To borrow a phrase from a vastly more dignified political era Matt Parkinson is a coming man. Where he is going, on the other hand, is anybody's guess, including his own.

In the short term Parkinson's diary is settled. Having just returned from the tour of New Zealand, in which he made his T20 international debut, he will very shortly fly out to South Africa as a member of England's Test party. Ideally, of course, the Lancashire legspinner would then like to be named in the squad for the white-ball games against the Proteas and for the two-Test tour to Sri Lanka.

Thereafter, however, things get more complicated. Fearful he might not be selected in Lancashire's team for any of the half-dozen County Championship matches they are due to play in April or May, Parkinson has made himself available to interested franchises at next week's IPL auction. That tournament is due to begin four days before England's second Test against Sri Lanka and it is reasonable to think the selectors will want as many of those players in contention for next winter's T20 World Cup squad to take a part in the biggest short-form show on earth.

Parkinson understands all this, of course, but his rationale is rather simpler: he would just like to be playing cricket for someone and he particularly wants to avoid the situation he faced last year when he didn't play a championship match until July and only played four Division Two games in all.

"I am keen on playing red-ball cricket, but it gets to the point where if you're not getting picked, it's easy to get pigeon-holed as a white-ball cricketer, even if you don't want to be," he said. "I'm 23 and I've still got time on my side, but people are getting pigeon-holed quite early now because there's so much white-ball cricket out there."

It is surely unfair to blame the hierarchy at Emirates Old Trafford for the various dilemmas faced by one of England's most talented young spinners. Picking a leggie who bats at No.11 for matches played on green pitches in April and early May would be a supreme indulgence, especially in a Lancashire team whose pace attack is of Test match quality. ECB officials, on the other hand, might come in for rather more criticism. What remains remarkable is that Parkinson was selected for the South Africa tour on the strength of his 20 first-class wickets. The England selectors clearly know a good thing when they see it, however brief their glimpse might be.

"I wouldn't say it's embarrassing to have only played four games and got picked for England but it says a lot, really," said Parkinson. "There's a lot of talk about a lack of Test-quality spinners, but if we're not playing matches, no one's going to improve. It says a lot that I've been picked on the back of 20 first-class games. It shows I've done something they like but I'd like to play all 14 [championship] games and get picked off the back of 50 first-class wickets in the season, then there isn't muttering that he's only been picked because the cupboard's bare. I do think something needs to be done."

Let there be no doubt that Parkinson wants to play Test cricket. He saw how talismanic England cricketers like Ben Stokes prepared for the New Zealand series and he was properly impressed. And he is greatly looking forward to working with Jeetan Patel in South Africa. But as the final stages of last summer's World Cup were being played he was wondering whether his future lay in 50-over cricket and the various T20 circuses. And young cricketers remember such things.

"If you aren't picked for the first couple of games, it's almost like your season is starting again," he said. "I feel that every summer I'm starting again and having to prove myself in red-ball cricket. When it got to July and I hadn't played a game, I was worried, but the way it went at the end of the season and my selection for England has moved things back a bit," he said.

"In twelve months it could be completely different but I am keen on playing red-ball cricket. The back-loading's good. I've played most of my games in the last month of the season. But playing seven games in the first seven weeks of the summer isn't ideal although if you can bowl spin on a greentop in April, you can perform on a dust-bowl in September."

Parkinson's ability to adapt to different conditions ensured he ended the New Zealand leg of England's winter tour with his reputation bolstered. His four wickets at Napier in the second T20 game was a lovely way to end a year which had been scarred far beyond cricket's compass by the death of his mother, Maria. That tragedy was mentioned by Nasser Hussain when he presented Parkinson with his first England cap at Nelson.

"The words he said will stay with me for a long time, said Parkinson. "You sometimes forget how lucky you are, being paid to play cricket in New Zealand in November when most lads are in the indoor school or working. You get lost in the here and now. It gets tough at times but something like that definitely gives you perspective.

"I was pleased to make my debut and pleased it went so well. I was nervous and it's one of those situations when if you get a wicket in your first over, you're okay then. It was a challenge to bowl on the small grounds in New Zealand but fingers crossed I've learned some lessons I can use.

"There are things I'll try and stick to whether it's with England or Lancashire. The nerves are still there when you make your England debut but it helped that it was in New Zealand. You weren't at the SCG or MCG with nearly 100,000 people there. We knew before the series that we were going to get a go, so that helped as well."

