When India face South Africa in the ODI series opener in Lucknow on Sunday, they would be taking the field after a 364-day gap in international cricket. South Africa, on the other hand, have had two full limited-overs series - of three ODIs and as many T20Is each, against Pakistan - during this period. Mithali Raj, the India ODI captain who is 85 away from 10,000 runs in international cricket, would herself be turning out in India colours after 487 days. With the next ODI World Cup in 12 months, Raj, 38, is hopeful that both she and the team will be able to get in into "rhythm" quick enough to challenge South Africa, whom they have faced more times than they have any other opponent since the 2017 ODI World Cup.

"I am training the same way I do before any international series. But I am looking forward to getting more runs. I was in rhythm in the last series in 2019. Hope to do the same here," Raj, senior-most player in the ODI side, said at a virtual press conference on the eve of the first of the ODI in Lucknow.

In the six games between the two sides, played across two-match bilateral series, since the 2017 50-over World Cup, India, runners-up in that edition, lost only once to South Africa, semi-finalists in that competition. But South Africa have the advantage of more game time under their belt since the 2020 T20 World Cup in March last year, several of their players even playing a domestic T20 tournament in December following the Covid-19-enforced cancellation of the national team's England tour. By contrast, the India cricketers have had the four-match Women's T20 Challenge in November as their only opportunity of playing any top-flight competitive cricket in the whole past year.

"She [Shafali Verma] definitely is in the scheme of things, she is on the radar [for an ODI debut]. We need to have a little bit of patience and we will see her very soon."

India ODI captain Mithali Raj on Verma's absence from the ODI squad

Raj believes that India's preparations in the lead-up to the series, including the three training sessions they've had in Lucknow over four days since completing a five-day quarantine on March 2 - would hold them in good stead.

"Clearly they've had game time, but we are playing after a gap. Having said that we definitely have put in the efforts, trained ourselves, have these short camps, four days of sessions here," Raj said. "It doesn't look like we are rusty or anything. I think the girls clearly are quite excited to get on the field and start putting our best performances because it's time that we start our campaign for the World Cup, and start playing some cricket.

"The girls have been training in their respective places before coming here. During the lockdown, we have all kept in touch and kept up with our routines via Zoom and other apps. We are communicating with the staff. It's no different in that sense. A lot has gone in the mental set-up because it has been a long gap.

From the start of 2017 until November 6, 2019, when India last played the format, they scored 240 runs or more only nine times out of 22 instances while batting first. Among the top eight-ranked ODI teams, India's tally in this regard is only the fifth-best, with South Africa one place above them.

Raj said that while India would look to put on about 250 runs when batting first on the Ekana pitch, the priority for the home team in the first match would be to regain lost momentum.

"Clearly, coming back into the one-dayers after 15 months, we first look forward to developing a rhythm, a momentum," Raj said. "If it's a good batting track, we definitely look forward to around 240-250. It's something we can start aiming at. But if we get a good start may be, you know…

"But again, it all depends on how we take the first game, the wicket. But as on today, the girls seem to be very confident. We've had some very good sessions. So, clearly, I'm looking at a very confident unit to take the field tomorrow.

The South Africa assignment is also the first time since July 2015, when they squared off against New Zealand at home, that India would be playing five ODIs in a bilateral series. Raj said that the length of series might allow her to field the four uncapped players - left-hand batter Yastika Bhatia, legspin-bowling allrounder C Prathyusha, left-arm medium pacer Monica Patel, and wicketkeeper Sweta Verma - named in the 17-member ODI squad.

"[I am] Definitely [considering the possibility of trying them out], because it's a five-ODI series. We have some young players in the side. As captain I would like to give them opportunities to show their talent, so yes, we're definitely looking forward to giving them opportunities in these five ODIs."

She also explained that though 17-year-old Shafali Verma, the batter with the most runs - 163 - for India and the best strike rate - 158 - among those with 50 runs or more across teams in the 2020 T20 World Cup, was picked only for the T20Is against South Africa, a debut in the 50-over format may not be far away.

"She definitely is in the scheme of things, she is on the radar. We need to have a little bit of patience and we will see her very soon," Raj said, smiling.

Additional statistical inputs by Sampath Bandarupalli

India head coach Ravi Shastri was at his expressive best after India completed a 3-1 series win against England, saying his team had been like "zombies" during the first Test and needed a "kick in the backside" to overturn the 0-1 deficit. Shastri also said the 3-1 scoreline didn't necessarily reflect how close the series had actually been.

"I think the first Test in Chennai would have been different if we had a few more days off," Shastri in an interview with broadcaster Star Sports. "It's no excuse; England outplayed us there. The boys were like zombies. They were tired, and the fact that there was no crowds didn't help. Because everything was flat. So was the performance. But then a kick on the backside to re-ignite the pride in the system can make a lot of difference. And it showed in the last three Tests."

India had lost the first Test in Chennai by 227 runs, labouring as the side that bowled first on a flat surface where England put up 578 after batting more than two days. Their win in the second Test by 317 runs - also in Chennai - began a running narrative in the media about the quality of pitch that lasted for the rest of the series. The theme of those discussions, in general, was various players from the Indian team either playing down the topic or taking stern stands as R Ashwin did after the third Test. Shastri took a subtle turn in that direction as well at the end of the fourth Test, using a prompt about his not holding back with the team to bring the pitch - and the curator - into the conversation.

"Why should I hold back? I attribute [this] to the groundsman, since you don't want me to hold back. I think Ashish Bhowmick [BCCI's chief curator] is an outstanding groundsman," Shastri said. "He knows his job, he's learnt the hard way. He's worked with Daljit Singh who was a master curator. And who will complain about tracks like this? I mean it's fantastic entertainment, both teams are in the game. The result 3-1 doesn't suggest how close the series was. It's like our series in England when we lost 4-1, we had our opportunities. England had their opportunities here. Had they grabbed those opportunities, the result could have been different. But we seized on the opportunities that came our way and drove home the advantage. But the scoreline really doesn't suggest how close the series was."

The 3-1 scoreline confirmed India's spot as finalists in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship, and Shastri said it was a result of two-and-a-half years' efforts, and a further six to set things up before that. India deserved to be in the final after putting 520 points on the board, he said, and was effusive in his praise of the younger players he has had to mentor.

