I Dig Sports
Green hopeful of Shield return and county cricket ahead of WTC final
The 25-year-old underwent the same back surgery that many fast bowlers around the world have had including Jasprit Bumrah and WA and club teammate Jason Behrendorff, who he consulted with both before and after undergoing the procedure in Christchurch. Green also caught up with former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond while recovering in New Zealand, with Bond one of the first to undergo the radical procedure that includes having screws and a wire inserted into the spine.
Green's recovery is well ahead of schedule. He was back running in early January and has been batting for a number of weeks. He is not going to return to bowling until later in the year, well after the WTC final and the three-Test tour of the Caribbean, with the long-term aim to have him bowling without restrictions for the 2025-26 Ashes series which starts in late November.
From very early in the recovery phase there were hopes in Western Australia that Green could be fit to play a Shield game as a batter in late February or early match. While speaking at the Cricket Australia Awards on Monday night in Melbourne, after winning the Community Impact Award for his work with Kidney Health Australia, Green confirmed that he was eyeing a possible return in WA's final Shield game of the home and away season against Victoria at the WACA ground on March 15. WA is also in the mix to play in a fourth straight Shield final which begins on March 26.
He would need clearance from CA's medical staff to be approved to play in that game. Green has to have scans on his back at regular intervals post surgery to monitor his progression.
Beyond that, Green is understood to be open to a stint in county cricket in England prior to the WTC final. There are eight rounds of championship fixtures scheduled in April and May, the last of which begins on May 23 before the WTC final starts on June 11.
CA would only likely approve him for a short stint if a club was keen to sign him under those restrictions given he would not be capable of bowling.
Green's return to fitness will create a squeeze in Australia's top order. He made 174 not out batting at No.4 in his second last Test against New Zealand in March last year but Steve Smith has returned to No. 4 in style, scoring three centuries in his last four Test matches against India and Sri Lanka.
Cummins 'heavily unlikely' for Champions Trophy, Smith or Head to lead Australia
Cummins missed the Test tour of Sri Lanka due to the birth of his second child, but he has also been nursing the ankle issue that had flared up after a heavy workload in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Australia's ODI players, who are not on the Test tour, are due to fly out to Sri Lanka on Thursday but McDonald revealed on Wednesday morning that Cummins was unlikely to be among them.
"Pat Cummins hasn't been able to resume any type of bowling so he's heavily unlikely, so that would mean that we do need a captain," McDonald told SEN. "Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we've been having conversations with while we've been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They'll be the two that we look at for that leadership post.
"They're the two obvious ones. Steve has done a great job here in the [first] Test match. He's done some good work in one-day international cricket across the journey as well. So it's between those two.
"But, as I said, Patty is hugely unlikely, which is a bit of shame, and we've also got Josh Hazlewood, who is battling [to be fit] at the moment. So that medical information will land over the next couple of days and we'll be able to shore that up and let everyone know the direction."
Hazlewood is understood to be dealing with a hip issue after recovering from the side and calf injuries that saw him miss three of the five Tests against India and the Test tour of Sri Lanka.
Tanveer Sangha has been flown to Sri Lanka ahead of the second Test for development purposes but McDonald confirmed he could play a part in the two ODIs in Colombo before the team flies to the Champions Trophy
Australia's selectors will have a challenge cobbling an XI together for the first ODI against Sri Lanka on February 12 given there is only one travel day scheduled between the fifth day of the second Test and the first ODI, with ODI squad members Head, Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc all set to play in the Test match. But there may be extra days to recover if the Test ends quickly on a surface that already appears much drier than the previous one.
Red-ball specialist Bedingham 'still trying to learn' his trade in T20s
"I've found it quite tough. But I also feel that the bowlers that we played against have been quite good as well, so it's probably a combination of both," he said. "But speaking to the guys that played the first two seasons, they've definitely said that the wickets have played a bit tougher. I've spoken to Russ(ell Domingo, Sunrisers' batting coach) and he said that in India, and England, those types of countries are probably a lot easier to bat in the first six overs, whereas in South Africa, you probably have to be a bit more circumspect. So especially in this tournament where the wickets have played quite tough, I think those first six overs have been crucial. And I think a lot of the teams, including us, have probably struggled in those first six overs."
"I've basically tried to just play one-day cricket in those first three or four overs," Bedingham said. "Obviously, if we have wickets in hand, then you can maybe push the tempo a bit but I've either been out in the first couple overs or we've three or four wickets in the first three overs, so it's been quite tough to kick on and try and hit quick runs. But in saying that we're in the Eliminator, so hopefully we can start off well and win that game."
