* Former players launch petition in English football
Several former footballers have launched a parliamentary petition calling for an independent regulator in English football, BBC reported yesterday (17). Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Rio Ferdinand, and Gary Lineker are among 23 ex-players and journalists to undersign an open letter to fans. They say April's European Super League attempted breakaway demonstrates the need to reform the game's governance. The petition was signed by more than 20,000 people in its first hour. For it to be considered for a parliamentary debate, 100,000 signatures are required. “As football fans, we were appalled by the attempt to set up a European Super League,” reads the letter, which has also been signed by Jamie Redknapp and Micah Richards.
* Cricket Australia contacts Bancroft for ‘new information’
Cricket Australia (CA) has asked batsman Cameron Bancroft if he has new information about the sandpaper ball-tampering scandal. Asked in an interview with the Guardian if some Australia bowlers knew of the plan to tamper with the ball using sandpaper in a Test in South Africa in 2018, Bancroft said: “It's pretty probably self-explanatory.” Bancroft was banned for nine months by CA, while former captain Steve Smith and David Warner were banned for a year. CA’s investigation cleared all other players and staff. “There was obviously a thorough investigation into that incident,” Ben Oliver, CA’s executive general manager of national teams, told reporters on Monday.
* Marnus Labuschagne to miss Windies tour
Glamorgan’s Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne will miss his country’s limited-overs tour of the West Indies in July because of logistical travel problems. Labuschagne is said to be “deeply upset” by the news. The 26-year-old will instead continue to play for Glamorgan in T20 and Championship games in that period. He has broken into Australia's one-day side and hoped to play international T20 as well. “Anyone who knows Marnus understands he would give absolutely anything to play for Australia and he is deeply upset to miss out due to circumstances beyond anyone's control,” said Australia national selector Trevor Hohns.
* UFC 262: Oliveira beats Chandler to win lightweight title
Charles Oliveira claimed the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight title with a thrilling second-round “TKO” of three-time Bellator champion Michael Chandler on Sunday (16). Brazilian Oliveira extended his winning streak to nine on a dramatic night in Houston, Texas. The bout formed the main event of UFC 262 at the Toyota Center, where the capacity crowd of 16,000 fans saw Oliveira, 31, produce a thrilling come-from-behind performance to capture the title vacated this year by the retiring Khabib Nurmagomedov. Before the bout got under way, there was a moment of respect between the pair as Oliveira approached Chandler’s corner and embraced his rival before greeting each of Chandler’s cornermen, media added reporting the encounter.
* Jofra Archer ruled out of New Zealand Test series
England fast bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the two Tests against New Zealand next month after a recurrence of his elbow problem. Archer was unable to bowl on Saturday during Sussex's County Championship match with Kent, and did not bowl in the game's final day on Sunday either. The England and Wales Cricket Board said the 26-year-old “was suffering from pain in his right elbow”. The first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s starts on 2 June. “The England and Sussex medical teams will now seek guidance, and Archer will see a medical consultant later this week to determine the next course of action on the management of his elbow,” added the ECB.
* Nadal beat “Djoker” to win 10th Italian Open
Rafael Nadal won his 10th Italian Open with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 victory over world number one Novak Djokovic in Rome on Sunday (16). Both players dropped serve early on in the first set before Nadal took it after securing the key break at 5-5. Djokovic dominated the second set but paid for not taking two break points in the fifth game of the decider. A stunning backhand from Spaniard Nadal saw him break the Serb in the next game before he went on to hold his serve and nerve to close out the match.
* NZ team reach England for WTC Final
New Zealand cricketers reached London ahead of their biosecure Test tour of England and the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final against India, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said yesterday. NZC confirmed that most of the Test squad and staff had been transferred to hotel quarantine in Southampton where they will warm up for the two-Test series against England. “The first three days will be spent in hotel room isolation, before mini-training groups of six can be established from days 4-6, pending negative Covid results,” NZC said.