
Teams facing 'crazy' Dubai travel plans for semis
Australia and South Africa will travel to Dubai before the Champions Trophy semi-finals, despite not knowing if they will play there or in Pakistan.Dubai will host the first semi-final on Tuesday with the second match played in Lahore, Pakistan, a day later.India, who are guaranteed to progress from Group A, are playing all of their matches in Dubai after opting not to travel to Pakistan.Group B concludes with South Africa's match against England on Saturday but neither the Proteas or Australia will know the venue for their semi-final until after the conclusion of India's match against New Zealand on Sunday.Were they to wait until Monday and only travel when the fixtures were confirmed, that would rule out the possibility of training in Dubai – where India will have played all three group matches.It raises the prospect of Australia taking the three-hour flight from Lahore to Dubai on Saturday, only to have to fly back on Monday if they do not meet India.Similarly, South Africa will fly to Dubai in the early hours of Sunday and could return to Pakistan 24 hours later if they do not have to face India.
Whichever team finishes second in Group A will meet the winner of Group B and vice-versa. India are guaranteed to play the first semi-final on Tuesday regardless of their group position, however.There has been criticism throughout the tournament of the advantage India hold by playing all of their matches at the venue.Others have played across the four venues in Pakistan and Dubai."If you can stay in one place, stay in one hotel, practice in the same facilities, play in the same stadium, on the same pitches every time, it's definitely an advantage," South Africa batter Rassie van der Dussen said earlier this week."I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist to know that."BBC chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew said: "India are camped out in Dubai, playing in the same ground and same places in the changing room. "Both Australia and South Africa will fly to Dubai but only one will play there and the other will get back on a plane to Lahore. It's all got a bit crazy."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Golden girl Ariarne Titmus steals the show in the AFL Big Freeze as full house sign goes up at MCG to honour MND battler Neale Daniher
The 2025 AFL Big Freeze delivered another unforgettable spectacle, this time to a full house at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Neale Daniher is more than a former AFL coach. He is a national hero. Diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2013, Daniher chose to fight back - not just for himself, but for every Australian impacted by the cruel, incurable condition. The former Essendon star and Melbourne coach co-founded FightMND in 2014, launching the now-iconic 'Big Freeze' as its flagship event. Held annually at the MCG on the King's Birthday public holiday, it has raised over $115million for MND research and support services. Ten years on, the 2025 AFL Big Freeze was the biggest yet - played to a full house of fans who turned out to honour Daniher's legacy and laugh, cheer and shed a tear in equal measures. Before the King's Birthday clash between Collingwood and Melbourne, Australia's sporting elite lined up to take the plunge in icy water, raising funds and awareness in Daniher's name. First down the slide? None other than Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus. Wearing a sparkling pink outfit inspired by Olivia Newton-John's Grease role, Titmus opened the show with flair and heart - setting the tone for an unforgettable afternoon. Cycling legend Cadel Evans followed, rocking an outfit that made him look like a miniature version of Melbourne Demons captain Max Gawn. It was capped off with Gawn himself waiting at the bottom to congratulate him. Collingwood royalty Peter Daicos appeared dressed as the Joker, telling Tim Watson, 'I'm at home… this is how I dress normally.' With sons Nick and Josh preparing for the match elsewhere in the MCG, Daicos soaked in the spotlight solo. Actor and former footy player Matt Nable descended dressed as Angus Young from AC/DC, guitar in hand, channeling pure rock energy. Netball star Liz Watson came out dressed as Barbie, paying tribute to Margot Robbie in full pink - crop top and all. Matt Shirvington followed in full Thor gear, complete with hammer and dramatic cape that nearly took his head off during his icy landing. Australian cricket captain Alyssa Healy earned huge cheers dressed as Sharon Strzelecki from Kath & Kim, honouring Magda Szubanski, who recently announced a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Former Melbourne Demons fan favourite Aaron Davey wore the red and black once more, this time dressed as Bombers icon Michael Long - linking the moment to his time under Daniher's coaching leadership. V8 great Craig Lowndes brought Mad Max to the slide before closing act Mark Taylor came out as the late Shane Warne, complete with floppy white hat and a ball in hand. 'I'm coming out at No.10, where Warnie should've batted,' he said, bringing the crowd to its feet. But despite all the colour and costumes, the heart of the Big Freeze has always been Neale Daniher. Daniher debuted for Essendon in 1979, captained the club in 1982, and overcame serious injury to remain a beloved part of Bombers history. Later, as coach of Melbourne from 1998 to 2007, he led the club to multiple finals, including a Grand Final appearance in 2000. When MND hit, Daniher didn't retreat. He rallied. He used his public profile to raise awareness, fund research, and inspire courage in the face of despair.


BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
On honeymoon, playing in a final - Webster's rise to Test all-rounder
Beau Webster is on honeymoon. Sort to Maddie in April, the newlyweds only had time for a few days away in Tasmania before Australia all-rounder Webster began his stint at Warwickshire. Maddie joined him in there it is this week's World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's, then three Tests in the West Indies. Webster could be back playing in the UK before the season is out. Only then, and before an Ashes summer back home, might the couple fit in a proper schedule is an indication of how Webster's life has changed, and how his career accelerated up to and beyond a Test debut in January at the age of club cricket in Cheshire and Birmingham, to T20 leagues in Canada and the Cayman Islands, there was a time when Webster thought he would simply "eke out a steady career".As a youngster, Webster was a good enough Australian Rules Football player to have considered entering the draft. He was offered terms to become a professional cricketer with Tasmania at 18, then had to wait almost 11 years after his first-class debut to progress to the highest level."There was a period when I thought I was stagnating," he tells BBC Sport."I was resigned to my goal of getting a baggy green not being there. If it didn't happen, I was OK with that. I was happy with the fact I might just be a good first-class cricketer and would hopefully win some silverware with Tasmania." Webster had thoughts of what life after cricket might look like. His father was once a builder, so Webster dabbled with an apprenticeship "on the tools". He started and failed to finish university courses in journalism and business, then had more success with mortgage broking. He may do a diploma in the next year or immediate task is to hold down a place in the Australia team at number six, a role that revealed itself when Webster learnt to use his 6ft 6in frame to become a more than handy a batter who had been everywhere from one to eight in the Tasmania order, Webster would send down some part-time off-breaks if needed. From a young age he messed around in the nets attempting to bowl pace, but found the resulting back soreness had a negative impact on his was only during the Covid pandemic, when 'Tassie' needed a seam-bowling all-rounder, that Webster took it seriously and was helped by renowned pace-bowling coach Adam Griffith."It was just lack of technique, feet and arms everywhere," says Webster. "Unless you get the right run-up, technique and your back and legs are used to it, you can have some soreness."I never had a run-up. Until you have a run-up, you do it in the nets and stutter in until you feel like you can hit the crease. You probably bowl at about 50% without a run-up. Once I sorted a run-up with Griffo and was able to focus on the other end, rather than the end where I was landing, it grew from there."When Webster was ready to unleash his new skill in the middle, there was the issue of being taken seriously."When you bowl off-spin for long enough, then you start coming off the long run, everyone starts looking at it as a bit of a gimmick," he says."I spoke to Usman Khawaja about it. We played Queensland, I got the ball and came off the long run and Uzzy thought, 'What's going on here?'"I bowled a couple and he thought, 'Gee, that's actually not too bad.' I think I got him out caught at gully and it wasn't until 12 to 18 months of bowling seam that I lost the stigma of it being a gimmick." Webster was developing into anything but a gimmick. Like a host of all-rounders, success in one discipline fed the the 2023-24 season, his 938 runs were by far the most in the Sheffield Shield, supplemented by 30 wickets. Only one other player in Shield history had managed 900 runs and 30 wickets in a single season: the greatest all-rounder of them all, Sir Garfield was getting noticed, but from a recognition point of view, his timing was horrific. Australia have not historically been blessed with seam-bowling all-rounders, but were in a bountiful period with Cameron Green and Mitchell