Steve Smith casts doubt over playing in Ashes 2027

Steve Smith casts doubt over playing in Ashes 2027

Steve Smith has refused to commit to next summer's Ashes (Getty)

Australia stick to familiar formula in South Africa as they seek to bury demons of 2018

The Test series shapes as one of unforced errors and modest scores with both sides unconvincing with the bat and relying on their bowling attack

Australia opener’s tortured 33-ball duck highlights big Ashes problem

Australia’s struggle to find an opening partnership ahead of next summer’s Ashes will go on, after their latest selection, Nic Maddinson, suffered a tortured return to Test cricket.

The conspiracy theory that hangs over Australia’s sandpaper scandal

“There was no cover-up in Cape Town,” says Steve Richardson, the former Scotland Yard detective and anti-corruption investigator who sat in on the sandpaper scandal interviews with Australia players.

Who is Nic Maddinson? Australia batter makes surprise Test return after recovery from testicular cancer

Maddison was diagnosed with testicular cancer in April 2025 but made a comeback late last year

Renshaw keeps Australia’s hopes intact against South Africa after Maddinson gamble fails

New Australian Open boss Andrew Abdo throws shade at critics: ‘I’m not an outsider’

Launch event marred by former NRL CEO calling world No 1 ‘Jacob’ Sinner, while announcing the grand slam will add 700 seats in 2027

Alcaraz, Sinner, Osaka commit to Australian Open '1 Point Slam'

The Australian Open will revive its innovative "1 Point Slam" in 2027 with Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka and Jannik Sinner among those agreeing to take part Thursday."Having stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka and Jannik Sinner locked in to play, alongside everyday Australians ... captures exactly what this event is about, bringing people together through tennis."

Australia struggle against South Africa quicks in first Test

South Africa picked two spinners, but it was their fast bowlers who did the damage as Australia limped to 187 for six on the first day of the first Test in Durban on Friday.Renshaw, normally an opening batsman in Test and red-ball cricket, was batting at number five and said he felt Australia had got close to "getting the foot on the throat" at times during a challenging first day.

Stokes retirement paves way for record number of England player deals

England will next week announce their longest list of centrally contracted cricketers, which will give the national team more control over a larger pool of players.

Farhan hopes Pakistan's new combination takes off in Sri Lanka T20Is

Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan hopes a new combination without star players Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi will come good against Sri Lanka in their Twenty20 International series starting in Rawalpindi on Friday.Shaheen is also out of favour for T20Is but will skipper Pakistan's one-day international side in a tri-series with Sri Lanka and England starting in Rawalpindi from October 18.

New Australian Open tournament director criticised for ‘Jacob Sinner’ gaffe

Andrew Abdo, who is also the new chief executive of Tennis Australia, later insisted, ‘Of course I know that it’s Jannik Sinner’

Singapore GP, tasty Tests and the Premier League’s return – follow with us

Here’s how to follow along with our coverage – the finest writing and up-to-the-minute reports

European adventure or MLS-bound? How long Virgil van Dijk can play on as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink makes pre-free agency prediction for legendary Liverpool defender

Virgil van Dijk “can play wherever he wants for another three years”, ex-Netherlands international Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has told GOAL, with the legendary Dutch defender seeing his contract at Liverpool run down. If no fresh terms are thrashed out at Anfield, then the commanding 35-year-old centre-half will become a free agent in the summer of 2027.

This is Australia’s best shot at the Bledisloe Cup in years – but beware an All Blacks side with a ‘point to prove’

BLEDISLOE CUP: High on confidence after beating South Africa, the Wallabies face an injury-hit New Zealand in Auckland in the first of back-to-back Tests

Sri Lanka appoints Kusal Mendis as Test captain

Sri Lanka's cricket board appointed Kusal Mendis as the new Test captain on Thursday, replacing Dhananjaya de Silva who stepped down ahead of selection for next month's two-match series against Pakistan.The upcoming Test series will be Mendis's first assignment as national skipper, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement.

Shaun Edwards’ Argentina move rules out role in Steve Borthwick set-up

Shaun Edwards will join Argentina’s coaching team for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup just weeks after the Rugby Football Union brought him in as a consultant for the Red Roses.

Jon Rahm’s LIV exit set to trigger mass exodus of players from stricken tour

Tyrrell Hatton and other big names are likely to follow Jon Rahm in abandoning LIV Golf, which faces a race against time if it is to continue

It is now Bryson or bust for LIV 2.0

LIV Golf has been through so much in 2026 that it seems odd to suggest the breakaway league is back to where it began the year. Yet for Bryson DeChambeau, the phrase plus ça change does ring true.

Anatomy of a scandal: The story of sandpapergate and how Australia got caught

LONG READ: Australia arrived in South Africa amid simmering hostility and left in disgrace, writes Lawrence Ostlere. But, as they prepare to return to Cape Town eight years on, there remain uncomfortable questions about who knew what

Sports quiz of the week: Harry Kane, Victor Wembanyama and WSL winners

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