The England captain will bring an extraordinary international career to a close following the Rothesay Series decider against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Stokes informed his England teammates in the dressing room on the morning of day four in Nottingham.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) then made the announcement publicly while Stokes was on the field, in the midst of an 11-over bowling spell, as he endeavoured to bring England back into contention in the final Test of the series, which currently stands at 1-1.
Former team-mate Stuart Broad said on commentary for Sky Sports: “(He is) a talisman of English cricket. He will be remembered wearing that Three Lions with a crown on top very proudly.
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“A complete match-winner, someone that won’t look at the numbers, look at the moments of his career.
“Someone that’s always there in the big moments of games, giving absolutely everything.”
Stuart Broad, right, hailed Ben Stokes’ impact on England cricket (Martin Rickett/PA)
Stokes fittingly went on to take a wicket with his first ball after the news was made public, catching the edge of Zak Foulkes and Harry Brook gobbling up a low chance at second slip.
Broad added: “What a magical moment. Who writes his scripts?”
England and Wales Cricket Board chair Richard Thompson was also full of praise for the two-time World Cup winner.
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Thompson said: “Ben Stokes leaves the international game as one of England’s greatest ever cricketers and one of the defining figures of his generation.
“His performances under pressure, his relentless competitiveness and his ability to produce the extraordinary when it matters most have given me and millions of other fans memories that will endure forever.
“Whether inspiring victory in the biggest moments – not least driving England to World Cup wins in 2019 and 2022 and his heroic Ashes innings at Headingley – or leading the Test team with courage and conviction, Ben has been a talismanic figure in English cricket.
“Beyond his remarkable achievements on the field, his performances have inspired many youngsters to embrace cricket with positivity and belief. We are losing a batsman, a bowler, a captain and a talisman.”
The 35-year-old was suspended for one Test match by the ECB and told senior figures he was considering his long-term future, before returning to the team for the third Test.
Vikings rookie safety Jakobe Thomas runs through minicamp work on the practice field in Eagan. The young defensive back continued learning Brian Flores’ system while competing for a roster spot and possible special teams role before training camp. June 2026. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The Minnesota Vikings will shave their roster from 90 players to 53 in two months and reveal a depth chart for 2026 around the same time. So, it’s time to contemplate some players who could shock the world and beat the odds, sneaking into the starting lineup.
Of course, the following three men are long shots for starter’s duty in 2026, but they cannot be ruled out.
Possible Vikings Starters You’re Not Thinking About
Cincinnati offensive lineman Gavin Gerhardt answers questions from reporters during Big 12 Football Media Days on July 8, 2025, at The Star in Frisco, Texas. The interior blocker represented the Bearcats in front of assembled media members while discussing the upcoming season and continuing his pre-draft profile before his eventual NFL opportunity. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
1. Gavin Gerhardt | C
After the draft, the Vikings claimed that they had zeroed in on Gerhardt as “their guy” at center all along during the build-up to the event. That must be true because Rob Brzezinski and Kevin O’Connell turned down four opportunities to draft Jake Slaughter, Logan Jones, Sam Hecht, and Connor Lews — the “Big Four” from the class.
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The Vikings, in need of a new center after Ryan Kelly’s retirement, also opted against pursuing high-profile free agents at the position. Instead, they are entrusting the starting role to Blake Brandel, whose impressive performance as a fill-in last season convinced coaches he earned the first opportunity.
The decision, in theory, could create an opening for Gerhardt.
Given that 7th-Round picks rarely become starters, training camp will reveal whether Gerhardt is a legitimate contender or simply another late-round hopeful who doesn’t secure a spot.
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There’s a chance, though slim, that Gerhardt balls out as a natural center, dethroning Brandel, who is a little good at a lot of OL positions. Sometimes, mid- and late-round interior offensive linemen are easier to identify and scout than other positions.
2. James Pierre | CB
Based on his 2025 numbers — an absolutely phenomenal 86.8 Pro Football Focus grade — Pierre should start as one of the Vikings’ main two cornerbacks, ousting Isaiah Rodgers from his spot. But the way that the depth chart is currently set up, Pierre profiles more as the CB3.
Rodgers authored a fantastic game in 2025 — the win over the Cincinnati Bengals when Rodgers turned in one of the best individual performances in Vikings and NFL history — and generally played well during Year No. 1 with the Vikings.
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It’s just that Pierre was better in Pittsburgh in a slightly smaller sample.
