Jos Buttler and Joe Root of England (Getty Images)

England have promoted Jacob Bethell to open the batting alongside Ben Duckett for the first ODI against India at Edgbaston on Tuesday, while experienced wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler is set to celebrate a major career milestone with his 200th appearance in the format.The move sees Bethell entrusted with a key role at the top of the order as England continue their search for a settled opening combination. The left-hander, who has featured in 21 ODIs, will become Duckett’s fifth opening partner in recent times after Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Zak Crawley and Rehan Ahmed. Harry Brook’s side have also opted for a spin-heavy attack to counter India’s formidable batting unit of Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. Will Jacks, Liam Dawson and veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid have all been included in the playing XI.England have also recalled Jofra Archer to their ODI side for the first time since November last year. Archer returns after impressing during England’s 4-0 T20I series victory and will lead the pace attack alongside Josh Tongue, with Gus Atkinson missing out on selection.The match will be a landmark occasion for Buttler, who is set to become only the latest England player to reach 200 ODIs. Since making his debut against Pakistan in Dubai on February 21, 2012, the wicketkeeper-batter has scored 5,515 runs at an average of 39.11, including 11 centuries and 29 half-centuries.The three-match ODI series will continue in Cardiff on July 16 before concluding at Lord’s on July 19.England XI: Jacob Bethell, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue and Adil Rashid.

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From the show

World Cup Debrief

Reading time
1 min

Les Bleus have arrived in Dallas, where they will take on the European champions for a place in the World Cup final. Both sides are expected to face their toughest test yet, with Spain having conceded just one goal so far, while France have kept clean sheets in each of their last three matches.

It’s been a good summer to be the world No 114. First Maja Chwalinska produced one of tennis’ great fairytale stories to reach the French Open final as a qualifier, winning nine matches in a row to get there; then Britain’s Arthur Fery embarked on a similarly unpredictable run to the Wimbledon semi-finals as a wildcard.

But while Fery’s magical run has stolen the headlines and the hearts of punters around Wimbledon, it stands in stark contrast to the overall performance of the home nation. Only a week before the wildcard’s astonishing win over Grigor Dimitrov in a five-set thriller, Britain endured its worst-ever opening day at Wimbledon, with 10 defeats from 10 matches.

All in all 15 Britons were to fall in the first round. Some of those were wildcards or qualifiers who simply ran into far superior opposition; others, including some of Britain’s best players, utterly failed to take the golden chance offered to them. There is a wider crisis in British tennis; Fery’s feelgood run has simply papered over the cracks.

Since Andy Murray’s retirement British tennis has been led by Cameron Norrie, usually a dependable, solid player who was left bitterly disappointed by a first-round exit. In his absence there is little leadership among the Brits on the men’s tour, which is largely populated by talented if injury-prone athletes who are yet to turn themselves into consistent features at big tournaments, or the women’s, which has the odd top-50 presence but is mostly top-100 players who have probably reached their ceiling.

It’s not like there are no Brits at all – there are 19 men in the top 300, a good return – but few have been able to truly break through, or stay there, and the gulf between winning at Challenger level – as three Brits did this weekend – and on the ATP Tour is mighty.

Despite having much more financial might, particularly as the host of a grand slam which generates a huge chunk of overall Tour revenue, the UK’s tennis system is light-years behind the likes of Italy (eight men in the top 100, including five-time major winner Jannik Sinner, grand slam semi-finalist Matteo Arnaldi and French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli) on the men’s side or Czechia (nine in the top 100 and three of the last four Wimbledon champions) on the women’s.

There are lessons to be drawn from those countries, but also from much closer to home: the scarcely believable success story which is British men’s doubles. For the last four years running a Brit has won the Wimbledon title; last year it was two, Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool. There are five British men in the world’s top 20 and they frequently battle for the top titles, notably at the ATP Finals last year, where all of those five made the semi-finals. Their success is owed in part to the highly regarded Louis Cayer, the national men’s doubles coach – the only one in existence.

One could point simply to luck of the draw: you can’t manufacture a tennis prodigy out of thin air, and there’s nothing to be done about once-in-a-generation talents cropping up elsewhere in Europe. But a lot of it comes down to the environment players are raised in and the access they have to opportunity.

Some would suggest the fact that promising young players are recruited to the National Academy in Loughborough, and the nature of the centralised model the LTA has recently opted for, have weakened grassroots tennis. Few local clubs are given the resources to produce top players in the manner in which clubs across Europe’s tennis behemoths do, while children who aren’t talent-spotted at a young age can fall through the cracks without the opportunity to develop. There is little investment in coaching and clubs at a micro level, with the inevitable result that young players who can’t afford or access expensive coaching, top-class facilities, or regular, quality tournament fields go by the wayside.

