Good start to the series boys ! great tone set by our bowlers and well played sir !@IamAbhiSharma4 top knock '!! I'm impressed you hit 2 boundaries down the ground aswell ! #indiavsengland
Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) January 22, 2025
I Dig Sports
Avalanche's Nichushkin delayed by injury setback
Published in
Hockey
Wednesday, 22 January 2025 10:49
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin had a setback in his rehab from a lower-body injury and is now considered week-to-week.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday that Nichushkin "is not close to coming back soon."
Nichushkin, 29, has not played since Dec. 31. He has 17 points (11 goals, 6 assists) in 21 games this season.
"He's an impact player on any line that he plays on and has a huge impact on special teams, too," Bednar said. "One player of that caliber makes a big difference."
The Avalanche are 14-7-0 with Nichushkin and 14-12-1 without him this season.
Nichushkin was suspended in May for at least six months and placed in Stage 3 of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. It was an announcement that came in the middle of Colorado's playoff run, marking the second straight postseason where the right winger was unavailable because of circumstances away from the ice.
He missed the opening 17 games of the season before debuting Nov. 15.
Nichushkin has 291 points (127 goals, 164 assists) in 533 career games with the Dallas Stars (2013-16, 2018-19) and Avalanche. He won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 2021-22.
The Associated Press and Field Level Media contributed to this report.
Tagged under
The Anaheim Ducks acquired Justin Bailey from the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday in exchange for fellow forward Pavol Regenda.
Bailey, 29, has spent this season with the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League, recording 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 33 games.
He has totaled 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 141 career games with the Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks and Sharks. He was selected by the Sabres in the second round of the 2013 NHL draft.
Regenda, 25, has 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 36 games this season with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL.
He has appeared in 19 career NHL games, totaling three points (one goal, two assists) -- all with the Ducks.
Tagged under
McDavid not proud of reaction, frustrated by ban
Published in
Hockey
Wednesday, 22 January 2025 14:49
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid expressed both remorse and frustration Wednesday for the cross-checking incident with Vancouver's Conor Garland, how it was handled by officials and the three-game suspension that was levied as a result.
"I can't have that reaction; everyone knows that," McDavid said of the cross-check to Garland in the final minute of Saturday's game. "[It's] not the reaction I'm proud of or that anyone wants to see out of me, and I understand.
"That being said, there's lots of infractions going on there [in the moment]. Maybe the whole thing is avoided with the blow of the whistle."
McDavid and Garland became physically engaged and tumbled to the ice. Garland held McDavid's arm as he tried to stand, and McDavid responded by punching Garland to separate them. When McDavid tried to re-enter the flow of the game, Garland again wrapped his arms around the center and took him back to the ice.
By the time they were both back on their skates, McDavid delivered a hard cross-check to Garland's head.
The NHL's Department of Player Safety determined Monday that it wasn't a routine play and suspended McDavid for three games. He ultimately chose not to appeal.
"The league made their decision; I don't necessarily agree with it," McDavid said. "I'm not saying there shouldn't have been any penalty or suspension or anything like that. I understand their decision. Have to move on."
In a video statement, the Department of Player Safety said McDavid "retaliate[d] aggressively and intentionally, escalating the altercation by raising his stick significantly and making this contact: a high cross-check that makes direct contact with an opponent's head with sufficient force" that warranted supplemental discpline.
This is McDavid's second career suspension. The first was a one-game ban for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy in February 2019.
McDavid on Wednesday said he was just "trying to tie the game" and wasn't expecting the wrestling match with Garland to escalate.
"I'm not really looking to engage with him," McDavid said. "There's a lot of holding [in the skirmish] and holding down -- he holds my head down for a little bit and stuff like that."
McDavid was asked if he could see what the referee's reaction was while the two players were wrapped up.
"I did not," McDavid snapped back. "I had my head between my legs."
"I know where we are in the time of the game and what we're trying to do," McDavid added later. "The longer [the holding] goes, the more you think there's going to be something. But I understand the refs have a hard job. With that being said, I have a hard job, too. Everyone has a hard job. That's why we're in this business."
Edmonton's star center is currently fourth in the league in scoring with 65 points in 43 games. He will forfeit $195,312.51 in salary while missing games against Washington on Tuesday, the Canucks on Thursday and Buffalo on Saturday.
Tagged under
Madrid get big UCL win with Rodrygo, Vini doubles
Published in
Soccer
Wednesday, 22 January 2025 14:21
Holders Real Madrid hammered RB Salzburg 5-1 in a Champions League clash in the Spanish capital on Wednesday thanks to doubles from Brazilian forwards Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior either side of a goal by Kylian Mbappé.
Rodrygo opened the scoring with a tidy finish from a Vinicius cross in the 23rd minute and extended the home side's lead in the 34th, curling home a shot from inside the box after a brilliant back heel flick from Jude Bellingham.
