The Spin | Teenager Sooryavanshi from ‘a different planet’ but superstardom not guaranteed

When Jasprit Bumrah stood at the top of his mark for the Mumbai Indians against Rajasthan Royals in this year’s Indian Premier League, he was the most complete all-format bowler in history. With a whiplash action that explodes from a staccato run-up like a stick of dynamite from unraveling silk, he fires searing yorkers and steepling bouncers at will. Three balls later, he was the setup for the story’s real protagonist.Before this moment, Bumrah, winner of five IPLs and two World Cups, had delivered 5,445 balls in T20 cricket for Mumbai and his country. Only 180 of them were sent sailing over the rope for six

How the streaming dream turned sports on TV into a costly maze

There was a moment, perhaps a decade ago, when it felt as if sports broadcasting nirvana was near. A world where ordinary fans could access any game on any device, any time, anywhere.Or near enough, as cord-cutting devastated traditional cable subscription models and viewers who had long been locked into expensive and restrictive TV packages now had choices. Streaming nurtured a diverse and bespoke landscape.At some point, though, the age of abundance became the era of excess

American investor agrees to buy Exeter Chiefs with plans to inject fresh funding

Exeter Chiefs have finalised a deal with a wealthy American backer to take control of the club, subject to the approval of their membership. An extraordinary general meeting is to be held on 7 May when members will be urged to support the move to sell the 155-year-old club and unlock significant fresh funding.Insiders are describing the impending multimillion pound investment as “meaningful” at a pivotal stage in the development of English professional club rugby. The existing 10-team Prem is to become a franchise “expansion” league from 2029-30 and the race for new funding is accelerating.Last August, Red Bull completed its takeover of Newcastle while the billionaire Sir James Dyson has recently acquired a 50% stake in Bath alongside the club’s longtime supremo Bruce Craig and pledged to commit substantial new capital

Half-billion dollar BBL sell-off stalls as states urge Cricket Australia to be patient

Cricket Australia has not yet done enough to convince two crucial stakeholders of the merits of selling stakes in Big Bash League franchises, leaving the future of the T20 league up in the air.Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon expressed his opposition to the proposal on Wednesday morning and confirmed the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers would not be involved in a process of valuing the clubs being run by CA.Later on Wednesday, CA chief executive Todd Greenberg said the process remains ongoing.“We are receiving responses from states to our proposal on private investment in BBL clubs and remain open to discussing any questions or concerns about this model,” he said.“This process remains respectful and collaborative and with the best interests of Australian cricket the key consideration of all involved

From the Pocket: AFL tribunal verdicts sit as uneasily as any in recent memory

Two cases rocked the football industry this week, one your typical footy folderol that everyone hyperventilates over for several days, the other an incident that cut to the core of a league trying to effect serious cultural change. In both instances, all parties professed absolute certainty in their version of events.First, to the relatively trivial matter, where umpire Nick Foot alleged that Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters abused him by asking: “How much are they paying you?” Complicating matters was the fact that the senior umpire, and I can’t believe I’m typing this, also moonlights as a betting analyst for Sportsbet. All parties brooked no doubt as to what had happened. Foot was “100% adamant” he was insulted

NFL reporter Russini resigns amid ‘self-feeding speculation’ over photos with Patriots’ Vrabel

NFL reporter Dianna Russini has resigned from The Athletic less than a week after photos of her and New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel prompted an internal investigation at The New York Times-owned sports outlet.The New York Post last week published the photos of Vrabel and Russini at an Arizona resort and said they were taken before the NFL owners meetings that began in Phoenix on 29 March.“I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published,” Russini said in a letter sent on Tuesday to The Athletic’s executive editor, Steven Ginsberg. “When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful