There are less than 100 days to go until the Women’s T20 World Cup, and England, the hosts, have been stuck in limbo. Next week’s training camp in Abu Dhabi was hastily cancelled over the weekend when Iran began bombing the UAE after US-Israel strikes. The ECB has been searching for alternative venues – not ideal for a team who have not been in the same room, let alone played together, for five months.

On Friday the ECB confirmed a new plan to head to South Africa, for intra-squad games in Pretoria to sharpen their skills and lay claim to spots in the line-up.

It is an unusual approach. England were the only major nation not to play in a bilateral series over the winter, and the squad have been scattered all over the world since reaching the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup in India last October.

Some joined ECB skills camps in Oman and South Africa, which offered a break from chillier days bowling in tents at the National Cricket Performance Centre in Loughborough. Meanwhile 15 English players, including most of the ECB’s centrally contracted stars, played in Australia’s Big Bash League, and a handful went on to play in the more lucrative Women’s Premier League in India.

The long time apart may be no bad thing for England, giving players a chance to repair after the intensity of a World Cup. But the lack of competitive action is also a symptom of modern cricket’s economics: international fixtures do not generate the income and interest of franchise leagues, where players can make double or treble the money of their central contract salary in just a few weeks.

The England captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, racked up more than 300 runs playing for the Mumbai Indians. “We’ve had five months between international duties, which is pretty unusual,” she says, “but I think it will probably become a bit more common now with the windows for franchise cricket.”

open image in gallery

Sciver-Brunt is speaking inside one of the changing rooms at Edgbaston on a drizzly March morning, having entered the room with a shiver after some on-pitch media duties. It has been nearly a year since she took on the captaincy and she seems comfortable in her new skin as the figurehead of the team, despite the expectations that come with the role – England have won all four Women’s World Cups staged at home (1973, 1993, 2009 and 2017).

“So, no pressure for me,” she laughs.

Are England ready to win another home World Cup? It was only a year ago that they were bageled by Australia in the Ashes, a defeat so damaging it brought down the hierarchy. Head coach Jon Lewis was sacked and Heather Watson lost the captaincy after nine years.

In came Charlotte Edwards and new skipper Sciver-Brunt. Edwards naturally commanded respect given her playing career and success coaching T20 franchise teams, and she set about raising standards in the field and in the gym. She also shifted the team’s culture by delivering some blunt post-match debriefs.

“I think the openness that we have as a group, and honesty in reviews, that was something I really saw a change in our team [over the past 12 months],” says Sciver-Brunt. “Hopefully we can take that a step further and be more comfortable being uncomfortable with each other.”

open image in gallery

Advertisement

England have the raw ingredients: batting power in Sophia Dunkley and former captain Knight at the top of the order, the pace of Issy Wong, a world-class spinner in Sophie Ecclestone. There is perhaps an overreliance on Sciver-Brunt’s all-round skills, but this England side have a promising blend of battle-hardened experience and bright-eyed talent.

There have been green shoots since the Ashes, winning an ODI and T20 series against West Indies last summer before losing a competitive series with India. Then came that deep World Cup run, beating India in the league stage when an unburdened Knight scored a century, although ultimately England were well beaten in the semi-finals.

Sciver-Brunt is as experienced as almost any player in the world but is still learning the art of captaincy, and she took plenty from her first World Cup in charge – in particular, that long tournaments are a marathon, not a sprint. “You don’t have to be your best right at the start,” she says. “Obviously, you need to win a few games to get to the knockout stages, but you might not win every game by 10 wickets. You might scrape a few games by three or four wickets. But trying to be your best when it really matters is important.”

England have fixtures against New Zealand and India in May, but this period in Pretoria will be crucial before the county game swings into action next month.

open image in gallery

England open the T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka here at Edgbaston on 12 June, before games against Ireland, Scotland, and New Zealand. The group should be easily navigable, but there is the sense that this might be the most competitive tournament yet. India are the ODI world champions, New Zealand are the defending T20 champions, England have home advantage and Australia are Australia. South Africa and the West Indies are improving, too.

Yet Sciver-Brunt knows this is a rare opportunity. It will likely be her only home World Cup, in any format, as England captain, and it offers the chance to write fresh history and leave a lasting mark on the game, just as England’s rugby and football teams did last year. Again – no pressure, then.