"It's a great feeling. [Mentorship] is something that you've done all your life and it is particularly satisfying in this role when you see youngsters coming through the ranks and performing in situations that are real tough," he said. "Yesterday what Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar pulled off was unreal. Because the pressure was back on us: we were trailing by 50 [59], still had to get runs on the board. And from there to get 360 [365] was an outstanding achievement. Full tribute to them. I think they'll learn a lot from this. And this whole team. I think they've worked hard. This is not something that's come overnight.

"He [Rishabh Pant] was told in no uncertain terms, he's got to respect the game a little more. He's got to lose a bit of weight, he's got to work hard on his keeping."

India head coach Ravi Shastri

"If you look at this Indian side over the last eight Test matches, they've been in every situation. They've been on top, they've driven home the advantage. They've been in the dumps, they've responded after that. They've been in a corner and they fought from there. Not just in Australia, even here. That, for me, makes it special. This side refuses to give up. We were the irrepressibles in Australia. We are irrepressibles here, too."

"Pant's hundred best counterattacking innings I've seen"

Rishabh Pant's first home hundred drew praise from across the world, including from Adam Gilchrist on Twitter on Friday. The 23-year-old's recent surge to become India's first-choice wicketkeeper, alongside what now look like career-defining knocks, came after the team had gone hard on him, Shastri said.

"Simply magnificent. Because we go hard on him. Nothing comes easy. He was told in no uncertain terms, he's got to respect the game a little more. He's got to lose a bit of weight, he's got to work hard on his keeping. We know the talent he has; he's a genuine match winner. And he's responded. He's worked like hell over the last three or four months. And the results are showing.

"I mean yesterday's innings is probably the best Test counterattacking innings I've seen in India by an Indian batsman. Especially at No. 6 where it's not easy. When the ball is turning, the wicket is spicy. From there to respond in the fashion he did - with two separate innings. For me it was fearless all the way. And more fearless in the first half of his innings, because he played against the grain. He played against his nature. That's also a challenge. Every time when you come out, you know this guy's going to play shots but then to go against the grain, build a partnership with Rohit, and then turn it on after 50 - where all hell broke loose - he got a magnificent hundred. And that confidence rubbed on Washington Sundar. Let's not take [away] anything from Washy as well. But since the question is on Rishabh - I think, simply magnificent. His keeping was outstanding."

Joe Root has called on his England team to embrace the realities of a chastening 3-1 series loss in India, and accept that their skills in spinning conditions let them down at key moments of the campaign, rather than the conditions themselves.

After winning the first Test in Chennai by an emphatic 227-run margin, England were put in their place over the course of the next three matches, India turning up the intensity with consecutive wins by 317 runs, 10 wickets and an innings and 25 runs.

Those latter two matches in Ahmedabad spanned less than five days between them, which was a comment for the most part on England's fallible batting, as they managed fewer runs across four innings (533) than they had made in more amenable batting conditions in their decisive first innings of 578 at Chepauk.

However, having won the toss and batted first each of the Ahmedabad matches, England had their opportunities to fight back in spite of their frailties, as they restricted India to 145 in the third Test, a slender deficit of 32, before reducing them to 146 for 6 in the fourth.

On neither occasion could they close out their fightback, with Rishabh Pant's stunning counter-attack in this latest game, in partnership with Washington Sundar, epitomising the gulf in batting prowess between the sides.

Sundar made two ducks and two unbeaten near-centuries in his four innings of the series - 85 not out in Chennai and 96 not out in Ahmedabad - and topped the averages by a distance. But Pant and Rohit Sharma were the consistently outstanding performers in tough conditions, returning averages of 54.00 and 57.50 respectively with their contrastingly aggressive styles.

For England, only Root himself could manage an average above the 20s, and even his returns fell away after his double century in the first game, as he finished with 368 runs at 46.00. Ben Stokes was England's next-most reliable performer, but his 203 runs at 25.37 fell way short of the levels that his side needed to stay in touch.

"It was disappointing," Root said afterwards. "Credit does have to go to India, they've generally outskilled us. They showed us how to bat on that wicket, and similarly today with the ball they were excellent.

"We've just got to keep working together to try and find ways of being better in similar conditions in the future," he added. "There were periods of time throughout when we felt very much in the hunt, but credit to Rishabh and Washington, that partnership was outstanding."

Pant, quite rightly, was named player of the match after an extraordinary performance in Ahmedabad. He battled through a tough start to his innings, when the contest was very much in the balance, before blitzing his way to a maiden home Test century with a fusillade of boundaries against the second new ball - including an unforgettable reverse lap over the slips off James Anderson.

"The way Rishabh bats makes it very, very difficult for bowlers to build pressure and set fields sometimes," Root said. "When he pulls out a reverse sweep to a guy with 600 Test wickets, it's quite a skill and quite a brave move to do."

As the series began to tilt towards India, a narrative emerged - in the media for the most part, though fuelled by some muffled protestations from the England camp after last week's two-day defeat - that the pitches were unfairly weighted towards India's spin strengths.

Their frontline pairing of R Ashwin and Axar Patel certainly thrived in the conditions, claiming 32 wickets at 14.71 and 27 at 10.59 respectively - with Patel's haul matching the best by an Indian bowler in his debut series.

However, in Root's estimation, much of that argument was scotched by the fact that India were able to thrive in between whiles with the bat as well.

"I don't think we reacted to the change in surfaces as well as India did," he said. "They exploited them better and found ways of managing the turn. That's played a factor.

"I do think there have been periods where we've found ourselves at parity and India managed to grab them. Generally, in the lower-scoring Test matches, that is the difference.

"Having India 100-odd for 5 in this game, or when Rishabh Pant walked out at four down, we have a real opportunity to make that count through some wonderful bowling in the early stages. He managed to win that important hour of cricket.

"That partnership with Washington was very good and he's such a difficult player because he hits the ball in unusual areas. Their experience of these conditions as a whole probably just outweighed us and was a big difference in this series.

"I think the guys have to embrace what's happened," he added. "They have to understand it and be realistic. There are areas we can get better at. We would be stupid to come away from this trip and say: 'it was the extreme conditions, the ball was spinning and skidding on, and it was impossible to bat'.

