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Ben Stokes said he can understand why some people may have concerns about handing Jacob Bethell his Test debut at number three against New Zealand but the England captain has no doubts the 21-year-old can have a positive impact on the side.Bethell will bat at three for the first time in first-class cricket when he makes his Test debut at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval today.He has impressed in shorter formats, making his Twenty20 and one-day international debuts in September, and has five half-centuries in first-class cricket but has never batted higher than number four in red-ball cricket.Asked if the decision to play Bethell at three could be divisive, Stokes told reporters on Wednesday: “You can totally understand it, but you’ve got to be true to yourself when you get given the opportunity to be able to make decisions. We’ve always done what we feel is right for the team. It’s gone in our favour quite a lot, so I think we do know what we’re doing. We’re not picking people just to wind people up. We do know what we’re doing.“We do know what we look for, and when you’re in a position to make decisions you’ve got to do it by your standards and your means. Beth’s got the capability to be able to go out there, bat three and hopefully impact the game, like he has done throughout the summer in the white-ball team.”Following an injury to wicketkeeper Jordan Cox, Ollie Pope will take the gloves and drop down the order to bat at six with Bethell coming in ahead of Joe Root. The England captain also spoke about his decision not to take part in IPL auction, saying he wants to prolong his Test career.“(There is) just so much cricket,” Stokes told BBC Sport. “There’s no hiding behind the fact that I’m at the back-end of my career. I obviously want to play as long as I possibly can. Looking after my body and looking after myself as much as I can is key to that.“(It is about) prioritising games and when I do play - obviously I’m in South Africa this year - so it’s about looking at what I’ve got ahead and making the decision that I think is right for me to be able to prolong my career as long as possible. I want to wear this England shirt for as long as I can.”

Family and teammates paid tribute to “infectious” Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes on Wednesday, 10 years since he died after being struck on the neck while batting.Hughes, who played 26 Tests, died from bleeding on the brain after he was hit by a rising ball during a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground in November 2014.Images of the 25-year-old lying helpless on the pitch as players rushed to his aid shocked the world cricket community and his death sparked an outpouring of grief and calls to make the game safer.“Phillip was a loving, humorous and an infectious person to be around,” his family said in a statement released on the 10-year anniversary of his death. “He played cricket for all the right reasons and had the ability to take it all in his stride. He loved being a part of a team and representing Australia for the game he loved so deeply.”Fast bowler Sean Abbott, who delivered the fatal bouncer, was visibly emotional during a tribute to Hughes before a domestic fixture on Wednesday.Abbott, part of Australia’s winning squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, dabbed at his eyes as teammates rallied to console him.Former teammate David Warner said Hughes would have been just as good, “if not better”, than himself and fellow batting great Steve Smith.“I’d like to think he was probably a more complete player than what I was,” he told Australia’s NewsCorp.Darren Lehmann - Australia’s coach at the time of Hughes’ death - said the promising batsman would have gone on to play “120 Test matches, there’s no doubt about that”.“He would’ve just gone from strength to strength, the way he played,” he told national broadcaster ABC.Cricket Australia said Hughes’ memory would live “forever in our hearts”, declaring he would be “forever 63 not out” - his score at the time he was struck.Abbott told a coroner’s court in 2016 of his struggle to process Hughes’ death.“It was all a bit of a blur and I felt like I was in a bit of a daze. These feelings stayed with me for the next few days.”Cricket Australia has announced a series of events to honour Hughes, coinciding with the second Test between Australia and India beginning December 6. Players in upcoming domestic matches across the country will wear black armbands in Hughes’ memory.

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is back as the No 1 Test bowler and has also achieved his career-best rating of 883 in the ICC rankings following his match-winning haul of 8 for 72 against Australia in Perth. His teammate Yashasvi Jaiswal, who smashed 161 in the second innings of the Test, has moved to his career-best No 2 ranking in the batters’ charts.Bumrah, whose 5 for 30 in the first innings of the Test skittled Australia out for 104, went past South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Australia’s Josh Hazlewood. Bumrah first rose to the top in February this year on the back of his nine-wicket haul against England at home and briefly returned to the top in October following the Bangladesh series, before being overtaken by Rabada in recent weeks.His India teammate Mohammed Siraj, who took five wickets in the Perth Test, also made some gains, moving three places to 25th on the list for Test bowlers.Jaiswal, meanwhile, gained two places to move past New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and England’s Harry Brook. He also earned a new career-best rating of 825 and is 78 points behind the No. 1-ranked Joe Root. West Indies’ fast-bowling trio of Jayden Seales (three spots up to 11th), Kemar Roach (four places up to 17th) and Alzarri Joseph (three places up to 29th) also gained in the bowlers’ rankings following their performances in the first Test against Bangladesh in Antigua. Seales picked up 5 for 87, Roach finished with 4 for 50 and Joseph bagged figures of 5 for 101 to hand West Indies a 201-run win. Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz moved three places to No 3 in the allrounders’ list following contributions with bat (23 and 45) and ball (match haul of 4 for 130) in the Antigua Test. India’s Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin are still the top two respectively on the list despite not featuring in the Perth Test.

