claims that “a diamond is just a stone.”
Ronaldo, Ronaldo, and the power of sport
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Kipchoge has long advocated for clean sport, pointing out that the pressure to succeed has led to doping and moral cliches.
He claims that “people want quick riches.”
They lack vision beyond sports, they say. They don’t value longevity.
He thinks that sport should be pursued as a long-term profession rather than a gamble.
The sport will prosper, he claims if we teach young people to think about life beyond sports and leave a legacy.
Beyond athletics, that philosophy extends.
Kipchoge has written about mentoring athletes in communities where sport can provide structure, purpose, and opportunity, such as those in boxing, judo, and rugby.
He asserts, “We want to give young people choices.”
Sport can transform society, but only if it is properly handled.
Kipchoge’s values still appear in more subtle circumstances. When asked who he would pick for a no-pressure jog anywhere in the world, he is not an athlete.
He responds, “Barack Obama.” because he is a genuine person.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are both football greats, but Kipchoge chose Ronaldo for work ethic rather than for flair.
According to Kapchoge, “He works hard every day to develop his talent.”
It has a well-known theme. Kapchoge values process over outcome, and purpose over success.
Kipchoge claims that his world tour won’t end his career’s defining competition. However, that fire has changed its purpose.
Palestinians celebrated the first Christmas since the fragile ceasefire agreement by observing the loss they’ve experienced after two years of Israel’s devastating war.
Here is a round-up of some of the most memorable stories from this year’s showbiz calendar, where there is never a dull moment.
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Katy Perry was all smiles when returning to Earth after a flight on Blue Origin New Shepard(Image: BLUE ORIGIN/AFP via Getty Images)
The past 12 months have seen a slew of entertainment stories dominate the news agenda. From divorces to deaths, and yet more Strictly Come Dancing drama, here we have rounded up some of the most memorable news stories.
The first incident, dubbed the Coldplay KissCam drama, happened in July but has been back in the news recently as the woman at the centre of the drama gave her first interview. Kristin Cabot broke her silence on what she describes as 16 seconds that ‘ruined her life’. The life-changing moment at a July Coldplay concert, has become one of the most viral videos of all time.
– Coldplay KissCam drama
A high-powered chief executive who worked for a tech company with a New York address resigned after watching a viral clip from a Coldplay concert in the summer. When Chris Martin, the band’s frontman, asked the cameras to scan the crowd at a concert in Massachusetts, Boston in July, Andrew Byron and Kristin Cabot, both of whom worked for Astronomer, were caught by surprise.
“Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy”, Martin, 48, joked when the couple appeared on screen and quickly tried to hide their faces. The clip, which was widely shared online, was the start of a number of parody videos and memes, and it even appeared on Strictly Come Dancing and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. The couple quickly emerged from their roles thanks to social media, and they both quickly recused themselves.
Later on, in an unexpected move, Astronomer hired US actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who was married to Martin for 13 years, as a spokeswoman. In a video where she avoided making mention of the KissCam drama, Paltrow said, “Astronomer has had a lot of questions over the past few days and they wanted me to answer the most common ones.”
– Katy Perry in outer space
In April, pop star Katy Perry embarked on an 11-minute trip to space as part of a six-woman crew who boarded Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin rocket for the New Shepard mission. The 41-year-old sang Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World as she and the crew, also made up of CBS Mornings presenter Gayle King, former rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, astronaut Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn and Bezos’s wife Lauren Sanchez, entered space.
The six women float around the spacecraft until they reached zero gravity before looking at the camera and declaring in unison, “taking up space,” according to a video that Blue Origin shared on X.
Perry was also seen holding a daisy which she later held to the air after emerging from the spacecraft to honour her daughter Daisy, before kissing the ground. Then, Bravos her, she responded, “Thank you.
The singer of the Fireworks said, “I feel very, very, very connected to love. I think this experience has shown me you never know how much love is inside of you, like how much love you have to give and how loved you are until the day you launch”.
The singer has also been in the headlines this year following her split from the Pirates Of The Caribbean actor Orlando Bloom, whom she shares her daughter with. Since then Perry has been romantically linked with former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and posted a photo of them to Instagram earlier in the month.
– The passing of Ozzy Osbourne
The Black Sabbath frontman, 76, passed away in a reported heart attack just two weeks after Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell concert in Birmingham. The news of Osbourne’s death rocked the nation and fans arrived in their droves to Birmingham city centre on July 30 to pay their respects while a hearse carrying the singer made its way past Broad Street and to the Black Sabbath bench and bridge.
When the cortege arrived at the bench and bridge, which were bursting with floral tributes, balloons, and messages from fans, Osbourne’s family stepped out of the cortege. Each family member carries a pink rose that was adhered to a purple ribbon and was placed next to a star’s poster, which read, “Birmingham will always love you,” among other floral tributes.
Musicians from Bostin Brass played Black Sabbath songs to accompany the cortege, and fans threw flowers at the hearse while it slowly passed through the city. The heavy metal singer was well known for his theatrical acting, including once styling himself as the Prince of Darkness and once bit off the head of a bat.