"That would be the wrong attitude. We need to come away from here and say: 'You know what, there are lots of things that we can get better at.'

"Yes, India have world-class spinners and high performers at home in particular - but we can be better. What can we take away from this trip? I'm going to go away and make sure that if I find myself in this situation again down the line, on the next tour, I will be better equipped to deal with that."

England will have an opportunity to lock horns with India again very soon, with a five-Test series looming in August and September in England. When the sides last met in 2018, England's 4-1 victory looked similarly one-sided, but it too masked the clear competitiveness that the visitors were at times able to exert.

"We're not a bad side just because of these three games," Root said. "We also have to look at this winter as a whole. There have been occasions - and there were three very good performances [in Sri Lanka and in the first Chennai Test] - where the ball has spun and we've dealt with it better. But when we come home and play in our own conditions, we are a completely different side."

The 3-1 victory against England was Virat Kohli's 10th series win in a row at home as India captain. It extended India's dominance at home to 13 straight series wins with their last home defeat coming against Alastair Cook's England in 2012.

The manner in which India dominated England, especially in the last three Tests - they won the pink-ball ball Test in two days and the fourth Test in three days - no doubt pleased Kohli. According to him, the biggest strength India showed was their "comeback" after losing the series opener in Chennai by massive margin of 227 runs. Following are the key men and points Kohli pointed out during the presentation that played a key role in India winning the series and booking a berth in the World Test Championship final.

On the two key match-winners: R Ashwin and Rohit Sharma
"Ashwin has obviously been a banker for us in the past six-seven years in Test cricket. His numbers speak volumes of what he has done in the last few years.

"Rohit's knock was the defining moment in us coming back into the series. Getting 160 (161) on that pitch is as good as getting 250 on any good batting wicket. It is definitely one of his best Test knocks, if not the best. That gave us the kind of momentum we needed as a side and it really got us into the contest. So, yeah, it was an outstanding innings.

"He batted really well at the top of the order throughout the series, he gave us important knocks, important partnerships as well which is unnoticed when you don't get those three figures."

On what pleased him the most after the first Test defeat
"The comeback pleased me the most. The first game was a bit of an aberration in the way that we play as a team - that was just a hiccup. England outplayed us. The toss became very crucial because of the way the pitch played on the first two days; I don't think the bowlers were in the contest at all.

"From the next game onwards it was more exciting cricket and we got into the game early. Even in the second innings (of the first Test) in Chennai we bowled and fielded with a lot more intensity. So for me the comeback was way more pleasing and the way we batted in the second Test match in Chennai."

On Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar making an impact when it mattered
"Our bench strength has been as strong as it has ever been. That's a great sign for Indian cricket. The idea was exactly this: to have youngsters who come in and perform with fearlessness, take the situations on so that when the transition happens eventually it is not difficult for Indian cricket and the standard does not fall below what we have set in the last few years.

"It is up to the individuals as well, like taking the situation on, like Rishabh and Washy did with that game-changing partnership and then Axar as well - a 100-run partnership. These are the kind of situations where individuals stand up and say: 'okay, I'm going to make a mark and be that player who can be counted on.' That is what exactly what they have done."

On India's 13-series winning streak at home
"You obviously are happy when you are winning so many series but there are always things to improve. Like, after the first game in Chennai, we had to pick up our body language. We spoke about the fact that nothing is a given whether you are playing at home or away because every team at international level is a quality side and we need to be at our A game to be able to beat them. And that is exactly what our mindset is. I know in the future as well we'll have hiccups, we'll have a few things that will be a concern, but we will have to keep ironing them out and that's been the hallmark of our team."

Pathum Nissanka has earned a maiden call-up for the two Tests against West Indies for which fit-again Dimuth Karunaratne will lead Sri Lanka's 17-man squad. Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera and Lakshan Sandakan were missing from the squad which included allrounder Dhananjaya de Silva, who had missed the two Tests against England in January with a thigh injury.

Nissanka, the 22-year-old top-order batsman, has already impressed in the ongoing T20Is in the West Indies with scores of 39 off 34 and 37 off 23. He has also been a consistent performer in first-class cricket, maintaining an average of 67.54 across the 59 long-format innings he has played so far. In those innings, he has hit 13 hundreds and 13 fifties. Middle-order batsman Roshen Silva has also impressed in domestic cricket, but has not played a Test in over two years.

Karunaratne missed the England Tests with a finger fracture he suffered on the tour of South Africa during his century at the Wanderers, but will now return to lead both the ODI and Test sides.

On the fast-bowling front, Sri Lanka are missing Lahiru Kumara, who tested positive for Covid-19 in the last two weeks, but have the likes of Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando available. Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya will likely be Sri Lanka's primary spinner following his good performances against England at home. Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga is also available, in addition to the offspin of de Silva. Ramesh Mendis - if he plays - offers another offspin option.

Sri Lanka lost their last four Tests - two away to South Africa, and two at home to England - but were seriously hampered by injuries through those series. Several important players are missing from this Test squad as well, but the return of captain Karunaratne will be especially heartening. De Silva's return is also significant, particularly as he adds balance to the Test XI with his offspin.

Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Roshen Silva, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lasith Embuldeniya

The national ballot for the John R. Wooden Award -- awarded to college basketball's top player -- was revealed Saturday, with 15 players including Iowa's Luka Garza and Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham among those featured on the list.

Garza, who finished as runner-up for the Wooden Award last season, has delivered on his status as the Wooden front-runner throughout the 2020-21 campaign. The 6-foot-11 center enters the final weekend of the regular season averaging 23.9 points per game, best in the Big Ten, to go along with 8.4 rebounds per contest. Garza's fifth-ranked Hawkeyes have spent most of the season in the AP top 10, and are a No. 2 seed in Joe Lunardi's most recent NCAA tournament projection heading into Sunday's regular season finale with Wisconsin.

Also in the mix for the award is Cunningham, whose sensational freshman season has helped establish him as a prime candidate for the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft. The 6-foot-8 point guard is averaging 19.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for a 17-7 Cowboys team that appears set on reaching the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017.

Other notables on the Wooden ballot include Villanova guard Collin Gillespie, who retained his spot on the list despite suffering a season-ending knee injury in a win over Creighton on Wednesday. Gillespie averaged 14.0 points and 4.6 assists for the season for a Villanova team that claimed the Big East regular season title.

Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell was the lone player on the final ballot who did not appear on the previous Wooden Watch list announced in early February. Liddell is averaging 15.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for an Ohio State squad that is holding down a No. 2 seed in Joe Lunardi's most recent Bracketology update.

Dropped from the list since the February update were UConn's James Bouknight, Minnesota's Marcus Carr, Pittsburgh's Justin Champagnie, Houston's Quentin Grimes, Rutgers' Ron Harper Jr. and Louisville's Carlik Jones.

A look at the complete Wooden Award ballot:

Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky (6-11, Jr., C)

Jared Butler, Baylor (6-3 , Jr., G)

Kofi Cockburn, Illinois (7-0, So., C)

Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State (6-8, Fr., G)

Hunter Dickinson, Michigan (7-1, Fr., C)

Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois (6-5, Jr., G)

Luka Garza, Iowa (6-11, Sr., C)

Collin Gillespie, Villanova (6-3, Sr., G)

Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (6-9, So., F)

Corey Kispert, Gonzaga (6-7, Sr., F)

E.J. Liddell, Ohio State (6-7, So., F)

Evan Mobley, USC (7-0, Fr., F)

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova (6-9, So., F)

Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga (6-4, Fr., G)

Drew Timme, Gonzaga (6-10, So., F)

British athletes have continued their European Indoor Championships success in recent years between 2000 and 2019

In the last of our series we look at British successes in the last 10 Championships.

For 1966-1975 CLICK HERE

For 1976-1985 CLICK HERE

For 1986-1998 CLICK HERE

In our member-only Clubhouse there are articles on the most successful women at the European Indoor Championships and the greatest male athletes at the events.

2000 Ghent, February 25-27 (GB: 2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)

Gold: Jason Gardener 60m 6.49
The Bath Bullet, who had been second in the previous championships, showed greatly improved form to run his fastest time but he still only won by a small margin as he was chased home by the Greeks Georgios Theodoris (6.51) and defending champion Angelos Pavlakakis (6.54).

He achieved his PB despite a slight stumble at the start but his pick up mid-race was too good for his opponents.

Gold: Christian Malcolm 200m 20.54
The 20-year-old world junior champion who is now Britain’s head coach, had his best senior victory with a fast start and clear win over Belgium’s Patrick Stevens (20.70) and his team-mate and Commonwealth champion Julian Golding.

This event only began in 1982 and was finally run in 2005 due to concerns that the lane draw effectively was deciding the medals rather than the athletes ability. Malcolm won in lane six from Stevens in lane five while the long-legged Golding was in the much tighter lane three.

Other medallists:
Julian Golding 200m bronze 21.05 (Malcolm)
John Mayock 3000m bronze 7:49.97 (M Carroll 7:49.24)
Tony Jarrett 60mH silver 7.53 (S Olijars 7.50)

2002 Vienna, March 1-3 (GB: 2, 3, 2)

Gold: Jason Gardener 60m 6.49
He defended his title in style matching Jackson’s and his own championships record time from 2000 exactly and he won by a clear margin from teenager Mark Lewis-Francis with the rest of Europe led by Anatoliy Dovgal (6.62) outside 6.60.

Gardener, who had suffered from major back problems since his last victory, might have gone even quicker but he raised his hands prematurely to celebrate and lost a little momentum.

Gold: Colin Jackson 60m hurdles 7.40
Unusually the Briton was not fastest in the semi finals as his occasional training partner Elmar Lichtenegger impressed with a 7.45 to Jackson’s 7.55 and the Austrian had the knowledge that he had beaten Jackson in Erfurt earlier in the season.

In the final though the Austrian was barely faster than in his semi (7.44) and Jackson, who was behind until well into the second half, won by few feet in a time slightly faster than his 1994 championship record winning time and this time is still the fastest final 19 years later but the championships record is his 7.39 heat in 1994.

The winner had predicted that exact time would suffice for gold when he won the AAA title.

Other medallists
Mark Lewis-Francis 60m silver 6.55 (Gardener)
Christian Malcolm 200m silver 20.65 (M Urbas 20.64)
Mike East 1500m bronze 3:50.52 (R Silva 3:49.93)
John Mayock 3000m bronze 7:48.08 (A Garcia 7:43.89)
Ashia Hansen Triple jump silver 14.71m (T Marinova 14.81m)

2005 Madrid, March 4-6 (GB: 1, 4, 1)

Gold: Jason Gardener 60m 6.55
The Briton, who had led off Britain’s gold medal winning 4x100m team in Athens, was not as sharp as he was in the previous two championships and Andrey Yepishin beat him in his semi final as both ran 6.58.

The pre-event favourite though was Frenchman Ronald Pognon who had reduced Gardener’s European record to 6.46 earlier in the season.

In the final though Gardener’s great experience told as the Russian was only fifth across the line in 6.65 as the Briton won comfortably thanks to his great start.

Second across the line was his Athens team-mate Mark Lewis-Francis, who had been injured at the AAA and only gained a very late qualifying time, but finished strongly here to be timed in 6.59.

Unfortunately Lewis-Francis later lost his silver medal due to a drug test showing cannabis.
Pognon, who seemingly crumbled under the pressure, was upgraded to second in 6.62.

Other medallists:
Chris Lambert 200m slver 20.69 (I T Unger 20.53)
John Mayock 3000m silver 7:51.46 (A Cragg 7:46.32)
Men’s 4x400m silver 3:09.53 (France 3:07.90)
Kelly Sotherton Pentathlon silver 4733 (C Kluft 4948)
Women’s 4x400m bronze 3:29.81 (Russia 3:28.00)

2007 Birmingham, March 2-4 (GB: 4, 3, 3)

Gold: Jason Gardener 60m 6.51
Gardener made it four consecutive golds as he enjoyed a clear win and in a faster time than two years earlier where he had said would probably be his last. His team-mate Craig Pickering was almost a metre down in second in 6.59 with Pognon (6.60) again the best of the rest.

Gold: Phillips Idowu Triple jump 17.56m
Britain also gained a one-two here as the winner added two centimetres to the Championships record jointly held by Olympic champion Christian Olsson.