took a back injury to Green and a dip in form by Marsh for Webster to get his chance in the fifth Test against India at the beginning of this year. His parents, Rod and Tina, were so caught off guard by his selection that they had to make a short-notice trip to Sydney and their plea for a house-sitter in Tasmania hit the headlines., externalWith the series still alive, he top-scored with 57 out of 181 in the Australia first innings and followed up with an unbeaten 39, including the winning runs, in the second. He also took a wicket and two smart slip catches. In the two Tests that followed in Sri Lanka, Webster dusted down his off-spin to show his is fit again, albeit only as a specialist batter. Webster is hoping there's space in the Australian XI for both of them at Lord's, then in the Caribbean and the Ashes."It breeds the best in me when I'm up against guys and competing," he says. "I'd welcome the challenge. I can only keep scoring runs and taking wickets to keep my place in that XI, but no doubt it will only become harder and harder."The marriage to Maddie came after the Sri Lanka tour."Coincidentally with the seam-bowling stuff, Maddie came into my life at the same time as my career took off, so she'll probably claim some credit," says Webster."Everything that goes with being a professional cricketer - there are more bad days than good - she's my biggest fan."I'm sure we'll do something for a honeymoon. We'll find a window at some point in the next few months."Webster has already ticked off an Australia debut and a wedding. Now there is a World Test Championship final to win and an Ashes urn to retain."That would be the perfect 12 months."


Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Married At First Sight star ties the knot in real life! Nicolas Jovanovic weds fiancé Alex Caldwell in stunning Hunter Valley ceremony
Former Married At First Sight star Nicolas Jovanovic tied the knot with fiancé Alex Caldwell on May 31. The reality star, 34, who wed his partner in a stunning ceremony in Hunter Valley, took to Instagram on Sunday to share a slew of photos from his big day. In the pictures, Nicolas could be seen gleaming as he wore a classic tuxedo and bowtie for the nuptials, along with a flower boutonniere on his left lapel. His bride looked ethereal as she donned a WONÁ Concept wedding dress which featured a sweetheart neckline and dramatic skirt accentuating her tiny waist. The stunning frock was complete with rhinestones and tulle, and paired with a white peony bouquet and cascading veil. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nicolas Jovanovic (@nicccj) 'Mr and Mrs Jovanovic ~ 31.05.25,' Nicolas captioned the post. One image saw Nicolas holding his wife's train as they stared lovingly at each other, and another saw Alex leaning into her husband as they were bathed in sunlight. Another heartwarming picture showed the new bride and groom sharing a sweet kiss as newly weds while surrounded by rows of tall trees. The couple said 'I do' at Redleaf Wedding Venue in Wollombi, just less than a year after Nicolas got down on one knee. The MAFS star announced his engagement to his long-time girlfriend in July after proposing during a romantic getaway at Lake Como, Italy. Nicolas included a photo of himself and his delighted fiancé in the post, which showed the lovebirds posing on a speed boat and sharing a congratulatory toast. In the snap, a beaming Alex could be seen flaunting a large engagement ring while a very happy looking Nicolas sat beside her. Nicolas also included a video in which he and his bride to be can be seen relaxing lakeside soon after Nicolas popped the question. 'She said "yes",' Nicolas said in the selfie. Nicolas shot to fame on 2019's season of Married At First Sight after being paired with Cyrell Paule, who became known as Cyclone Cyrell for her outspoken style. After parting amicably before final vows, Cyrell settled down with Love Island Australia star Eden Dally, with whom she shares son Boston. Meanwhile, Nicolas debuted fiancé Alex on Instagram in July 2023 with a photo of the pair posing together and holding one another close.