Ben Spratt | Sporting News

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De Kock delighted with rare century

After just over two years without a Test ton, Quinton de Kock was pleased to return to form for South Africa against Pakistan.

Ben Spratt

Coulter-Nile frustrated by omission

Australia left out Nathan Coulter-Nile due to back soreness, but the right-arm paceman was frustrated by the selectors' reasoning.

Ben Spratt

Du Plessis banned for third Test

South Africa will be without Faf du Plessis for the third Test against Pakistan due to suspension, further limiting their batting options.

Ben Spratt

Hurns dislocated & fractured ankle

Jerry Jones confirmed the serious nature of Allen Hurns' injury in the Dallas Cowboys' playoff win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Ben Spratt

Denly smashes Sixers to victory

Sydney Sixers had it all their own way at Adelaide Strikers on Sunday, with Joe Denly the star of the show with 76 not out.

Ben Spratt

Brisbane International: Karolina Pliskova takes second title with comeback win

Lesia Tsurenko could not complete another upset and was beaten by Karolina Pliskova in Sunday's Brisbane International final.

Ben Spratt

South Africa v Pakistan: Dean Elgar seals routine chase as hosts clinch series

Dean Elgar's unbeaten 24 ensured there would be no dramatic twist on day four at Newlands as South Africa sealed a series win over Pakistan.

Ben Spratt

Auckland Classic: Julia Goerges halts teen sensation Bianca Andreescu in final

Bianca Andreescu's hopes of a first WTA Tour title were dashed at the Auckland Classic, despite giving Julia Goerges a scare in the final.

Ben Spratt

Proteas on the brink at Newlands

Pakistan threatened a fightback against South Africa on day three, but the Proteas bowlers set their side a target of just 41 at Newlands.

Ben Spratt

Medvedev denies Tsonga in Brisbane

Despite returning to form in Brisbane, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga could not find his way past Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals.

Ben Spratt

Australia v India: Tim Paine concedes Aussies need Steve Smith, David Warner back

"The silver lining is that we do have world-class players that are available soon to come back into this side."

Ben Spratt

UFC 232: Amanda Nunes is the best ever, claims Dana White

"I f-cking guarantee it. I promise you that."

Ben Spratt

Bancroft unable to slow Hurricanes

Hobart Hurricanes maintained their winning start to the Big Bash League season, ruining Cameron Bancroft's professional return.

Ben Spratt

Nadal beaten on return in Abu Dhabi

Ahead of the Brisbane International, Rafael Nadal's comeback match saw him beaten by Kevin Anderson at the World Tennis Championship.

Ben Spratt

Murray determined to battle back

Injury-affected three-time grand slam champion Andy Murray is driven by a desire to get back to his best before calling time on his career.

Ben Spratt

Mourinho: I have nothing to say

Manchester United sacked Jose Mourinho on Tuesday and, appearing in public 24 hours later, he had little interest in discussing his exit.

Ben Spratt

BCCI denies claims of Kohli brag

The BCCI has rejected media reports that Virat Kohli said he was 'the best player in the world' during an exchange with Tim Paine.

Ben Spratt

Starc dismisses Warne criticism

Australia great Shane Warne's latest criticism will not distract Mitchell Starc, the bowler insists.

Ben Spratt

Ishant confident as Kohli stars

Ishant Sharma feels confident after Virat Kohli starred for India in Perth, but he also hailed Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

Ben Spratt

Joshua reiterates Wilder ambition

WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua says he has set aside April 13 to fight Deontay Wilder for the WBC belt at Wembley.

Ben Spratt

Giles replaces Strauss as director

The ECB has announced Ashley Giles as the new director of England Cricket, the former spinner returning to the set-up after four years out.

Ben Spratt

Cipriani 'at peace' with England

Eddie Jones has not been convinced by the in-form Danny Cipriani this season, but there are no hard feelings from the England fly-half.

Ben Spratt

Hope cannot inspire Windies

Shai Hope scored another century, but West Indies were outclassed by Bangladesh as they fell to a one-day international series defeat.

Ben Spratt

Bumrah: Second Test in the balance

Australia look to have control of the second Test, closing day one on 6-277, but Jasprit Bumrah is confident India can quickly bounce back.

Ben Spratt

Australia v India: Marcus Harris leads hosts into ascendancy on day one

Marcus Harris hit his first Test half-century as Australia made a strong start against India in the second Test.

Ben Spratt

Nadal to join Federer at Laver Cup

Bjorn Borg has paired Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer for the second time for next year's Laver Cup in Geneva.

Ben Spratt

Schmidt not ruling out return

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt is set for some time away from coaching, but it may yet not be a permanent departure.

Ben Spratt

Froome: Team Sky keen to continue

Those involved at Team Sky will aim to keep working together after their name partner leaves, says star Chris Froome.

Ben Spratt

SA coaches to assist franchises

Rassie Erasmus will work with the Bulls in pre-season as South Africa look to help their Super Rugby franchises in a Rugby World Cup year.

Ben Spratt

Joshua is begging - Wilder

Negotiations between Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua failed previously, but the WBC champion claims the Briton is now desperate.

Ben Spratt

Wolff backs teenager for F1 stardom

Michael Schumacher's son Mick, the Formula 3 European champion, is set for a big future in Formula One, according to Toto Wolff.

Ben Spratt

Shastri praises India patience

India ended day three of the first Test 166 ahead in Australia, with seven wickets in hand, and Ravi Shastri hailed the tourists' attitude.

Ben Spratt

Runs are 'gold dust' in Adelaide

The bowlers have had the upper hand in the opening Test between Australia and India, but Ravichandran Ashwin is not content just yet.

Ben Spratt

Be patient with Australia - Harris

Marcus Harris is one of several Australia batsmen still finding their feet in Test cricket and he believes it showed against India.

Ben Spratt

Williamson leads NZ to 123-run win

Tim Southee and William Somerville came to the fore as New Zealand needed less than two sessions to seal victory over Pakistan on day five.

Ben Spratt

New Zealand lead by 198 runs

A huge fourth day of the third Test saw New Zealand seize control from Pakistan as Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls delivered.

Ben Spratt

Bowlers trailing in Yasir's wake

Yasir Shah became the fastest man to 200 Test wickets on Thursday. We take a look at the men he has beaten to that record.

Ben Spratt

Starc happy despite India rally

India recovered from 5-86 to close on 9-250, but Mitchell Starc was still pleased with the way Australia bowled on Thursday.

Ben Spratt

Pujara shouldered burden on day one

A century from Cheteshwar Pujara saw India end the first day in Australia on 9-250, the batsman rising to the occasion at a key interval.

Ben Spratt

Ricky Ponting calls on Australia to 'unsettle' Virat Kohli

Australia should look to "unsettle" India's star batsman Virat Kohli in their Test series, according to former captain Ricky Ponting.

Ben Spratt

Deontay Wilder 'very interested' in Anthony Joshua fight

Tyson Fury wants a rematch with Deontay Wilder, but Shelly Finkel says the American is interested in fighting Anthony Joshua.

Ben Spratt

Tyson Fury's promoter to lodge WBC complaint over controversial draw

Saturday's draw with Deontay Wilder will prompt a complaint from Tyson Fury's promoter Frank Warren, while the boxer wants one judge banned.

Ben Spratt

Archer not available until March

Jofra Archer will be available for England next year, but he will have to wait until March before he is officially eligible.

Ben Spratt

Rugby Australia cancels White call

Jake White's planned discussion with Rugby Australia will not go ahead amid mounting pressure on Michael Cheika.

Ben Spratt

Paine dismisses Clarke claims

Australia's focus should be on winning, not being liked, says Michael Clarke, but Tim Paine insists results remain their highest priority.

Ben Spratt

Tyson Fury to help the homeless with purse from Deontay Wilder fight

Earnings from Tyson Fury's heavyweight clash with Deontay Wilder will go towards helping the homeless, the Briton has announced.

Ben Spratt

Ben Stokes mocks Sanjay Manjrekar's chef analogy

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has mocked former India star Sanjay Manjrekar's claims that he merely adds "the garnish" to the Test team.

Ben Spratt

We can take confidence - Williamson

New Zealand were outclassed by Pakistan in the second Test, but Kane Williamson insists there were positives for the Black Caps to take.

Ben Spratt

Sarfraz, Yasir revel in huge win

Pakistan drew level with New Zealand in the series with victory in the second Test as Sarfraz Ahmed hailed star bowler Yasir Shah.

Ben Spratt

Sam Burgess: Selfish England team-mates to blame for 2015 World Cup woe

England were dumped out of the Rugby World Cup early on home soil three years ago, but Sam Burgess is not accepting the blame.

Ben Spratt

England on track, says Root

Jonny Bairstow has the opportunity to make the number three spot his own and help England become the world's best, says Joe Root.

