England v Australia: Teams and latest updates from World U20 Championship
'A lot of these lads will go back to the Premiership, where if you lose a game, you have got to dust yourself off and get ready for the next one, and we have had that this week. Obviously, there is a bit of a shorter turnaround, and there is a bit of pressure to go and get five points. I know if these boys go and put our game on the pitch against anyone, they are capable of getting four-plus tries and five points. If they do that on Wednesday, it hopefully puts us in a great position to go into a semi-final if other things go our way.'
Australia were thrashed 17-73 in the opening game by South Africa but bounced back with a 34-24 win over Scotland. They, like England, are in a similar position heading into the final group game, hoping for a favour or two. These sides met at the World Rugby U20 Championship in July 2023, with the game ending in a 22-22 draw. In the other game in Pool A, South Africa are taking on Scotland. Kick-off from Verona is at 5pm BST.
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The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Josh Tongue looks back with confidence as England face another big run chase
England are 'pretty chilled' about the daunting prospect of breaking a 123-year-old record at the Kia Oval, with Josh Tongue sensing a feeling of deja vu as the Rothesay Test series heads to a thrilling finale. The highest-ever fourth-innings chase at the Kia Oval was 263 way back in 1902 and England need to shatter that if they are to reach the 374 they need to turn a 2-1 scoreline into a 3-1 triumph. They were dealt a major blow when Zak Crawley lost his off stump to a Mohammed Siraj yorker off the final ball of the third day, leaving them 50 for one overnight with 324 runs still to get. But Tongue insisted they were relaxed about the task, having posted 373 for five to win the first Test of the series in Yorkshire. By coincidence, the Nottinghamshire seamer gave the press conference the night before that match and was optimistic about England's chances. Having seen his faith rewarded once, he was more than happy to double down. 'It's a replay from Headingley. I got asked the same question then so I don't see why we can't chase down these runs,' he said. 'We're pretty chilled about it. There's not much overthinking it. How we play as a batting unit is very positive, very exciting. With the line-up we've got, I can't see why we can't give it a good go. 'It will be a great day of cricket and a great day for us if we get the runs. It is doing a bit, a few balls tonight jumped off a good length, but if you get through the first hour who knows?' England theoretically have nine wickets in hand but may only have eight to play with, Chris Woakes' dislocated shoulder meaning a remarkable set of circumstances would need to unfold for him to even consider attempting to bat. Woakes' absence meant the remaining seamers had to take on an extra burden, Tongue rewarded for 30 overs of toil with a second five-wicket haul in Tests. That means he ends the series as his country's leading wicket-taker with 19 at 29.05, despite sitting out games at Old Trafford and Lord's. 'We knew we were going to be bowling quite a few overs out there and it was unfortunate for Wiz getting injured, nobody likes that happening to any bowler,' he said. 'It was obviously going to be a tough ask for us as bowlers and I thought we stuck at it very well. I've had a lot of ups and downs. 'Sometimes I feel I didn't bowl as well as I could but I'm obviously very chuffed to get the wickets. The main thing is getting wickets for the team and putting us in position to win games of cricket.' Yashasvi Jaiswal, who led his side's efforts with a fine 118 that was augmented by crucial contributions from Akash Deep (66) and Washington Sundar (53), expected his side to level the series 2-2. 'Of course, I think we are quite confident,' he said. 'We just need to focus on our process and keep bowling in the right areas. That's what we are thinking. 'We want this, we want some battle in the middle.'
Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
One moment perfectly summed up the way this Test is going - England have been all bark and no bite, writes LAWRENCE BOOTH
Moments before lunch on the third day of the fifth and final Test, Shubman Gill comfortably defended a delivery from Jamie Overton, who followed through and glared at the Indian captain. Gill smiled back, utterly unconcerned. As a metaphor for the progress of this game, it was perfect. While England have been all mouth and no trousers, India have played with a sense of purpose and pre-destiny, as if the fates could not possibly allow their efforts these past few weeks to amount to a 3–1 defeat. Gill did fall first ball after the break, but he had already taken his summer's haul to 754, the most in a series by a Test captain not called Don Bradman. Overton, meanwhile, would finish with match figures of two for 164 in his first Test for three years. Apparently Brendon McCullum is a fan. So, clearly, are India's batsmen. England deserve sympathy for losing Chris Woakes to a serious shoulder injury on the first evening, but his absence has only highlighted the fragility of an attack that should never have been cobbled together for a game of this magnitude in the first place. Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue have had their moments, but Overton has looked short of Test class and the lack of a frontline spinner has placed an intolerable burden on the three remaining fit seamers. As Washington Sundar's late pyrotechnics extended India's second innings to 396, it was clear that the gamble England had taken in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, by playing Jofra Archer in back-to-back matches and Brydon Carse in his fourth in a row, had backfired. India have played with a sense of purpose and pre-destiny as they seek to claw a Series draw Ben Stokes (pictured) is out alongside Chris Woakes as he is nursing a shoulder injury Since both then had to be rested here, and with Ben Stokes nursing a shoulder injury, England fielded a new-look attack on a surface Archer and Carse would have loved. Having placed everything on black, they have been horrified to discover it has come up red. That was not the only problem. For the first time in a home Test since 2006, they dropped as many as six catches in an innings, with Yashasvi Jaiswal alone put down three times and nightwatchman Akash Deep shelled by Zak Crawley at third slip only 21 runs into his career-best 66. Those misses cost England 143, potentially the difference between a 3–1 win and a 2–2 draw. With this series in the balance, it has been India who have stepped up – and Australia will have taken note.
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
Transgender pool player loses discrimination case
A transgender pool player has lost a discrimination claim against one of the sport's English Blackball Pool Federation (EBPF) banned players who were not born biologically female from its women's competitions and teams in August player Harriet Haynes took the organisation to court, saying the rule was "direct discrimination" against her on the grounds of her gender a court judge has said he is satisfied exclusion was the only "reasonable" way to ensure "fair competition" and dismissed her representatives said they were disappointed with the decision and are weighing up whether to landmark ruling follows a legal definition of a woman by the UK Supreme Court in April as someone who is biologically female under equalities Equality Act provides protection against discrimination on the basis of various characteristics, including "sex" and "gender reassignment".His Honour Judge Parker said pool is a "gender-affected activity" and that excluding those born as male from the female category was necessary to "secure fair competition". The EBPF said it was delighted by the decision and that it welcomes transgender players in its 'open' argued that players who were born male and went through male puberty have specific physical advantages in cue sports, such as an ability to generate higher break speed, greater hand span to bridge over balls and a longer reach.A spokesperson said: "The court found that pool is a game in which men have an advantage over women and that allowing only those born as women to compete in our women's competitions is necessary to secure fair competition."In her claim, Haynes said her exclusion from the Kent Women's A pool team had caused her distress and upset, and she had been subjected to hurtful comments on social also claimed the policy violated the European Convention on Human Rights, including the right to respect for an individual's private and family the EBPF said the rule did not discriminate against her on the grounds of gender reassignment as "she was born male".Matt Champ, senior associate at Colman Coyle, who represented Haynes, said: "We are reflecting on the judgment and our next steps which will include whether or not we appeal."In January 2024, Haynes said she received "vile" and "horrific" abuse online after her opponent Lynn Pinches refused to play her and conceded the Women's Champion of Champions final in has argued that transgender players have competed in female categories for 20 years, and that there was no categoric evidence they have an advantage in cue sports.
