Category Sports News

Hurstville Oval, Sydney, hosts the first Women’s T20.

Australia A 117-6 (20 overs): Penna 27 (34), Gaur 2-10, Davis 2-16

England A 119-7 (19.1 overs): Scholfield 36 (29), Scrivens 35 (38), Flintoff 2-16

Three wickets separated England A.

In their first T20 match of their multi-format tour, England A held their resolve to defeat Australia A by three wickets.

The tourists needed 10 runs in the final three overs to win, but England only needed three after England’s tight bowling.

However, Bess Heath scored a four on the opening play of the 20th over to win.

Before Heath’s unbeaten 18 off 16 and her stand of 63 with Paige Scholfield, who hit 36 off 29, put England to victory, which was completed by Captain Grace Scrivens, who made 35 off 38 balls.

Given the turmoil surrounding the senior XI, this is a promising victory for a young England side, especially in the first of three T20s before three 50-over games and a four-day game.

After Australia humiliatingly won the Women’s Ashes 16-0 clean sweep, England are searching for a new coach and captain.

The younger England players have a chance to compete for seats in the senior side under the new leadership.

The 6’4″ and left-arm pace bowler Gaur, 19, has already shown signs of how dangerous her special abilities are in 26 senior white-ball games.

In a bowling total of just 10 runs, she hit Tahlia Wilson with the first delivery of the game before dismissing the hosts’ other opener Courtney Webb.

With Maddie Penna and Rhys McKenna removed, off-spinner Davis, who has only made one one-day international appearance, went for 16 from her three overs.

Issy Wong, a fast bowler who has struggled in form since 2023, attempted to rekindle her English career with a 0-30 record on four of her overs.

Even in chasing relatively low targets, England and Australia have struggled against them, but Scrivens and Scholfield, who are more experienced, largely eased any tension before being both dismissed by Lauren Cheatle in successive overs.

Heath didn’t feel alarmed despite three wickets being quickly lost and Wong being dismissed on the final ball of the 19th over.

Bryony Smith, who did not join the core group, has been declared out of the tour due to illness, but no replacement will be called up. England has confirmed this.

Aidy Boothroyd, the ex-Watford manager, claims he “doesn’t want pity” after revealing he has Parkinson’s disease and plans to continue coaching.

The 54-year-old claims that after seven months in charge of England’s under-21s, he was diagnosed three years ago with a routine health check.

The brain and nervous system are affected by Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological condition.

Following a “fit to manage” health check organized by the LMA, Boothroyd claimed he was “shocked” by his diagnosis in November 2021.

He was referred to a neurologist, but he was still anticipating a presentable health condition.

He said, “I initially believed everything to be alright, but then the bombshell hit.”

“It sticks in my mind.” It was pouring and raining. A terrible day was had. And the neuroscientist [the guy] said, “This is the picture of your brain,” not the normal brain. The difference is obvious. You suffer from Parkinson’s. I apologize very much.

I had no idea what to say or do. I had no idea what Parkinson’s was at all. My kids were the only things that struck me. What would come next, I was uncertain. I was shocked.

A person with Parkinson’s disease may exhibit a variety of physical and psychological symptoms.

Facial masking, according to Boothroyd, is his primary sign, which affects the facial muscles and makes it difficult for others to interpret your mood.

He said, “My face could be smiling outwardly, but it’s actually not,” but he was right.

You’re not your normal self, you’re so quiet, I’ve heard it repeatedly.

Nothing about this is more unbelievable than that. I’m excited, excited. Although I still enjoy my job and working with people, the decision was difficult.

After taking a year-long coaching position with Sheffield United and Northern Ireland, Boothroyd decided to keep working despite the diagnosis. He spent the following year managing the Indian side Jamshedpur.

He claims that speaking out about his illness gives him a sense of relief, but he doesn’t want it to stop him from doing what he loves.

“I don’t want to saunter,” I said. He declared, “I don’t want pity.” “I’ll keep going, I’ll stay in shape.” I’ll work out whenever I can, with the hope that I’ll find employment with a purpose.

From 2005 to 2008, Boothroyd oversaw Watford, earning promotion to the Premier League in 2006 and reaching the FA Cup semi-final.

He also oversaw the youth teams for England, including Colchester United, Coventry City, and Northampton Town, from 2014 to 2021.

