‘I still have 100% passion’: England’s evergreen Adil Rashid not finished yet | Simon Burnton

Adil Rashid could be forgiven for tiring of the international cricket treadmill more than 16 years after his debut. Now in New Zealand for his 35th international T20 series or tournament, he summarises that hectic, monotonous life when talking about the team-bonding mini‑break in Queenstown with which England started their winter: “Sometimes you don’t get that opportunity when you’re always on tour,” he says. “You land, you train, you play and you travel.”Yet his enthusiasm is clear, not just when he discusses the immediate future of a side that seems to be flourishing under Harry Brook and his own place in it, but also when watching Rashid train, play or bowl. But while he was able to stop New Zealand in their tracks as they attempted to chase down England’s record‑breaking 236 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Monday night, when his four‑wicket haul included all but one of their five highest scorers, there is nothing he can do to halt time

England’s double World Cup winner Emily Scarratt announces retirement from rugby

Emily Scarratt has announced her retirement from rugby after a 17-year international career. The two-time World Cup winner said in a statement that the “time feels right to step away”.Scarratt made her England debut in 2008 and went on to win 119 caps and 11 Six Nations titles. The 35‑year‑old centre represented the Red Roses in five World Cups, the only England player to do so.At club level Scarratt played for Lichfield and Loughborough Lightning

The Breakdown | Caluori conundrum adds to Borthwick’s England selection headaches

The lobby of the Pennyhill Park hotel on a Monday evening provides a neat snapshot of English rugby’s fast-changing world. First to amble into view is Noah Caluori, Saracens’s new whiz-kid who has just announced himself with five tries on his first Prem start. He nods a polite greeting and looks every inch a sporting thoroughbred that any national coach would covet.A couple of minutes later a more familiar face appears. It feels faintly bizarre to be bumping into Joe Marler when, on your television, he is sitting in a Scottish castle with Claudia Winkleman but, hey presto, that’s the magic of showbiz right there

NBA 2025-26 predictions: Wemby for MVP? And will Thunder strike twice?

Our writers give their verdicts on the new season, which tips off Tuesday. Can New York or Houston thwart an OKC repeat? And which youngster will make the superstar leap?If we’re lucky, a fully healthy campaign from Victor Wembanyama. He’s already shown flashes of his insane ceiling in his previous two seasons. He’s such a difficult matchup with the ball in his hands, and on defense, he changes the entire calculus of opposing teams’ schemes with his length. Jakub FrankowiczFrom Wembanyama’s looming superstardom (he’s 7ft 5in now?!) to 18-year-old Cooper Flagg’s rookie spark, this season feels like a generational crossroads

Australians in the NBA: from the $150m men to a human highlight reel | Jack Snape

The NBA tips off this week with Australia’s two biggest basketball names – Ben Simmons and Patty Mills – without a roster spot for the first time in a decade.Their absence signals a changing of the guard, as Boomers’ backcourt duo Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels emerge as key starters for playoff aspirants, with recently signed nine-figure contracts making them some of Australia’s highest sporting earners.But they are not alone. Fourteen Australians are set to compete for minutes around the league, ranging from veteran centres Jock Landale and Duop Reath, emerging wings in Johnny Furphy and Josh Green, to intriguing draftees like Tyrese Proctor and Rocco Zikarsky.After protracted negotiations with the Chicago Bulls, Giddey finally signed his rookie extension worth $US100m ($153m) over four years last month

Australia’s Scott Boland shuts out noise from former England players before Ashes

Scott Boland may be required to bowl in all five Ashes Tests this summer, a workload that will test his mental fortitude and physical stamina. But in promotion ahead of the series, he is already doing much of the heavy lifting.The fast bowler and Gulidjan man was launching a partnership for the National Indigenous Cricket Championships with the Melbourne Cricket Club on Tuesday, but it was matters of the Commonwealth – and specifically a recent Stuart Broad sledge about what he believes is a weak Australian team – that was the focus of media in attendance.“All the past players are going to come out and have their opinion, and they can do that,” the paceman said. “We’re just going to concentrate on playing our cricket