Ben Spratt

Kohli and India moving on swiftly

There is no time for Virat Kohli to mull over India's T20 defeat to Australia as he gets set for the next game in the series.

Ben Spratt

Ricciardo terrified by move

As he prepares to leave Red Bull at the end of the season, Daniel Ricciardo acknowledges the thought of change terrifies him.

Ben Spratt

ATP Finals: Roger Federer back on track after dismal Dominic Thiem display

Even with Roger Federer still seemingly stuck in second gear, the Swiss was comfortable in defeating Dominic Thiem on Tuesday.

Ben Spratt

Tiley: Fans demand Federer matches

Julien Benneteau believes Roger Federer is given favourable match times at the Australian Open. Organisers have dismissed the suggestion.

Ben Spratt

Anthony Joshua intrigued by Oleksandr Usyk, Eddie Hearn says

If Oleksandr Usyk can successfully make the shift to heavyweight, Anthony Joshua might be interested in a bout, according to Eddie Hearn.

Ben Spratt

Djokovic excels in Isner win

After a sublime winning streak was ended in his previous ATP World Tour match, Novak Djokovic returned to form at the season-ending Finals.

Ben Spratt

'One-dimensional' Australia need work before Cricket World Cup, says Aaron Finch

Australia's batsmen are not ready for the Cricket World Cup, says captain Aaron Finch, with either the personnel or tactics set to change.

Ben Spratt

Sydney held by Jets

Adam Le Fondre's scoring touch deserted him on Saturday and Sydney FC could not hold on for a scrappy win at Newcastle Jets.

Ben Spratt

Reid puzzled by ejection

The Carolina Panthers endured a night to forget against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Eric Reid did not fully understand his ejection.

Ben Spratt

Root: This is just the start

England ended a long wait for a Test win on their travels on Thursday and Joe Root is now targeting further success against Sri Lanka.

Ben Spratt

England cruise to 211-run victory

England eased to a big win against Sri Lanka in the first Test, with Moeen Ali influential as the tourists ended the match a day early.

Ben Spratt

Australia end miserable streak

After seven ODI defeats on the bounce, Australia finally found some sort of form with the ball to beat South Africa in Adelaide.

Ben Spratt

Rublev, Munar head through

Alex de Minaur and Stefanos Tsitsipas are joined in the semi-finals by Andrey Rublev and Jaume Munar at the Next Gen Finals.

Ben Spratt

Kohli clarifies India comments

Virat Kohli told one fan to "live somewhere else" because they preferred foreign players to India batsmen, before clarifying his comments.

Ben Spratt

Mayweather denies agreement

The New Year's Eve bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Tenshin Nasukawa looks to be off, as the American insists he did not agree to it.

Ben Spratt

Trent Boult hat-trick leads New Zealand to comprehensive ODI win over Pakistan

New Zealand eased to victory over Pakistan on Wednesday as Trent Boult's hat-trick stole the show.

Ben Spratt

Dominic Thiem, Marin Cilic qualify for ATP Finals with Kei Nishikori defeat

Kei Nishikori will wait for injury news after failing to make the ATP Finals, as Dominic Thiem and Marin Cilic qualified instead in Paris.

Ben Spratt

Paris Masters: Roger Federer beats Kei Nishikori to secure Djokovic semi

Novak Djokovic awaits Roger Federer in the last four of the Paris Masters after the Swiss defeated Kei Nishikori.

Ben Spratt

Paris Masters: Novak Djokovic comes through tense Marin Cilic test

A raucous Paris crowd saw Novak Djokovic toil against Marin Cilic before clinching victory and a place in the semi-finals.

Ben Spratt

Federer punishes wasteful Fognini

Fabio Fognini's profligacy allowed Roger Federer comfortable progression to the last eight in Paris on Thursday.

Ben Spratt

Jones excited despite injuries

Injuries have ravaged England's forward pack, but Eddie Jones is excited and confident heading into the South Africa Test.

Ben Spratt

Price staying with Red Sox

After playing a starring role as the Red Sox won the World Series, David Price has committed his future to Boston.

Ben Spratt

Nadal out, Djokovic number one

Novak Djokovic will be the world number one for the first time since 2016 after Rafael Nadal was forced out of the Paris Masters.

Ben Spratt

Federer turned down Saudi invite

As Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic consider their involvement in an exhibition in Saudi Arabia, Roger Federer confirmed he too was invited.

Ben Spratt

White: Khabib will not box

Floyd Mayweather Jr will have to leave the ring for the octagon if he wants to face Khabib Nurmagomedov, according to UFC chief Dana White.