“As a fan, I was captured by what they [Lionesses and Red Roses] were doing. And yes, they both went on to win, and obviously that helps. But I think creating that chance to build a new fanbase is also a brilliant opportunity … What a chance we have to grow the game in England. And, as players, to experience that home crowd feeling and the energy that gives you. It’s going to be a really special time.”

One moment in England’s sporting history is even more inspiring to Sciver-Brunt. She was part of that extraordinary 2017 World Cup final which ended with Knight lifting the trophy, a game which undoubtedly fuelled the wave of talent now coming through England’s ranks. When they finally come together as a group this month, after time apart and uncertainty over recent days, Sciver-Brunt knows who she will be seeking out for advice in her quest to reach the final at Lord’s on 5 July.

“That was really early on in Heather’s captaincy career as well so I’ll certainly be drawing on her experience, what made that so special from a captain’s point of view, and how she dealt with all that. That will be one of my first coffees, whenever we get together.”

Get your tickets to see the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup here.

Michael Carrick still has an impressive record as Man Utd head coach this season but it is becoming increasingly difficult for teams to stand out.

Paul Scholes didn’t phrase it particularly well and he missed the bigger issue, but he had a point. Manchester United haven’t been great in the last four games.

But they certainly haven’t been as bad as Scholes made out and seven points from a possible 12 in a run that includes away games at West Ham, Everton and Newcastle isn’t exactly disastrous.

The former United midfielder also picked the wrong target for his criticism. He put the blame on Carrick for United’s struggles, and the problem for Carrick is that others might be reaching for the simplistic conclusion as well.

But that is an issue that goes well beyond the current United head coach. So his side hasn’t been great in the last four games. Which Premier League team has?

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

City and Arsenal have managed 10 points from the last four games, but for City that includes a home draw against Nottingham Forest and scrappy, battling wins against Leeds and Newcastle United. Arsenal drew with Wolves four games ago, won a set-piece bore against Chelsea and have just been criticised for their approach in edging past Brighton.

Liverpool have won three of the last four, but have just lost to Wolves and stole three points from the City Ground against Forest. In short, nobody is playing particularly well this season.

Ruud Gullit said this week he had stopped watching football because he no longer enjoys it and it’s no surprise it was a Premier League game that tipped him over the edge – Arsenal’s win against Chelsea.

The farcical battle for set-piece supremacy this season has dominated headlines recently, but that is only one chapter of a wider story. Every Premier League game has become a battle of duels, with man-to-man marking turning games into 10 individual battles. Win six of them and your chances of winning the game will be stronger.

That makes it difficult for any team to stand out in the Premier League. That only two of the 20 teams are outperforming their xG this season suggests chance creation has been low, and working openings and space from open play has been difficult. United aren’t alone in finding that difficult.

Too many matches are either being decided by set-pieces or are a war of attrition for 75 to 80 minutes, before players get tired and fresh substitutes influence the game, with space eventually opening up.

United’s recent lack of width is a fair criticism, but the games at West Ham, Everton and Newcastle were notable for a lack of space. United scored when they were throwing men forward at the London Stadium, from a rare counter-attack at the Hill Dickinson and from a set-piece at St James’ Park.

This isn’t an issue solely related to them and to Carrick. There is an argument that they deserve more credit than they got for winning an ugly game at Everton. They had one chance to show their quality, and they delivered with a brilliant move for Benjamin Sesko’s goal.

There are questions Carrick has to answer and he will be under pressure to find some answers against Aston Villa, but it takes a partner to dance, and not many teams in the Premier League this season are keen to tango.

Instead, games are becoming a mess of bodies and battles, of stoppages and set-pieces. It feels a bit unfair to be too critical of United, when no team in the league is looking like a slick footballing machine this season.

But this is the reality of Carrick’s situation. He has a limited timeframe in which to impress enough to get the job long-term. Even after defeat to Newcastle, he is still in plenty of credit, and if he can win enough games to finish third, that should be enough.

Some will want to look for someone who might deliver a more inspiring style, such as Luis Enrique or Julian Nagelsmann. But they are benefitting from not having to coach in the Premier League this season. Carrick is, and even if his team wins scrappy games, he should probably get more credit for that.