This one would be a huge upset, but before 2025, no one knew if Rodgers would pan out in Minnesota. He has and deserves to start. Pierre, though, might be too good to bench.
If Pierre wins the job over Rodgers, it will be because he’s flat-out a better cover corner.
Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) turns upfield against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) during the second half on Jan. 12, 2026, at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. The veteran wideout worked through AFC Wild Card contact while trying to extend Houston’s postseason offense on the road in elimination football. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
Zone Coverage‘s Trevor Ripley noted on Pierre last week, “Pierre likely projects as that CB3, with some opportunity to also affect the game on special teams. His age, plus a track record of only half a season of elite production, bode poorly for a significant workload increase. Something like 400 snaps or so, similar to last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is probably a good starting point for Pierre, who could rotate in and out with rookie linebacker Jake Golday as that 11th defender.”
“Still, Pierre will be a valuable addition, even in a modest role, compared to what the Vikings threw out at cornerback last season. He’s shown he has the capabilities, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Isaiah Rodgers lose some footing to Pierre at some point.”
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3. Jakobe Thomas | S
Remember the Jonathan Greenard trade on the second night of the draft? The Vikings used the first pick from that transaction to select Thomas, a brand new safety.
If Harrison Smith does not return — that verdict is up in the air — the safety room has question marks, leaving fans to wonder who might start on Sundays: Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, or Jakobe Jackson. It’s been a while since a rookie defensive back barnstormed the summer to start in September, so much so that one could argue it’s overdue.
Miami Hurricanes defensive back Jakobe Thomas (8) works against the Indiana Hoosiers during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Jan. 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The defensive back competed on the sport’s biggest college stage while continuing to build his profile for NFL evaluators. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
Thomas starting will be moot if Smith returns, but there remains a chance if Smith retires or simply never returns. The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler on Thomas: “Thomas is a passionate competitor, which can lead to missteps but will also put him in position to play fast and make plays. He has the floor of a special-teamer and the potential to earn a starting role.”
And on his skill set: “Adequate frame for the position with room to add more bulk. Fast and physical attacking gaps in the run game. Runs the alley with conviction and fearless throwing his body around. Sticks his hat into the midsection of his target and drives through. Understands spacing in zone looks where he can track the quarterback’s eyes. Finished interceptions he got his hands on. Miami liked to blitz the safeties, and Thomas flourished in this area.”
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No matter what, Thomas will get playing sooner rather than later.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Prince Yadav had a memorable outing in the second T20I between India and Ireland. The pacer made his international debut in the format on Sunday, June 28, in Belfast.
He struck in his second over to claim his maiden T20I wicket, dismissing Ireland skipper Lorcan Tucker. Prince came on to bowl the final over of the innings as India bowled first. He claimed two wickets in the over to give the team a solid finish.
On the fourth ball, he first got rid of Harry Tector, who made 53 runs off 47 balls. He then struck again on the last ball, sending Liam McCarthy back to the hut. Prince ended with magnificent figures of 3/22 from four overs on his T20I debut.
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Fans lauded the pacer on social media for his impressive performance with the ball.
“Excellent bowling by Prince yadav. Prince has a top notch yorker, he will be match winner like Bumrah for India in the white ball cricket,” a fan tweeted.
“What a memorable debut from Prince Yadav. He has all the ingredients to become legend of this format like Bumrah. He can swing the ball, has good cutters and also has good control over yorkers. Most Importantly he doesn’t leak runs like Arshdeep, Prasidh and Harshit Rana,” another fan wrote.
Below are some other reactions from fans on X –
India restricted Ireland to 154/8 from their 20 overs. Having lost the opening T20I of the two-match series, the Men in Blue are in a must-win position to draw level.
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Prince Yadav’s figures stand among the best on T20I debut for an Indian pacer
Having impressed in the IPL 2026 season, with a solid performance in domestic cricket, Prince has carried his form on the international stage as well. His figures of 3/22 on T20I debut stand among the best by an Indian pacer.
Barinder Sran leads this list with figures of 4/10 against Zimbabwe in 2016. Shivam Mavi follows with 4/22 against Sri Lanka in 2023. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/9), Navdeep Saini (3/17), Prince Yadav (3/22), and Jasprit Bumrah (3/23) all have three wickets on their T20I debuts.
Prince will next be seen in action during the upcoming T20I series in England in July, where India will play five T20Is.
