England’s youngest-ever captain Bethell happy to ‘go in at deep end’ against Ireland

Jacob Bethell is ready for England to “chuck me in the deep end” as he prepares to lead the side for the first time against Ireland on Wednesday, making him the country’s youngest men’s captain.With Harry Brook rested for this quickfire three-match Twenty20 series in Malahide, just north of Dublin, the 21-year-old steps in to continue his brisk rise in international cricket.Bethell made his England debut last September and impressed in his first Test series against New Zealand at the end of the year. Yet to seal a regular place in the red-ball XI, he has become an automatic pick in Brendon McCullum’s white-ball teams.“Baz gave me a ring and said I was going to be skipper,” said Bethell

Australia’s Jess Hull takes 1500m bronze after brave race against Kenyan legend Faith Kipyegon

Jess Hull took it to middle-distance legend Faith Kipyegon in the women’s 1500m final at the World Championships on Tuesday night, pushing the triple Olympic champion in the final lap in a brave run before showing grit to hold on for a bronze medal in a desperate finish.The Australian finished third between two other Kenyans – silver medallist Dorcus Ewoi and fourth place Nelly Chepchirchir – to record her country’s second medal in Tokyo and its first world championship podium in the 1500m.Hull said she was “really proud” of the bronze. “It’s been a funky year for me, a little bit less consistent than I normally am, and I’ve had to try some new things and some new racing styles in a way to level up as an athlete,” she said.Though Hull had shown her versatility in escaping from a slow semi-final intact, the final saw Kipyegon lead from the front and hit the accelerator to secure her fourth world championship gold in the event and her third in succession

World Athletics Championships 2025: Kipyegon wins fourth 1500m title, Tinch storms to 110m hurdles gold – as it happened

The reports are coming in:Kenya’s peerless Faith Kipyegon underlined her status as one of the greatest athletes of all time when she convincingly claimed a fourth 1,500 metres world title on Tuesday to go with her three Olympic golds. Kipyegon delivered a gun-to-tape run that destroyed the field as she came home clear in 3 minutes 52.15 seconds. The world record holder matches Hicham El Guerrouj (1997-2003) by claiming four world 1,500m golds and she will also go for a second world 5,000m title later this week. Fellow Kenyan Dorcus Ewoi ran a personal best 3:54

AFL finals: where the Collingwood v Brisbane preliminary final will be won and lost | Martin Pegan

The time is now for Collingwood as they again cross paths with Brisbane at the pointy end of the season, just two years after the powerhouse clubs played out an all-time classic grand final. The past two AFL premiers meet a week earlier this time with a spot in the 2025 decider on the line.The Magpies are all in on a premiership this year as they back a cast of high-performing veterans who have helped lift them to preliminary final week in three of their four seasons under coach Craig McRae. The Pies built up a strong record against the Lions since breaking their hearts to clinch the 2023 flag with three more victories, including a comprehensive 52-point win in round six this year. Brisbane finally turned the tables on Collingwood when they pulled away to a 27-point triumph during the run home to make a pre-finals statement at the MCG

Oblique Seville backs current sprint crop to get down to 9.6sec but says Bolt will always be best

On Sunday night, Oblique Seville became the first Jamaican to win the men’s 100m world title since Usain Bolt. But it turns out the 24-year-old’s mind is just as quick as his blistering leg speed.In an interview to celebrate his victory, Seville was asked if he were to design a sprinter what would he look like. The questioner expected a long answer. Perhaps Justin Gatlin’s start, Michael Johnson’s mentality, and Bolt’s leg speed

Time comes for Gout Gout to prove himself against sprinting’s best emerging talent | Jack Snape

Australian teenager Gout Gout must first prove himself against sprinting’s emerging talent on Wednesday if he is to secure a match-up against the running royalty tipped to dominate the men’s 200m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.Gout’s 200m heat pits him against five semi-final contenders aged 23 or under, including three that have run quicker than him. In the traditional knockout format, only first, second and third are guaranteed a place in the next round, requiring Gout to be at or near his best to make sure his senior major debut lasts more than one race.The field is led by Bryan Levell, who last month recorded the third quickest 200m time in the rich history of Jamaican sprinting, behind only Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake. His 19