Nathan Douglas, still one of Britain’s top jumpers, had one of his best days to finish a clear second with 17.47m and well clear of the next best Alexsandr Sergeyev’s 17.15m.

Gold: Men’s 4x400m 3:07.04
The team was led off by individual bronze medallist Rob Tobin who took the lead at the break and held on for a clear lead. Dale Garland handed over third but within touch before Phil Taylor moved up to second with a well-judged second lap.

On the anchor leg, Russia were ahead but on the final bend Germany’s huge individual silver medallist Bastian Swilliams caught the Russian as he went to go by and the Russian badly stumbled and lost all momentum and as Germany and a clear lead, Britain’s Steve Green was able to pass the staggering Russian.

The German was disqualified and Britain were fortunately advanced to first and Russia (3:08.10) who would have beaten Britain but for the German collision were promoted to second.

Gold: Nicola Sanders 400m 50.02
The fast improving athlete, who would later in the year go close to winning the world outdoor title, shocked with one of the greatest ever runs by a Briton indoors at any distance.

The former hurdler massacred the opposition from lane six passing 200m in a brilliant 23.31 with a three metre lead and the gap grew throughout the second lap as she passed 300m in around 36 seconds and though slowing she held on well to smash the British record.

Runner-up Ilona Usovich (51.00) was almost a second back. Fourteen years on, the performance still stands fifth all-time indoors.

Other medallists:
Craig Pickering 60m silver 6.59 (Gardener)
Robert Tobin 400m bronze 46.15 (D Gillick 45.52)
Martyn Bernard High jump bronze 2.29m (S Holm 2.34m)
Nathan Douglas Triple jump silver 17.47m (Idowu)
Kelly Sotherton Pentathlon silver 4927 (C Kluft 4944)
Women’s 4x400m bronze 3:28.691 (Belarus 3:27.83)

2009 Turin, March 6-8 (GB: 2, 2, 0)

Gold: Dwain Chambers 60m 6.46 (6.42 semi *European record)
A two-metre win in a still standing European record 6.42 in his semi final underlined who was going to win and though he was not quite as fast in the final he still won by a clear metre from home athletes Fabio Cerruti and Emanuele Di Gregorio (both 6.56) with Simeon Williamson (6.57) just missing out.on a medal in fourth. Because of his earlier drugs suspension, Chambers was subject to boos during the medal ceremony.

Gold: Mo Farah 3000m 7:40.17
This was the start of his many senior gold medal performances on the track and was more clear-cut than his global wins over the following decade.

Helped by the pace-making of fellow Brit Mark Draper over the opening kilometre he run even halfs around the 3:50 mark and won by just two seconds as he was pursued throughout by Bouabdellah Tahri (7:42.14) and his 2006 European 5000m conqueror Jesus Espana (7:43.29).

Other medallists:
Men’s 4x400m silver 3:07.04 (Italy 3:06.68)
Women’s 4x400m silver 3:30.42 (Russia 3:29.12)

2011 Paris, March 4-6 (GB: 3, 4, 2)

Gold: Mo Farah 3000m 7:53.00
He defended his title with another fast finish but was pushed hard all the way especially on the final bend by Hayle Ibrahimov (7:53.32) as he tried to control the closing laps.

The 1500m runner Andy Baddeley just missed out on a medal (7:54.49) to Turk Halil Akkas (7:54.19) having been third coming into the straight. Farah’s last five laps while ahead were 29.86, 30.06, 29.81, 29.35 and 27.00.

Gold: Jenny Meadows 800m 2:00.50
The Briton, who had led by five metres at the bell, was not first across the line but won the title retrospectively after Yevgeniya Zinurova (2:00.19) who caught her as she tired on the last lap, was disqualified for a failed drugs test.

Yuliya Stepanova, renowned for her drug whistle-blowing was next in 2:00.80 but was also removed for a failed test and it was Linda Marguet who was awarded the silver in 2:01.61.

Marilyn Okoro, who has just announced her retirement was upgraded to third in 2:02.46.

Gold: Helen Clitheroe 3000m 8:56.66
The Briton coming towards the end of her career at the age of 37, pulled off her greatest and most exciting win as she made a bold move over the closing laps to narrowly edge Russian Oleysa Syreva (8:56.69) and defeat former champion Lidia Chojecka (8:58.30, who has since been upgraded to second.

Clitheroe, the team captain, had three runners behind her as they entered the last 400m and looked vulnerable having been fourth in four previous major finals.

She lost the lead to Chojecka at the bell but fought back past down the back straight and stronger than ever she accelerated on the bend and then gritted out a deserved victory as she just about held off the Russian though her winning margin became bigger when the Russian was removed from the results.

Other medallists:
Dwain Chambers 60m silver 6.53 (F Obikwelu 6.53)
Richard Buck 400m bronze 46.62 (L Djhone 45.54)
Men’s 4x400m silver 3:06.46 (France 3:06.17)
Marilyn Okoro 800m bronze 2:02.46 (Meadows)
Tiffany Porter 60mH silver 7.80 (C Dietrich 7.80)
Women’s 4x400m silver 3:31.36 (Russia 3:29.34)

2013 Gothenburg, Feb 28-Mar 3 (GB: 4, 3, 1)

Gold: Men’s 4x400m 3:05.78
Britain’s team of Michael Bingham (47.19), Richard Buck (46.40), Nigel Levine (the second quickest split of the whole race – 45.74) and Richard Strachan (46.45) ran out easy winners over Russia (3:06.96) and the Czech Republic (3:07.64). Kevin Borlee of fourth team Belgium had the fastest split of 45.68.

Gold Perri Shakes-Drayton 400m 50.85
This proved to be a battle of the 400m hurdlers as the promising hurdler held off the challenge of her team-mate and hurdles rival Eilidh Doyle (51.45) in a world leading time as she led all the way to gold.

European outdoor champion Moa Hjelmer was the best of the rest in 52.04 just ahead of future world 400m hurdles champion Zuzana Hejnova (52.12).

Gold: Holly Bradshaw Pole vault 4.67m
This proved to be her best win to date as she beat Anna Rogowska as future champion Anzhelika Sidorova (4.62m) won the bronze. This was Britain’s first gold in a horizontal jump.