Parkinson must now wait to find out when he will next get a go. His many supporters hope he might get the nod for a Test in South Africa or Sri Lanka. They also hope that the stress freshly placed on five-day cricket by England's hierarchy might have an impact on the shape of the domestic season. Parkinson, meanwhile, will carry on working very hard in the hope that excellence will receive its proper reward. He knows there is more for him to do.

"Every cricketer has their work-ons and if I could bat like my brother [Callum at Leicestershire], that would be happy days." he said. "All three facets of my game need to improve for me to be an international cricketer who plays most of the time. I class myself as a luxury. I don't want to be a luxury. I want to get picked regardless of the surface. Nathan Lyon plays all over the world and he's a No.11."

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins running back Derrius Guice suffered a sprained left MCL in Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers, according to multiple sources.

Guice, who called the hit on his left knee by Packers safety Darnell Savage a cheap shot, already has been ruled out for Sunday's game vs. Philadelphia and might not play again this season.

He underwent an MRI on Monday, which revealed no damage to the other ligaments. Guice missed eight games earlier this season with a torn right meniscus that required surgery. He tore his left ACL in the 2018 preseason.

Redskins interim coach Bill Callahan said Guice would not play against the Eagles and, with only two other games remaining, it's likely that the second-year back won't return until 2020.

In five games this season, Guice carried 42 times for 245 yards and two touchdowns, providing hope for the Redskins' future at the position. He had three runs of 20 or more yards plus a 45-yard touchdown off a screen pass.

Sunday, he was hurt at the end of a 23-yard run when Savage, coming from the side, hit him in the left knee with his helmet. Guice later tweeted that "it was a cheap shot!!" and said Savage "knows the history of my knee injuries and went straight at them..." The tweet was later deleted.

Guice also tweeted that he was thankful the results weren't worse. It's been a tough road for the 2018 second-round pick out of LSU, who tore his left ACL at the end of a long run in his first preseason game, knocking him out for the entire 2018 season. Then he was hurt in this year's season opener at Philadelphia, causing him to land on injured reserve and miss eight games. He had split time with Adrian Peterson since his return. Peterson had continued as the main back and leads Washington with 720 yards rushing. Peterson receives a $500,000 bonus if he reaches 1,000 yards this season.

Callahan said Monday that he spoke with Guice for a while. Guice called last season the hardest of his life because football was taken away from him for the first time.

"This guy's upbeat, he's positive, he's got more energy than the entire building, so it ain't going to hamper him or stifle him or hold him back by any means," Callahan said. "I love the guy, I love his energy and what he brings to the table every day, how he comes into the meeting room, how he goes to the practice field. He's just a bundle of energy and he gives us a catalyst that most teams don't have. He's a lot of fun to coach. He's insightful, he's smart, he's intuitive -- I like all of those qualities and traits about him. And you know what? If the rehab is lengthy, it's lengthy. If it's short, it's short. But I know this, he'll put everything into the rehabilitation that he needs to, if not more."

TAMPA, Fla. -- Barring any unforeseen improvement to his injured hamstring, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans' season is over after 13 games, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Evans suffered a pulled hamstring during the Bucs' 38-35 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

The injury occurred at the end of the first quarter on a 61-yard catch as Evans was racing past Pierre Desir for a touchdown. Evans attempted to walk off the injury before collapsing in pain in the end zone.

After the game, coach Bruce Arians said Evans' prognosis was "not good" and "he'd be shocked" if the Pro Bowl receiver made it back before the end of the season.

On Monday, Arians was cautiously optimistic.

"They're going to let it bleed out. He was a quick healer when he had it in the spring," Arians said. "I would be very doubtful for this week."

Justin Watson, who caught a 17-yard touchdown Sunday in the first significant action of his career, is expected to take Evans' spot.

Evans has 67 catches this season and is third in the NFL with 1,157 receiving yards. He has scored eight touchdowns, and his average of 17.3 yards per catch ranks sixth in the league.

Evans has missed three games during his six-year career and has never missed more than one game per season.

His loss hurts Tampa Bay's chances to finish the season with a winning record. The Bucs are 6-7 and their playoff hopes ended Sunday with the Minnesota Vikings' victory over the Detroit Lions.

Last month, Evans joined Hall of Famer Randy Moss as the only players in NFL history to reach 1,000 receiving yards in each of their first six seasons.

PHILADELPHIA -- Josh McCown is already juggling multiple jobs this season, serving as a backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles and as an assistant coach for his sons' high school team in North Carolina. He nearly added a third gig Monday night: wide receiver.

Coach Doug Pederson confirmed that the 40-year-old McCown would have been the next man in as the Eagles dealt with multiple injuries at receiver in a 23-17 comeback win over the New York Giants.