Buoyant Patrick Reed heads into International Series Qatar, which gets underway today at Doha Golf Club (DGC), after clinching an emphatic three-shot victory at the Link Hong Kong Open last week.The 2018 Masters champion acknowledges that it was a big relief to finally reach double digits with a ‘long overdue’ 10th career win. He has had a number of near misses, with 10 top-five finishes since joining the LIV Golf League in 2022.Last week, he showcased his talent on the famous Composite Course at Fanling, highlighted by a sensational 11-under-par 59 in the third round of the storied tournament — the first of three events closing out The International Series and the Asian Tour season. Apart from Reed, the other major champions in the 120-player field are South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.“That was huge. I have been trying to get that 10th win, get to double digits for a while now, and it has been frustrating, because I feel like the game’s been there. I just haven’t quite gotten over the line,” Reed said while addressing the media on Tuesday, on the eve of the Qatar event, the penultimate event of the season.“It feels great to come out and feel like the game was where it needed to be and finally get that 10th win. It felt like it was a long time overdue.”This will be Reed’s first taste of the DGC course, which is known for its notoriously tricky windy conditions. Having played at the course since arriving on Monday, the 34-year-old American said: “The golf course is in really good shape, and you have to hit fairways. With the rough, the ball never sits up. It always just figures out a way to go the bottom. And so you know it is going to be crucial to hit the tee shot solid. Hit it straight. And you know you will control some iron shots. Because even though the greens are large, if you end up missing a green, it’s just not really usually a good spot. So yeah, ball striking is key.”Ben Campbell was Reed’s nearest challenger last week, and this tournament is crucial to the New Zealander as he tries to overtake John Catlin at the top of The International Series Rankings and secure a spot in the LIV Golf League next season.When asked about how he would take on the tricky DGC course, Campbell said: “I grew up living in a place where there was always a lot of wind (New Zealand). So I’m looking forward to this. I think the wind’s going to get up.“So yes, I feel like I normally play pretty well in the wind, driving the ball well. So I’m looking forward to it. The course is in amazing shape, the rough is pretty long. But the greens are rolling amazing. So it’s going to be class. I’m looking forward to it.”With two weeks remaining in the International Series, Catlin — who also shot a 59 this year — missed last week’s cut in Hong Kong. Catlin, who attended the press conference on Tuesday, said there’s “a lot of hard work to be done” over the remaining two weeks on the Asian Tour and The International Series to finally finish number one on both. It all starts today with the Qatar event and concludes next week at the PIF Saudi International.This week the American could potentially complete the first part of his mission and claim the Asian Tour Order of Merit. It’s a far easier feat compared with topping The International Series Rankings.He leads the Merit list on 3,030.06 points, with his nearest challenger, second-placed Richard Lee from Canada, trailing by the large margin of 1,245.81 points.To put things into perspective, Doha winner will earn 787.5 points, while 427.5 points goes to the player in second, meaning a good finish by Catlin and other results going his way will see him crowned Asian Tour number one for the first time.“It would mean so much to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit as this is where it all started for me,” said Catlin – a six-time winner on the Asian Tour, two of those coming this season. “It has been a special year. I have done a lot of great things. I have two more weeks to go and hopefully I can do a few more great things and clinch both the Asian Tour and International Series titles. But there’s a lot of hard work to be done,” the 34-year-old said.Catlin surprisingly missed the cut at last week’s Link Hong Kong Open and while that did not have much impact on his merit list ambitions, thanks to a dominant year, it has made the rankings race even closer than it already was.He has an 82.95 lead on the Rankings from Campbell, who is second and closed the gap by finishing second in Hong Kong, where he was defending champion.Next week many more points are available – the winner earns 1,000 – so it is literally wide open and going to be exhilarating to watch as the winner earns a place on next year’s LIV Golf League.The talent emerging from the local and regional golf scene is well represented this week with nine players in the field for the $US2.5mn prize purse tournament.Saleh al-Kabi, who will represent the hosts, sounded upbeat on Tuesday. “It’s really good to playing with the major champions in the same field. It’s great. It’s going to be a good experience, This is my fourth International Series event and I am confident. Particularly, after a good performance in the Arab Championship in the UAE. I am looking forward to a strong performance” said al-Kabi.Al-Kabi was part of the Qatar team which finished third at the recently held Pan Arab Golf Championship in Ajman, UAE. The other golfer to represent Qatar is Daniil Sokolov. “I know this course well and I will play my game and try to secure a good finish. Competing with leading golfers is an honour and I am hoping to give my best,” he said.Moroccan sensation Adam Bresnu who’s currently the No. 1 ranked golfer in US collegiate golf is also taking part in the event. The 20-year-old was instrument in Morocco’s victory in the Pan Arab Golf Championship firing a stunning 16-under-par.

International Series Qatar tees off from today at Doha Golf Club for the penultimate event of season on the Asian Tour and in a pre-tournament press conference hosted by dignitaries from the Qatar Golf Association, Rahul Singh – The Head of The International Series – highlighted the importance of the event to the global golfing ecosystem.Major champions Patrick Reed, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel are among 18 LIV Golf League stars in the field for the event this year, the penultimate event of the season which will have a huge bearing on the all-important rankings race which offers players a pathway onto the 2025 LIV Golf roster. This will be the second International Series Qatar event that has taken place with 2023 International Series Rankings winner Andy Ogletree winning the event last year.Singh said: “I’d like to start by thanking the Qatar Golf Association, the Qatar Olympic Committee, and all of the members and staff of the QGA and the Doha Golf Club for welcoming us back for the second edition of the International Series Qatar.“It’s a very exciting week for us to be over here with so much sport happening in this great country. This week, with football, boxing, F1 and world class golf, this is truly becoming a hub of global sport, and this is a great week for us to be over here.“The importance of this week in the series cannot be forgotten, and the field that we have this year is highly reflective of the importance of the tournament. In 2023 we had a limited selection of players who represented the LIV Golf League but this year, we have 18 players made up of Major winners, Presidents Cup winners and Ryder Cup players, all of whom will be playing alongside the best of the Asian Tour for these positions.”Fahad Nasser al-Naimi, General Secretary, QGA said: ““This tournament is being held for the second time, and this edition is distinguished by its high level of competition, featuring 120 of the best professional players, including 18 players from the LIV Golf League.“We are fortunate to have these players participating in this tournament. We expect this edition to be exceptional both in terms of organisation and technical quality. Golf is always closely linked to promoting tourism, as it plays a significant role in enhancing the tourism sector in any country hosting major tournaments. It is worth noting that this tournament will be broadcast on approximately 20-25 international channels, with four hours of live coverage daily over four days.“Doha Golf Club’s course is in excellent condition, and golf fans are always eager to follow their favourite players, motivating them to attend, cheer, and interact with them up close.”For tickets and further information, visit www.internationalseries.com

