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Finch keen for BBL auction, Maxwell questions power surge
Currently, overseas players are selected through the draft - with clubs now able to pre-sign one name before that event - while a trade window, that is currently open, has been introduced for the first time this season, but Finch has said the majority of domestic players should also be included in a process more aligned with how the IPL operates.
"I'd like to see an auction come in," Finch told the Powerplay on ESPN's Around The Wicket. "Each team potentially has the ability to retain maybe four of their players and then you say everybody else in the country, you're into an auction. I think that that would create a great spectacle.
"We see it in the IPL, it's brilliant, creates evenness across the board I think. What it does give you as well is it gives you what the players are worth. So at times, depending on what your team needs, you might have to overpay for someone. But if it's an auction, that's generally what the price of a player is."
Maxwell, though, was uncertain about the idea, raising concern about clubs losing an identity with established names. "You've still got to have a way to keep your homegrown players in your home state, [to] still have that relevance," he said.
The BBL continues to be challenged on retaining overseas players with a number leaving in early January for either the SA20 or ILT20.
Meanwhile, when asked what he would change about the tournament, Maxwell argued that while he could see the appeal of the power surge - the two overs of fielding restrictions that can be taken by the batting side after the 10th over - he felt it skewed the skills that were required away from how the rest of T20 is played.
"I'd get rid of the power surge," Maxwell said. "I think unless the power surge was introduced in international cricket, I think it's sort of probably lost its relevance. As a player, I think it probably misrepresents middle-order batting.
"When you get picked for your country, you don't have that luxury of having those two overs in the back ten to boost your strike rate, boost your score. It's lost on the art of middle order batting to be able to find your way through those last ten overs. I know it's great for broadcasters. I know it's great for fans. But until it's made an international rule, I don't think we should have it."
Finch acknowledged he had held a similar view when he was a player, but having now retired from the game saw the value the power surge brings.
"I think that it provides entertainment right through an innings," he said. "It keeps games alive. Like if a team needs 15 and over, with a power surge up your sleeve, there's still half a chance."
Lyon: Australia 'not there yet' in journey to greatness
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph confirmed Australia's spot in a second consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) final, with the ICC's top-ranked side winning more Test matches in the past cycle than any other team.
Elder statesman Lyon saw signs of greatness in the win in Galle, where Australian appeared in control from a first over that featured three fours off Travis Head's bat. But Lyon does not feel the current crop of Australian players can yet lay claim to being a truly great side.
"We want to become a great Australian team. We're on that journey, we're not there yet. That's our end goal," he said. "Part of that journey is making sure that when we close the window, we nail it shut. It's all about being ruthless and doing our best thing for long periods of time."
The win in Galle ensured Australia would continue to hold every bilateral trophy for which they are eligible, alongside the ODI World Cup and the WTC trophy.
But Lyon was quick to point out that Australia had drawn and not won the past two Ashes series played in England, last winning outright on the road in 2001. Australia have also not won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India since Ricky Ponting's side took out the four-match series 2-1 in 2004.
"There's a few things [Australia needs to achieve]," said 37-year-old Lyon. "This is only me and my thoughts as well. We've got some great players within that change-room, there's no point hiding behind that. "
Australia will have to wait until 2027 for chances at away series wins in India and England. The country's greatest ever offspinner, Lyon said he "100 percent" hoped to play on that next trip to spin-friendly India as a 39-year-old.
The trio took 17 of Australia's 20 wickets in Galle, but the team does not have a subcontinent Test tour planned between the ongoing two-match series and India in 2027.
"We're going okay, but I still feel like we've got a lot of improvement to do. That's about being ruthless," Lyon said of the offspinning trio. "We're three totally different bowlers with three totally different mindsets as well. I feel like I'm learning off Todd and Matt, and I feel like they're pushing me to try and get better as well. Hopefully I'm passing on a little bit of knowledge here and there."
Lyon is mostly free of a left hip injury he suffered in the summer, though he is still in pain if he falls on the area.
"But I didn't have to land on it today, so all good," said Lyon, who took match figures of 7 for 135 in Galle. "Apparently I ripped the deep tissue off the fascia [hip muscle], whatever that means. Apparently there was a bit of excess blood or something in there. Not ideal, but all good now."
Injured Shields seals undisputed heavyweight title
FLINT, Mich. -- Claressa Shields has entered a league of her own.
The undefeated world champion boxer captured the undisputed heavyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over previously unbeaten Danielle Perkins on Sunday night.
She dropped Perkins (5-1, 2 KOs) with a right hook in the final seconds of the 10th and final round to secure the victory, but the fight almost didn't happen.
Shields (16-0, 3 KOs) pushed through a shoulder injury entering the match and couldn't lift her left arm for two or three days.
