Sunday, 16 August 2026
'IT'S A VERY EMBARRASSING MOMENT FOR AUSTRALIAN CRICKET'
Bangladesh produced a big upset in first Test beating Australia by nine wickets
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| Bangladesh batsmen Shadman Islam (2nd L) and Mominul Haque (C) shake hands with Australian players after hitting their team's winning run on the fourth day of their first cricket Test match at Marrara Stadium in Darwin on August 16, 2026. AFP |
Former Australian cricketers have described Australia’s stunning nine-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test in Darwin as an embarrassing moment for the team, with calls for changes to the batting line-up.
Bangladesh produced one of the biggest upsets in recent Test cricket on Sunday, beating Australia by nine wickets to register their first-ever Test victory on Australian soil.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes the defeat highlights the need for Australia to begin regenerating its Test side, something he had called for at the end of last summer.
“This ends up being a very embarrassing defeat. I think it’s inevitable they have to make change,” Ponting said.
“I was on the record at the end of last summer thinking that this was the ideal time to start to regenerate this team because the performances from some of the players …”
Ponting admitted he has traditionally been reluctant to call for changes to a successful team but felt there was enough evidence to suggest Australia needed to begin rebuilding.
“I’m the last one who wants to make change. As a captain or as a player, I wanted to keep the group together,” he said.
“It has to get to a bad point before I start saying you ought to leave somebody out. But there had been enough evidence for me coming here to suggest that they weren’t going to lose anything, or much at all, by starting that regeneration – by maybe bringing in another opener, by maybe bringing in someone at No. 3.”
Ponting was also surprised by the quality of Bangladesh’s performance, particularly the way their pace attack, spin bowling and batting stood up to Australia.
“I honestly didn’t expect Bangladesh to play cricket this well. The Bangladesh team genuinely shocked me,” Ponting said.
“The way they performed with their pace attack, spin bowling and batting was absolutely outstanding. They dominated Australia in every department and deservedly won the match.
“This is truly a historic and incredible moment for Bangladesh cricket. Their pace attack is genuinely one of the best. Just absolutely brilliant.”
Dominated key phases
Bangladesh’s victory was not simply the result of Australia’s mistakes. The visitors consistently put the hosts under pressure and dominated key phases of the match with both bat and ball.
Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden was equally stunned by the result and described it as an embarrassing moment for Australian cricket.
“I never expected this kind of performance from Australia. It’s a very embarrassing moment for Australian cricket. Full credit to Bangladesh – they played excellent cricket,” Hayden said.
Changes evident
Former Australia batter Mark Waugh believes changes could now be made to the team, with Jake Weatherald among those under pressure.
“I think Weatherald’s the one under the most pressure, and it wouldn’t surprise me if there were two changes,” Waugh said on Kayo Sports.
“I just think with the South Africa Test series after that, it’d be nice to give someone a Test match before South Africa if you’re going to change the batting order.
“I think you’ve got Inglis, Renshaw, McSweeney. I think they’re the next three batsmen.
“Renshaw, I know, hasn’t been picked in recent times, but he was picked as an opener originally. I think he’s playing pretty well at the moment.”
Former Australia opener David Warner also suggested the batting order could require another reshuffle if the current combination fails to deliver.
“If things don’t pan out down the middle, and Head might have to reshuffle back down there, you have to start all over again,” Warner said.
The defeat has therefore raised serious questions over Australia’s Test combination, with former players increasingly calling for a fresh approach after Bangladesh exposed weaknesses across the hosts’ batting and bowling departments.
- Jaydip Sengupta
LIONEL MESSI MISSES THIRD STRAIGHT PENALTY AS INTER MIAMI CRUSHED BY NASHVILLE IN FOUR-GOAL ROUT
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| Getty Images Sport |
Lionel Messi’s return to the Inter Miami starting lineup turned into a nightmare as the Argentine icon missed his third consecutive penalty in a comprehensive 4-1 defeat to Nashville SC. The Herons were systematically dismantled at Geodis Park, failing to reclaim the top spot in the Eastern Conference on a night where nothing went right for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Messi penalty woes continue
The magic appears to have faded momentarily for Messi, who endured a evening to forget in Tennessee. With Inter Miami trailing 1-0 in the 23rd minute, the veteran had a golden opportunity to level the scores from the penalty spot. However, his low effort was expertly parried by Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake.
Statistics highlight the depth of the Argentine's current struggles from 12 yards out. This latest failure marks the first time since 2014 that Messi has missed three consecutive penalties, according to ESPN. The unwanted streak began during the this summer World Cup campaign, after failing to convert against Austria and Egypt.