When she failed her third attempt at 4.72m, she thought he had finished second to the Pole but a closer look at the results revealed it was a tie.

She could have settled for joint gold but decided she would rather have a jump-off. Both jumpers failed at 4.72m again but Bleasdale made 4.67m which was beyond the Pole who would have been happy to have avoid a jump-off and settle for a shared title.

Gold: Women’s 4x400m 3:27.56
Britain were favourites after taking the first two individual spots backed up by 400m finalist Shana Cox and world and Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu.

The win was not as overwhelming as it should have been on paper with Russia (3:28.18) with four fresh athletes chasing them hard all the way.

Child (52.21) came in a close second before Cox (52.25) went ahead by a small margin over the Czech Republic. Ohuruogu, in her first 400m of the year, lost a little ground to Russia despite a 51.88 split before the individual champion’s 51.22, the quickest of the race, reopened the gap ahead.

Other medallists:
James Dasaolu 60m silver 6.48 (J Vicaut 6.48)
Nigel Levine 400m silver 46.21 (P Maslak 45.66)
Mukhtar Mohammed 800m bronze 1:49.60 (A Kszczot 1:48.69)
Eilidh Doyle 400m silver 51.45 (Shakes-Drayton)

2015 Prague, March 5-8 (GB: 2, 4, 3)

Gold: Richard Kilty 60m 6.51
The surprise world champion followed up his success with another title easily winning from Germans Christian Blum (6.58) anmd Julian Reus (6.60) despite having missed the two main British meets prior to the Championships.

He had looked sharp in qualifying winning his heat in 6.57 and his semi final in 6.53.

CJ Ujah, who was expected to be Kilty’s biggest rival, false started in the final having won both his heat and semi final in 6.57.

Gold: Katarina Johnson-Thompson Pentathlon 5000 (UK record)
The Briton moved up a level with this storming victory which easily beat future Olympic and world champion Nafissatou Thiam (4696) by over 300 points and missed Nataliya Dobrynska’s world record by just 13 points.

The Briton led from the start with a 8.18 hurdles PB before a 1.95 high jump stretched the gap significantly. Her shot though was 12.32m, the worst of the 13 competitors and Thiam briefly borrowed the lead.

However, the Briton finished in style over the last two events with a huge 6.89m long jump which was just short of her British record, before gaining her fourth win out of five with a 2:12.78 800m.

The last event though ultimately proved a disappointment as she needed 2:11.86 to break the world record and 2:20 for the British mark but out on her own she paced it badly and struggled on the last lap and a fell a second short of the world best.

Her high jump- would have placed her third in the individual event and her long jump was only bettered by Ivana Spanovic.

Britain’s current top high jumper Morgan Lake finished ninth.

Other medallists:
Chris O’Hare 1500m bronze 3:38.96 (I Holusa 3:37.68)
Lee Emanuel 3000m silver 7:44.48 (A Kaya 7:38.42)
Dina Asher-Smith 60m silver 7.08 (D Schippers 7.05)
Seren Bundy-Davies 400m bronze 52.64 (N Pyhyda 51.96)
Lucy Hatton 60mH silver 7.90 (A Talay 7.85)
Serita Solomon 60mH bronze (Talay)

Women’s 4x400m silver 3:31.79 (France 3:31.61)

2017 Belgrade, March 3-5 (5, 4, 1)

Gold: Richard Kilty 60m 6.54
He again proved what a superb competitor he was over the short sprint distance by easily defending his title from future champion Jan Volko (6.58) as Andy Robertson suffered a disqualification in the final.

Gold: Andrew Pozzi 60m hurdles 7.51
It was an exciting race with just 0.03 of a second covering the top four as Pozzi just got the measure of Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (7.52) and Petr Svobada (7.53).

The Briton who was fastest in the heats (7.52), had twice finished fourth in the world indoor championships and he got a poor start here.

However, he came through strongly with a driving last few hurdles and a Colin Jackson-esque dip to pip the Frenchman who medalled for the sixth successive year at a world or European indoor event.

Gold: Asha Philip 60m 7.06 (UK record)
She only won the semi final in 7.20 and went into the competition with a 7.18 season’s best but in the final she blasted to her most impressive run to date.

There were a few scares as she seemingly got a great start at the first running but there was a recall and a wait before her reaction time was revealed as a barely legal 0.102 and it was Ewa Swoboda who was credited with the false start but not penalised.

At the second attempt Philip got a 0.113 reaction and was quickly into her pick up but only went clear in the last 20 metres to win clearly from Oleysa Povh and Ewa Swoboda (both 7.10).

Gold: Laura Muir 1500m 4:02.39 (UK record)
Muir was chased hard all the way by Konstanze Klosterhalfen (4:04.45) who had no answer to her last lap speed.

The race started slowly with a 35 second opening 200m before Muir pushed on to pass 400m in 67.76 and 800m in 2:12.42. There was no let-up in the pace in the third quarter as she reached 1200m in 3:17.13. her last two laps of 30.74 and 30.73 finally broke the German and Sofia Ennaoui.

Her last 1200m of 3:09.52 (3:57 pace) ensured she set both a British record and Championships best despite the slow start.

Muir’s other victory of the day came afterwards as an official tried to prevent her doing a lap of honour but the Brit sidestepped the official and did one anyway.

Gold: Laura Muir 3000m 8:35.67
European outdoor 5000m and 10,000m champion Yasemin Can set a quick pace but was blown away by the Briton’s fast finish that gave her victory by almost seven seconds from Kenyan-born Turk (8:43.46) with Eilish McColgan sprinting home in third.

Muir had finished fourth in this event in 2015 just missing a medal but was a greatly improved athlete in 2017 and 20 hours after her 1500m record, followed Can through a modest 2:59.98 opening kilometre before the Turk upped the pace to 2:51.00 for the second and only Muir could follow.

Under no pressure despite the fast pace, Muir cut loose 300m out and completed the penultimate lap in 30.89 and ran the last lap in a superb 29.51 for a 2:44.39 final kilometre to give her another championships record.

