'IT'S A VERY EMBARRASSING MOMENT FOR AUSTRALIAN CRICKET'

Bangladesh produced a big upset in first Test beating Australia by nine wickets

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

MEDAL TABLE | DAY 4 | COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2026 | GLASGOW

 

CAR WRECKS, PTSD AND KO'D: ERROL SPENCE IS ONE LOSS FROM OBLIVION

 

Ryan Hafey/PBC

Errol Spence Jr. survived horrific car wrecks, PTSD and one of boxing’s most brutal defeats. Saturday night in Australia, another loss could leave one of the finest welterweights of his generation with nowhere left to go.

Spence already completed one remarkable comeback. He climbed back to the top after two terrifying car accidents, a detached retina and the PTSD that followed, proving every doubt about his future wrong by returning to unify the welterweight division.

The Terence Crawford Knockout

Then came Terence Crawford.

The Spence who entered the ring in Las Vegas in July 2023 barely resembled the relentless pressure fighter who had dominated one of boxing’s toughest divisions for years. Crawford controlled the fight before stopping him in the ninth round, handing Spence the first defeat of his professional career.

Almost three years later, Spence heads to Australia facing the biggest test of his comeback.

The crashes never defined Spence because he came back to defend his world titles. Saturday offers him one chance to prove Crawford didn’t change him forever.

During a tense episode of PBC Face To Face, Spence acknowledged the doubts that have followed him ever since that night.

“I want to fight someone that people have doubts about me beating them,” Spence said. “They gotta ask if I’m the same killer. I’m coming to prove to myself and to everybody else that I am still the biggest, in any division that I’m in.”

Nobody questioned whether Spence could return after the crashes because he answered every challenge in the ring. But for the first time in his career, many wondered whether they were watching the same Errol Spence.

Tim Tszyu Sees Vulnerability

Tim Tszyu certainly isn’t convinced.

“I respect what you’ve done in your career, but you haven’t had a fight in three years,” Tszyu said. “How can I say I know definitively that you’re ready?”

Nobody can answer that until the opening bell.

After almost three years away from the ring, Spence rebuilt under renowned trainer Ronnie Shields. Rather than easing back with a tune-up, he accepted one of the toughest assignments available by traveling to Australia to face a former world champion in front of a partisan crowd.

The preparation has hardly been flawless. Spence was originally expected to weigh no more than 158 pounds before the bout but was unable to make the agreed mark, forcing a late adjustment to 160.

On its own, the change may prove insignificant, but combined with three years of inactivity, the punishment his body has absorbed and the doubts created by Crawford, it becomes another concern Spence simply didn’t need.

“This fight came at the perfect moment,” Spence said. “I didn’t want a tune-up, so when Tim Tszyu got brought up, I said I’ll fight him in Australia.”

That belief has carried Spence through every chapter of his career and into the biggest comeback of his life.

One More Defeat Could End the Road Back

Victory would silence many of the doubts surrounding his future and place him back among the leading names at super welterweight.

A knockout defeat is another matter entirely.

Another stoppage loss would leave Spence almost six years removed from his last defining victory and facing enormous questions about whether another world title opportunity will ever come.

At 36, after two near-fatal car wrecks, PTSD, eye problems, the Crawford defeat, three years away from the ring and now an interrupted weight plan, another Pay Per View headliner would become almost impossible to imagine.

Spence has already overcome twisted metal, shattered expectations and the psychological scars left by two near-fatal crashes. He even admitted before facing Crawford that he believed the biggest payday of his career would at least provide for his family if he never came home.

Tszyu isn’t testing Spence’s courage on Saturday. He’s testing whether the fighter Bud dismantled still exists.

If Tszyu knocks Spence out on Saturday, it won’t simply be another defeat. It could close the book on one of the greatest welterweight careers of the modern era.

- Phil Jay

RUGBY 🏉 WORLD RANKINGS

 

AUSTRALIA VS. IRELAND | RUGBY 🏉 NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP 2026

 

RED BULL REVEALS SEVEN-PART UPGRADE FOR CRUCIAL HOME F1 RACE AT AUSTRIAN GP

Red Bull has revealed an extensive upgrade package for the F1 Austrian Grand Prix.

Red Bull has brought a major upgrade to Austria

Red Bull has unveiled a substantial upgrade package for its home Formula 1 race, the Austrian Grand Prix. 

After bringing its first upgrades of the season to Miami, Red Bull has now unleashed an extensive raft of updates in a bid to improve its RB22 following a difficult start to the 2026 campaign. 

In total, Red Bull has made seven changes to its car for its home event at Spielberg. Red Bull has introduced a revised sidepod inlet and engine cover for reliability reasons to improve cooling.

Red Bull's upgrades for the Austrian Grand Prix

In terms of performance-related updates, Red Bull has made changes to the surface of the RB22’s floor, floor board, as well as reprofiling the rear suspension layout and rear corner.