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| Getty Images Sport |
Nashville run riot in Geodis Park
Despite Telasco Segovia equalizing just before the interval, Nashville SC took complete control of the contest in the second half. Hany Mukhtar reminded the league of his quality with a clinical brace, while Sam Surridge added a third with a delicate back-heeled finish. Miami’s defense crumbled under the pressure, and the frustration was evident as Messi received a yellow card for his protests during the build-up to Nashville's third goal.
The final blow came in stoppage time following a comical error from Miami goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo. The shot-stopper slipped while well out of his area, allowing a route-one ball from Schwake to reach Mukhtar, who walked the ball into an empty net.
Personal tragedy looming over Messi
This match represented Messi's first start since the tragic passing of his father and longtime representative, Jorge Messi. The 39-year-old has been dealing with immense emotional weight, recently admitting that he is unsure how to continue in the sport without his father’s guidance.
Messi’s struggles were compounded by sheer bad luck in the final moments of the game. In one frantic second-half attack, the forward saw his shot strike both posts without crossing the line, before another effort was ruled out for offside.
- Muhammad Zaki
Saturday, 15 August 2026
CONCERNING TOMMY FLEETWOOD STAT EMERGES AT FEDEX ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP
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| Getty |
Tommy Fleetwood enters the weekend at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in contention, but one statistic has become a concern after two rounds at TPC Southwind. The Englishman has produced an elite all-around performance in Memphis, ranking among the best players in several key categories, but his putting numbers have prevented him from keeping pace with Scottie Scheffler’s record-setting start.
Fleetwood sits five shots behind Scheffler after opening rounds of 66 and 68, while Scheffler leads the tournament after following a first-round 68 with a second-round 61. Fleetwood has played strong golf from tee to green, but his struggles on the greens have created a challenge as he attempts to close the gap during the final two rounds of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup playoff opener.
After his second round, Fleetwood acknowledged the difficulty of chasing Scheffler but focused on controlling his own game. “What can we do about Scottie Scheffler? Just go out there and try to manage your game as best as possible. Shoot the best score you can and see what happens,” Fleetwood said.
Tommy Fleetwood Putting Numbers Raise Concern at FedEx St. Jude Championship
Through two rounds at TPC Southwind, Fleetwood’s putting has been the weakest part of an otherwise impressive statistical profile.
He is ranked 51st in strokes gained putting this week and has lost 1.022 strokes to the field on the greens.
The issue stands out because the rest of his game has been among the strongest in the tournament. Fleetwood ranks third in strokes gained off the tee, second around the green and 27th in strokes gained approach.
His ball-striking and short game have placed him in a strong position, but his putting performance has limited his ability to challenge Scheffler’s lead.
Fleetwood has not won on the PGA Tour this season, and his path to victory became more difficult after Scheffler’s second-round 61.
To have a chance at catching the world No. 1, Fleetwood will likely need two low rounds, with scores around 65 or better, while also improving on the greens.
Martin also noted Fleetwood’s statistical performance, writing that “the one part of his game that hasn’t been in tip-top shape this week is his putting.”
The third round will provide Fleetwood another opportunity to close the gap, but his putting will be a key factor if he hopes to turn his strong overall play into a serious challenge.
Scottie Scheffler Builds Lead as FedEx St. Jude Championship Moves Into Weekend
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| Scottie Scheffler of the United States. Getty |
Scheffler enters the weekend in control of the FedEx St. Jude Championship after a remarkable second round at TPC Southwind.
His 9-under 61 moved him to the top of the leaderboard and created a significant challenge for players chasing him.
The leaderboard shows Scheffler at 11 under after 36 holes, with Sungjae Im and Viktor Hovland tied for second at 8 under.
Fleetwood is part of a group at 6 under, alongside players including Nico Echavarria and Tom Kim.
Scheffler’s position has forced contenders like Fleetwood to focus on producing low scores while maintaining consistency.
Fleetwood, who tied for third at last year’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, entered this week with confidence after strong recent performances around TPC Southwind.
Reflecting on his comfort at the venue, Fleetwood noted after the opening round, “I’ve had two or three really good results around here. I was obviously playing very, very well last year. I put myself in a good position.”
Fleetwood will begin the third round paired with Nico Echavarria, with both players looking to move closer to Scheffler.
As the FedExCup playoffs continue, Fleetwood’s ability to improve his putting could determine whether his strong tee-to-green performance becomes a realistic title challenge.
- Debayan Biswas
FOUR GOALS AND A COMEBACK! AC MILAN DEFEATS MANCHESTER UNITED IN INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
AC Milan closed out its preseason with a convincing 4-2 victory over Manchester United. The Rossoneri showcased their attacking power and capitalized on their opponent’s defensive mistakes.