Other medallists:
Robbie Grabarz High jump silver 2.30m (S Bednarek 2.32m)
Eilish McColgan 3000m bronze 8:47.43 (Muir)
Shelayna Oskan-Clarke 800m silver 2:00.39 (S Buchel 2:00.38)
Lorraine Ugen Long jump silver 6.97m (I Spanovic 7.24m)
Women’s 4x400m silver 3:31.05 (Poland 3:29.94)

2019: Glasgow, March 1-2 (GB: 4 6 2)

Gold: Laura Muir 3000m 8:30.61
Klosterhalfen, second to Muir in the 1500m two years earlier, had improved and led the world rankings and after a slow first 1500m, really dug in over the second half and the home crowd were worried that she might be weakening the Scottish athlete.

They need not have worried as at the bell, Muir produced one of the greatest sprints ever seen in a fast 3000m as she blasted the last 200m in a staggering 28.32.

That opened up a three seconds gap on the German (8:34.06) and meant she had covered the second half in 4:05 and set a world lead.

Melissa Courtney ensured a double British medal haul at this event for the second Championships running.

Gold: Laura Muir 1500m 4:05.92
With no Klosterhalfen, Muir set her own pace and gradually began to wind up the speed after a steady start.

Sonia Ennaoui, who had been second to Muir in the 2018 European outdoor championships, tried to hang on but Muir covered the last 800m in 2:03.89 but it is the last 400m of 57.58 from the front though that showed on her day she can beat any runner in the world.

The Pole ran 4:09.30 losing over three seconds with Ireland’s Ciara Mageean a close third (4:09.43).

Gold: Katarina Johnson-Thompson Pentathlon 4983
Later in the year she would beat Thiam to the world outdoor title but here she settled on winning by a massive 252 points from promising young Briton Niamh Emerson (4731).

The gold medallist’s marks here were 8.27, 1.96, 13.15, 6.53 and 2:09.13, the highlights being another great high jump and her PB shot.

Gold: Shelayna Oskan-Clarke 800m 2:02.58
She made up for her narrow loss in 2017 with a controlled front run.

She led through 400m in 60.42 and comfortably held off the challenge of double European silver medallist Renelle Lamote (2:03.00) to win by over three metres.

Other medallists:
Jamie Webb 800m silver 1:47.13 (A de Arriba 1:46.83)
Chris O’Hare 3000m silver 7:57.19 (J Ingebrigtsen 7:56.15)
Timothy Duckworth Heptathlon silver 6156 (J Urena 6218)
Asha Philip 60m bronze 7.15 (E Swobada 7.09)
Melissa Courtney-Bryant 3000m bronze (Muir)
Holly Bradshaw Pole vault silver 4.75m (A Sidorova 4.85m)
Niamh Emerson Pentathlon silver 4731 (Johnson-Thompson)
Women’s 4x400m silver 3:29:55 (Poland 3:28.77)

Reigning 60m champion is poised for title defence, as hurdlers Andy Pozzi and Nadine Visser plus heptathletes Simon Ehammer and Kevin Mayer impress on Saturday morning at the European Indoors

Jan Volko defends his title in the men’s 60m final on Saturday night in Toruń and it promises to be a thrilling race with Lamont Marcell Jacobs of Italy, Andy Robertson of Britain and Kevin Kranz of Germany among the contenders.

They all breezed through their semi-finals with Jacobs the quickest with 6.56 while Volko, of the Slovak Republic, just one hundredth of a second slower.

Robertson, meanwhile, won his semi in 6.59 and will be trying to follow in the footsteps of former British winners such as Jason Gardener, Richard Kilty, Linford Christie and Colin Jackson.

Robertson, 30, is the only Brit in the final, though, as Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was sixth in his semi despite running a season’s best of 6.67 and Oliver Bromby was third in Jacob’s semi in 6.64.

Earlier in the morning on this third day of the European Indoor Championships, Jacobs led the qualifiers in the first round heats with 6.59 as Robertson ran 6.60, Bromby 6.70) and Aikines-Aryeety 6.68.

“I don’t think of defending my title,” said Volko, “but I am ready for the final and will try to show the best of me.”

Simon Ehammer has enjoyed a flying start in the heptathlon and leads world decathlon record-holder Kevin Mayer after three of the seven events.

Ehammer, the 2019 European under-20 champion from Switzerland, was quickest of all the first event – the 60m – with 6.75 as Mayer clocked 6.86. Ehammer then extended his lead with a 7.89m long jump compared to Mayer’s 7.47.

Mayer enjoyed a terrific shot put, though, as the Frenchman threw 16.32m while Ehammer managed 14.75m. This means Mayer sits 49 points behind Ehammer going into the high jump, sprint hurdles, pole vault and 1000m.

Andy Pozzi, the 2018 world indoor champion, looked in supreme shape in the 60m hurdles as he breezed through his heat in 7.52. The Briton will face tough opposition in Sunday’s semi-final and final, though, as Wilhelm Belocian of France also ran 7.52 to win his heat.

“The competitors are really fast but I will try to go for a gold,” said Pozzi. “I trained in Italy so it’s been easier for me than for other British athletes.”

Nadine Visser (below) led the qualifiers in the women’s 60m hurdles with 7.92. The Dutch sprint hurdler looked in great form as five athletes broke the eight-second barrier.

One of them was Cindy Sember of Britain, who clocked her best time since 2017 when running 7.99 in Visser’s heat. However, Britain’s Emma Nwofor exited after finishing fifth in her heat in 8.24.

Sember’s sister, Tiffany Porter, also progressed as she won her heat in 8.04 but the former European outdoor champion was not happy with her poor start in the race. Unusually, the 33-year-old chooses to race wearing a mask too. However she says it is no big deal as she wears one in training the whole time.

Mondo Duplantis comfortably qualified for the men’s pole vault final by taking just one attempt where he easily cleared 5.60m. That final will not include Renaud Lavillenie, though, as the Frenchman withdrew on the eve of the championships due to a slight injury. Neither will it include Charlie Myers, the sole British competitor clearing 5.35m but failing at 5.50m to finish 13^th equal.

“It’s been a long time since we had a championships – I think summer 2019 – and it feels good to be back in that championship feeling,” said Duplantis.

Andy Butchart was quickest of the 3000m qualifiers with 7:46.46 as he finished in front of Adel Mechaal in his heat. For Butchart, it was the second quickest heat time in European Indoor Championships history. His GB team-mate Jack Rowe, meanwhile, also qualified when third in 7:55.67 in a heat won by Mohammed Katir of Spain.