The 27th Qatar National Arabian Horse Show, organised by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) as part of the 2024-2025 horse show season, kicks off today. The event will span four days at the outdoor arena of the Qatar Equestrian Federation. It is one of the oldest shows in the region, reflecting Qatar’s prominent leadership in hosting such shows, as well as Qatar’s excellence in achieving remarkable results in global horse shows over the years.The Show is expected to feature the participation of 300 horses representing numerous Qatari studs and farms, including Al Shaqab (a member of Qatar Foundation), Al Nasser, Umm Al Udham, Al Sraiya, Al Jood, Al Thamer and Al Jumail, alongside entries from individual owners.The competitions will be overseen by nine certified judges from the European Conference of Arab Horse Organisations (ECAHO). Significant prize money has been allocated for the winners, particularly the champion colts, fillies, mares and stallions.Last year’s renewal saw remarkable diversity among the winners of the major titles. Al Shaqab’s Khood Al Shaqab was the Gold Champion of the Yearling Fillies Championships. Ebrahim Yusuf Al Romaihi’s Jaleel Al Khor was the Gold Champion of the Yearling Colts Championships. Al Nasser Stud’s Rayyanah Al Nasser and Areeb Al Nasser were the Gold Champions of the Junior Fillies Championships and the Junior Colts Championships respectively. Al Salem Stud’s D Fala was the Gold Champion of the Senior Mares Championships. Ebrahim Yusuf Alromaihi’s Hader Al Shaqab was the Gold Champion of the Senior Stallions Championships.Al Rayyan National Peninsula Arabian Horse ShowJust 48 hours after the conclusion of the 27th Qatar National Arabian Horse Show, a new show, the 1st Al Rayyan National Peninsula Arabian Horse Show, organised by QREC, will take place from 2-4 December at the outdoor arena of the Qatar Equestrian Federation.The event will feature the participation of 200 Straight Egyptian horses registered in Qatar’s recognized Studbook. These horses represent some of the largest and most renowned Qatari studs and farms as well as individual owners. The competitions will be managed by eight certified judges. The first day will be dedicated to the qualifying classes to select champion fillies, colts, mares and stallions.It is worth noting that the current season includes 12 national and international shows. QREC aims to achieve the objectives of staging these shows, maximise opportunities for participation by Qatari horse owners, whether individuals or studs and farms, deliver diversified shows and ensure the participation of various categories.

Al Sadd ended Saudi giants Al Hilal’s perfect start to the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday as Jorge Jesus’ side were held to a 1-1 draw by the Qatari side.But a point at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha was enough to ensure Hilal advanced to the next round alongside fellow Saudi side Al Nassr Club, with Al Ahli Saudi FC having confirmed their ticket on Monday.Ali al-Bulahyi gave Al Hilal a 10th minute lead but substitute Paulo Otavio struck for the hosts with 19 minutes remaining to see the spoils shared, moving the former champions onto 13 points from five matches. That leaves Al Hilal two points behind compatriots Al Ahli and level with cross-city rivals Al Nassr, with both clubs securing their places in the next round as a result of Al Shorta’s 3-1 loss to Al Wasl on Tuesday.Al Sadd, meanwhile, move onto nine points and slip one place to fifth behind the Saudi trio and Al Wasl, who have climbed up to fourth with three games remaining.Aleksandar Mitrovic and Salem al-Dawsari had both been off target with early efforts for Al Hilal but the visitors soon took the lead, al-Bulayhi side-footing home at the far post after Mohammed Kanno had flicked on al-Dawsari’s corner from the left.Mitrovic squandered the opportunity to head in a second for Al Hilal five minutes later, the Serbian nodding high over the bar after being found unmarked eight yards from goal by Renan Lodi’s corner from the right.Al-Dawsari’s cross unlocked the Al Sadd defence six minutes before the interval, the Saudi Arabia winger finding the head of Mitrovic, who steered the ball into the path of Marcos Leonardo but his shot cannoned off Nasser al-Dawsari and bounced to safety.Meshaal Barsham threw himself to his right to keep out Leonardo’s goal-bound strike with less than two minutes left in the half, pushing the ball around his right post to keep the deficit at a solitary goal going into the interval.Having been second-best for much of the first half, Al Sadd pulled themselves back into the game after the break. Akram Afif forced a fine save out of Yasssine Bounou nine minutes after the restart, the Moroccan throwing himself at full stretch to tip a long-range effort from the AFC Player of the Year around the post.Mitrovic then hit the crossbar when he met Nasser al-Dawsari’s first-time ball into the penalty area with a full-blooded strike that left Barsham beaten while Bounou was on hand to keep out Adam Ounas’ header with 20 minutes remaining.The hosts finally found a way through with 19 minutes to go when Afif was released down the left and his first-time ball across goal was converted with glee by Otavio.Tarek Salman hit the woodwork with a header as Al Sadd pushed for the winner while Sergej Milinkovic-Savic saw his attempt deflected wide moments later as the action swung from one end to the other with neither side able to claim a winner.

