England plan extra training sessions in wake of howling first Ashes Test defeat

A week of inactivity for England’s cricketers will end on Saturday following confirmation of additional training sessions having been scheduled in the wake of their howling eight-wicket defeat to Australia in the first Ashes Test.As reported by the Guardian on Monday, head coach Brendon McCullum has booked extra time in the nets ahead of the day-night second Test that starts in Brisbane on 4 December rather than send any first team players to the two-day England Lions match in Canberra this weekend.The first session takes place at Allan Border Field on Saturday morning, before switching to the facilities at the Gabba from Sunday onwards. Two of the sessions – Monday and Wednesday – will take place after dark so players can get used to seeing the pink Kookaburra ball under lights.It represents a break from England’s usual pattern of training three days before a Test match

Molly McCann: ‘I’m a scouse female gay athlete who supports Everton – it’s like my cards are marked already’

Britain’s most successful female UFC fighter on knowing when to stand her ground, why she won’t box in Saudi Arabia and aiming to win a world title in the next year“I give my hidings and I take my hidings and so they have seen me with snapped ligaments in my knee, broken feet, broken toes, broken hands, stitches, broken legs,” Molly McCann says of the damage she has endured as a fighter and the impact it has had on her mum and her partner, Fran Parman. “It’s traumatic for Fran and even more traumatic for my mum. I’m 35 and I’ve been in the gym since I was 12. I had my first fight at 16. I’ve spent most of my life fighting

Players warned not to sign IPL-style Hundred deals in standoff with owners

The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) has advised players not to sign Hundred contracts for next season amid a dispute with the new franchise owners over their terms.In a supplementary process to the new Indian Premier League-style auction that will take place next year, Hundred teams are permitted to make four direct signings, including one from their existing squad and three others, either overseas players or a player with an England central contract.The direct-signing window opened last week, but the players’ union is understood to have told its members to hold off signing because of a standoff over the new multiyear contracts.The Guardian has learned that the new franchise owners – four of whom also own Indian Premier League teams – have included a unilateral 12-month release clause in the three-year deals they are offering to direct signings, which the PCA is contesting. Such contracts would offer no security to the players, as well as keeping them on the same salary for three years even if they enjoyed a stellar first season

Wallabies’ 2026 schedule brings hope but also potential for bigger headaches | Angus Fontaine

After losing seven of their last eight Tests in 2025 and completing the first winless tour of Europe since 1958, the Wallabies are back home nursing a giant hangover. Unfortunately, the 2026 season unveiled this week looks likely to prolong the pain.Having watched their team end the year in a blur of yellow cards, wobbly lineouts, aerial ineptitude and headless chook footy, fans will be aghast to find only six of Australia’s 14 Tests will be played at home in 2026 – the first three against nations who defeated them only this month. The new year only brings bigger headaches.The worst of them, like all hangovers, is self-inflicted: an awkward handover of national coaching duties between Joe Schmidt and Les Kiss following home Tests against Ireland in Sydney, France in Brisbane and Italy at a still to be confirmed location, and midway through the inaugural north-south face-off, the Nations Championship

Perth pitch not the problem for England in first Ashes Test as it receives highest ICC rating

England only have themselves to blame for their two-day capitulation in Perth, after the pitch for the first Ashes Test received the top rating possible by the International Cricket Council.The “very good” assessment by the ICC match referee was made on a pitch with “good carry, limited seam movement, and consistent bounce early in the match, allowing for a balanced contest between batters and bowlers”.Australia defeated England in the first Test in Perth by eight wickets in under two days.The tourists were well placed on day two with a lead of more than 100 runs with nine wickets in hand. However, a middle-order collapse ended their innings in fewer than 35 overs, and within hours Travis Head had guided Australia to victory

Tuilagi could face England with Samoa while Marchant return is boon for Borthwick

Manu Tuilagi has refused to rule out playing for Samoa at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, leaving open the possibility of him facing Steve Borthwick’s England in Australia.The 34-year-old, who spearheaded the Red Rose midfield for more than a decade, would qualify for the Pacific Island nation in 2027 under eligibility rules introduced four years ago.Borthwick, who has overseen 11 straight wins, has been boosted by news that Joe Marchant will join Sale from Stade Français next season. The 29-year-old former Harlequin has 26 England caps and has signed a long-term deal from 2026-27 and will now be eligible again for international duty.At the launch of the 2025-26 Champions Cup, Tuilagi was asked about potential involvement in the World Cup after Samoa emerged victorious from the qualifying tournament in Dubai earlier this month