Ben Spratt

Carling given England role

Will Carling is back in the England fold, the retired ex-captain taking on a leadership role under coach Eddie Jones.

Ben Spratt

'Warner should expect hostility'

A hostile crowd will await David Warner in England next year, according to Joe Root, who has had run-ins with the Australia star previously.

Ben Spratt

Report: Barcelona 5 Real Madrid 1

Barcelona took full advantage of Real Madrid's dreadful first-half display at Camp Nou, setting the stage for a Clasico triumph on Sunday.

Ben Spratt

Federer breezes into Basel final

Roger Federer overcame a tricky second set to record a comprehensive Swiss Indoors Basel semi-final win and edge towards a ninth title.

Ben Spratt

Canelo calls for Mayweather rematch

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez says he should be considered as an opponent if Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants to come out of retirement.

Ben Spratt

Jones challenges snubbed Cipriani

Danny Cipriani's fine form has not been enough to earn and England recall, with coach Eddie Jones identifying room for improvement.

Ben Spratt

Bajin backs Osaka for greatness

Sascha Bajin used to work with Serena Williams and he now believes Naomi Osaka, his current protege, could become an all-time great.

Ben Spratt

Fakhar and Sarfraz lead recovery

Nathan Lyon made a flying start to the second Test, but Pakistan recovered to gain a real foothold against Australia.

Ben Spratt

West Indies coach Stuart Law banned for 'inappropriate comments' in India Test

Stuart Law will miss two matches after the West Indies coach made "inappropriate comments" to umpires during last week's Test against India.

Ben Spratt

Ferrari struggling under pressure of chasing Mercedes, says Felipe Massa

As defending champions, Felipe Massa believes Mercedes have felt less pressure than struggling rivals Ferrari this year.

Ben Spratt

Shane Warne: Australia need Steve Smith and David Warner back

Steve Smith and David Warner have been sorely missed by Australia, according to cricketing great Shane Warne.

Ben Spratt

Sanath Jayasuriya: I always conduct myself with integrity and transparency

The ICC charged Sri Lanka great Sanath Jayasuriya on Monday, but he insists he has always acted with integrity.

Ben Spratt

Sanath Jayasuriya charged by ICC with breaching anti-corruption code

The ICC has announced that Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya has been charged with breaching its anti-corruption code.

Ben Spratt

Simona Halep to end 2018 as world number one

For the second consecutive year, Simona Halep will end the year as the WTA's world number one player.

Ben Spratt

Pakistan v Australia: Tim Paine not happy celebrating a draw

Australia's celebrations after drawing with Pakistan concerned captain Tim Paine, who insists his side intend to win the series.

Ben Spratt

Wilder apologizes to mascot

In a live TV appearance, the WBC heavyweight champion punched a mascot and has now apologized for the reported damage he inflicted.

Ben Spratt

50 Cent to meet Khabib in Russia

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson have opened dialogue over potentially fighting at Bellator.

Ben Spratt

Djokovic beats Coric in Shanghai

After winning the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open, Novak Djokovic sealed another title at the Shanghai Masters.

Ben Spratt

Khabib calls out Mayweather

"In the jungle, there is only one king.''

Ben Spratt

Caroline Garcia claims first title of 2018 to hit Karolina Pliskova's Finals hopes

Caroline Garcia rose to the occasion at the Tianjin Open final, defeating Karolina Pliskova after a nervy performance from the top seed.

Ben Spratt

Crawford ready to step up schedule

Top Rank are keen to see Terence Crawford in action three times in 2019 after he came through this year unscathed.

Ben Spratt

UFC 229: Dana White dismisses claim UFC should shoulder blame for Khabib's actions

UFC's promotional videos should not have influenced Khabib Nurmagomedov's actions after beating Conor McGregor, says president Dana White.

Ben Spratt

Shehzad banned for four months

Having been provisionally suspended, Ahmed Shehzad has now had a four-month ban - from July 10 - confirmed.

Ben Spratt

Phil Mickelson: Brutal rough made Ryder Cup a waste of time

The rough at Le Golf National was "brutal", according to Phil Mickelson, who does not intend to play similar courses in future.

Ben Spratt

Foley returns to Wallabies side

Bernard Foley is back in the Australia XV as they face Argentina, who feature two changes to their team.

Ben Spratt

Le Roux set for Boks landmark

There are three changes to the South Africa team ahead of the clash with New Zealand, but Willie le Roux keeps his place in a landmark game.