Argentina forward Julian Alvarez and substitute Angel Correa scored two goals each while Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann added to the feast as Atletico Madrid thumped hosts Sparta Prague 6-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.It was a commanding performance from the Spanish side, who earned their sixth successive win in all competitions with arguably their best performance of the season. Atletico are ninth in the 36-team Champions League table with nine points from five games while Sparta Prague are 28th on four points.Atleti dominated proceedings from early on at the Letna Stadion with Alvarez and striker Alexander Sorloth a constant menace, combining well up-front.Visitors opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Alvarez curled a free kick from the edge of the box into the top corner. Sorloth was denied a second goal when his strike was well saved by goalkeeper Peter Vindahl a few minutes later. However, Llorente extended the visitors’ lead just before the break with help from Sorloth, who played a clever dummy on his teammate’s cross that ended up evading everyone, including the goalkeeper, as it bounced in at the far post.Alvarez scored the third in the 59th minute, finishing off a counter attack that he started in Atletico’s own half, playing a fine one-two with Giuliano Simeone before firing past the goalkeeper.Griezmann came off the bench to score the visitors’ fourth with a tidy finish from inside the box from an assist by Llorente in the 70th minute, before Correa twice struck late from inside the box to wrap up an easy win.AC Milan overcome Slovan BratislavaAC Milan earned their third successive Champions League win with a 3-2 victory at Slovan Bratislava , hanging on after the home side sought to stage a late comeback. Milan arrived on the back of a 3-1 win at Real Madrid while Slovan were beaten 4-1 by Dinamo Zagreb last time out in the tournament, but for much of the game the home side looked more than capable of causing their visitors real problems.The first half ended level with Milan’s Christian Pulisic opening the scoring in the 21st minute before a quick counter-attack led to Slovan’s Tigran Barseghyan equalising three minutes later.Milan struggled to put Slovan away before substitute Rafael Leao put them back in front in the 68th minute and Tammy Abraham capitalised on a horror back-pass from David Strelec to extend their lead three minutes later.Slovan pulled a goal back through Nino Marcelli in the 88th minute, and also had Marko Tolic sent off late on, but Milan came through the late drama to move on to nine points. Slovan, with no points, remain rooted at the bottom of the standings.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said speculation over Mohamed Salah’s future at Anfield is fuelling the Egyptian’s fine form ahead of a “special” week for the Reds. Salah, who has scored 223 goals since joining Liverpool in 2017, is out of contract at the end of the season and expressed his disappointment at not yet receiving an offer of a new deal after netting twice in Sunday’s 3-2 win at Southampton. The 32-year-old said he was “more out than in” as things stand despite scoring 12 goals and providing 10 assists this season to spearhead a stunning start to Slot’s reign. Liverpool are in first place in the Champions League ahead of the visit of holders Real Madrid on Wednesday and sit eight points clear at the top of the Premier League. “I don’t think it distracts Mo at all. Maybe it brings even the best out of him, if you look at his performances until now,” Slot said. “I talked to Mo about what I expect from him, like I do with all the other players, and he’s in a good place at the moment. The only thing I can say is if I look at my line-ups, Mo is more in than out.” Salah is one of three Liverpool stars out of contract at the end of the season, alongside captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been linked with a move to Real. “Honestly, for us as players, it’s nothing that we can really get involved in. All I can say is, you look at Mo today, you look at Mo on Tuesday, he’s the ultimate professional,” said defender Andy Robertson. “It goes for all three of them. Mo, Virgil and Trent, who are all in similar positions. Every one of them is so focused on the next game and training and preparing properly. They’ve been leaders this year, that’s the way they’ve done it.” A fifth victory in five matches would edge Liverpool closer to securing direct entry to the Champions League last 16 via a top-eight finish. But they have to overturn a horrible recent record against the Spanish giants, who are unbeaten in the last eight meetings between the clubs, including two Champions League finals in 2018 and 2022. Struggling Premier League champions Manchester City then visit Anfield on Sunday to give Liverpool the chance to land a telling blow in the title race. “I think Real Madrid and Manchester City dominated Europe and the league for a few years now, combined with Liverpool, because Liverpool was always up there as well, competing with these two clubs,” added Slot. “If you are Liverpool you always play big games, but these two are special because these three clubs have dominated the league in Europe for so many years recently. So that’s a special week to play.” Madrid are more in need of the points after losing two of their four games. Carlo Ancelotti’s men, though, often save their best for when they need it most on the European stage and Slot conceded the 15-time winners have a special aura in this competition. “If it’s difficult for them, they can still win the game, which is probably one of the reasons, apart from them having so much quality, that they won this tournament a lot,” he said.