AC Milan Completes a Convincing Comeback Against Manchester United
AC Milan closed out its preseason with a 4-2 victory over Manchester United at the Tarczyński Arena in Wroclaw in an international friendly that ultimately left the Italian side with plenty of positive takeaways. The Rossoneri had to respond twice, but ultimately imposed their attacking quality during a second half in which they found space and capitalized on their opponent’s mistakes.
The English side took an early lead through Harry Maguire, who rose to head home Bruno Fernandes’ corner. However, Milan found a response before halftime through Samuel Chukwueze, who received the assist from Gonçalo Ramos.
The equalizer was not the only major moment of the first half. Bruno Fernandes had the chance to restore United’s lead from the penalty spot, but Lorenzo Torriani read the shot correctly and made a decisive save to keep the score at 1-1.
Gonçalo Ramos Turns His Debut Into a Standout Night
The spotlight was firmly on Gonçalo Ramos, and the Portuguese forward lived up to the expectations. The Rossoneri’s new attacker was not limited to contributing to the build-up: he scored his first goal for Milan and was also directly involved in other goals.
After Patrick Dorgu restored Manchester United’s lead early in the second half, Milan responded once again. Alphadjo Cissé brought the game back to 2-2 and, just minutes later, Ramos had his moment.
The Portuguese forward found space inside the box to head home a cross from Samuel Chukwueze, making it 3-2. The play highlighted the connection between the two players throughout the match and gave Milan the lead for the first time.
United’s Defensive Errors Shift the Game
The English side took the lead twice, but could not hold onto either advantage, allowing Milan to find increasingly dangerous spaces.
United’s second goal came through Patrick Dorgu, who capitalized on a poor Milan backpass to make it 2-1. The Italian side responded immediately, and from the 2-2 mark onward, the match began to swing clearly in the Rossoneri’s favor.
Milan’s third goal once again featured Chukwueze, this time providing the assist for Ramos. The Nigerian was one of the most active players for the Italian side and took advantage of the gaps appearing in the English defense.
Shortly afterward, Ruben Loftus-Cheek burst into space on the right and received another service from Ramos before making it 4-2. The goal put the match beyond United’s reach and confirmed Milan’s attacking superiority during the decisive stretch.
Rashford Returns to United, but Milan Take the Positives
The match also featured a special moment for Marcus Rashford, who returned to the Manchester United lineup after a lengthy absence. The forward came on in the second half and showed some promising movement on the wing, although he was unable to change the course of the match.
His return was one of the main talking points for the English side, but the spotlight ultimately belonged to Milan. The Italian team found attacking solutions, capitalized on their opponent’s mistakes and finished the match with four goals against one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
- beiN SPORTS
FINLAY TARLING'S TEAM WITHDRAWS FROM RACE FOLLOWING TEEN CYCLIST DEATH IN PORTUGAL
NSN Development confirmed it would withdraw from the remaining stages of the Volta a Portugal
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| Finlay Tarling (second from the left) has died at the age of 19 (Getty) |
NSN Development has withdrawn from the remaining stages of the Volta a Portugal following the death of their rider, 19-year-old Finlay Tarling.
Tarling, the younger brother of Ineos Grenadiers cyclist Josh, was involved in a “serious accident” while taking part in the eighth stage of the 166.8km route from Melgaço to Fafe.
Tarling was riding for the NSN Development Team, having signed a two-year deal ahead of the 2025 season.
In a statement, NSN said: “Following Fin Tarling’s tragic passing on Friday, the NSN Development Team has withdrawn from the remaining Volta a Portugal stages.”
“With the full support of Fin’s parents, the WorldTour team will race on at Czech Tour and the Arctic Race of Norway. We will continue to hold Fin in our hearts as we race in his honour, doing what he loved most.
“We want to thank everyone in the cycling community and beyond for the incredible support at this difficult time.”
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| The team of Finlay Tarling have withdrawn from the Volta a Portugal (PA) |
Organisers confirmed Saturday’s penultimate stage would continue “in an atmosphere of profound mourning”, with tributes paid to the 19-year-old before the start.
“We all remain deeply shaken. Cycling is a sport that carries risks, but we are never prepared for a tragedy of this magnitude,” a statement read.
“Finlay lost his life. A family lost a son. A team lost a teammate. Cycling lost one of its own. It is a tragedy that goes beyond the competition itself.
“As a sign of respect and mourning, the event’s main sponsors have agreed with the organisation to cancel all activities planned for the final two days.
“The race continues. There will be sporting competition, but there will be no celebration. This Saturday, the Volta rides for Finlay.”
Major Tiago Machado of the National Republican Guard (GNR) told local media the cyclist was in collision with a light goods vehicle.