Ben Spratt

Furyk proud of USA at Ryder Cup

United States' Ryder Cup defence failed, but Jim Furyk hailed his players' fighting spirit as they initially pushed Europe on Sunday.

Ben Spratt

Kvitova, Svitolina out in China

Two seeds are out early at the China Open, with Petra Kvitova and Elina Svitolina each humbled on Saturday.

Ben Spratt

Wallabies beaten by Springboks

Michael Cheika's Australia remain bottom of the Rugby Championship standings after a fourth defeat in five as South Africa triumphed.

Ben Spratt

Alastair Cook hits century in final Test innings

Alastair Cook marked his final Test for England with a century against India at the Oval on Monday.

Ben Spratt

Tennis needs to 'get together' on coaching rules following Serena Williams row, says Aus Open chief

Australian Open director Craig Tiley believes Serena Williams' US Open final debacle could have been avoided by clearer coaching rules.

Ben Spratt

Fedex Cup playoffs: Justin Rose on brink as BMW Championship field faces race to finish

The BMW Championship could play on into Tuesday, while more poor weather on Monday would see Justin Rose declared champion.

Ben Spratt

Maguire signs new Leicester deal

Manchester United had reportedly been circling, but Harry Maguire has committed his future to Leicester City until 2023.

Ben Spratt

US Open 2018: Serena Williams shifts focus to Naomi Osaka after final meltdown

Osaka's first major triumph was overshadowed by Williams' fury in the final.

Ben Spratt

US Open 2018: Naomi Osaka apologises for defeating favourite Serena Williams

Serena had the support of the crowd at Arthur Ashe, prompting Osaka to apologise for her win.

Ben Spratt

BMW Championship 2018: Tiger Woods ties course record under pressure from Rory McIlroy

Woods was again in fine form at the BMW Championship on Thursday.

Ben Spratt

England motivated to win for Cook

Alastair Cook will make his final Test appearance against India this week, providing Joe Root and England with motivation to win again.

Ben Spratt

US Open 2018: Naomi Osaka breezes past Lesia Tsurenko into last four

The difficult weather conditions at Arthur Ashe Stadium did little to slow Osaka.

Ben Spratt

Vince left out of England squad

James Vince has dropped out of the England squad for the fifth Test against India, while Alastair Cook is set to make his final international appearance.

Ben Spratt

Millman plots another US Open upset

The world is at his feet.

Ben Spratt

US Open 2018: Rafael Nadal eyes improvement ahead of Dominic Thiem quarter final

Having scraped through to the last eight of the US Open with a tired display, Rafael Nadal knows the time for improvement is now.

Ben Spratt

Ledesma improving Pumas - Hansen

New Zealand boss Steve Hansen is wary of the threat posed by Argentina under the leadership of former Australia forwards coach Mario Ledesma.

Ben Spratt

Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper misses Super Rugby Australian Conference team of the year

Pocock has been preferred to Hooper.

Ben Spratt

Brumbies salute 'wonderful man' Ben Alexander after retirement

After 154 appearances for the Brumbies and 72 for Australia, Ben Alexander retired on Monday.

Ben Spratt

Report: Juventus 2 Lazio 0

Miralem Pjanic and Mario Mandzukic netted as Juventus saw off Lazio 2-0 on Cristiano Ronaldo's home debut on Sunday (AEST).

Ben Spratt

Evert tips Halep at US Open

Chris Evert has backed world number one Simona Halep to win the US Open, although she believes there is a group of up to 15 potential champions.

Ben Spratt

Stokes struggling with knee issue

Ben Stokes suffered a knock to his knee in England's third Test defeat to India, but he is expected to recover in time for the fourth match in Southampton.

Ben Spratt

Banned Ravens star Smith apologises

The NFL has banned Jimmy Smith for four Baltimore Ravens games, with the 30-year-old cornerback apologising for his abusive behaviour.

Ben Spratt

India's tour of England: We can win the series, says Virat Kohli

India still trail England 2-1 in their five-match Test series, but Virat Kohli is now targeting an eye-catching away victory.

Ben Spratt

India's tour of England: Ravi Ashwin completes rout early on day five

India's Ravichandran Ashwin appeared to be struggling with a hip injury in the field, but that did not stop him bowling out England.

Ben Spratt

India on brink of Trent Bridge victory after brilliant Jasprit Bumrah rips through England

A fine show of Bumrah bowling all but ended England's hopes of a remarkable comeback.