Al Arabi face Ettifaq of Saudi Arabia in the third round (Group B) of the 2024-2025 season Gulf Club Champions League at the Al Thumama Stadium today. The kick-off is at 8pm.Qadsia of Kuwait and Riffa of Bahrain are the other teams in the group.Al Arabi go into the clash looking to resurrect their position in the group after going down 0-2 in the last round to Riffa. Al Arabi had played a 1-1 draw against Qadsia in their opener.The Dream Team with a solitary point to their credit are currently fourth in the group, while Ettifaq are on top with six points, Riffa are second with three points followed by Qadsia with one point.Al Arabi will be aiming to register their first win in the league to enhance their chances of qualifying for the next round.Al Arabi coach Anthony Hudson will be carefully studying the Ettifaq team to determine their strengths and weaknesses and work on exploiting the loopholes.Hudson said on Tuesday: “Our preparations are good for the match, and we look forward to achieving a positive result despite our difficult situation. I have complete confidence in our ability to give our best to the agreement.”He added: “We are not looking for justifications, but there are certain circumstances that had an impact, namely the absence of some basic players in the team. Based on the past period, the club’s fans were not happy as desired, but there is still a chance to make them happy.”Al Arabi player Abdou Diallo said on Tuesday: “I am fully prepared for the Al-Ettifaq match, and we will go into it with the aim of achieving victory, as that is the way to do it. The only thing to get back on the right path is to work hard and work hard to improve the results. To the fans of Al Arabi Club, I have nothing to add except that we will do our best. To achieve the best results in the coming period is what we want to do as a team.”Ettifaq, meanwhile, would be looking to gain as many points they can from the clash following their two successive wins to maintain the lead as group leaders.This new version of Gulf Club Champions League includes eight teams divided into two groups with matches held on home-and-away basis.The top two teams from each group qualify for the semi-finals of the league.

Star golfer Tiger Woods announced on Tuesday he will not compete in next week’s Hero World Challenge tournament in the Bahamas, the 15-time major winner having undergone back surgery in September.Woods said fellow Americans Justin Thomas and Nick Dunlap and Australian Jason Day were the final competitors in the 20-player event, set for December 5-8 at Albany Golf Course.“I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete this year at the Hero World Challenge, but always look forward to being tournament host and spending the week with @HeroMotoCorp,” Woods posted on X.Woods, a five-time winner of the World Challenge, hosts the annual event but has played just once in the last three years due to health concerns.He underwent the sixth back operation of his career in September with hopes of easing back spasms and pain he felt during 2024 starts, the most recent of which was at the British Open in July at Royal Troon.Woods, whose 82 PGA Tour wins are level with Sam Snead for the all-time record, has made only 10 official starts since a 2021 car crash that caused severe leg injuries.Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion.It will be the first time in the event for 20-year-old Dunlap, who became the first amateur in 33 years to win a PGA Tour event when he captured the American Express title in January.Dunlap then joined the PGA Tour and went on to capture his second title last July at the Barracuda Championship, becoming the first PGA player to win as a pro and an amateur in the same season.Marina Alex retires after more than a decade on LPGA TourAdd Marina Alex to the list of players who have retired from the LPGA Tour this year, with the two-time tournament winner calling it a career after she finished tied for 12th in this past weekend’s CME Group Tour Championship at Naples, Flordia.The New Jersey native and Vanderbilt alum, who first played on the LPGA Tour in 2013, won the Portland Classic in 2018 and the Palos Verdes Championship in 2022.Alex, 34, amassed $5mn in career earnings, according to the LPGA, including $720,000 this season, when she had 10 top-25 finishes and five top 10s. She had 83 top-25 finishes in her career and 35 in the top 10.Alex’s final competitive round was a 6-under-par 66 on Sunday that left her in a tie with Jennifer Kupcho, France’s Celine Boutier and South Korea’s Jin Young Ko. They were 10 shots behind winner Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand.“It’s always hard to say goodbye,” Alex said. “I know this is what I want, and it’s the right decision for me right now. That doesn’t change the fact that this is a life that I built for the last 11 years out here, and golf has been my life since I’ve been a kid. We’re about to enter a new world of a new identity. It’s great, but change is never easy.”Also playing in their final LPGA Tour competitive rounds Sunday were Lexi Thompson and Ally Ewing, who already had announced they were calling it a career. Thompson finished in a tie for 49th place at 2 under, while Ewing finished just behind Alex in a tie for 16th at 11 under.Other players to say farewell from competitive golf this calendar year were Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu, Angela Stanford, Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe, England’s Laura Davies, South Korea’s I.K. Kim, Amy Olson, Gerina Piller and Brittany Lincicome.

Al Wakrah face Tractor FC of Iran in the fifth round (Group A) of 2024-2025 season AFC Champions League Two at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai today. The kick-off is at 7pm.This match is crucial for Al Wakrah who will be seeking to get a positive result to ensure progress. Group A is led by Tractor FC who have nine points from three games, while Al Wakrah have three points from two games. The third team in the group, FC Ravshan of Tajikistan have no points after their three games.This match is penultimate in the group stage for Al Wakrah and the team will work to achieve victory to ensure promotion to the next round. For Tractor FC, this would be their last group-stage match. The other team in the group, Mohun Bagan of India, have withdrawn from the tournament.Al Wakrah’s only win so far has come against FC Ravshan whom they beat 1-0. The goal was scored by Angolan professional player Jacinto Dala. The Blue Wave will be aiming to get the better of Tractor FC who prevailed 3-0 over them in the previous meeting between the two sides.Al Wakrah go into the clash with renewed enthusiasm and morale and with the aim of gaining full points. They are looking to shrug off their recent 1-3 loss to Al Gharafa in Week 10 of Ooredoo Stars League and put up a challenging show against Tractor FC.

Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, has announced the participation of 12 teams in the second edition of the Al Shaqab Show Jumping League. The first round will take place at the Longines Indoor Arena on December 13 and 14, with the competition continuing through various rounds until the end of May 2025. The league aims to showcase young talent and promote excellence in equestrian sports.The draw ceremony to determine the participating teams and assign riders took place at Al Shaqab’s conference hall, with a large audience in attendance. Each of the 12 teams is named after legendary horses from Al Shaqab’s history. Every team consists of five riders from various age groups, competing in show jumping for riders aged 25 and under. The competition offers opportunities for emerging talents in categories like Future Champions, Juniors, Amateurs and Youth, as well as established Al Shaqab Champions, allowing them to advance in their equestrian careers.The team names are as follows: Marwan, Al Adeed, Gazal, Wadi, Farhoud, Kahil, Hariry, Afreen, Siwar, Faraa, Al Wathna, and Shahalel Al Shaqab.This year’s edition promises a unique experience, featuring international competitions, additional show jumping categories and interactive activities for families. The team competition introduces a new dynamic with the team draw format.Al Shaqab International League Showjumping event serves as qualifiers for the International Equestrian Federation’s Group VII Championship Final, giving young athletes the platform to represent Al Shaqab on the world stage. With three international competitions included, this season expands the league’s reach and impact, reinforcing Al Shaqab’s status as a hub for regional and global equestrian talent.The league’s training and competition categories include Introductory Classes: Intro Class 1, Intro Class 2, Intro Class 3 and Main Categories: Future Champions, Junior Champions, Young Champions, and a Ladies’ Category specifically for amateur female riders.In addition to the competitions, the league will host the Hayaakum Festival, featuring a variety of entertainment and activities suitable for children and families. DAAM, Exxonmobil, Al Kass and kobeco concept have been announced as the sponsors for this season.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) will meet this week to determine the destiny of next year’s Champions Trophy after India refused to play in host nation Pakistan, a spokesman said on Tuesday.Earlier this month, the ICC informed the Pakistan Cricket Board that India would not tour Pakistan for the eight-team tournament, leaving the fate of the event hanging in the balance.The nuclear-armed neighbours have fought three wars since being carved out of the subcontinent’s partition in 1947 and that rivalry is often reflected on the cricket field. A spokesman for the ICC based in Dubai told AFP they could “confirm an ICC meeting on Friday” where the issue will be on the agenda, without providing further details.The PCB has already rejected proposals that would allow India to play in a neutral third country, insisting the full schedule from February 19 to March 9 must be staged on their turf. India’s cricket board has not commented on the tournament.Deteriorating political ties mean bitter rivals India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series for over a decade - squaring off only in ICC multi-nation events.Pakistan suffered a years-long drought of matches at home as teams refused to visit after a 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore. International play only fully resumed in 2020.When Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup, India’s matches were played outside the country.But Pakistani cricket chiefs have rejected security fears for the Champions Trophy, pointing to their recent successful hosting of top teams including Australia, England and South Africa.The Champions Trophy will be the first ICC event staged in Pakistan since it co-hosted the 1996 World Cup with India and Sri Lanka.

While most of the elite golfers in the world have been taking extended time off this fall or playing a few big events on the DP World Tour, Maverick McNealy has been among those grinding on the FedEx Cup Fall slate.The 29-year-old played seven of the eight events, spanning the United States, Japan, Mexico and Bermuda.He might be exhausted, but McNealy was rewarded handsomely for his efforts.In addition to claiming his maiden PGA Tour victory at the season-ending The RSM Classic on Sunday, McNealy claimed the top spot on the Aon Next 10.That means along with the $1.4mn winner’s check and a two-year PGA Tour exemption, the former Stanford star also secured a spot in the Masters, The Players and the first three signature events of 2025.“Masters? That’s pretty cool, that will be fun,” McNealy said when told what Sunday’s victory earned him for next year. “I’ve played (Augusta National) twice, but never been there for the tournament.”All players in the Aon Next 10 earned spots into the first two signature events next year at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Genesis Invitational.Kevin Yu was the only player to move into the Aon Next 10 following the season-ending event, bumping Justin Rose from No. 60 to No. 62. Yu was among three players who moved into the top 60 during the course of the fall, along with Echavarria (started No. 108) and Ben Griffin (started No. 61).Those 10 will join the top 50 as automatic qualifiers for the first two limited-event fields with increased prize money in 2025.There were multiple layers of drama that unfolded during the course of the fall. The second layer was the race to finish inside the top 125 and secure fully exempt status for 2025.Daniel Berger, who finished a shot behind McNealy on Sunday, vaulted from No. 127 to No. 100 this week. It was also the seventh start of the fall for the four-time PGA Tour winner, and Sunday marked his best finish since his most recent title at Pebble Beach in 2021. He had returned in January from a back injury that kept him away from the tour for about 18 months.Meanwhile, Henrik Norlander of Sweden tied for 17th at The RSM Classic to move from No. 126 to No. 120. Fan favorite Joel Dahmen made the cut on the number on Friday to keep his hopes alive and then shot a 64 on Sunday to secure a T35 to finish No. 124.Dahmen, who sank a 5 1/2-foot putt on Friday to make the cut, played in all eight events and spoke openly about the emotional drain of working so hard to keep his fully exempt status.“This is my eighth year out here, I probably made it longer than I ever thought I would,” he said. “You take it for granted a little bit. It’s been relatively easy, cruise between 50 and 90 on the FedEx Cup every year and enjoy it, and our best friends are out here.“This is different. Makes you appreciate things a little more when times are tough.”