However all eyes were on Jakob Ingebrigtsen after the controversy surrounding his 1500m victory the previous night. And this time the Norwegian stayed out of trouble to clock 7:49.52 (surprisingly a PB) in third behind Jimmy Gressier’s 7:48.93 heat win. Such was the high standard of the event, Mike Foppen of the Netherlands became the first athlete ever to break 7:50 – with 7:49.99 – and not qualify.

Ingebrigtsen said it was “a long night” after the 1500m final, adding: “I’m really happy with how it turned out and I’m hungry for more, although the 1500m was my main goal.”

Marcin Lewandowski, the Polish runner who finished runner-up to Ingebrigtsen in the 1500m, chose not to race in the 3000m.

LAS VEGAS – John Hunter Nemechek knew when he returned to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to drive for Kyle Busch Motorsports he would be expected to win.

On Friday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Nemechek did just that and he beat his boss, Kyle Busch, to do it.

Nemechek dominated the Bucked Up 250 on Friday night for his seventh Truck Series victory, his first with the Kyle Busch Motorsports team. It was vindication for Nemechek, who departed the NASCAR Cup Series after his rookie season to return to the Truck Series because he wanted to win races again.

“Coming back to the Truck Series, that was the plan, that was the goal (to win races). We came into this year with the hashtag #HereForWins, so we’re here for wins,” Nemechek said. “Overall it’s an awesome victory.”

Nemechek may have led the most laps, but he wasn’t on cruise control as he had to fend off Busch throughout the race. Busch started 29th in the 40-truck field but raced his way to the front and took the lead for the first time on lap 48 when he drove by Nemechek.

However, Busch found himself playing catchup with 46 laps left when the left-rear tire on his No. 51 Toyota Tundra went flat and he spun to bring out the caution flag in turn two. Busch went a lap down, but was able to get back on the lead lap when the caution waved again for a multi-truck crash with 38 laps left.

Busch restarted 25th with 31 laps left and quickly went to work slicing his way through the field while Nemechek led the race. When the caution flag waved again with 20 laps left, Busch had worked his way up to ninth while Nemechek was the race leader.

The ensuing restart saw Busch quickly work his way up to third, but another caution for two trucks crashing down the backstretch set up one final restart with Nemechek leading Austin Hill and Busch.

Using the choose rule, Busch opted to line up behind Nemechek for the restart and gave him a big push to help him clear Hill before the field got to turn one. Busch moved into second as a result, but despite his best efforts he had nothing for Nemechek who held on to earn his first victory of the season.

“All of my guys, everyone at KBM, they gave us one heck of a truck tonight,” Nemechek said. “Kyle’s truck was really fast as well, luckily we were able to execute on that restart there at the end and put ourselves in position to be leading and win this thing.”

Busch, making the first of his five Truck Series starts this year, said it was gratifying to see the performance the Kyle Busch Motorsports team put together on Friday evening after the organization swept the top-two spots.

“It’s perfect, it’s all you can ask for, it’s everything,” Busch said. “It’s cool to see the 4 truck in victory lane. It’s cool to see John Hunter have a shot to get back in victory lane and having Erik Phillips (Nemechek’s crew chief) back and all the guys that have come on board this year and doing all the stuff that we’re accustom to doing and getting back to running up front.

“That 4 truck was fast. Even on the short runs I couldn’t run with him, but after about eight or 10 (laps) I felt like I had a better shot of running with him. We just didn’t have laps there at the end.”

Hill finished third Friday evening, followed by Stewart Friesen and three-time series champion Matt Crafton.

Of note, there were 10 trucks in the race sponsored by series entitlement partner Camping World after a social media blitz by Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis in the days leading up to the race.

Two of those trucks – the No. 9 of Grant Enfinger and the No. 75 of Parker Kligerman – finished inside the top-10. Enfinger finished seventh, with Kligerman coming across the finish line in eighth.

For complete results, advance to the next page.

Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy ripped Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson for what he called "a predatory hit" on defenseman Brandon Carlo in Friday night's game at TD Garden.

Carlo went down after Wilson went hands-high to his head in the corner behind the Boston net, smashing the defenseman's head into the glass with 90 seconds left in the first period. Carlo absorbed a cross-check from Jakub Vrana on his way to the ice and remained there for several minutes.

Cassidy said Carlo left the arena in an ambulance and went to a hospital but could not confirm that he suffered a concussion.

"Clearly looked to me like he got him right in the head. A defenseless player, a predatory hit from a player that's done that before," Cassidy said of Wilson. "I don't understand why there wasn't a penalty called on the ice. They huddled up, but I did not get an explanation why."

During his eight-year career with the Capitals, Wilson has been one of the most penalized -- and most suspended -- players in the NHL. He is 10th among active players for penalty minutes, trailing only those who have been in the league five or more years longer than him.

He was not made available for comment after the game.

The music went silent in the empty arena after Carlo was hurt, and the Bruins' bench could be heard cussing out Wilson. When Carlo finally got to his skates, the only noise was his teammates banging their sticks against the boards.

No penalty was called.

When the teams came out for the second period, Bruins center Patrice Bergeron skated over to Wilson and spoke to him as he stretched out. Capitals star Alex Ovechkin skated by to monitor the situation, as did an official.

Players began shoving each other after the next whistle, and Capitals defenseman Brenden Dillon was sent off for roughing in a transparent makeup call. With about six minutes gone in the period, Boston's Jarred Tinordi and Wilson dropped their gloves.

"Sometimes when that stuff happens and there's no call, the players kind of settle it on the ice in their own way, and we felt that we pushed back and did what we could do and won the hockey game, and tried to let that particular player know that that was unnecessary," Cassidy said.

He added: "I assume it will get looked at by the National Hockey League."

The Bruins responded to Wilson's hit with a three-goal second period and tacked on another in the third to win 5-1.

"Put the fight aside, the guys came out with four goals [in a row] there,'' said Tinordi, who was playing just his second game with the Bruins since they claimed him off waivers from Nashville.

"How close this group is, I'm not surprised to see the boys respond in a big way after one of our guys goes down. You can't have guys taking liberties with our players out there.''

The Associated Press contributed to this report.