The three-match series, which begins at 08:00 GMT, acts as England’s preparation for the Champions Trophy next month. England have lost their past three ODI series but this contest is their first in the 50-over format with Brendon McCullum as their white-ball coach. They lost 4-1 to India in the preceding T20s. Root’s last ODI

Marcus Smith is set to start at full-back and Fin Smith at fly-half for England in Saturday’s Six Nations match with France at Allianz Stadium. If confirmed, it will be a first Test start for Northampton’s Fin Smith, 22, after winning his previous seven caps from the bench. It means Marcus Smith is poised to

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 923 goals in his long, trophy-laden career. But since 2013, those goals have been followed a now infamous celebration called the Siuuu. Ronaldo first did the celebration at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium in a preseaon friendly against Chelsea. The then-Real Madrid forward made a darting run into the box and netted

Claressa Shields is open to a rematch with her great rival Savannah Marshall in the heavyweight division. Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, defeated Danielle Perkins to become the first undisputed heavyweight world champion in women’s boxing. It is the third weight class in which Shields has achieved undisputed status. Shields beat Marshall in London

The Premier League hopes to introduce semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) before the end of this season, and it wants to see referees explaining VAR decisions to the crowd inside stadiums for top-flight matches by the start of next season. It comes as the Premier League reveals a six-point plan to improve VAR, as it strives

Manchester City Women have reported abuse directed towards Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw following their Women’s Super League defeat against Arsenal to the police. City have promised to fully support the player over “the disgusting treatment” she received in the aftermath of the 4-3 loss to the Gunners at the Joie Stadium. Shaw, who has scored 86

Two-time winners Birmingham and League Two side Bradford City have booked their places in the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy with 1-0 away wins. Birmingham, who lifted the trophy in the 1990-91 and 1994-95 seasons, beat Stevenage, while the Bantams knocked out 2021-22 winners Rotherham at the AESSEAL New York Stadium. Blues dominated their last-eight

The top stories and transfer rumours from Wednesday’s newspapers… DAILY MAIL Marcus Rashford will continue to earn his £315,000-a-week salary during his loan at Aston Villa, but it appears the Manchester United star will have to take a hit on his lucrative sponsorship with Nike. Manchester United will not cut the budget of their disabled

“The regulator will be set up in law this year, I am fairly certain of that,” Ives said. “But by the time it is set up, started, staff trained and all the elements of the Bill are in place and then, potentially, the dispute between the Premier League and EFL has been aired with a

Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia has completed a loan move to Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven, the club confirmed on Tuesday. Editor’s Picks 2 Related Malacia was the first signing of Erik ten Hag’s two-and-a-half year tenure at United. He joined from Feyenoord in a £13 million ($16m) deal in July 2022. However, the Netherlands defender

There have been 13 video assistant referee (VAR) mistakes in the Premier League so far this season – down from 20 at the same point last term – say league bosses. Four incorrect VAR interventions and nine missed interventions from the first 23 rounds of games have been found by the competition’s Key Match Incidents

Halep memorably won her first major title at the French Open in 2018, defeating Sloane Stephens, having lost her previous three Grand Slam finals. She then won at Wimbledon in 2019, committing just three unforced errors in a stunning final victory over Serena Williams. She won 22 other WTA Tour titles and spent 64 weeks

Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies has signed a new contract with the club, ending speculation of a move to Real Madrid. On Tuesday Bayern confirmed that Davies, 24, has signed a new five-year deal running until June 2030. The Canada international’s previous contract was set to expire in June, and he was widely expected to

Manager Brendan Rodgers admits the January transfer window “wasn’t ideal” for Celtic but is not apportioning blame ahead of a club review. The Scottish Premiership leaders signed Jeffrey Schlupp from Crystal Palace on deadline day and brought winger Jota back from Rennes, with forward Kyogo Furuhashi moving in the opposite direction. “I said it myself,