England head to New Zealand for the second time under locally-born captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum looking to revive the momentum of Bazball against a Blacks Caps side still revelling in a remarkable series triumph in India.The rapid early progress England enjoyed playing McCullum’s ultra-aggressive style has stalled somewhat with seven test wins and seven losses this year and they are already out of the running for next year’s World Test Championship (WTC) final.New Zealand’s stunning 3-0 sweep put England’s 4-1 reverse in India earlier this year into an unflattering perspective and, after a 2-1 loss in Pakistan in October, the tourists will be keen for a good showing in more hospitable conditions.“I wouldn’t say Pakistan rocked our confidence as such, but it definitely hurt,” former Black Caps captain McCullum said this week.“When I talk to the lads, I say you need a memory like a sieve as a cricketer. You need what’s gone before to wash over you and focus on the here and now, to make sure you’re totally present. That gives you the best opportunity.”The opportunity against New Zealand starts at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval tomorrow before further Tests at equally salubrious seam-friendly venues in Wellington and Hamilton.The last series between the teams early last year was drawn 1-1 but only after New Zealand had mounted a remarkable comeback to win the second Test in Wellington by a single run after following-on.The spirit that fired that victory also underpinned the unlikely series triumph in India, a feat all the more impressive for that it was achieved without master batsman Kane Williamson.“It’s always onto the next little challenge,” all-rounder Rachin Ravindra said on Tuesday.“We soaked it up, we savoured it, it was an amazing series in India but the opportunity to play England, a high quality side, in three Tests matches at home doesn’t come around often.“We know how they’re going to play, hopefully we can play our own game and combat that. That was a theme around the India series as well, we’ll try and do what we do well.”Williamson will return to the side after recovering from a groin injury, leaving coach Gary Stead with some tough choices over who to leave out.Even Will Young’s Player of the Series performance with the bat in India looks unlikely to ensure him a place in the batting line-up.A series sweep could secure New Zealand a place in the WTC final and a chance of reclaiming the trophy they won by beating India in 2021.Former skipper Tim Southee has said he would make himself available for the WTC final if New Zealand qualify, but will otherwise call time on his 18-year Test career when the England series concludes at his home ground, Seddon Park.Southee will be part of a four-pronged seam attack in Christchurch along with one of two potential debutants in the squad - quick Jacob Duffy and seam-bowling all-rounder Nathan Smith.England’s seam attack in the post James Anderson-Stuart Broad era is led by Chris Woakes with Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse supporting him after decent outings in Pakistan.Jordan Cox’s hopes of a Test debut in Christchurch as a replacement for wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who is skipping the tour for the birth of his first child, were dashed when he fractured his thumb in a net session during a tour match.Ollie Pope will take the gloves in Christchurch and move down the order, leaving room for Jacob Bethell to win his first cap batting at number three.All-rounder Stokes, who missed four Tests this year with a hamstring problem, has scored 358 runs and taken three wickets in six Tests in the land of his birth.England will be hoping for a heftier contribution from their inspirational skipper as they seek a first series win in New Zealand since 2008.

Saim Ayub hammered a swashbuckling century as Pakistan made short work of a modest target to beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets at Queens Sports Club on Tuesday and square the three match one day international series.Pakistan needed 18.2 overs to score 148-0 and ensure victory after Zimbabwe, who won the toss and chose to bat, were bowled out for 145 in 32.3 overs.Spinner Abrar Ahmed took 4-33 and Salman Ali Agha 3-26 before Saim set about the home bowling in reply to take Pakistan to a comfortable win.The 22-year-old brought up his first ODI ton in 53 balls, as he hammered the ball to all corners and finished 113 not out.His opening partner Abdullah Shafique was content to play a supporting role and scored 32 not out. The confident batting performance contrasted with Pakistan’s meek showing in Sunday’s opening clash when Zimbabwe won by 80 runs on the DLS method after rain brought play to an early close.The third and final ODI is tomorrow, also in Bulawayo, before the two countries embark on a three-match Twenty20 series.BRIEF SCORESPakistan 148 for 0 (Ayub 113*, Shafique 32*) beat Zimbabwe 145 (Myers 33, Williams 31, Abrar 4-33, Salman 3-26) by 10 wickets

With only weeks to go until the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024 kicks off, Al Ahly legend Wael Gomaa sees his former club’s participation in the competition as an important milestone for the Egyptian club. “Taking part in a tournament of this calibre is a source of great pride for Al Ahly. It is another achievement in the club’s illustrious history. I hope the team does well and gets a chance to play against European giants Real Madrid,” said Gomaa, speaking from Stadium 974 in Qatar, which will host two of three matches scheduled to take place between 11 - 18 December. The FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024 is a club competition that brings together continental club champions from around the world for a riveting showdown to crown the best club in the world.“It is very important for the growth of football in the Arab world. High profile competitions such as this provide clubs in the region with the incentive to compete at the highest level in front of a home crowd,” added Gomaa.Al Ahly legend Wael Gomaa is regarded as one of Africa’s best all-time defenders. His accolades with the Egyptian giants include six CAF Champions League and seven domestic league titles. His tenacious style earned him the nickname, “The Rock.” Gomaa is regarded as one of the greatest talents of his generation.“Al Ahly is more than a club. It’s a social phenomenon that encapsulates so many cultural dynamics for millions of fans in Egypt and across the Arab world. It’s the people’s club and it is everything beautiful in my life,” said Gomaa. Al Ahly first qualified to the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024 after claiming its 12th CAF Champions League title. The Egyptian side then beat Al Ain of the UAE to lay claim to the African-Asian-Pacific Cup, one of four trophies up for grabs at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup competition. Three trophies remain in the mix when four clubs compete in Qatar. They are the FIFA Derby of the Americas, FIFA Challenger Cup and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. The final match will feature Spanish giants and current UEFA Champions League champions, Real Madrid, and will be held on 18 December in Lusail Stadium, two years to the day since the 89,000-seater hosted a historic FIFA World Cup final. “Qatar has cemented itself as a world class-sports destination after hosting a World Cup tournament that will be seared in the memory of football fans forever,” said Gomaa. Al Ahly will play for the FIFA Challenger Cup on Saturday 14 December at Stadium 974 in Qatar. The African champions will play the winner of the Derby of the Americas, between Mexican side CF Pachuca and the yet to be determined winner of the Copa Libertadores, taking place three days earlier on 11 December at the same venue. “Al Ahly has a massive fan base in Qatar and our fans are ready to support our club with everything they have. Our support base will be the fuel that powers the team on the pitch and will be a differentiating factor in the tournament overall,” added Gomaa who currently lives in Qatar and works as a popular sports pundit. Tickets for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup are available online at fic24.qa. They include several accessible options for disabled fans. @FICQatar on X and Instagram may be followed and fic24.qa may be visited for all tournament related information.