Ben Spratt

England quick Stuart Broad fined for send-off of Indian debutant Rishabh Pant

Stuart Broad's rant at Rishabh Pant following his first dismissal in Test cricket has seen the England bowler fined by the ICC.

Ben Spratt

Tiger keen to play Ryder Cup

Tiger Woods acknowledges he is in an odd situation as he mounts a Ryder Cup bid while attempting to remain impartial in his role as vice-captain.

Ben Spratt

England face record chase after Virat Kohli bats India to huge lead

England face a 521-run fourth-innings chase at Trent Bridge.

Ben Spratt

Formula 1: Pierre Gasly to replace Renault-bound Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull

Gasly is the man tasked with replacing Ricciardo at Red Bull.

Ben Spratt

Deontay Wilder fight confirmed after Tyson Fury defeats Francesco Pianeta

Deontay Wilder's trip to Belfast saw a fight with Tyson Fury announced following the Briton's win over Francesco Pianeta.

Ben Spratt

South Africa too strong for Pumas

South Africa recovered from a tricky start to their Rugby Championship opener to emerge 34-21 victors over Argentina in Durban on Saturday.

Ben Spratt

Lack of composure cost us - Cheika

Australia's lack of composure proved costly in the second half of their Bledisloe Cup defeat to New Zealand, according to coach Michael Cheika and captain Michael Hooper.

Ben Spratt

Ben Stokes confirmed to return to England side as Sam Curran drops out

After being found not guilty of affray, Ben Stokes is back in the England team to face India in the third Test, starting on Saturday.

Ben Spratt

Root happy with Stokes mentality

Joe Root is convinced England can benefit from Ben Stokes' desperation to get back to cricket after he was recalled to the Test line-up.

Ben Spratt

Read wary of Australia threat

Captain Kieran Read insists New Zealand's experience and quality will only tell against Australia if they are guarded against complacency.

Ben Spratt

Hooper excited for Bledisloe Cup

Michael Hooper is desperate to get out on the pitch and take on New Zealand but knows controlled aggression will be key for Australia.

Ben Spratt

Wildcards for Wawrinka, Azarenka

Stan Wawrinka, Victoria Azarenka and Svetlana Kuznetsova are among the players to have been handed wildcards for this year's US Open.

Ben Spratt

Who makes way for returning Stokes?

Ben Stokes will join up with his England team-mates after he was found not guilty of affray on Tuesday following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Ben Spratt

No regrets for De Villiers

AB de Villiers says he has "absolutely no regrets" about his decision to end his career with South Africa.

Ben Spratt

Cricket now 'sole focus' for Stokes

Ben Stokes is keen to make cricket his "sole focus" after being found not guilty of affray, with the all-rounder having been added to England's squad for the third Test against India.

Ben Spratt

Hansen wants All Blacks to attack

Steve Hansen has guarded against complacency and called on New Zealand to attack their Bledisloe Cup opener next week.

Ben Spratt

Bellamy fears for injured Hoffman

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has revealed Ryan Hoffman's NRL career may be over after he suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday.

Ben Spratt

PGA Championship 2018: Back nine grind keeps Tiger Woods in the hunt

After an awful start, Woods rallied impressively.

Ben Spratt

PGA Championship 2018: Rickie Fowler trades blue for yellow in beautiful Jarrod Lyle tribute

Leading the tributes to Lyle, Fowler stormed to an early lead.

Ben Spratt

Six rookies in Wallabies training squad

Jordan Petaia is the standout name among six new call-ups for Australia's training squad ahead of the meeting with New Zealand.

Ben Spratt

Ruthless Crusaders punish Lions again to defend title

Seta Tamanivalu scored in his final match for the Crusaders as they saw off the Lions in the Super Rugby final for the second year running.

Ben Spratt

Ben Stokes inspires as England edge India in Test thriller

A topsy-turvy first Test between England and India concluded with Ben Stokes inspiring a home victory at Edgbaston.

Ben Spratt

Ricciardo to leave Red Bull

Despite previously suggesting he would commit to a new contract with Red Bull, Daniel Ricciardo will leave the team at the end of the year.

Ben Spratt

England v India: Virat Kohli brilliance limits damage against tiring Poms

A thrilling day of promise for England was undone by the predictable figure of Virat Kohli, who dragged India through.

Ben Spratt

Wilder fight 'nearly done' – Fury

Tyson Fury has confirmed he is in talks with Deontay Wilder and a deal is "nearly done" for a fight in December.