Mbappé took advantage of a massive blunder by Salzburg goalkeeper and captain Janis Blaswich to score the third in the 48th minute, while Vinicius made two magnificent runs in the 55th and 77th minutes to extend Real's lead.
Mads Bidstrup scored the visitors' consolation goal in the 85th minute.
Last year's champions Real Madrid are 16th in the standings on 12 points and have secured qualification for the next round, but would need to win their last game at Brest and rely on other results to earn a top-eight finish and avoid a two-legged playoff.
Salzburg are 34th, third from bottom, eliminated from the competition with only three points from seven games.
Tagged under
Arsenal all but seal top-8 after win over Zagreb
Published in
Soccer
Wednesday, 22 January 2025 14:21
Arsenal all but secured a spot in the top eight places of the Champions League as they outclassed visitors Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 on Wednesday thanks to with goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard.
Rice struck inside the opening two minutes after a clever lay-off by Havertz and the German put Arsenal in full control with a 66th-minute header. Captain Ødegaard put the icing on the cake with a third in stoppage time.
Victory lifted Arsenal to third in the standings with 16 points and with the top eight qualifying automatically for the last 16 only an extraordinary sequence of results in next week's final round of group matches could deny Mikel Arteta's side.
Arsenal travel to Girona for their final game where a draw will be enough to avoid any possibility of being dragged into a two-legged playoff in February.
Defeat for Fabio Cannavaro's Dinamo side left them in the elimination places ahead of their last match at home to AC Milan which they will have to win to stand any chance of a playoff.
Arsenal's Premier League title challenge suffered a blow when they were held 2-2 by Aston Villa on Saturday.
But they have been extremely reliable in the Champions League and a fifth win in seven games was always on the cards once Rice drilled a low shot past Ivan Nevistic after Havertz had cushioned a pass to him from a Gabriel Martinelli cross.
It was Rice's first goal in the Champions League.
Arsenal were occasionally threatened on the counter-attack as Dinamo showed plenty of pace going forward.
Arteta's side began the second half in lacklustre fashion but once Martinelli crossed for Havertz to plant a header past Nevistic the victory was in the bag.
Rice should have added his second when he headed wastefully wide, but Ødegaard made no mistake late on.
Tagged under
Paris Saint-Germain clawed back from two goals down to stun Manchester City 4-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday and leave the English club outside the playoff places and in danger of elimination.
Goals from PSG's Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, João Neves and Gonçalo Ramos turned the match on its head after City had taken the game by the scruff of the neck.
Substitute Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland struck in the 50th and 53rd minutes to give City a 2-0 lead, but fans who braved the torrential rain at Parc de Princes were treated to a brilliant comeback.
Dembélé latched on to a cross from Barcola to sweep home a goal in the 56th minute. Barcola levelled four minutes later when he tucked in the rebound after Désiré Doué's blistering shot came back off the crossbar.
PSG parked themselves in City's half and took the lead in the 78th minute when the visitors' back line struggled to clear Vitinha's free kick, leaving Neves to head in at the back post and Ramos added the fourth in stoppage time.
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
PSG climb to 22nd in the table, while City, who hoisted the Champions League trophy in 2023 but have won just two of their seven group games, dropped to 25th, one spot below the playoff qualification spots.
City's loss sets up a nerve-jangling finale when they host Belgian side Club Brugge on Jan. 29. The top eight teams qualify automatically for the round-of-16, while sides finishing ninth to 24th compete in two-legged knockout playoffs to secure their spot in the last 16.
PSG were the better side for most of the game and briefly celebrated a goal by Achraf Hakimi seconds before halftime which was ruled out for offside.
City seemed to be continuing their revival weeks of poor results when Grealish rifled in the rebound from Bernardo Silva's shot, and Haaland doubled the lead when Grealish's cross took a deflection to fall to the Norwegian who hammered home from close range.
But PSG then blitzed the English champions, who had squandered a three-goal lead against Feyenoord to draw 3-3 in November, and they travel to VfB Stuttgart for their final game of the league phase.
Tagged under
Champions League as it happened: PSG push Man City to the brink
Published in
Soccer
Wednesday, 22 January 2025 14:40
Matchday 7 of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League campaign is done and dusted, with a number of eye-catching results leaving a tantalising final round ahead of us.
Catch up on all the play-by-play from Paris Saint-Germain's epic 4-2 win over Manchester City, Real Madrid's 5-1 demolition of RB Salzburg, Bayern Munich's shock 3-0 loss to Feyenoord, and more!
Tagged under
Abhishek: 'The team has always told me to keep my attacking intent'
Published in
Cricket
Wednesday, 22 January 2025 11:32
Abhishek Sharma has had a blistering couple of years in the IPL and his elevation into the India T20I side has been justified by his performances, which now includes a 34-ball 79 against England in Kolkata.