As a child, Laura Müller dreamed of becoming a Formula 1 driver – inspired by the legendary Michael Schumacher.

“I always watched Formula 1 on Sundays,” the German said in an August 2025 interview published by the auto motor und sport portal. But nobody was taking her seriously back then, and since she didn’t know how to get started in karting, a motor racing career remained nothing more than a dream.

Starting out in Australia

Still, Müller would go on to work her way into Formula 1, becoming the series’ first female race engineer in 2025. 

Her job means she is the main technical and operational link between French driver Esteban Ocon and his car at Team Haas. She got it through sheer willpower, hard work, talent, and meticulous attention to detail.

The starting point – just like the start of the new Formula 1 season –  came down under. At 18, Müller traveled to Australia after graduating from high school, unsure of what to do next.

“I thought to myself: If I can’t become a Formula 1 driver, I’ll just work in Formula 1.”

This was the beginning of a remarkably focused career path.

After completing her mechanical engineering studies, Müller gained her first practical experience as an engineer in 2014, initially through an internship in the DTM (German Touring Car Masters). 

She went on to work in endurance racing, the DTM, the International Formula Series, and the Brazilian Stock Car Championship.

Formula 1’s first female race engineer

In 2022, Müller took her first concrete step towards Formula 1 by applying to then-McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl. Although she made a positive impression, internal restructuring prevented her from being hired.

Instead, the Haas team signed her as a performance engineer. Her main task: optimizing the car’s setup and on-track performance.

Impressed by her work ethic, it was Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu who last year gave her the big break she was after. Since then, she has been his closest contact, the one who makes strategic decisions with him during the race, inspects the track, analyzes data, and determines the car’s setup.

Despite her fame in F1 though, she is not one to seek the limelight, preferring instead to concentrate on her work.

“My responsibility is to make the decisions for my car,” Müller explained.

“I receive all the information from all the departments: from the aerodynamics people, the tire people, the performance engineer, the vehicle dynamics. I then try to translate this information into a decision,” she said. “I simply take a lot of decisions. And many of these decisions have to be taken very quickly.”

‘A decision better than no decision’

As a rule, these decisions are anything but spontaneous, having been thought through ahead of time in an effort to prepare for any foreseeable scenario. There’s simply no time for lengthy deliberation in an emergency.

“A decision is always better than no decision. And if it’s wrong, then it was wrong. But I can only do that because I already have a considerable amount of experience in motorsport,” she said.

“It’s great working with Laura. She’s truly an outstanding engineer,” said Ocon in the spring of 2025, after having worked with her for the first few races of the season.

“The number of hours she invests is very, very impressive.”

New regulations bring greater responsibility

Nevertheless, their first season together didn’t go entirely as planned. Ocon, who joined Haas from the Alpine team at the beginning of 2025, only managed 38 points in 24 races and finished the season 15th out of 20 drivers. Ocon’s teammate, Oliver Bearman, a rookie, ultimately finished three points and two positions ahead of him.

The Haas team is expecting to improve this season partly because of new regulations. This year, the combustion engine and battery will contribute roughly half of the cars’ power. Energy management and energy recovery during the lap – through braking, lifting off the throttle, or downshifting – will therefore be essential for success.

The coordination between driver and race engineer will thus become even more intensive, and Müller’s responsibility even greater, as there are even more details to consider and adjust. For Ocon, this can only be an advantage, given Müller’s expertise.

Turn 6 named after Müller and Schmitz

The German will also receive a special honor at the season opener in Melbourne: Turn 6, the “Marina” of the Albert Park Circuit, will be named after her and Red Bull strategist Hannah Schmitz. The dedication is part of the “In Her Corner” campaign by Australian engineers and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation for International Women’s Day.

The initiative is meant to inspire young people – especially girls – to pursue technical careers.

“To be a part of this acknowledgement so early on in my Formula 1 career is an honour, and I hope it motivates girls and young adults to pursue a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics),” Müller said in a statement on F1’s official website. 

“It’s important to recognize women’s accomplishments in motorsport so far, and it’s great to be alongside Hannah for this.”