As we’re just days away from July, this is just about the time in Major League Baseball that the rumor mill really starts churning in terms of trades. The trade deadline this season is Aug. 3, so we’re just over a month away. Part of the issue right now is that nearly every team is within earshot of contention. Only six teams are more than five games out of a playoff spot and every clubhouse within five games of a playoff berth believes it can make a run.
On that note, let’s dive into the latest rumors.
Orioles looking to buy
As noted, so many teams are technically in contention. Take the Orioles. They are six games under .500, sitting in fourth place in the AL East and still are only 2 ½ games out of the third American League wild-card spot. Remember, this was one of the worst teams in baseball from 2018-21 before making the playoffs in both 2023 and 2024, so this isn’t a situation where the front office is looking to rebuild or anything.
Sure enough, president of baseball operations Mike Elias made no secret of the Orioles’ plans in front of the deadline.
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“I know our record is backwards, but apparently, this is infecting a whole bunch of other teams, too. I can’t explain it,” Elias said Saturday (via MLB.com). “I wish we were arriving at that in a much different way, and the context around that is unusual. But we’re right there.
“So, we’re going for it. I’ll let you know if that changes.”
In terms of possibly being aggressive in trades to win right now, he said:
“I really hope so. We’re planning that way in case it’s the case. But I’m going to have to look at the circumstances and what happens, and I will be doing the right thing for the franchise regardless of everything else. So we’re going to have to see what the standings are and what our team is looking like at that time.
“But we’re certainly making those preparations, and everybody in this building is in the mindset of going for it in 2026.”
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The big takeaway here? There are only seven teams with a worse record than the Orioles right now and the O’s are hoping to get aggressive in win-now mode. It’s gonna be a seller’s market.
Angels up in the air
One of the teams definitely in a position to sell would be the Angels. Just a few days ago, they fired general manager Perry Minasian and handed the reins to former Cardinals boss John Mozeliak.
The Angels could have a fruitful sell-off this next month, in theory. The big prize would obviously be Mike Trout, if he decides he’s OK with being traded, but there’s more. Jorge Soler is a free agent after the season and once moved at a deadline and won World Series MVP. Jo Adell hit 37 home runs last season and is a free agent after next year. Reid Detmers is under team control for two more years and is cheap. Same with catcher Logan O’Hoppe. Yusei Kikuchi could be a buy-low candidate (he’s due a bit over $21 million next season before hitting free agency). The big fish in terms of what lands the most in a trade could be starter José Soriano. That said, the Angels may be standing pat instead, as owner Arte Moreno wants to hang on to Detmers, Soriano and Adell, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported last week.
For Mozeliak, though, he’s not sure which way the wind will blow yet (or, at least, he’s not saying it out loud).
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“My answer now is that I don’t know the answer to that,” Mozeliak said. “In time, I think we will come up with a trade deadline strategy that we are all comfortable with.”
Hey, he just took over and the deadline is more than a month away. Keep your eyes on this one.
Serena Williams returns to grand slam tennis for 2026 Wimbledon, marking her first major since the 2022 US Open. Williams is a seven-time Wimbledon champion and is seeking a record-tying 24th grand slam title. The 44-year-old headlines a 2026 Wimbledon women’s draw that features Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek as the top three seeds. How far should you have each of them advancing with your 2026 Wimbledon bets?
Sabalenka, who has never made the Wimbledon final, is the +350 favorite in the 2026 Wimbledon women’s odds. She is followed by Elena Rybakina (+550), Iga Swiatek (10-1) and Jessica Pegula (10-1), with Coco Gauff at 13-1 on the tennis odds board, while Williams is a 55-1 longshot. The main draw begins on Monday, with Williams facing Australian Maya Joint in the first round on Tuesday. Before making any 2026 Wimbledon women’s picks, you need to see who proven SportsLine tennis handicapper Jose Onorato is backing.
Onorato grew up playing competitive tennis in Caracas, Venezuela. After coming to the U.S., he trained with famed coach Nick Bollettieri at IMG Academy in Florida and faced players like Robert Farah, now one of the world’s top-ranked doubles players.
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Onorato has gone 168-106-8 (+107.12 units) on his best bets since 2022. He correctly called Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open (+160), Carlos Alcaraz (+130) in the 2025 French Open and Sinner again at 2025 Wimbledon (+180). He also called Coco Gauff (+700) in the 2025 French Open and Iga Swiatek (+1200) at 2025 Wimbledon. This year, he nailed Alexander Zverev (+700) in the 2026 French Open. Anybody following his tennis betting picks at sportsbooks and on betting sites could have seen strong returns.