But he has also blown hot and cold on occasion, being dismissed for under 20 in eight of his first 12 T20I innings. With India having a plethora of top-order batters, all potentially breathing down his neck and vying for the same position, the pressure can build on a man who is still only 24 years old.
However, Abhishek said his captain and coach have told him never to change his intent, and that's what has given him the clarity to play fearless cricket.
"I have thought always from the start to be a team player," Abhishek said in the press conference after setting up India's win with 43 balls to spare. "In India there will always be a lot of competition [when it comes to selection] in our senior team. But when Suryakumar and Gautam paaji tell me to always keep my intent, that was a big moment for me, that when the team wants me to do that, then I can do it.
"As a batsman it can play on your mind if you don't score runs in 3-4-5 innings, but the way the coach and captain have managed all the players, even when I've not done well - even then they tell us, 'we know you're gonna win the game for us, any game, just go and express yourself. I think when the captain or coach say this, you get confidence and you back yourself."
Abhishek has worked closely with some great batters as a young man coming up the ranks, and he credits them for not only improving his batting but also giving him the scope to play freely.
"I believe I'm very lucky in this," he said. "I've been working with Yuvi paaji at first. Going forward, I had Brian Lara, who really helped me at SRH. Moving forward, Dan Vettori was pretty simple, he just wanted everyone to express themselves, and I think that gave me the freedom to play my shots. So obviously with Yuvraj Singh, Brian Lara and even Gauti bhai right now, they just want me to showcase my talent the way I play and to back myself."
Abhishek also revealed his style of preparation leading into big tournaments and series, while giving a nod to India's new batting coach Sitanshu Kotak.
"I think it comes at the camp only, once you're practicing for a tournament," Abhishek said. "I try and want to face the kind of bowlers I will potentially face in a match.
"Special mention to Kotzy sir [Sitanshu Kotak] and Abhishek Nayar bhai. Both helped me in the nets to get me similar bowlers. I always believe that going into a match or a particular tournament, I hope I get similar bowlers that I will get in the match. Shot selection is very simple for me. I watch the ball and react."
On a good batting surface in Kolkata, Abhishek did not forget to credit the India spinners for their strangle-job of an explosive line-up like England to restrict them to 132, going as far as calling Varun Chakravarthy a "game changer."
"I think if you see the last few series, the way Varun has bowled, I think he has been a game changer for us," he said. "When you get good wickets all around in the T20 format, you have to have that bowler that bowls really well. It is always difficult for other teams to pick him up. Also the other spinners, Ravi Bishnoi and Axar bhai. It is very difficult for batters to play shots."
Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx
Tagged under
Sources: Irish's Golden back to Bengals as DC
Published in
Breaking News
Wednesday, 22 January 2025 14:18
CINCINNATI -- A familiar face is headed back to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is expected to join the Bengals in the same role, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel on Wednesday. The news comes days after the Fighting Irish lost to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
Golden, 55, spent the past three seasons as Notre Dame's defensive coordinator. Golden replaces Lou Anarumo, who held the post for the past six seasons before he was fired after the Bengals missed the postseason.
This will be Golden's second stint on Zac Taylor's coaching staff. Before taking the job at Notre Dame, he was Cincinnati's linebackers coach during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. During those years, Golden played an integral role in leading a defense that helped the Bengals reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years.
The Fighting Irish's defense was a major reason why Notre Dame was a game away from winning its first national championship since 1988. Entering the CFP final against the Buckeyes, Notre Dame's defense ranked fourth among Power 4 teams in points allowed per drive (1.21), according to ESPN Research.
He will be tasked with leading a Bengals defense that looks vastly different from just a couple of years ago. Staples from that Super Bowl team, including safety Jessie Bates III and defensive tackle DJ Reader, departed in free agency in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Last season, Anarumo was tasked with balancing a group that featured aging veterans, injuries at key positions and inexperience at others.
Eventually, the defense figured things out during the Bengals' five-game winning streak to close the regular season. But with Cincinnati missing the postseason for a second straight year, Taylor opted for a staff shake-up. Along with Anarumo, offensive line coach Frank Pollack and defensive line coach Marion Hobby were among those who were not retained.
On Monday, Cincinnati announced Scott Peters as Pollack's replacement and Michael McCarthy as the assistant offensive line coach. Later in the day, Anarumo was hired as the Indianapolis Colts' defensive coordinator.
The Bengals will need to improve a unit that finished near the bottom of the league in several key categories. Last season, Cincinnati was 26th in points allowed per drive, 30th in defensive red zone efficiency and 30th in first downs allowed per game, according to ESPN Research.