Müller aims to continue to inspire young women on Sunday, sitting on the pit wall as she always does, calmly making quick, informed decisions to help deliver success to her Haas team.

This article was originally published in German. 

The VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes offers the juveniles their first genuine test at extending their stamina.

Victorian racing’s marquee two-year-old contest, the Blue Diamond Stakes, concluded last month, redirecting the sprint-oriented youngsters toward Sydney’s Golden Slipper.

From the outset of her preparation, Robbie Griffiths earmarked the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday for his filly Almost An Angel.

Her debut success came over 1000m at Caulfield Heath, but the trainer has maintained that Saturday’s 1400m would prove perfect for her.

Intending a third-up run in the target race, Griffiths saw Almost An Angel diverted to the Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 21 due to campaign dynamics.

“She’s a So You Think and she surprised us on debut winning over the 1000 metres, as well as being a juvenile with enough speed to be competitive in the sprints,” Griffiths said.

“We ran her in the Prelude, and she was super and ran fifth and then in the Diamond, it didn’t work, they went too steady up front and sprinted and she couldn’t match it.

“Going to the 1400 metres and being by So You Think, you would imagine it should be a nice race for her.

“It has always been a target, it was how we got there, whether it was a soft option going to it. We didn’t, we took the biggest option, which just didn’t suit, but the distance here will.”

In 2019, La Tene under James Cummings became the last filly to win the Sires’ Produce Stakes, preceded by Jameka in 2015.

Griffiths pointed out the emphasis on speed in all prior races for Almost An Angel, though many such horses head north to the Slipper.

“The different race structure, differently run, better journey, it gives her a chance to get into the race without having it over and done in a split second,” Griffiths said.

“We always intended to target this race third-up, so I’ve always felt she has had enough fuel left, but we’ll wait and see how she goes on Saturday whether we then go to Sydney.”

For the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, punters should review racing betting markets available now.

Dustin Rhodes was lifted onto the shoulders of his pro wrestling colleagues when he won the vacated All Elite Wrestling (AEW) TNT Championship at All In, outlasting Sammy Guevara, Daniel Garcia and Kyle Fletcher.

But Rhodes’ reign only lasted 19 days as he dropped the title to Fletcher on July 31 and later revealed that he needed double knee replacement surgery. He was also forced to vacate the Ring of Honor Six-Man and Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championships.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Dustin Rhodes enters the ring during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling – Wrestle Dynasty at Tokyo Dome on Jan. 5, 2025, in Tokyo, Japan. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

As Rhodes nears the eight-month mark since he’s been in an AEW ring, he suggested to Fox News Digital in a recent interview that his return is close.

“I just had double knee replacements. So, they’re brand-new knees. They’re feeling pretty good. It’s a little tired today from all the walking – this is such a huge venue,” he said after his dog, Beast, finished in third place at a dog show competition in the United Kingdom. “But probably two weeks, three weeks I’ll be back – TBS, TNT, HBO Max.”

Rhodes will be returning to an AEW that’s been on fire since the start of the year and is speeding into its Revolution pay-per-view.

Dustin Rhodes celebrates the AEW TNT Championship win at All In: Texas on July 12, 2025. (Ricky Havlik/AEW)

AEW has solidified itself as one of the top promotions in North America, let alone the world, due to the talent on the roster and the wrestling that goes on in the ring.

“I think it’s the fact that we’re just not all entertainment,” he told Fox News Digital. “We are about wrestling, about putting on the best matches that we possibly can. It’s the alternative to WWE. I was with WWE for 24 years, and I’ve been with AEW for seven now, going on eight. I’m gonna finish here and retire in the next couple of years. And then there’s still work behind the scenes as a producer.

“I love it. It’s great. My boss, Tony Khan, and Shad Khan, the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulton Football Club over here, we’re doing amazing. We’re growing year by year. It’s where the best wrestle. We do have entertainment segments but the majority of it is just all wrestling. That’s what’s different than the WWE product.”

Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara celebrate the victory during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling – Wrestle Dynasty at Tokyo Dome on Jan. 5, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Revolution is set to take place on March 15 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Related Article

Man Utd have announced a change to the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand for the beginning of the 2026/2027 season.