Onorato has analyzed Serena Williams’ chances of making a run at Wimbledon. “The most remarkable story heading into Wimbledon 2026 has nothing to do with seeds or favorites. Serena Williams, 44, accepted a wild card into the singles draw, marking her first Grand Slam singles appearance since the 2022 US Open. The comeback has unfolded in stages — first a doubles return at Queen’s Club alongside Victoria Mboko, then a first-round loss partnering Karolina Muchova in Berlin — before Wimbledon offered her a singles spot at the tournament where she’s won seven titles, more than anyone in the modern era besides Martina Navratilova,” Onorato said.
“Whatever happens, she’s already made history just by stepping onto the grass: a win in any round would make her the third-oldest woman to win a Wimbledon singles match, and she’s two victories away from her 100th career win at the All England Club. Grass is genuinely the kindest surface for a comeback at her age — the points are shorter, her serve still plays, and there’s less reliance on the lateral movement and extended rallies that erode first with time.
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“That said, nearly four years away from elite singles competition is an enormous gap to close, even for someone with her résumé, and her own framing has been refreshingly low-pressure: this is about her daughters seeing her compete, not about chasing a 24th major. A first-round win is realistic. A deep run would be one of the greatest stories in the sport’s history, but it’s a true long shot given the layoff. Either way, Centre Court will be watching her every step.” See who Onorato is backing to win the tournament here.
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Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues involved in heated staredown (Screengrabs)
NEW DELHI: India’s must-win Women’s T20 World Cup clash against Australia saw emotions run high as close friends Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues were involved in a heated exchange following a costly mix-up in the middle.India got off to a solid start, with openers Smriti Mandhana (38) and Shafali Verma (34) putting together a 66-run partnership. However, after Shafali’s dismissal, a communication error between Mandhana and Jemimah led to the former’s run-out at a crucial stage of the innings.The incident happened in the 12th over when Jemimah played a reverse sweep off Georgia Wareham towards short third man. Mandhana called for a quick single and set off immediately, but Jemimah was watching the ball and did not respond in time. Australia quickly capitalised on the opportunity, and Mandhana was run out after a direct throw reached the bowler.As Mandhana walked back to the pavilion, both players appeared visibly frustrated and exchanged angry looks. Watch:Although Mandhana later apologised, the incident briefly sparked a tense moment between the two teammates, who share a close bond off the field.
‘That’s part of the game. We moved on pretty quickly’: Mandhana
Despite the middle-order struggles, captain Harmanpreet Kaur produced a sensational innings, smashing 56 runs off just 27 balls to guide India to 170/4. Her explosive batting in the final over, which included three consecutive sixes off Australian captain Sophie Molineux, helped India score 36 runs in the last two overs.Reflecting on the innings and the run-out, Mandhana downplayed the incident. She said, “Yeah, I mean, it happens. That’s part of the game. We moved on pretty quickly.”With their semifinal hopes hanging in the balance, India will now look to defend what appears to be a competitive total against the six-time champions.
Tom Brady has criticized the NFL’s fine system, saying players can lose huge portions of their salary for on-field mistakes as debate over league discipline continues.
A report from Italy claimed Man Utd midfielder Mason Mount has been offered to AC Milan in the transfer window.
There has been no contact between AC Milan and Mason Mount’s camp, despite a report from Italy claiming the Manchester United midfielder had been offered to the Italian club.
Former United head coach Ruben Amorim was recently appointed by Milan. Amorim was a huge admirer of Mount during his time in charge at Old Trafford, but the 27-year-old is expected to stay put in Manchester.
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Sources close to Mount were surprised to read a claim that he had been offered to Milan this weekend. Mount has been busy training in Spain with an individual coach before United’s players are called back to Carrington to report for pre-season. He is focused on getting the new campaign off to a good start.
United’s schedule will return to normal in 2026/2027 as the club competes in four competitions – the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup – and Mount is seen as an important senior player.
Mount started his first game under Michael Carrick against Sunderland in May, and was handed another start on the final day of the campaign against Brighton.
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The Portsmouth-born lad picked up a small injury in training after Carrick’s second game in charge against Arsenal, which meant he was sidelined until mid-March.
Mount enjoyed his most consistent run of form in a United shirt in the first half of last season, scoring goals against Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Wolves in Amorim’s system.