– Lily Allen’s comeback
Lily Allen’s fifth studio album, West End Girl, immediately garnered attention in October for its catchy melodies and frank lyrics, which are said to detail the alleged infidelity of the singer’s ex-husband, US actor David Harbour. According to Allen, whose 14-track album exposes the breakdown of a marriage that was “opened” after the “husband went astray” in explicit terms, the record, which was her first for seven years, has a mix of “truth” and “fantasy” on it.
Dakota Johnson, a 40-year-old US actress, portrayed the titular enigmatic mistress from her song Madeline in a December appearance on Saturday Night Live (SNL). The Fifty Shades Of Grey star also delivered the song’s spoken-word outro, explaining her side of the story via texts to Allen, saying: “He told me that you were aware this was going on and that he had your full consent”.
– Strictly departs Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly
A year on from Strictly Come Dancing’s 20th anniversary, hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced they would be leaving their roles following this year’s Christmas special. Daly, 56, had co-hosted alongside the late Sir Bruce Forsyth since the series launch in 2004, while Winkleman, 53, fronted its weekday companion show, It Takes Two.
Winkleman, who is also known for presenting The Traitors, eventually moved on to host the Sunday night results show alongside Daly and joined the main show every Saturday from 2014, after Sir Bruce stepped down. The duo picked up the entertainment programme gong at the Bafta TV Awards in 2024 and were made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours for their services to broadcasting.
Following the announcement, they both posted numerous photos and separate posts to their Instagram accounts. It’s very challenging to express what Strictly means to me in words, said Winkleman. It’s been the greatest relationship of my career”.
Daly added: “Thank you for the laughter, the friendship and the countless memories over all these years. You’ve filled my heart in ways I’ll never forget. I’ll miss you all so much.” The pair received a message from Queen Camilla during the show’s final in December and Golden Glitterballs as leaving gifts.
– Honourable mentions
Following the success of Charli XCX’s alternative pop album, which came out in June 2024, Brat was the first Brit Award recipient at the beginning of the year. She later made headlines when she wed George Daniel, her long-time partner and drummer of The 1975, and held a celebration in both Hackney and Italy.
In another romantic turn pop star Taylor Swift got engaged to her NFL boyfriend Travis Kelce and shortly afterwards released another chart-topping album, The Life Of A Showgirl.
Also in the music world, the Oasis reunion tour was seen as a huge event for fans and was deemed a huge success from the minute Liam and Noel Gallagher walked on stage holding hands at their opening show in Cardiff in July.
There was also a number of high-profile divorces, with TV presenter Cat Deeley and The Late Late Show presenter Patrick Kielty among the couples announcing their separation.
A happier story came in the form of an unlikely relationship that blossomed on ITV’s reboot of Celebrity Big Brother. US dancer JoJo Siwa and reality TV star Chris Hughes batted away rumours they were in a romantic relationship before eventually confirming them to be true in a social media post more than a month after their stint on the reality TV show.
Popular TV show Strictly hit headlines in 2024 amid allegations of bullying during rehearsals and the drama continued into 2025 when The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner admitted to cheating on his wife just weeks after their wedding in an interview with the Sun on Sunday, having previously apologised for picking up a journalist’s phone and walking out of a press event for Strictly midway through. He also asserted that Strictly’s elimination was rigged, and that he was unfairly excluded from the show because he had met US Vice President JD Vance.
Sophie, Jude Law’s daughter, was played by Miffy Englefield in the holiday classic The Holiday. Despite being a mother herself, the 26-year-old still gets inappropriate messages from older fans.
Assistant Editor, Social News, Samantha Bartlett
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Miffy Englefield played Sophie in The Holiday(Image: Universal )
Countless viewers are currently indulging in festive film favourite The Holiday. But did you realise it’s been a staggering 19 years since this beloved film hit our screens? That means all the young stars from the movie have now reached adulthood, including Miffy Englefield, who portrayed one of Jude Law’s daughters – Sophie – in the romantic comedy.
Miffy has revealed online she is now a mother herself, although admits she’s troubled by “gross old men” who tell her she’s still “cute”. The 26-year-old, who lives in Littlehampton, West Sussex, welcomed daughter Frankie into the world on April 23, 2020.
Miffy, who played Sophie in The Holiday, was just six years old when she was cast as Jude, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, and Emma Pritchard, who also played her on-screen sibling.
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In a TikTok clip on her @miffz_ account, she posted: “When gross old men say things like ‘I’m so glad you are still as cute as you were in The Holiday’ to me.”
She continued, “I feel all kinds of creeped out, idk, depending on how I looked as a child and how I looked as a grown a** woman.”
The film follows Amanda, played by Cameron, as she develops a charming Graham, Jude, as she falls in love.
After initially posing as infidelity, she later discovers that he is Sophie’s father.
Reflecting on her film experience, Miffy previously told Fabulous: “It was amazing being in it. Every time it is on telly – and it is a lot – I crack up. It’s on Netflix now too.