Manchester United will relocate a small number of season ticket holders in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand due to the installation of additional hospitality seats. The change follows last summer’s decision to relocate around 500 fans who were sitting behind the dugouts to install premium hospitality seats.

Last season, season ticket holders behind the dugouts in the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand were informed their seats would be converted into hospitality seating, which meant they would be relocated.

On Friday morning, United confirmed a further ‘small number’ of fans would be relocated to accommodate more premium hospitality seating. The club have made the change due to the ‘high value’ of the location, as well as being required to undertake dugout works ahead of their next European campaign.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

United have said the fans will be relocated to the best possible lower-tier location, but the club will be braced for further backlash, following protests from supporters in the same area last season.

Last year, the Manchester Evening News were told a supporter in his 60s struggled to sleep after being informed he would be required to move, while another in his 80s expected to give up his season ticket due to concerns over access.

The decision triggered protests from the impacted fans, who aimed banners at the directors’ box. Despite the controversy, the changes to convert the area into premium seating went ahead last summer.

The seats are near the pitch and offer easy access in and out of the stadium. They also offer a close view of the managers on the touchline, while the players on the bench are almost within touching distance.

Defending their decision, United previously explained it was made to ‘reflect the high value of this unique location.’ They also claimed that they “Appreciate the disruption this will cause those fans who currently sit there and we will be contacting them individually to ensure a suitable alternative seat is found.”

Man Utd announced a welcome update for European away games when season ticket prices for 2026/2027 were confirmed.

Manchester United will re-introduce ticket collections for European away games, subject to qualification. United made the unpopular decision to scrap European away ticket collections in 2024.

United fans had previously picked up their match tickets in the country where the fixture was being played, meaning club staff would be sent to designated collection points to hand out tickets to fans with valid identification.

It was viewed as a successful system that prevented fans from buying tickets to inflate their credits without actually attending the match. It also stopped supporters from buying tickets with the intention of immediately selling them for credits. But United scrapped the system in 2024/2025 as a direct result of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s decision to axe 250 jobs at the club.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

On Friday morning, United revealed season ticket prices for 2026/2027. Along with the announcement, club sources confirmed European away ticket collections will be reintroduced.

United fans were deeply unhappy with the scrapping of away collections and challenged representatives from the club on the issue at fans’ forums, where it had been a prominent discussion point.

Club chiefs have announced that European away collections will be restored following supporter feedback. United have also confirmed they will share ticket allocation and ballot data on their website.

United are well-placed to secure Champions League football thanks to Michael Carrick’s impact. The Reds are third in the Premier League, and fifth place is expected to be enough to qualify for Europe’s elite competition.

United failed to qualify for Europe for this season and were knocked out of both domestic cups at the first hurdle, which means they will play just 40 games, their fewest in a campaign since 1914/15.

Trish Stratus has dropped a bombshell about a WWE finale. Despite not being an active member of the roster and having retired years ago, Stratus hasn’t had a proper farewell in WWE.

She has continued to make part-time appearances in the company and even competed in the women’s Royal Rumble match in 2025.

Last year, she teamed up with Tiffany Stratton during her feud with Nia Jax and Candice LeRae. The Hall of Famer also faced the Buff Barbie for the WWE Women’s Championship at Evolution 2.

Since the loss in that match, Stratus hasn’t made any in-ring appearances in WWE. In a recent interview with Wrestlezone, the veteran revealed that there were more plans for her following the Title match.

However, after her mother got sick and then tragically passed away, those plans had to be dropped. Stratus mentioned that she is still looking for closure to her WWE career and teased one more run.

“So, I do think there should be a bit of a finale moment. I’m very much about closure. So I feel like that I would need a little bit of closure. And I think maybe you guys need some closure on your Stratusfaction as well. Maybe,” she said.

Trish Stratus set for big appearance on the Road to WrestleMania

While it remains to be seen when Trish Stratus gets her WWE finale, she is set to make a major appearance during WrestleMania weekend in April.

A few weeks ago, it was announced that she will be at the Flanker restaurant from April 13 to 20 to meet fans.

The restaurant made the announcement on Instagram, and the former WWE Women’s Champion responded to the news in the comments section of the post.

She noted that she was looking forward to the occasion and reminded fans to keep their calendars open.