"I actually think I'm going to have to have surgery on my left arm. I tore my labrum last week, so the fight almost didn't happen," Shields said. "I didn't want to let Flint down, but I really couldn't use my jab the way that I wanted to, but I didn't the best that I could. I iced it, I did therapy and now I think I'm going to have a shoulder surgery."
Shields still managed to connect on 29% of her punches, and 36% of her power punches, according to CompuBox Stats while Perkins only landed 19% of her punches. The judges scored the fight 97-92, 99-90, and 100-89 all for Shields.
With the win, she became the first boxer, male or female, in the four-belt era to become the undisputed champion in three different weight classes (junior middle, middle and heavyweight).
She holds the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles. For women's boxing, the heavyweight division is considered 175 pounds and up.
In her heavyweight debut on July 27 in Detroit, she also scored a second-round TKO victory over Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse with Perkins on the undercard.
"I felt strong in there, but I know Danielle Perkins felt stronger. That girl was strong as hell," Shields said. "She was strong, she was definitely a problem. My experience and my skills got me over it and also, I've been in plenty of street fights with bigger people and I had to use some of my skills in that today, too. So, when I dropped her in the last round, it's because she got greedy."
She scored the bout's lone knockdown in waning seconds of the tenth round, but she also wobbled Perkins during the third round with an overhand right while connecting on some big right hooks as well. The crowd chanted "Whoop that trick" from the Hustle & Flow soundtrack as Shields landed those big shots.
"Flint is a different type of place. I can tell you that the people that we have here, they are fight fans for one. They're so supportive and they take you for who you are," Shields said. "So, them even saying, 'Whoop that trick,' you will never hear that in no other women's boxing match ever in history because it's just not even something that people even accept coming from women.
"People accept that from me here, coming from Flint and they understand me, and they know that I'm just as hood, just as street, but I'm also business and savvy and I'm very smart so they accept me for the full package, and I just love them so much for that."
Shields said she passed on an opportunity to fight at Barclays Center in New York so she could return to Michigan for a homecoming bout at the Dort Financial Center in Flint. During her ring entrance, she was joined by rapper Papoose and fellow undisputed champion Terence Crawford was among those in attendance.
Crawford said he was happy to support Shields in making history as the first-ever undisputed women's heavyweight champion of the world.
"I think it was a great fight. Perkins came to fight, she put up a good fight. She was big, she was strong. Claressa had the speed, timing and experience," Crawford told ESPN. "And at times, when she had to dig deep and make it a dog fight, I felt like she won that transaction as well. The whole turnout was a good night."
Shields, 29, is ESPN's No. 1-ranked heavyweight and No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter but said the fire still burns inside her to cement her place in history, even as she has been dubbing herself the "G.W.O.A.T" -- Greatest Woman of All-Time.
Sunday's bout also marked Shields' first time entering the ring since the December launch of her biopic, "The Fire Inside."
"It ain't enough. That's how I think. I think that I didn't get my flowers for so many years so even though I'm getting them now, it's like that's not enough," Shields said. "I deserve more than that. I'm fighting for a million dollars. So. I'm supposed to be getting paid five. This ain't it. So, for me, that's where the fire comes from."
England errors led to second-half collapse - Warburton
Six Nations Rugby Special pundit and former Wales captain Sam Warburton analyses the mistakes made by England during their 27-22 loss to Ireland in their opening game.
WATCH MORE: Ireland start title defence with convincing win over England
Watch Six Nations Rugby Special on BBC iPlayer.
Available to UK users only.
Forwards
Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Ted Hill (Bath Rugby), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Curtis Langdon (Northampton Saints), George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Tom Willis (Saracens).
Backs
Oscar Beard (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers).
STAFFORD SPRINGS, Conn. Staffords premier SK Modified division has added another contender for NAPA Rookie of the Year honors, with Alexander Pearl making the move up from the SK Light division for the upcoming season.
Pearl will be behind the wheel of the No. 71 car with sponsorship from USNE Power, helping to light the fuse on his rookie campaign.
Its a really big opportunity for us, said Pearl. Weve been looking at moving up to the SK division for some time, and we feel like now the time is right. USNE Power is going to help us out tremendously. We got together with USNE through a mutual connection, and thats pretty much how this deal came together. We went up and visited Dave Miller at his shop a couple of weeks ago, and hes been a great person to meet and talk with. The operation that USNE has and the reach they have across multiple states is pretty cool. Its exciting to be part of their team. There are a lot of people behind the scenes who helped put this deal together, and Im really thankful for that.
I have to thank my Dad and my grandfather, along with the rest of my crew, for coming back on board for next season.