Ben Spratt

Emotional Thomas celebrates win

Geraint Thomas struggled to find the words for his "insane" Tour de France triumph as he took a handsome lead into the final stage.

Ben Spratt

Thomas to win Tour de France

Geraint Thomas protected his Tour de France lead in Saturday's time trial to all but clinch a first Grand Tour title.

Ben Spratt

Dillian Whyte vs. Joseph Parker: Fight of the year? Only victory matters for Parker

For all the prefight hype, only the result matters for Joseph Parker and his heavyweight career at London's O2 Arena on Saturday.

Ben Spratt

Thomas extends Tour advantage

Roglic's solo breakaway moved him past Chris Froome and into podium position with two stages remaining.

Ben Spratt

Thomas enjoying Froome support

Third-placed Chris Froome has pledged to "look after" Geraint Thomas in the Tour de France, putting the race leader in a strong position.

Ben Spratt

Thomas comfortable as Demare wins

Geraint Thomas edged closer to the 2018 Tour de France title on an uneventful day in the general classification battle as Arnaud Demare won Stage 18.

Ben Spratt

Promoters bet on Whyte v Parker

Joseph Parker is confident he is ready for a "war" with Dillian Whyte on Saturday in a bout on which promoters Eddie Hearn and David Higgins now have a five-figure wager riding.

Ben Spratt

No Hulk out, just a knockout - Whyte must control anger to beat Parker

Dillian Whyte believes he will knock out Joseph Parker if he can stop his anger from consuming him, like Bruce Banner and the Hulk.

Ben Spratt

Serena Williams says she is the victim of 'discrimination' over drug tests

Having criticised the lack of equality in anti-doping procedures, Serena Williams says it may be due to discriminatory reasons.

Ben Spratt

Tiger will win again, say greats

Tiger Woods has not been able to turn his improved form into a win as of yet but he soon will, according to Gary Player and Tom Watson.

Ben Spratt

Joshua wants heavyweight 'legacy'

Anthony Joshua wants to cement his legacy in heavyweight boxing in "chapter two" of his career, starting with his fight against Alexander Povetkin.

Ben Spratt

Wales, British and Irish Lions great Sam Warburton retires from rugby

Wales great Sam Warburton, 29, has retired from rugby after admitting "my body is unable to give me back what I had hoped for".

Ben Spratt

AO to consult players on tie-breaks

Following criticism of the lack of a fifth-set tie-break at Wimbledon, the Australian Open has welcomed dialogue with players on the issue.

Ben Spratt

Mafi and Timani fined by Rebels

The Rebels have fined Amanaki Mafi and Lopeti Timani each 15,000 dollars following an incident in Dunedin which saw the former arrested and charged for injuring with intent to injure.

Ben Spratt

Degenkolb: I need two or three secretaries to manage congratulations!

John Degenkolb has struggled to cope with the volume of well-wishers after his heroics in the Tour de France.

Ben Spratt

Israel Folau in no rush to settle future amid Reds rumours

The Reds are reportedly interested in poaching Israel Folau from the Waratahs, and the Australia star admits he has a decision to make.

Ben Spratt

Dinesh Chandimal banned for two Tests and four ODIs along with Sri Lanka coach and manager

Sri Lanka will be without captain Dinesh Chandimal for two Tests and four ODIs after being banned by the ICC.

Ben Spratt

Djokovic and Nadal to return on Saturday as Serbian leads Wimbledon classic

Kevin Anderson will have to wait until Saturday to discover the identity of his Wimbledon final opponent.

Ben Spratt

Serena's seven Wimbledon titles

Serena Williams returns to the Wimbledon final on Saturday, looking to clinch an eighth singles title at the All England Club.

Ben Spratt

Dellavedova praises Australia's conduct in Philippines brawl

Although 13 players were ejected as Philippines clashed with Australia, Matthew Dellavedova feels his side limited the damage.

Ben Spratt

Serena bemused by 'favourite' tag

Serena Williams reminded the media that she should not be considered a favourite at Wimbledon after returning to the final.

Ben Spratt

Mickelson understood backlash

Phil Mickelson acknowledged that he deserved the backlash he received following his bizarre error at the US Open.

Ben Spratt

Djokovic peaking at the right time

Having ended his wait for a grand slam semi-final, Novak Djokovic claims to be peaking at the right time at Wimbledon.

Ben Spratt

Ill Matthews out of the Tour

Illness has forced 2017 Points Classification champion Michael Matthews to withdraw from the Tour de France ahead of stage five.