It is really funny, according to my partner. He informs everyone. We watched it together, but to be honest, it makes me want to tear my eyes out. It’s so embarrassing.
She shared how much time Jude spent with her and how she felt about it.
He consistently gave me acting advice. In between takes, we would sit and perform tongue twisters on him.
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If you can recall the ten years he spent with Alfie, I’d probably like him.
“But no, I don’t fancy him in The Holiday – that would be really weird. He played me dad!”
Miffy also answered fan’s questions about appearing in The Holiday in another TikTok video. First she revealed what the The Holiday cast were like, as she said they were “amazing”. Miffy added: “It sounds really cliche but there’s not much to tell because they were all so lovely.”
She continued, “Of course one of Jude Law’s daughters in the movie, he was the one we spent the majority of time with, and he was wonderful and kind, and he was so patient, and he was just so kind, and he told us a lot about acting.”
However, the cast was all so kind. Kate Winslet is as ethereal as she might seem, and Jack Black is hilarious. Cameron Diaz is pretty self-assured, and she’s gorgeous.
She then admitted that “sadly she’s not,” and asked if she was still in contact with any of the cast members. Everyone is busy, she said, but life is just a lot. Miffy revealed that Nancy Meyers, the film’s producer and director, used to email her every year for a “good few years,” adding, “Nancy is the loveliest and so smart. “
Miffy said she “absolutely would” when asked if she would ever resume acting and that she would enjoy reading and auditioning. I’m not sure if I’m any good at it any more, but I don’t really think that many casting directors are looking for people with my appearance.
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“I’ve got a lot of tattoos now, and I’ve got a few body mods, so if a casting director wanted me to read a part, hit me up. I’d love to”.
Celebrities are having a good time with their families this Christmas, but that doesn’t stop them from posing in their PJs for photos. As Coleen posted a photo of the Rooneys on Christmas Eve at midnight in their matching pyjamas with gingerbread men in the background.
In front of the Christmas tree, she was reclining up to her youngest sons Cass, 6, and Kit, 8, while her older sibling Kai, 15, Klay, 11, and dad Wayne were also in the snap. Instead of wearing pyjama tops, Dad Wayne and Kai chose green T-shirts. In a different set of nightwear earlier this month, they had posed for Alder Hay Hospital’s charity sets, and Coleen remarked, “We couldn’t wait to get cozy in ours.”
They reportedly spent thousands on holiday decorations earlier this month, with the garden of their Cheshire home brightly lit with wreaths, trees, and hedges. This Christmas, not just theirs, but also theirs.
Influencer and former Love Island star Molly-Mae Hague shared a photo of her and her husband Tommy Fury kissing in matching pyjamas with their daughter Bambi ahead of cooking Christmas Dinner for 12.
Tommy and Bambi are adorable together, and Molly Mae and Tommy are photographed on Instagram.
On Christmas Eve, Molly said, “Just want to soak up this evening.” She previously stated that she was cooking for 12 people, but she added that it would be done tomorrow.
The Beckhams have also been busy recording their Christmases, with mum Victoria showing David removing a tree trunk and bringing it inside before decorating it.
The image of Harper, who appeared to be writing to Santa, was later added by Victoria with the caption “Manifesting her wishes.” On a nearby plate, you could see a carrot. The family is expected to celebrate Christmas together today, but Brooklyn, the family’s son, will not be, as has been the case with all recent events.
Lauren Cowell claimed that her outfit matched the Christmas Tree (laurenmichellecowell/Instagram).
And Simon Cowell and wife Lauren found a Christmas tree with their son Eric, despite the fact that he is in Barbados. That’s a wrap, Lauren wrote on Instagram, “Xmas Eve 2025, that’s a wrap.” Lauren’s other son, Adam, is also taking them on vacation. Unfortunately, I was unable to capture even one photo of us together, and my outfit is a perfect Christmas present. Not at all anticipated”!
Kim Kardashian posed in some of her Skims-branded PJs (Kim Kardashian/Instagram) as a member of the Kardashian clan.
Kim Kardashian and her children were photographed on Instagram wearing a variety of outfits and outfits. North West, her eldest daughter, was not present for the family’s holiday photo shoot this year. Saint, 10, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 6, from Kim’s Skims clothing line, posed in pajama sets with Christmas themes. Tatum, Tatum’s three-year-old sister Khloé’s son, and Dream, Dream’s nine-year-old brother Rob’s daughter, were also present in the family photo shoot.
Andy Murray, a former tennis player, donned a Christmas jumper to celebrate his opulent celebrations, while singer Olly Murs posed up next to Santa.
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher arrived early on X and said, “Happy Christmas, beautiful people, LG. Bandmate Paul ” Bonehead ” Arthurs was one of the respondents who simply stated, “Happy Christmas x “.
Everyone wishing Beatle Ringo Starr a happy Christmas by posting a video of himself wearing a drumkit in a Santa hat. Enjoy yourself. a fulfilling life. Enjoy a wonderful evening, peace and love, and holiday season.
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