Since receiving his Parkinson’s diagnosis three years ago, LMA CEO Richard Bevan has observed an incredible level of optimism, resolve, and tenacity.

“We care deeply for all of our members, and Aidy’s attitude has inspired our entire team as we continue to support him and his family at this unexpected and difficult time,” said the team’s president.

Nearly 10 million people worldwide and more than 150, 000 in the UK are affected by Parkinson’s disease.

Although there are treatments to manage symptoms, there is no known cure or cure for the disease.

Alphonso Davies, a Munich, Bayern full-back, will need surgery to repair his cruciate ligament injury in his right knee for “several months.”

Davies was hurt on Sunday in Canada’s 2-1 Concacaf Nations League third-place play-off victory over the United States.

Dayot Upamecano, a Bayern defender, will also be sidelined for a number of weeks due to a knee problem that he picked up while on international duty with France.

Our squad is strong, and we will make up for these absences. We’ll work together even more closely now. We have the ability to carry on our lofty objectives.

Since joining Bayern from Vancouver Whitecaps at the age of 17, Davies has made 226 appearances.

To end rumors linking him to a move to Real Madrid, the 24-year-old signed a new five-year contract in February.

Since leaving RB Leipzig for a reported 42.5 million euros (£38 million) in 2021, Upamecano has made 147 Bayern appearances.

With eight games to go, Vincent Kompany’s team is six points clear of the top of the Bundesliga as they attempt to win the 34th German title.

In the Champions League quarter-finals, they also host Inter Milan, with the first leg taking place on April 8 in Munich.

The Nevada Athletic Commission has outlawed former UFC competitors Jeff Molina and Darrick Minner.

Minner, 34, was given a 29-month suspension for failing to report a “serious injury” prior to a UFC fight on November 5, 2022.

Molina, 27, has received a three-year suspension for backing his team-mate’s injury and placing a significant wager on Minner’s fight.

According to the Nevada Athletic Commission, Molina acknowledged the crime.

Minner was quickly completed by Shayilan Nuerdanbieke in round one despite missing out on a pre-fight medical questionnaire.

US Integrity identified the featherweight fight as a suspicious betting bet and launched an investigation into an illegal gambling arrangement involving UFC fighters and coaches.

Featherweight Molina’s suspension expires on November 5, 2025, while Minner can start fighting again on March 26, 2025.

Former UFC fighter turned coach James Krause served as Molina and Minner’s training partner.

Krause is being investigated for allegedly engaging in an illegal gambling ring, and the UFC has forbid cornerbacks from Krause’s gym sessions.

Wales vs. England at the Women’s Six Nations

Cardiff Principality Stadium Date: Saturday, March 29 Kickoff: 16:45 GMT

Georgia Evans, the eighth-ranked player in Wales, will not face England in the Women’s Six Nations in Cardiff on Saturday after receiving two sin-bin offenses against Scotland last weekend.

Evans received a yellow card for collapsing a maul for the first time in Wales’ defeat in Edinburgh. Evans’ high tackle soon after returning to the field resulted in a second yellow and a red card.

A disciplinary panel determined that the red card was insufficient for punishment and that “no further sanctions” were required.

Wales lost the contest 24-21, while hosts Scotland saw a player sent off, and Evie Gallagher received a one-game ban for an illegal challenge at a ruck.

Red Bull have delivered one of the most ruthless driver moves in F1 history after deciding to drop Liam Lawson after just two races.

The 23-year-old New Zealander will swap places with Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda and return to Red Bull’s second team, Racing Bulls, from the next race in Japan in a week’s time.

The decision was reached by Red Bull bosses, including team principal Christian Horner, at a meeting in Dubai on Monday, insiders have told BBC Sport.

It is expected to be formally confirmed later this week by Red Bull, who refused to comment.

Red Bull have long been renowned for the ruthlessness with which they handle their young driver programme.

Even in that context, the way they have dealt with Lawson has caused widespread disbelief in Formula 1.

The New Zealander qualified 18th at the opening race of the season in Australia, before crashing out of the race in the rain.

In China last weekend, he qualified last for both the sprint and the grand prix, and finished the two races 14th and 12th.

