Archive August 3, 2025

Chris Woakes, an all-rounder, has “all in” to help England win the series against India, according to Joe Root.

On the fifth Test’s opening day, Woakes was attempting to avoid a boundary when he was injured.

England stated on Friday that “at this point, the injury has ruled him out of any further participation in the Test.”

With four wickets in hand, England will need 35 more runs in the final day of the series against England on Monday.

Woakes was seen wearing his whites in the England changing room late on Sunday, but he was still wearing a sling on his left arm.

Root responded, “I assume so,”’ when asked by BBC Test Match Special if Woakes would bat if necessary.” He is fervent about taking any chances.

After Root and Harry Brook shared 195 for the fourth wicket, England were well on the verge of 374 at 301-3.

However, Root was bowled after Brook missed the target and fell behind, with England still needing 37 to win and finish their second-highest test chase.

Before the players’ day four was prematurely ended due to bad light, the players were forced off the field.

India had regained hope with three quick wickets, which also raised the possibility that Woakes would be required to bat.

He’s in, just like the rest of us, he said.

It’s been that kind of series where characters have had to sacrifice their bodies.

“Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but he did have some throwdowns at one point, so he’s prepared if necessary.”

Final leaderboard for the AIG Women’s Open 2025 final round

-11 Yamashita (Jpn), -9 Hull (Eng), Katsu (Jpn), -7 AL Kim (Kor), Takeda (Jpn)

others were screened.

-4 Woad (Eng), -2 M Lee (Aus), -1 Hall (Eng), Rhodes (Eng), + 1 Thitikul (Tha), + 3 Ko (NZ), Korda (US)

The Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl was won by Miyu Yamashita in an almost faultless final round that drew a blank on Charley Hull from England.

Following top-10 finishes in each of the previous two Women’s PGA Championships, the 24-year-old Japanese player has won his first major championship.

Yamashita finished two shots clear of 29-year-old Hull, who carded a three-under-par 69 to finish second in a major for the fourth time in her career.

At nine under, Japan’s Minami Katsu birdied the final shot to claim the championship from Hull.

With a seven-under-par round of 65 on Friday morning, Yamashita took control of the tournament and led from the beginning.

In the final round, she briefly shared the top spot with her playing partner A Lim Kim, but the South Korean’s birdie at the second-round quickly came after further bogeys.

Hull quickly emerged as the main rival to world number 15 Yamashita, who propelled herself into contention with a six-under-par 66 on Saturday.

Yamashita made it three shots clear of the turn after playing their first nine holes in three under par.

Hull continued to attack and close the gap to one shot until a costly trip to a fairway bunker on the 16th.

Yamashita stayed superbly composed and was able to limit the damage caused by her rare errors, superbly saving par with a lengthy putt at the 14th.

When Yamashita found the rough with her first two shots, knowing a bogey on the par-five 18th would be enough to win, a safe chip onto the green ensured she would become the third Japanese woman to win the Women’s Open.

She stated during the trophy presentation, “To win such a historic tournament in front of all these amazing fans is such an incredible feeling.”

At the halfway point, Yamashita had led by 11 shots before turning in her final two rounds, which she only managed to improve by a shot better than Katsu.

Hull, who finished second behind Lilia Vu at Walton Heath in 2023, said, “I really enjoyed it out there.”

I had such complete control over my game that I didn’t feel like I whiffed a shot or a drive. On 16, I had a good shot.

You know what I mean when I say that I don’t feel like I actually messed things up by hitting any shots, which I believe everyone else will probably agree with? I had a great time.

I didn’t think I would make the cut coming into this week, she continued. That is actually the case.

I wasn’t hitting it very well, I thought. Because I was weak, I was unable to prepare as well as I should. I obviously fell three times during the Evian round, but I hadn’t recovered until last Sunday.

Mimi Rhodes, an England player who has won three times in a row this year, finished one under par for the tournament and made an incredible hole-in-one on the par-three fifth to cap her Women’s Open debut.

Steph Kyriacou, her playing partner, hit her tee shot to the side just as it did at the eighth hole on Friday, who had already recorded an ace of her own.

Rhodes’ effort was headed just to the left of the cup shortly after, but her ball deflected into the hole after colliding with Kyriacou’s.

The 23-year-old said, “I hit a really good eight iron, right where I wanted it to go. I just picked up my tee and heard everyone going crazy because I didn’t expect it to go in.

I was aware that something had happened because the noise was louder than usual. The green was in the hole when we went up to it.

That’s unbelievable because I didn’t know it hit Steph’s ball until I watched the video.

At the conclusion of the third round, Rhodes was one of four English players who had a lead over Yamashita by six shots.

Lando Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri both admitted after winning the Hungarian Grand Prix that they were “not making life very easy” for themselves in the title race.

Norris’ victory, his third victory in the last four races, closes his McLaren team-mate’s championship lead to nine points heading into the summer break.

However, after compromising himself while passing Piastri at the first corner, he dropped to fifth place on the first lap.

It’s already difficult, and it’s going to be tough, according to Norris. There are only a few small differences between us. I’m sure he’ll probably say something similar, and I’m sure there are some things I can improve and improve.

There are some things I need to improve on and want to improve on, but I’m looking forward to a nice break, a bit of rest and try to come back even better.

“I’m not giving myself the best opportunities,” I said. Even though the outcomes have appeared fantastic, I’m not currently making my life very simple. Therefore, I’ll be in a better place if I can work on those things.

In a number of races this season, Norris has struggled with minor issues that have cost him the championship. Hungary was the most recent of these.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Piastri were the only drivers to hold Norris’ position in the Hungaroring, but Piastri held him in place by Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and George Russell in the lead-up to Ferrari’s George Russell on the first corner.

Even though McLaren did not know when they made the decision whether he would be able to make it work, Norris had to use a one-stop tyre strategy to try to recover ground.

Norris said, “One of the first ones I’ve won probably in this way.” Most of the circumstances are new, so I’ve not won many races, but I believe this is the first race where using a completely different approach, giving myself that opportunity, worked out.

It’s a difficult strategy, but it turned out well. The most crucial factor is that. And to be honest, I didn’t really believe it would last the majority of that second stint. But I kind of gained more assurance that it was going to get closer and closer each lap. So, yes, it will undoubtedly be rewarding.

The two drivers anticipate a close fight until the championship resumes at the Dutch Grand Prix on September 29 and August, with Norris taking his fifth victory of the season, compared to Piastri’s six.

It will be a difficult second half of the year, according to Piastri. The margins are excellent, and it has already been difficult. Therefore, I believe watching it will be enjoyable.

Andrea Stella, the McLaren team’s principal, assured the team that they would continue to compete fairly among themselves.

“We are McLaren Racing,” Stella remarked. We incorporate racing into Formula 1 to enhance its value. So we want to offer fantastic Formula 1 racing.

Our two drivers need to be able to use, express their talent, pursue their aspirations, and achieve personal success within the bounds of team interest, fairness, sportsmanship, and respect for one another. This is what I see, in my opinion.

Even though Ferrari was competing for the victory for two thirds of the race, it will likely be a question between the two McLaren drivers.