CRICKET
Gabba passed over
The Gabba will not host an Ashes series-opener in Australia for the first time in more than four decades after Cricket Australia on Wednesday confirmed Perth as the venue for the first Test of the 2025-2026 series. The Brisbane ground is to instead host its first day-night Ashes clash from Dec. 4 to 8 before the five-Test series between holders Australia and England moves to Adelaide Oval (Dec. 17-21), the Melbourne Cricket Ground (Dec. 26-30) and the Sydney Cricket Ground (Jan. 4-8). Once Australia’s first choice to start a home summer of cricket, the Gabba’s stocks have fallen in recent years since Perth Stadium opened in 2017 and following Adelaide Oval’s redevelopment a decade ago. The Gabba’s future is up in the air, with no Test scheduled in the 2026-2027 home summer and a planned redevelopment for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics scrapped over cost concerns. “There has already been enormous interest from fans around the world and all over Australia wanting to see Australia’s and England’s men’s teams engage in the next instalment of the Game’s oldest rivalry,” Cricket Australia executive Joel Morrison said at a launch for the schedule in Perth.
Photo: AFP
ICE HOCKEY
Ovechkin hits 700 assists
Alex Ovechkin on Tuesday became the 60th player in NHL history to record 700 career assists, reaching the milestone with his second point in the Washington Capitals’ 4-2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights. Ovechkin had a secondary assist on Tom Wilson’s power-play goal early in the second period then set up linemate Aliaksei Protas to make it 3-1 a few minutes later. A video montage of his assists played on arena video boards at the ensuing timeout and Ovechkin waved to fans who gave him a standing ovation.
Photo: Reuters
FOOTBALL
Tom Brady stake approved
NFL owners on Tuesday approved Tom Brady’s application to purchase a stake in the Las Vegas Raiders in a move that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said was a great sign of the health of the league. The seven-time Super Bowl winning quarterback-turned-Fox broadcaster would take about 5 percent control of the team after winning the unanimous support of club owners at their meeting in Atlanta, multiple media outlets reported. “It’s great that Tom Brady wants to invest in the NFL,” Goodell told reporters after the meeting. “He cares deeply about this game, he believes in its future and I think that’s just a signal about it.” Brady, 47, said he was “humbled and excited” to become an NFL owner. “I’m excited to contribute to the organization in any way I can, honoring the Raiders’ rich tradition while finding every possible opportunity to improve our offering to fans,” he wrote on X. “And most importantly, WIN football games,” he said before echoing late Raiders owner Al Davis’ motto “Just win, baby,” in a hashtag. Former NFL defensive lineman Richard Seymour was also approved to purchase a minority stake in the Raiders. “I’m deeply grateful — humbled and honored — to become a NFL owner,” Seymour wrote on X. Goodell said that more former players could be making the move from the field to the ownership box in the near future. “You see two examples here with both Richard and Tom, but there are others ... that are potentially going to be in process in the very near future,” he said.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei last night. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener on Friday last week, the home team — winner of last year's WBSC Premier12 title three months ago — got their revenge against the 2023 European champions at Taipei Dome. "It felt quite different from when we won the Premier12," Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) said after the game, recalling the ups and downs the team has experienced over the past few days. Unlike in
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