And it hardly bodes well for the health of the centralised system that most of the top British players of the current era, rather than progressing all the way through that pathway, went to college in the US. Norrie paved the way in playing college tennis at Texas Christian University, which Jacob Fearnley also attended, while Fery progressed to the professional tour via a tennis scholarship to Stanford, where he became the top-ranked college player in the States. Andy Murray famously joined Barcelona’s Sanchez-Casal Academy as a teen and grew up training in Spain rather than in the UK. It hardly inspires confidence in a system if players choose to leave it in their droves – and if they achieve greater things than those staying behind.

And there are concerns over the durability of home players, too. Jack Draper is capable of astonishing highs, reaching a peak ranking of fourth in the world last year, but since then he has been consigned to the treatment room with a series of worrying injuries, having already endured numerous injury layoffs earlier in his budding career. The litany of injuries Emma Raducanu has had to deal with could fill an entire book. Another promising Brit, Sonay Kartal, has missed the entire clay and grass swings with a troublesome back injury. Perhaps it is simply awkward timing, a strange coincidence; but few other countries have half their top talent laid off at the same time.

There are further awkward questions to be asked, too. Until Fery’s glorious run, discussions about wildcards at Wimbledon largely centred around Dan Evans, the retiring hero who was not granted a proper send-off at his home slam, his career instead coming to an end on the lowkey Court 15 alongside doubles partner Henry Searle.

He lambasted the LTA for “not having the minerals” to tell him explicitly why he wasn’t given a singles wildcard (the governing body advises the AELTC on its wildcard selection), and for its failure to wish him well on his retirement in person. It all added to the impression of a governing body locked away in an ivory tower, interested in bottom lines rather than nurturing players both young and old.

Perhaps this is unfair, but sport is a results-based business, and those results aren’t forthcoming. Fery’s run to the semi-finals is a stunning achievement and not to be trifled with. But it shouldn’t obscure the deeper issues within British tennis, which cannot be solved by one young starlet having a dazzling breakout run every few years. Instead, it should be the catalyst to turn those runs into sustained success and consistency at the top, to put Britain’s talent among the tennis elite.

Brendon McCullum has apologised to English cricket fans for falling short as Test head coach, accepting that “it’s time for someone else to have a go”.

McCullum will remain in charge of the limited-overs set-up but was axed from the red-ball role he had held since 2022 after overseeing seven defeats in the last nine matches.

The New Zealander was euphemistically said to have “stood down” in an official England and Wales Cricket Board statement released on Sunday, but was quick to admit that he had been pushed.

“Yeah, I got a tap on the shoulder,” he said.

“I was disappointed but at the same time I fully respect the decision. We’re in a results business and fundamentally our results weren’t good enough. It’s time for someone else to have a go.

“We didn’t always get it right. For that, I put my hand up and say we weren’t able to get there.”

A 2-1 defeat to New Zealand spelled the end of his Test tenure but he was already hanging by a thread in the aftermath of a chaotic 4-1 defeat in the Ashes over the winter.

That extended a poor record in the flagship contests against the other members of the so-called ‘big three’, losing away to Australia and India and drawing 2-2 against both on home soil.

“We just weren’t quite able to win those big series, against India and Australia, the two marquee series. We just weren’t able to get the results and for that I guess I can only say sorry,” he said.

“I was the leader of that group. I was in charge of the team culturally, in charge of the team tactically, in charge of the team results-wise as well.

“If you don’t get the results, being a results business, fundamentally you get replaced. I’m not unaccustomed to that, I’ve been around this game for 20-odd years and I know if you aren’t getting the results, someone else needs an opportunity.

“I put my hand up for that and accept it wasn’t good enough.”

PA

“I’ve admired Lewis for a long time and tried to sign him at previous clubs, but I wasn’t in a position to afford him.

“He’s consistently impressed us whenever we’ve watched him, but what really stood out was that the numbers backed up exactly what our eyes were telling us.”

Overall, Smith played 81 times for Livingston, scoring 12 goals, seven of them last season, and contributed 12 assists.

“Some of the performance data our recruitment department track placed him among the best wide players in the Premiership last season,” Robinson said.

“We can all overlook what’s right on the doorstep at times. Lewis has proved over several years that he can perform consistently in this league and we believe there is still plenty more to come from him.

“Dons fans can expect an energetic, attack-minded winger who is deceptively quick, works tirelessly for the team, is comfortable with either foot and carries a genuine goal threat.

“He finished as Livingston’s leading league goalscorer last season despite playing predominantly in the wide area, which tells you a lot about the attacking qualities he’ll bring.”

An “excited” Smith pointed out that he had made his Hamilton debut at Pittodrie and believes “I’ve got a lot more to give” for his new club.

Smith, who came through Accies’ youth ranks, signed a two-year contract when moving to West Lothian in 2024, but that was extended until summer 2027 after a season.

Livingston sporting director David Martindale said the sale proved their player trading model was working.

“We signed Lewis on a pre-contract when he was with Hamilton in League 1 and that’s a strategy we’d obviously like to continue going forward,” he told his club website.