Pearl has been a mainstay in the SK Light division since he began racing full-time in 2018. Since then, Pearl has recorded 12 career SK Light wins, placing him ninth on the SK Light all-time win list heading into the 2025 season.
Pearl has also finished in the top-four of the SK Light points standings every year from 2019-2024, after finishing seventh during his first full season. While Pearl has found success at the SK Light level, he is aware that finding success in the SK Modified division especially as a rookie driver can be a fleeting prospect.
Im sure well have some growing pains, but were shooting for some top-10s and maybe some top-fives, said Pearl. If the cards fall our way, maybe we can compete for a top-3 finish or even a win. We have solid expectations going into the season, and were just going to try to learn as much as we can in a new division and get comfortable racing with the best drivers in the country.
A successful year would be finishing as many races as possible because you have to run all 40 laps to learn. Its the toughest division in the country, but we can run really well if everything falls into place for us.
Just as Pearl will find the chase for success in the SK Modified division to be tough, the race for NAPA Rookie of the Year honors should also be a thrilling duel, with Pearl racing against defending SK Light champion Tyler Chapman for top rookie honors.
Pearl and Chapman have been racing together for over 10 years, dating back to their time spent in the Monday night Wild Thing Karts program at Stafford. Pearl is looking forward to the challenge of racing against Chapman for the 2025 NAPA Rookie of the Year title.
I think the Rookie of the Year battle is going to be really exciting between Tyler and me this season, said Pearl. We both have different driving styles, but over the course of a season, its going to be interesting to see how everything shakes out. I think were going to have a great race for Rookie of the Year. We actually started racing each other back in the Tiger B division in Wild Thing Karts over 10 years ago, so weve been racing against each other for a long time now, and Im excited to duel it out for Rookie of the Year.
There are some drivers you like to race with and some drivers you dont like to race with, and Tyler is definitely a driver that I like racing with.
As a preview for his full-time foray into the SK Modified division, Pearl made three starts in the SK Modified division last season, racing in the NAPA SK 5k, the TC 13 Shootout and the NAPA Champions Night feature.
Pearl was one of the 13 cars to qualify for the TC 13 Shootout on Sept. 13, finishing 11th in the 13-lap sprint. As a rookie part-time driver, he was forced to start at the back of the pack for each of his three SK starts, but he was able to work his way up to 12th in each race. Pearl will be looking to put his SK Modified experience to good use as he prepares for his first full season.
We ran a couple of races last year, and we ran the Fall Final the year before that, so we got our feet wet, and now were at the point where we feel like were ready to move up to the next level and be competitive, said Pearl. The experience will definitely help, but theres nothing like the SK Modified division at Stafford.
Its the toughest division in the country, and Im sure well have some growing pains, but were prepared and going to do the best we can. It was so cool to race against some drivers Ive been watching since I was a kid. Being part of the field in the best division in the country was eye-opening, and I think we did pretty well with what we had, and that helped us make the decision to go full-time this season.
The NTT IndyCar Series kicks off its season in four weeks on the streets of St. Petersburg (Fla.) for the March 2 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Ahead of a highly-anticipated season between driver changes, a new race team and new TV partner with FOX Sports, we broke it all down, team-by-team.
Beginning with Chip Ganassi Racing, heres a glance at the teams lineup:
Key Losses
Marcus Armstrong (Meyer Shank Racing), Linus Lundqvist
No. 10 Alex Palou
The defending IndyCar Series champion, Alex Palou, looks to make it four titles in five years this season aboard his familiar No. 10 Honda with Chip Ganassi Racing.
The 27-year-old has checked off practically every accomplishment one could hope for in Indy car, except one thing win the Indianapolis 500.
Palou scored two victories and six podium results in 2024 along with tallying an average finish of 6.5.
Palou also won the $1 Million Challenge at The Thermal Club in California.
No. 9 Scott Dixon
The seemingly ageless Scott Dixon enters his 25th season with the American open-wheel series as he eyes a seventh title, which would tie him with A.J. Foyt for the most all time.
Currently at 58 victories, Dixon is also nine away from tying Foyt for most all-time in that category.
While nine in a single season would be a tall order for the 44-year-old, its a stat worth noting.
Dixon will again pilot the No. 9 Honda for CGR after finishing sixth in the standings last year with two victories.
No. 8 Kyffin Simpson
Entering his second season with CGR is Kyffin Simpson. Piloting the No. 8 Honda, Simpson will look to improve on a rookie season that saw him place 21st in the standings.
With a best finish of 12th in the season opener at St. Petersburg, Simpson will be looking to improve and catch up to his title-winning teammates.
Editors Note: This is another installment in SPEED SPORTs preview of each NTT IndyCar Series team. To read other teams previews, click here.
Team Penske is aiming to score its first NTT IndyCar Series title since 2022 (Will Power) with its three-driver lineup of Josef Newgarden, Scott McLaughin and Power.