Aspire Academy Director General Ivan has hosted a high-level delegation of sports officials from the Chinese municipality of Shanghai.The visitors included the Director General of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, Xu Bin, and the Secretary General of the city’s Football Association, Lin Yi.The party was given a comprehensive tour of Aspire Academy’s world-class facilities by Markus Egger, the Academy’s Director of Sports.They then met with the Director General before going on to hold discussions with Bravo, Jonatan Cabanelas, the Technical Director of the Football Department, and Daniele Bonanno, the Football Performance Co-ordinator.Lin Yi expressed his admiration for Aspire Academy’s facilities and training approach.“Aspire Academy is one of the best youth training centres in the world, and even though before we came here, we did a lot of research on the academy, this is a truly amazing place here,” he said.He also highlighted the valuable lessons Shanghai could learn from Aspire's athlete development strategies.“More important than the facilities and equipment are the training concepts, the training systems, and the training methods, and I think these are the things that we have a lot to learn about in Shanghai when it comes to youth football training.”“In the future, we would like to bring talented young players here to train, and we would like to offer exchanges with some of the coaches – we can bring some coaches here to learn new techniques, and we can also host coaches from here in Shanghai.”Ivan Bravo emphasised the importance of such collaborations, noting Aspire Academy’s pride in sharing its philosophy with global partners.“It's more than important (for the Academy); it is rewarding to have people from Shanghai; they just explained to us that they just won 22 Olympic medals in Paris from athletes under their municipality’s sports administration,” he said.“So that they consider that they should come to just see what we're doing at Aspire in Qatar, that they're impressed by our track record, the way we work, what they hear about us, it's just really rewarding.”“We're always open to exchanging ideas as we explain to them what we do, but just as much, we also try to learn what they do.“That's the beauty of sports and Aspire, and we are always curious. For us to be connected to Shanghai sports and the Chinese sports ecosystem is fantastic.”“How telling it is that on our 20th anniversary, we're truly really perceived as an academy of sports excellence around the world. So I think the country should be very proud. Our coaches are our teachers and administrators. I think it's just really a tribute to the work that everybody's doing on a daily basis.”“I think that's just another toast to another 20 years ahead.”

Qatar giants Al Sadd are set to face their toughest test yet in the AFC Champions League Elite when they host Saudi side Al Hilal today at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.Al Sadd are well poised to advance to the knockout stage and will relish the chance of testing themselves against Al Hilal, who have a perfect 12 points heading into the tie. Al Sadd’s bid to advance to the knockout stage for the first time in four seasons has been progressing smoothly with the 2011 AFC Champions League winners sitting fourth on eight points behind a trio of clubs from Saudi Arabia.While Al Sadd are unbeaten in six matches on the continental stage - stretching back to last season - they have only won three of their 12 previous meetings with Al Hilal, who have five victories under their belt.Al Hilal will be aiming to make a statement after their unbeaten run in the Saudi Pro League was ended by Al Khaleej on Saturday. The four-time hampions will, however, be wary of Al Sadd’s threat with the Qatar side having won their most recent meeting in the 2019 edition of the AFC Champions League.However, their form - on the domestic and continental stages - has been scintillating and with a squad laden with attacking talent, Al Hilal will be confident of extending their perfect record.Al Sadd coach Felix Sanchez said ‘these are the kind of games we look forward to’ as his players are excited at the prospect of playing against Al Hilal.“We will face Al Hilal, third in the standings, in a difficult match. Playing at home and in front of our fans motivates us to give our best. We’ll approach this game with full strength,” Sanchez said on Monday.“These are the kind of games we look forward to. The players are excited and ready to perform. We aim for a positive result that will boost us for the rest of the tournament. Every team faces absences. We are focusing on our own strengths and readiness to deliver a top performance,” the Spaniard added.Al Sadd defender Boualem Khoukhi said he and his teammates to win against Al Hilal. “They are a formidable team, but we’re focused and determined to secure the three points. I hope our fans will be there to support us,” the Qatar international said. “We’ve prepared well and understand the importance of this match. The recent league win has given us great motivation.”Meanwhile, Al Hilal head coach Jorge Jesus emphasised his team’s determination and resilience ahead of their clash against Al Sadd, despite facing a tight schedule and limited preparation time.“Our team started preparing for the match just after our last game in the Saudi League. There was not enough time — only two days, including travel. However, I have trust in our players, their abilities. We naturally want to win and we will approach out match against Al Sadd in the same way we are accustomed to,” he said.