"Why can't he? He's active, he's dressed," Pederson said during his weekly appearance on Sports Radio 94.1 on Tuesday. "He's actually done that in a game before -- in his career he has done that. Now, it has been about 10 years ago, but he has lined up as a receiver in an actual football game."

With Nelson Agholor (knee) unable to play, the Eagles had just three receivers active Monday night: Alshon Jeffery, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside and Greg Ward. They were down to two receivers when Jeffery left with a foot injury in the second quarter.

McCown had a non-quarterback helmet at the ready in the event that his number was called.

"We were ready to roll," McCown told NBC Philadelphia. "Shoot, I was ready to get in and go. Obviously as a quarterback you know the offense."

McCown filled the role of receiver way back in 2006 against the New England Patriots when he was with the Detroit Lions. He caught two passes for 15 yards in that game and argues he should have had a third catch but was unfairly called for offensive pass interference. The legs might not be as spry as they were then, but that wasn't going to stop McCown.

"I'm not quite the option that J.J. is or Greg, but we were kind of up against it a little bit, and just having a contingency plan was the main thing," he said. "I was ready to roll."

The Dallas Stars fired coach Jim Montgomery on Tuesday "due to unprofessional conduct."

The team did not elaborate on the conduct in its statement.

"The Dallas Stars expect all of our employees to act with integrity and exhibit professional behavior while working for and representing our organization," Stars general manager Jim Nill said in the statement. "This decision was made due to unprofessional conduct inconsistent with the core values and beliefs of the Dallas Stars and the National Hockey League."

The 50-year-old Montgomery was in his second season with the Stars after five seasons as coach of the University of Denver. He has two years left on his contract at $1.6 million per season.

Dallas finished fourth in the Central Division last season but made a run in the playoffs, losing in seven games in the second round to the eventual champion St. Louis Blues.

The Stars, who are currently fourth in the division, host New Jersey on Tuesday night.

The Stars said that assistant Rick Bowness will take over as interim coach, with Texas Stars (AHL) head coach Derek Laxdal joining his staff. Texas Stars assistant Neil Graham will take over for Laxdal.

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick on Tuesday denied any involvement with the videographer who was caught taping the Cincinnati Bengals' sideline during their game against Cleveland on Sunday.

It has raised suspicions around the league and drawn some comparisons to "Spygate," the 2007 incident that led to penalties for Belichick and the Patriots. Belichick said the franchise has altered its approach since then.

"We're competitive and we'll try to be competitive in every area," Belichick said during a conference call with Cincinnati media Tuesday morning. "But we don't knowingly, intentionally want to do anything that's across the line.

"But since that's [Spygate] happened, I'd say we've tried to keep a good distance behind the line and not maybe take it as far as we would might have in the past. But it's never really fundamentally changed there."

In 2007, Belichick was fined $500,000 and the Patriots were docked a first-round pick in the 2008 draft after a team employee was caught recording unauthorized footage of the Green Bay Packers and the New York Jets. A league investigation found eight tapes of game footage and written notes on scouting information accumulated over the seven previous seasons.

During Tuesday's call, Belichick said he "didn't have anything at all to do with this" after the Patriots confirmed that a videographer captured shots of the field and Bengals' sideline on Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium, one week before Cincinnati hosts New England.

According to the Patriots, the advance scout in the press box for the Bengals' 27-19 loss to the Browns was being filmed for a series on employees that is featured on the team's website. A Bengals team employee spotted New England's videographer filming Cincinnati's sideline for the entire first quarter, a source told ESPN.

During his news conference the next day, Bengals coach Zac Taylor said he believed the league was investigating the matter. In a statement released Monday evening, the Patriots said the crew immediately turned over all footage to the league and cooperated fully, and takes full responsibility for the incident.

On Tuesday, Belichick declined to say whether he had any contact with Cincinnati regarding the situation.

"I would say I'd keep that between us and the Bengals," Belichick said on the teleconference.

The Patriots (10-3) have a one-game lead over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East heading into Sunday's games. The Bengals (1-12) have the worst record in the NFL.

Mark Bakewell has left his role as forwards coach at Leicester Tigers, BBC Radio Leicester reports.

England forwards coach Steve Borthwick was already being lined up to join the backroom team at the Premiership club.

Borthwick, 40, is not expected to join until after the Six Nations, with Brett Deacon set to step up from his coaching role to temporarily replace Bakewell.

Bakewell, 55, was brought to Welford Road in February 2018 by then head coach Matt O'Connor.

Head coach Geordan Murphy said the club did not want to talk about rumours relating to their coaching team.