After Mount scored against Wolves at Molineux, Amorim praised him for being able to “defend and attack”, and said that he’d become a leader in the dressing room by leading by example on the pitch.
Carrick has insisted there is a place for Mount in his plans. “I like Mason a lot, and he’s an important player for this team and this club,” he said in January.
Greg Eurell may have a smart two-year-old on his hands in the form of Lucky Brook, who opened the card at Caulfield on Saturday by winning the Sportsbet Race Previews Handicap (1000m).
By Lucky Vega, the debutant had recorded four jump-out victories and successfully transferred that winning form to race day, running out a one-length winner under the reins of Lachlan Neindorf.
Neindorf was pleased to keep Lucky Brook, who started as the $4.20 favourite with leading Aussie betting sites, out of traffic from a wide gate, scoring over Egyptian Dancer ($16) with Aston ($7) a short neck behind in third.
Eurell indicated that there are ample options for Lucky Brook in the early stages of the Spring, with the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) for early three-year-olds a key target.
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“The plan was always to try and win a race and then sort of set her up for the spring, and there wasn’t much to offer, so to win a city race was even better,” Eurell commented.
“It gives us a chance to give her a bit of a let up, map something out going forward. It certainly gives us a lot of confidence going forward.”
“The spring can sort of stretch out a little bit now, so you’ve sort of got to be a little bit careful— sort of where you start and where you think you want to end up but she may be back here (for the Quezette).”
“I think she’ll cut the mustard. I think she’s very genuine, she’s obviously above average.”
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The Quezette Stakes is scheduled for August 15 at Caulfield and has a history of producing subsequent Group 1-winning sprinters such as Charm Stone, Bella Nipotina, and Sunlight.
While those heights are a distant goal for Lucky Brook, Eurell believes she possesses the attributes to continue progressing and potentially extend her stamina as she matures.
“I like her attitude, everything we’ve done with her. She’s just so professional. I think she’s going to be a lovely filly going forward,” Eurell said.
“Once we sort of get a bit deeper into the prep, she’ll suggest what she’s going to do.
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“But she does relax and travel. She might give herself that opportunity to sort of stretch out to a mile, however, at the moment, if she does what she does over the shorter trips we’ll be happy.”
Bet on the upcoming spring features with competitive racing odds from leading bookmakers.
India vs Australia Women’s T20 World Cup LIVE Score, IND W vs AUS W Match LIVE Updates: Smriti Mandhana has missed out on a half-century, getting out after a mix-up with Jemimah Rodrigues in their must-win match against Australia.
Happy Sunday Husky fans. The Husky coaches have been busy on the recruiting front and it sounds like some good news should be heading their way over the next couple of weeks. Several top offensive line targets have set their commitments after visiting last weekend.
4 star offensive lineman Gecova Doyal from Puyallup HS, WA is set to commit on July 1st with the Huskies looking like they are in a good position to reel him in. Rated as the 16th best composite interior offensive lineman Doyal had seemingly narrowed his recruitment down to Oregon and UW. The Huskies got the last visit and the Huskies would love to add Doyal who looks like a future mauler on the offensive line. Listed at 6’3″ and around 285 pounds, Doyal looks destined to play guard in college. The Huskies would love to continue their dominance of landing the majority of the top in-state players under coach Fisch and landing Doyal would be a big win for the Huskies over the Ducks.
3 star offensive tackle Tye Kennedy from Mountain View HS, AZ is set to commit on July 1st as well and I like where the Huskies sit for him. Kennedy, who has a prototypical frame for an offensive tackle, has immense potential and would be a big pickup for the Huskies. With a similar build to his father, former Husky great Lincoln Kennedy, Tye has accumulated offers from Michigan, Stanford, and Utah. The Huskies don’t have an offensive tackle currently committed to them and Kennedy would fill that role as a potential fixture at tackle in college. Kennedy, is rated as the 49th best offensive tackle in the country by 247sports.
4 star offensive lineman DaJohn Yarborough from Basha HS, AZ is set to commit on July 11th and is another top target that appears to be trending towards UW. Listed at 6’5″ and around 340 pounds Yarborough has the size to play tackle or slide inside and play guard. The Huskies have been battling Cal, FSU, and Mississippi State and would love to reel in Yarborough who is rated as the 26th best interior offensive via composite rating. After missing part of his junior season, Yarborough looks ready to go and would be a big pickup for the Huskies if they can land him.
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