Ben Spratt

Formula 1 British Grand Prix 2018 qualifying results: Lewis Hamilton claims pole; Daniel Ricciardo sixth

Lewis Hamilton will start from pole position at the British Grand Prix for a fourth year in a row.

Ben Spratt

Nadal triumphs to retain top spot

Rafael Nadal raced past Alex de Minaur 6-1 6-2 6-4 to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon and retain his place at the top of the world rankings.

Ben Spratt

Waratahs book post-season place

The Waratahs thrashed the 14-man Sunwolves 77-25 to clinch top spot in Super Rugby's Australian Conference and a post-season place in style.

Ben Spratt

Crusaders cruise past Highlanders

Wyatt Crockett's 200th Super Rugby appearance went to plan as the Crusaders, defending champions and league leaders, beat the Highlanders.

Ben Spratt

Australia scrape past Zimbabwe

A century partnership from Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell inspired another Twenty20 international win for Australia against Zimbabwe, despite a late wobble.

Ben Spratt

Tour de France: Chris Froome hopes 'shadow of doubt' has been lifted

Chris Froome is keen to put the focus back on racing after an investigation into an adverse finding was ended by the UCI and WADA.

Ben Spratt

Nadal has 'no problem' with umpire

Rafael Nadal insists he has no issue with umpire Carlos Bernardes despite receiving a pair of time violation warnings during his second-round win at Wimbledon.

Ben Spratt

Slater waiting to make Storm call

Billy Slater plans to make a decision on his NRL future after next week's State of Origin III and has expressed his gratitude for the patience Melbourne Storm have shown.

Ben Spratt

Anthony Joshua to fight at Wembley Stadium in September and April

IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will fight at Wembley in September and then again in April 2019.

Ben Spratt

Serena: I always want to do more

A 23-time grand slam champion, Serena Williams is still not satiated and is striving for more at Wimbledon.

Ben Spratt

Roger Federer: Love for tennis and 'fun' Tour keeping me fresh

Lukas Lacko was no match for Roger Federer, who continues to enjoy his game at the age of 36.

Ben Spratt

Ricciardo aims to pip Hamilton

With English sport riding the crest of a wave amid the national football team's World Cup run, Daniel Ricciardo is aiming to cause an upset.

Ben Spratt

Ruthless Federer marches on

Roger Federer was in imperious form as he marched into the third round at Wimbledon with a 6-4 6-4 6-1 win over Lukas Lacko.

Ben Spratt

Nadal bemused by Queen's queries

Rafael Nadal says his focus heading into Wimbledon was on his fitness, not the thoughts of the media.

Ben Spratt

Wimbledon 2018: 'Number one priority' for evergreen Roger Federer

A decade on from his epic meeting with Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer is still at the top and aiming for more Wimbledon glory.

Ben Spratt

Federer understands Serena's anti-doping frustrations

Serena Williams has questioned the consistency of anti-doping procedures and Roger Federer can understand her complaints.

Ben Spratt

Chiefs stun Highlanders

The Brumbies kept their slim finals hopes alive and disrupted the battle at the top of the New Zealand conference with a 24-12 upset win over the Hurricanes in Canberra on Saturday night.

Ben Spratt

Returning David Warner smiling again after 'long three months'

Banned Australia star David Warner returned to cricket on Friday, unconcerned by a poor showing with the bat as he enjoyed playing again.

Ben Spratt

Lewis Hamilton would understand Fernando Alonso retirement

Fernando Alonso's Formula One future is in doubt and Lewis Hamilton would understand if he retired.

Ben Spratt

Report: Japan 0 Poland 1

Japan became the first team to qualify from the World Cup group stages via fair play rankings despite a 1-0 defeat to Poland in which Akira Nishino bizarrely made six changes to an unbeaten team.

Ben Spratt

Rooney seals DC United switch

Wayne Rooney has completed his move from Everton to DC United in MLS.

Ben Spratt

Buttler punishes Australia again in T20 success

England were 5-0 winners over Australia in a one-day series, before seeing off their rivals in T20 action on Wednesday.

Ben Spratt

Move worth the risk for Ricciardo

Daniel Ricciardo believes leaving Red Bull could be worth the risk as he looks to mount a genuine challenge for the Formula One title.

Ben Spratt

Federer ready for Coric final

Roger Federer believes his lack of practice time is to blame for a couple of ragged performances at the Gerry Weber Open, but he is satisfied heading into the final against Borna Coric.

Ben Spratt

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