“We’re in a good place at the moment and, subject to a Governing Body Endorsement, we’ll be announcing Smithy’s replacement very soon. He was identified early on in anticipation that Lewis could move.”

Smith’s arrival at Pittodrie comes on the same day Aberdeen sold striker Marko Lazetic to Armenian Premier League runners-up Noah for an undisclosed fee.

The French football team arrived in Dallas on July 12 ahead of their semifinal World Cup fixture against Spain. France reached the last four with a 2-0 victory against Morocco while Spain beat Belgium 2-1 in their quarter-final. While France are the favourites by a slim margin, Spain have had the better of Les Bleus in recent encounters, beating them in the 2024 Euros as well as in last year’s Nations League semi-finals.

England are set to face Argentina in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night – but the kick-off time could be delayed again

England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina could be set for lengthy delays after severe thunderstorms were forecast to hit Georgia on Wednesday. Thomas Tuchel’s side are due to face the reigning world champions at the Atlanta Stadium, with kick-off schedule for 8pm BST (3pm local time).

However, weather forecasts suggest lightning and thunderstorms could strike the city throughout the afternoon and into the early evening, potentially causing a disrupted start to one of the most highly-anticipated matches of the tournament. Under US safety legislation, play cannot begin or continue if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium, regardless of whether the match is being played under a roof.

Although Atlanta Stadium’s retractable roof will remain closed, officials are obliged to consider the safety of supporters, staff and players when outside the venue. Any lightning strike within the eight-mile perimeter would trigger an immediate suspension, with play only able to restart when 30 minutes have passed without further strikes.

The 30-minute countdown restarts every time a strike is detected, meaning a wave of stormy weather could cause significant delays. Once the all-clear is eventually given, both teams would also require around 15 minutes to warm-up.

That means England’s clash against Lionel Messi, who will face the Three Lions for the very first time, could be pushed back several hours. It would not be the first occasion England have been affected by thunder and lightning at this tournament.

The kick-off in their last 16 encounter with Mexico was delayed by an hour, with the match eventually getting underway at 2pm UK time. There had been speculation that kick-off would be moved forward to 7pm UK time from its scheduled 1am slot, but FIFA decided against the change.

England’s final preparation match for the World Cup was also affected by thunderstorms, postponing kick-off. The extreme weather has been a significant topic of discussion throughout the competition, with England’s quarter-final victory against Norway occurring in 33 degree heat.

England manager Tuchel was dissatisfied with his team’s display in that triumph, though star player Jude Bellingham defended the squad in his post-match interview.

“Maybe he [Tuchel] doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those conditions against [Erling] Haaland, [Martin] Odegaard, [Antonio] Nusa and [Alexander] Sorloth,” Bellingham said post-match. “They’re not an easy team to play against.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the lads. You can’t win every game popping the ball and making 1,000 passes, sometimes you have to win dirty and we did that today.”

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca will not officially meet his new players until next week while two of his rivals hold press conferences

Enzo Maresca will have to wait a few more days before getting to start on the training pitches with his Manchester City players. The nature of so many of his first team squad being at the World Cup meant that it would have been daft to drag anyone in earlier than necessary ahead of another lengthy campaign.

Other clubs are already up and running though, with Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso both kicking off their new eras at Liverpool and Chelsea respectively. Add in the fact that Michael Carrick and Roberto De Zerbi will be starting their first full seasons in charge at United and Tottenham, and there are plenty of unknowns among the biggest clubs.

Not that Iraola or Alonso are strangers to City, having managed against them last season and building their reputations in the game. They will be looking to offer fresh starts at their clubs to bounce them back into success, and City have to be wary of that.

At the same time, the only reason both are where they are is because the two clubs got themselves into a big mess. Chelsea spectacularly fell out with Maresca and then made a hash of his replacement Liam Rosenior, who only lasted a few months before being sacked.

Liverpool’s title-winning team fell apart spectacularly, not least because it is not yet a year since they were widely seen to have delivered one of the best transfer windows in recent memory. Their big-money signings failed to meet expectations and that has seen not just Arne Slot leave but also chief executive of football Michael Edwards, while sporting director Richard Hughes is also expected to go in the next year.

At both Anfield and Stamford Bridge then, there is an unusual amount of chaos that Iraola and Alonso have walked into. The two are excellent coaches but City and then Arsenal have shown over the last 15 years that it takes more than that to make a club consistently successful.

That is a useful reminder for City as Maresca gets to work. Nobody is expecting the Italian to be able to replicate what Pep Guardiola did, but if expectations naturally lower he has plenty going in his favour and that includes the state of rival clubs.

There should be plenty of positives to come out of Merseyside and West London on Monday as the new managers say all the right things about what they want their time at the clubs to be about. Making that a reality is much harder though, and Maresca is coming in with the advantage of coming in on the back of success rather than disaster.

City will be later back this summer, but already have the headstart from how they have handed over to their new coach.