Sunrisers are the only team to have won the SA20, and they've done it twice under the same coach Adi Birrell and captain Markram and seemed to have mastered the recipe for success. Now, it's just about whether all the ingredients can come together to do it again.
Fans say Mavs offering refunds after Luka trade
The Dallas Mavericks have offered refunds to fans who have canceled season tickets in the wake of the trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, multiple fans told ESPN.
"We value every season ticket member relationship and reps are available to take calls from members with any concerns or questions," Mavs vice president of corporate communications Erin Finegold said via text message.
Mavericks fans have reacted with outrage to the shocking trade that sent the 25-year-old Doncic, a five-time first-team All-NBA selection who is entering his prime, to the Lakers along with reserve forwards Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in exchange for 31-year-old All-NBA big man Anthony Davis, wing Max Christie and the Los Angeles' 2029 first-round pick.
Fans protested outside the American Airlines Center on Sunday, the day after the deal was made. Several held signs criticizing Mavs general manager Nico Harrison, who negotiated the deal in secret with his Lakers counterpart, Rob Pelinka, blindsiding Doncic with the news that his 6-year tenure in Dallas was over only months after leading the Mavs to the NBA Finals.
"I'm sorry they're frustrated, but it's something that we believe in as an organization," Harrison said Sunday. "It's going to make us better. We believe that it sets us up to win, not only now, but also in the future. And when we win, I believe the frustration will go away."
KD downgraded to doubtful as trade talks swirl
Kevin Durant, who is 26 points shy of 30,000 for his career, has been downgraded to doubtful for Wednesday's road game against the Oklahoma City Thunder as trade speculation swirls around the future Hall of Famer.
The Suns say he is dealing with a left ankle sprain.
Durant reaching the milestone in Oklahoma City would have been a full-circle moment, as he spent eight seasons playing for the Thunder after the franchise moved from Seattle following his rookie season.
Durant, who was selected to his 15th All-Star Game, has been routinely booed in Oklahoma City since he left the franchise as a free agent in the summer of 2016 to join the rival Golden State Warriors.
It's now uncertain whether Durant has played his final game for the Suns, as sources told ESPN that Phoenix has been willing to listen to offers for him in recent days. The Warriors are among the teams with interest, sources told ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
Suns owner Mat Ishbia, who pulled off a blockbuster deal to acquire Durant from the Brooklyn Nets hours after his purchase of the franchise became official in February 2023, has publicly declared that he has no intention to trade the star forward.
Fox set to make Spurs debut vs. Hawks on Wed.
De'Aaron Fox is set to make his debut for the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks, the team announced Tuesday.
The Spurs acquired Fox as part of a three-team trade that involved multiple players and picks, but ultimately pairs the All-Star guard with superstar center Victor Wembanyama.
The trade was made official Monday and Fox had been listed as questionable for Wednesday's game before his status was upgraded to available Tuesday night.
"There's no concern of ramping up, conditioning or whatnot," acting Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said. "We know there will be a runway of learning our program and terminology. There will be some patience and some excitement on both sides from the group here waiting on them and then joining the group.
"It'll just be something we work through and trying to expedite as much as possible without having a ton of practice time."
It remains unclear how Fox's addition will affect the Spurs' starting lineup, which features Chris Paul, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes and Wembanyama. Paul, a future Hall of Famer in his 20th NBA season, and Castle, a promising rookie who has started 29 games in 2024-25, share the same position as Fox.
Fox, 27, is averaging 25.0 points, 6.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds this season.
Embiid returns with triple-double, winning basket
PHILADELPHIA -- Back in action after missing the past month with knee swelling and a foot sprain, Joel Embiid hit the go-ahead basket with 22 seconds to go and posted a triple-double for the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night in a 118-116 win over the Dallas Mavericks
Embiid had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in 36 minutes. Coach Nick Nurse said before the game that 30 minutes was a realistic expectation, but that he would see how the 7-footer felt throughout the night.
Afterward, Nurse said Embiid will sit out against the Miami Heat on Wednesday in the second night of a back-to-back.
Embiid, the 2023 NBA Most Valuable Player, had not played since a Jan. 4 win over the Brooklyn Nets, a span of 15 games. He is averaging 24.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 14 games for the 76ers, who entered the night one game behind the Chicago Bulls for the 10th seed and final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Mavericks were without new big man Anthony Davis, who remained out with an abdominal strain he suffered in Philadelphia as a Laker a week ago. Davis said he could return Thursday in Boston against the Celtics or Saturday back in Dallas against the Houston Rockets.