Cincinnati is trying to build around star quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase as the team looks to end a two-year playoff drought. Burrow was named to his second Pro Bowl following a career year. Chase made his fourth Pro Bowl in as many NFL seasons and joined defensive end Trey Hendrickson as the team's first All-Pro selections since 2015.
Tagged under
Jags GM Baalke out as Coen WDs from HC search
Published in
Breaking News
Wednesday, 22 January 2025 14:18
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jaguars and general manager Trent Baalke have parted ways, the team announced Wednesday -- just hours after head coaching candidate Liam Coen decided to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"Following several discussions with Trent Baalke this week, we both arrived at the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interests to respectfully separate, effective immediately," Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement.
"Trent leaves us with my deepest appreciation for his efforts over the past five seasons. Ethan Waugh will serve as interim general manager and play an important role, with others, as we continue the process of interviewing candidates to serve as our new head coach. I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville and look forward to introducing a new head coach who will make that happen for our players and fans alike."
Khan retained Baalke when he fired Doug Pederson on Jan. 6, saying that afternoon in a news conference that a complete organizational overhaul would be "suicide." He also said that if any coaching candidate expressed reservations about the organizational structure or working with Baalke, he would be willing to address the topic.
That may have been what spurred Wednesday's move. The Jaguars lost out on Ben Johnson, the top candidate in the hiring cycle, earlier this week to the Chicago Bears, and Johnson said during his introductory news conference that he was grateful to the Bears for providing the "necessary resources" to build the team he wants.
"It was clear to me from the beginning that the priorities were straight," he said.
After Johnson took the Bears job, Coen was the potential front-runner and was scheduled to have a second, in-person interview with the Jaguars on Wednesday, but he opted to remain with the Bucs as offensive coordinator along with a significant raise, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Baalke joined the Jaguars in 2020 as director of player personnel and was promoted to general manager after Khan fired GM Dave Caldwell that November.
Baalke's tenure started with the selection of quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 pick in 2021 and included Urban Meyer's calamitous 13-game span as head coach that season. It also included the hiring of head coach Doug Pederson, an AFC South title and a rally from a 27-0 deficit to win a wild-card playoff game in 2022. But it also included the biggest collapse in franchise history in 2023 when the Jaguars started the season 8-3 but missed the playoffs.
Baalke made a questionable decision by choosing defensive end Travon Walker over defensive end Aidan Hutchinson with the No. 1 draft pick in 2022. He also was critical of Pederson, saying the team lacked an identity and the coaching staff did not do a good job of getting the team's draft picks ready to play in 2023. Baalke signed one of the most disappointing free agent classes in franchise history in 2024.
Last offseason Baalke signed defensive end Josh Hines-Allen, Lawrence and cornerback Tyson Campbell to new contracts worth $492.1 million ($249.9 million fully guaranteed). Hines-Allen has consistently been the team's best pass rusher, but Lawrence (60.7% completions, 8 touchdowns, 3 interceptions) and Campbell (missed Weeks 2-6 while on IR with a hamstring injury) underperformed.
Nine of Baalke's 38 draft picks from 2021 to 2024 have become full-time starters, including Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne Jr. (25th overall in 2021), Campbell (33rd overall in 2021), Walker, linebacker Devin Lloyd (27th overall in 2022), right tackle Anton Harrison (27th overall in 2023) and receiver Brian Thomas Jr. (23rd overall in 2024).
However, Baalke's most controversial move was taking Walker with the No. 1 pick instead of Hutchinson because he believed Hutchinson had reached his ceiling in terms of development while Walker -- because of his athleticism (he ran a 4.51 40-yard dash at 272 pounds at the combine) and length (6-feet-5, 35.5-inch arms) -- had a much higher upside.
But Hutchinson, who was leading the NFL in sacks this season until he suffered a broken leg on Oct. 13, has outperformed Walker in two-plus seasons: Hutchinson has 28.5 sacks, 65 quarterback hits, 4 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries and 4 interceptions in 39 games. Walker is far from a bust, but he hasn't matched that production: 24 sacks, 44 quarterback hits, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 interception in 40 games.
Baalke did sign one of the league's better free agent classes in 2022, highlighted by receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, cornerback Darious Williams, tight end Evan Engram and right guard Brandon Scherff. All played a significant role in the team's AFC South title that season, as did free agent signees from a 2021 class that included cornerback Shaquill Griffin, receiver Marvin Jones Jr. and safety Rayshawn Jenkins in 2021.
But Baalke's most recent free agent class has been a major disappointment. The Jaguars gave a combined $75.5 million in fully guaranteed money to receiver Gabe Davis, safety/nickelback Darnell Savage, cornerback Ronald Darby, returner Devin Duvernay and defensive lineman Arik Armstead. None made a major impact on a 4-13 team.
Tagged under
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