Ahead of the March 2 season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg (Fla.), heres a look at each driver:
No. 2 Josef Newgarden
Newgarden may have been Alex Palous top threat for the title last season had Newgarden not been disqualified from his season-opening victory at St. Petersburg.
Despite the early-season penalty, Newgarden rebounded with a triumphant second straight Indianapolis 500 victory aboard the No. 2 Chevrolet for Team Penske.
Newgarden placed eighth in the standings in what was perhaps a down year for the two-time champion.
No. 3 Scott McLaughlin
McLaughins transition from Repco Supercars to the IndyCar Series was arguably completed after the Kiwi earned his first oval victory of his career at Iowa Speedway.
McLaughlin snagged two additional wins, along with a pole position for the Indy 500.
The driver of the No. 3 Chevrolet was third in the standings, despite also being disqualified from the race at St. Petersburg.
No. 12 Will Power
Power looked to be on his way to a third IndyCar Series championship at times throughout the 2024 season. Three victories in the final 11 races propelled the driver of the No. 12 Chevrolet to within striking distance of Palou.
However, a seat belt issue during the finale at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway derailed his title hopes.
Power, whos entering a contract year with Team Penske, will be looking for a strong 2025 season to secure his future.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. Bowman Gray Stadium legend Tim Brown didnt reach the feature race on Sunday night at The Madhouse after finishing 10th in the Last Chance Qualifier race.
Brown, who piloted a Rick Ware Racing Ford in a one-off appearance, was behind the eight-ball from the get-go due to not having any experience aboard a NASCAR Cup Series race car prior to this weekend.
While he was at a disadvantage, Brown believes he found a rhythm when it mattered most.
Right there at the end of the race I felt like we were as good of a car as anybody out there and those guys were really holding me up, Brown said. Man, that was so much fun racing with (Austin) Dillon and (Justin) Haley and (Ricky) Stenhouse and all those Cup stars. What a blessing this has been. God, thank you so much.
That was fun. Im telling you, it was freaking awesome. It was so cool.
Cool was the word of the day for Brown, who after Sundays LCQ will head back to a modified this season as Bowman Grays all-time wins leader at 101 victories.
Perhaps the biggest victory hell have all season will be achieving his ultimate dream racing in the Cup Series.
This right here is what Ive wanted to do my whole entire life and I think tonight I showed everybody that even at my age I can still do it, Brown said.
Man, I wish my wife and kids were here so I could give them a great big old hug. Its pretty cool.
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Sabres leading scorer Tage Thompson passed concussion-related tests after being struck in the head by New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen, coach Lindy Ruff said Sunday.
Noesen faces potential further discipline after being issued a match penalty for elbowing Thompson in the face. The NHL will determine whether Noesen intended to injure Thompson on the play that happened at 5:11 into the third period of the Sabres' 4-3 victory Sunday.
Thompson was lunging for the puck near the blue line when Noesen knocked it away and continued charging into Thompson. The hit knocked Thompson's helmet off and spun him around.
Thompson was down on the ice for a moment before rising to one knee and skating off on his way to the dressing room. Ruff said Thompson "is good, passed all the tests" after the hit and is expected to be available to practice Monday.
"I didn't watch the replay of hit until after the game," Ruff said. "Definitely a hit that you don't like. That penalty was well deserved. I know I had a couple of guys that wanted to go after [Noesen] right away. And where we were at in the game, there was going to be a time to even the score."
Noesen did not speak to reporters after the game. Devils coach Sheldon Keefe did not address the hit in his postgame comments.
The Sabres did not respond on the ice. Jack Hughes scored a shorthanded goal 21 seconds after Noesen's penalty to get the Devils within one. The Sabres killed two penalties in the third to avoid losing for the seventh time this season after holding a multigoal lead.
"Our response is we won," said the Sabres' Jason Zucker, who scored on a pass from Thompson to give Buffalo a 4-1 lead late in the second period. "[Noesen] made two plays that cost their team the win. So, we'll take that all day."
Noesen was trailing the play on Buffalo's fourth goal and pushed Zucker into the net after he scored.
"Why isn't there a call after he gets cross-checked after he scores a goal?" Ruff said. "In a game where there's all kinds of strange calls, why isn't there a call on that?"
Thompson had a goal and two assists in helping the Eastern Conference's last-place team win its third game in a row. Thompson's 26 goals rank among the top 10 in the NHL, and he leads the Sabres with 48 points in 47 games.
Rasmus Dahlin had two assists to move ahead of Mike Ramsey for the second-most points among Sabres defenseman with 331.
The Sabres' three-game win streak is their fifth this season. They have not won four in a row since January 2023.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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