"We have been linked with numerous coaches across the world and it is something that is probably unfair to go into," Murphy added.

Former forward Borthwick, who captained both Bath and Saracens during a 16-year playing career, has been part of Eddie Jones' England backroom team since 2015, having previously worked as forwards coach at Bristol.

The exact role he will fill with Leicester is not yet clear, nor the impact his arrival may have on Murphy.

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth … my two front teeth.

Since I’ve been lucky enough to keep my two front teeth, the popular Christmas song of our youth has inspired us to make some other Christmas wishes.

All I want for Christmas is:

– A third engine manufacturer for the NTT IndyCar Series to play along­­side Honda and Chevrolet.

– Tony Stewart to race in the Indianapolis 500.

– A battle among engine manufacturers in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series. It’s coming with Ford already in the fray and Toyota laying the groundwork to enter this arena.

– A series of doubleheaders featuring the NTT IndyCar Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series to be run at three or more high-profile race tracks.

– A milk crate full of $20 bills.

– Some competition for Joe Gibbs Racing during the coming NASCAR Cup Series campaign.

– A high-profile non-NASCAR driver to land a ride for the Daytona 500. Let’s say Fernando Alonso, or perhaps Josef Newgarden?

– Bonus points toward the NASCAR Cup Series championship for drivers who win short-track races in other types of cars.

– A sneak peek at Roger Penske’s plan for the future of Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

– More wing dances for Danny Smith. Have the medics on alert.

– A sponsor for Top Fuel ace Tony Schumacher.

– A Knoxville Nationals victory for Brian Brown.

– Cold beer.

– An Indy car or NAS­CAR ride for Tyler Courtney.

– Danny Dietrich to hit the road with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series or the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions.

– A large advertising contract from Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, etc.

– More fender-rubbing stock car racing and less manufactured drama.

– Christmas cards from A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, Richard Petty and Steve Kinser.

– More NASCAR races on dirt tracks.

– More racing legends being part of the show at big racing events. Whether it’s Bobby Allison, Johnny Rutherford, Jack Hewitt, Hurley Haywood or Bob McCreadie, our sport should do more with heroes from the past to help build a path to the future.

– A triple crown bonus payable to a winged sprint car driver who can win the Knoxville Nationals, Kings Royal and National Open in the same season.

– An all-star racing series similar to the once-popular International Race of Champions tour.

– Rolling Stones concert tickets.

– Someone to step up and challenge Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari in Formula One.

– More television broadcasters who see racing as more than a paycheck.

– A new domestic Rallycross series, but ideally one with cars that are more affordable for teams and competitors.

– Promoters to continue to challenge themselves and others to come up with new events such as USAC’s Hangtown 100 at California’s Placerville Speedway.

– Someone to pose a legitimate challenge to Kody Swanson in the USAC Silver Crown Series.

– More off-road racers in big-time racing. Think Jimmie Johnson and Rick Mears.

– John Force versus fencing, round two.

– More football and less soccer on television.

– To be a teenager and possess the racing talent of Zeb Wise or Buddy Kofoid.

– Every major racing series to adapt NASCAR’s Throwback theme that is utilized during the Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Think about the great NHRA and Indy car paint schemes that would be introduced to a new generation of fans.

– Well, alright, since it’s unlikely that a lot of those things are going to happen, we’ll settle for a nice bottle of bourbon or an oatmeal raisin cookie.

SOUTHLAKE, Texas – Officials from the Sportscar Vintage Racing Ass’n have announced that TireRack.com is now the official tire store of SVRA.

Tire Rack has a long and varied list of associations with car performance programs across the country.

“Tire Rack is the undisputed leader in tire consultation to ensure consumers purchase the right tire for their needs,” said SVRA CEO Tony Parella. “Everyone at SVRA is excited about Tire Rack’s long association with competitors, car enthusiasts, car shows, and spectators – everyone in the car culture. They have a very strong presence in grassroots racing and this agreement extends that.”

Tire Rack sells a wide variety of branded tires,  wheels and other accessories supported by a network of more than 8,000 independent recommended installers throughout the United States.

“We are pleased to add SVRA to our family of automotive enthusiast organizations that we proudly support,” said TireRack.comExecutive Vice President, Matt Edmonds. “SVRA is a perfect channel for us to reach drivers with discerning tastes to help them select the right tires for their vehicles. We share their passion for getting the greatest performance and pleasure out of the cars they drive, whether on the track or on the road.”

U.S. and International team members, along with their significant others, attended the Presidents Cup gala on Tuesday night in Melbourne, Australia.

Take a look at the the glitz and glam ahead of matches