Also out Tuesday were Quentin Grimes and Caleb Martin, after Philadelphia and Dallas swapped the two players earlier in the day. Though both teams are in Philadelphia, the trade was not completed in time for either of them to play.
Cubs deepen bullpen, trade for Dodgers' Brasier
The Chicago Cubs acquired right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, deepening their bullpen through another trade in an offseason full of activity.
In return, the Dodgers receive a player to be named later or cash. The Dodgers said they also sent cash to the Cubs as part of the deal.
Brasier, 37, was designated for assignment last week when the Dodgers' deal with right-handed reliever Kirby Yates was finalized. He was a solid contributor on Los Angeles' World Series-winning team, throwing nine innings during the postseason after posting a 3.54 ERA in 28 regular-season innings.
Los Angeles' acquisitions of two closers -- Yates and Tanner Scott -- as well as re-signing Blake Treinen edged Brasier out of the Dodgers' bullpen mix and gave Chicago the opportunity to add him to a bullpen that has been significantly strengthened in recent weeks. In addition to Brasier, the Cubs added closer Ryan Pressly in a trade with Houston, and earlier this winter acquired right-hander Eli Morgan.
Chicago's biggest deal of the winter was for outfielder Kyle Tucker, a perennial MVP candidate who is set to hit free agency after the 2025 season. Chicago signed left-hander Matthew Boyd to a two-year, $29 million contract, gave catcher Carson Kelly $11.5 million over two years, locked up right-hander Colin Rea on a one-year, $5 million deal and added left-hander Caleb Thielbar ($2.75 million) and utilityman Jon Berti ($2 million) on one-year pacts.
With a mid-90s fastball, a biting slider and a cutter, Brasier weathered early-career scuffles to turn in solid performances throughout his 30s. Though his fastball velocity dipped slightly last year, his precision -- he walked only five batters and struck out 25 -- served him well.
Brasier, who will make $4.5 million this season in the second season of a two-year contract, joins a bullpen that should have strong competition for spots when spring camps open in just over a week. In addition to Brasier, Pressly, Morgan and Thielbar, the Cubs return right-hander Porter Hodge -- who was the closer toward the end of the 2024 season -- as well as right-hander Tyson Miller, who had a 2.15 ERA in 50 innings.
Other options in the Cubs' bullpen include right-handers Nate Pearson, Keegan Thompson, Julian Merryweather, Ethan Roberts, Caleb Kilian and potentially Ben Brown, a starter who could prove a late-inning weapon if he does not crack Chicago's rotation.
Former Wimbledon champion Halep announces retirement
Halep memorably won her first major title at the French Open in 2018, defeating Sloane Stephens, having lost her previous three Grand Slam finals.
She then won at Wimbledon in 2019, committing just three unforced errors in a stunning final victory over Serena Williams.
She won 22 other WTA Tour titles and spent 64 weeks as world number one.
Halep was given a four-year ban for two separate doping offences after initially testing positive for a banned substance in August 2022.
She always maintained her innocence and appealed against the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2024.
The panel ruled Halep, "on the balance of probabilities", had not taken roxadustat intentionally and her ban was reduced to nine months.
She subsequently returned to the WTA Tour in March 2024 but played just six matches through to 2025 and won only once.
"I've always been realistic with myself and with my body," Halep said.
"Where I probably was, it's very hard to get there and I know what it means to get there."
South Africa wing Makazole Mapimpi has been banned for three games after admitting he made contact "with the eye or eye area" of a Cardiff opponent during a United Rugby Championship (URC) game in January.
Mapimpi, a member of two World Cup winning squads, was involved in a scuffle with Cardiff hooker Efan Daniel during Sharks' 42-22 win win at Cardiff Arms Park on 25 January.
He was not punished during the game, but was cited and at a disciplinary hearing Mapimpi admitted committing a red card offence.
Mapimpi will miss Sharks' URC matches at fellow South African side Bulls on Saturday, 15 February and back-to-back games against Lions.
Disciplinary officials took into account a previous incident of a similar nature in settling on Mapimpi's ban. He was banned for two weeks after being found guilty of making contact with the eye area of Bordeaux-Bègles scrum-half Maxime Lucu in a European Champions Cup game in January 2023.
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