The Volta statement added: “This is not the time for speculation about the circumstances of the accident.
The incident is being investigated by the GNR Command, which is responsible for rigorously establishing the facts.”
- Carl Markham
CHELSEA 3-1 REAL SOCIEDAD, FRIENDLY: POST-MATCH REACTION
WINNER WINNER A REDEEMING SECOND HALF DINNER
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| LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: Joao Pedro of Chelsea celebrates with teammate Reece James after scoring his team’s second goal during the pre-season friendly match between Chelsea and Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge on August 15, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) Chelsea FC via Getty Images |
Sunny day at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea take on Real Sociedad for our last preseason match before the 2026-27 officially begins. It fit our general spirit as the Blues seemed eager to show home fans a better side of Xabi Alonso’s football.
The hosts didn’t take long to take over the pitch and start creating chances. On one of those with a superb Pedro Neto cross, João Pedro almost netted his sixth preseason goal. While goalkeeper Álex Remiro did save JP’s effort, he couldn’t do it a second time as new signing Morgan Rogers got us the opening goal on a rebound.
With the initial 15 minutes breezing past us, Real Sociedad began finding more space in defence. Their shots weren’t hard to defend at first, but they got increasingly tricky as time went by.
After some close range shaves, the visitors found the equaliser right before the end of first half with Jon Aramburu’s long range effort. At a time where it didn’t seem like Chelsea had the energy or the will to score more goals.
Chelsea returned from the tunnels with the same impetus they started the match, which usually bodes well for us. Soon after captain Reece James found João Pedro at the far post with a cross and the Brazilian striker got himself in the scoreline as a result.
João Pedro’s goal gave Chelsea a confidence boost to keep pushing for more goals, and we were really unlucky in not getting a third before the first barrage of substitutes came in. The newly introduced players did take a while to warm up, but they didn’t let us down as Malo Gusto — playing in place of Pedro Neto — assisted JP’s second goal.
Better aim would have netted us even more goals. Still a 3-1 scoreline against a top-10 La Liga team just before our first official match of the season.
is nothing to scoff at.
Carefree!
- Very strong lineup.
- Good start, awful rest of first half for Chelsea.
- Much better — and needed — effort in the second part.
- Next up: Fulham away in our 2026-27 Premier League debut.
- KTBFFH!
- Fellipe Miranda
CRYSTAL PALACE SIGNS ANAN KHALAILI IN MOST EXPENSIVE DEAL FOR AN ISRAELI SOCCER PLAYER
London team agrees to pay Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise $28 million for the 21-year-old Israeli star, weeks after his move to Inter Milan fell through
LONDON — Crystal Palace announced the signing of Anan Khalaili from Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Saturday, weeks after the Israel winger’s proposed move to Inter Milan broke down.
The 21-year-old Khalaili, who primarily plays on the right, signed a five-year deal “subject to international clearance,” the Premier League team said on its website. British media reported the transfer fee was 24.5 million euros ($28 million), making him the most expensive Israeli signing.
The transfer comes a month after Inter president Giuseppe Marotta said at a press conference that Khalaili had not been given medical clearance to join after the sides had agreed on a transfer. Marotta said: “Italy has very strict legislation protecting players’ health, with decisions made by an independent body rather than the club’s medical staff. We have to abide by this decision.”
Inter’s loss is seemingly Palace’s gain.
Khalaili developed at hometown club Maccabi Haifa before moving to Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgum in 2024.
Khalaili has made 16 appearances for Israel. He is the fifth summer signing for Palace after Óscar Mingueza, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Dwight McNeil and Evann Guessand.
Come behind the scenes with Anan ???? pic.twitter.com/pdjeMqDYQq
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 15, 2026
Times of Israel Staff contributed to this report
- AP
LOUIS VUITTON AND SINGER VEHICLE DESIGN JOIN FORCES TO REIMAGINE PORSCHE 911
Louis Vuitton and Singer Vehicle Design have joined forces on two reimagined Porsche 911s, marking the first time the French luxury house has shared billing with another brand on a finished product.
The collaboration started with a relatively small request: Louis Vuitton was brought in to create a dashboard clock. From there, the project expanded to encompass nearly every functional element of two 964-generation 911s, one a 390 hp naturally aspirated coupe and the other a 510 hp turbocharged cabriolet.
The two cars take distinctly different approaches. Jean Arnault helped define the saffron-and-cobalt coupe, which draws on Louis Vuitton’s historic color palette and trunk-making heritage, while Nicolas Ghesquière shaped the white-and-gold cabriolet around the look of classic wooden speedboats. Both come with removable Tambour timepieces, custom luggage, and their own Louis Vuitton capsule collections.
- Robb Report
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