His average qualifying deficit to team-mate Verstappen has been 0.88 seconds. Verstappen finished second in Australia, third in the sprint in Shanghai and fourth in the Chinese Grand Prix.

Japanese driver Tsunoda was asked at the Chinese Grand Prix whether he would accept the promotion to Red Bull if it was offered.

He said: “Yeah, why not? Always. In Japan? Yeah, 100%. I mean, the car is faster.”

When the scenario was put to Lawson, he responded: “I’ve raced him for years, raced him in junior categories and beat him – and I did in F1 as well, so he can say whatever he wants.”

Lawson was promoted to Red Bull this season following the team’s decision to pay off Sergio Perez, despite the Mexican having two years remaining on his contract.

That decision was made after a difficult 2024 for Perez, who failed to finish on the podium after the fifth race of the season.

Perez’s performances contributed to the team finishing third in the constructors’ championship last year, behind McLaren and Ferrari.

As Perez’s slump in 2024 had mirrored a similar pattern of performance in 2023, Red Bull decided the time had come to get rid of him.

The decision to promote Lawson to Red Bull, alongside Max Verstappen, after just 11 grands prix spread across two seasons was already questionable.

To demote him back to second team Racing Bulls after just two races in a swap with Tsunoda – who was passed over only three months ago – is, quite simply, extraordinary.

It raises serious questions about Red Bull’s management, primarily team principal Horner.

It was Horner’s decision to offer a new two-year contract to Sergio Perez last May even though the Mexican was starting to struggle in the second Red Bull – just as he had through the second half of 2023.

He did that despite Carlos Sainz being available following Ferrari’s signing of Lewis Hamilton for 2025.

After Perez’s performances slumped through the remainder of 2024, the decision was made to terminate his contract. That resulted in a pay-off of many millions of dollars.

And rather than pick Tsunoda, who had four years’ experience and had edged Lawson as a team-mate, they picked the New Zealander, apparently because of his mental fortitude.

Now they have to find a way to justify this series of decisions – and the almost unprecedented one to dump Lawson after so little time to bed himself in.

Lawson took part in six races in 2023 as a substitute for Daniel Ricciardo when the Australian broke his hand in a crash, scoring points with a ninth-place finish in Singapore.

And last year he competed in five races after Ricciardo was dropped following the Singapore Grand Prix, taking points for ninth-place finishes in the US and Sao Paulo Grands Prix.

Tsunoda out-qualified Lawson by a ratio of four times to two in 2023 and seven times to two in 2024. In races, Tsunoda has been ahead six times against four when both have finished.

Red Bull chose Lawson on the basis they believed the Japanese lacked the mental toughness to survive at Red Bull alongside Verstappen, while his fellow driver had more potential to improve.

They had been planning to wait until at least the Japanese Grand Prix before making a call because it is the first track on this year’s calendar at which Lawson has previous experience.

But in the end Lawson’s poor performances have led to his downfall after just two races.

Verstappen is said by insiders to believe the decision is an error, on the basis that the problem is Red Bull’s car – not the second driver.

The Dutchman has said the 2025 Red Bull is the fourth quickest car – behind rival top teams McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari.

Lawson’s two races in his first full season at Red Bull will go down as one of the shortest ever driver stints for an F1 team.

While Lawson at least gets to stay on the grid, Japanese driver Yuji Ide had no such luck in 2006. The 31-year-old was dumped by Super Aguri after just four grands prix – and had his FIA super licence revoked – after struggling to adapt during his rookie season.

Dutchman Nyck de Vries impressed enough during a stand-in drive for Williams in 2022 to claim a full seat with the Red Bull’s second team, then called Alpha Tauri, a year later.

But his F1 career ended only 10 races in to the 2023 campaign when he was replaced mid-season by Ricciardo.

Indian driver Karun Chandhok managed one race more than De Vries in 2010, when he lost his place at the HRT team to Japan’s Sakon Yamamoto after just 11 grands prix.

There were some memorable substitute appearances, including Markus Winkelhock’s one-race deal – and retirement – with Spyker in 2007.

Andre Lotterer famously called it a day after two laps for Caterham in 2014, while Luca Badoer’s double cameo for Ferrari in 2009 – when the Italian finished at the back of the field on both occasions – caused much dismay for Scuderia fans.