Red Bull has also introduced a new rear wing and exhaust tailpipe, which features a revised overlap between the tailpipe exit profile and the supporting tailpipe bracket. 

Red Bull is aiming to find more aerodynamic performance and continue its weight-saving programme, having started the season with a car that was 12kg overweight. That figure was halved thanks to its Miami package. 

All eyes will be on Red Bull at its home race, particularly regarding the future of Max Verstappen. 

When asked how crucial the impact of the Austria upgrade and coming races will be for his future at Red Bull, Verstappen replied: “I think it's just crucial for us as a team, we want to improve from where we started this season to where we want to end it.

“We know that we are lacking performance, so it's more about just trying to improve the car. I think that's what everyone wants.”

Verstappen in the Austria paddock

The four-time world champion added: “Those are, of course, also the easier steps to make when you're far behind. The hardest step is always the last one, to really fight for the win. 

“So let's see how we can do that, to be in that fight again. I'm not sure [if that can happen this weekend]. But for sure, the team is always giving it 100% and pushing flat out to make the car faster.

“But we know that other teams are also constantly bringing upgrades. So we just need to always try and find a little bit more to try and close that gap. It was quite clear in Barcelona that there was still a gap, so hopefully it can be a bit better this weekend.”

Other front-running teams have joined Red Bull in bringing updates this weekend. 

Mercedes has a new front suspension and engine cover to improve performance and cooling respectively. The German manufacturer has also brought a battery fix to Austria, following Andrea Kimi Antonelli's late retirement at Barcelona.

Ferrari has brought a total of four updates, including changes to the SF-26’s front wing endplate, RV tail, floor board and mirror stay, while McLaren has introduced an updated rear corner and an “experimental rear wing” that will be trialled by reigning world champion Lando Norris on Friday. 

- Lewis Larkam

FORMULA 1 RETURNS TO THE RED BULL RING FOR THE 12TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Round 8 is here at the heart of the Styrian hills! 🇦🇹

Formula 1 returns for the 12th consecutive year at the Red Bull Ring.

#FIA #F1 #AustrianGP

- FIA

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CHINA SWEEPS AUSTRALIA TO REACH ITTF WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS LAST 16

 

Wang Chuqin of China hits a shot in the match against Aditya Sareen of Australia at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals at OVO Arena Wembley in London, England, May 5, 2026. /VCG

China booked their place in the men's round of 16 at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Australia on Tuesday.

Liang Jingkun set the tone in the opening match, rallying from a 9-6 deficit in the first game against Nicholas Lum by winning five straight points to snatch the initiative. He carried that momentum through the rest of the contest, closing out the next two games 11-5, 11-6 to give China an early lead.

"I tried to get into the match as soon as possible. My performance and feeling on the court was better than that in the past two days," Liang said.

World No. 1 Wang Chuqin extended China's advantage with a dominant display against Aditya Sareen. After edging a tight first game 11-9, Wang found his rhythm and powered through the next two 11-1, 11-2 as the defending champions moved within one win of progression.

"I was a bit tight in the first game, but overall, I took control of the rhythm throughout the match," Wang noted.

Watched courtside by Chinese table tennis icons Ma Long, Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen, Wang said the team drew confidence from the presence of their predecessors.

"With so many seasoned players supporting us, it serves as a testament to the Chinese table tennis team's legacy," he added.

Lin Shidong sealed the victory in the third match, overcoming Australia's Finn Luu 11-5, 11-4, 11-7. Although the scoreline suggested a straightforward win, Lin was tested late on as his opponent adjusted tactics.

"I haven't played him for a long time since the World Youth Championships [in 2021],” Lin said.“Actually it was not an easy match, especially in the third game, he made changes to his serves, which put me under pressure, but I held firm to win."

China will next face Romania, which edged Poland 3-2 on Monday, for a place in the quarterfinals.

JUVENTUS HEADING TO PERTH IN SUMMER 🌞

 

WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS | TOP 15 NATIONS

 

HSBC SVNS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Fiji and South Africa are tied for top spot on the #HSBCSVNS men's standings 🇫🇯🇿🇦

New York this weekend is the final round before the three-event HSBC SVNS World Championship starts in April 🏆

SRI LANKA VS. AUSTRALIA | MATCH HIGHLIGHTS | T20 WORLD CUP 2026

 

THE BEST OF AUSTRALIA | ICONIC MOMENTS

 

INDIA FAVOURITES AS T20 WORLD CUP TO BEGIN AFTER CHAOTIC BUILD-UP

Co-hosts India are the defending T20 World Cup champions (Indranil Mukherjee) (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/AFP)

Cricket's T20 World Cup begins Saturday after an acrimonious build‑up overshadowed by political turmoil, with Bangladesh kicked out and Pakistan refusing to face arch-rivals and co-hosts India.

When the first ball is finally bowled after a chaotic lead-in, Pakistan will open the tournament against the Netherlands in Colombo.

Defending champions and tournament favourites India will make their tournament bow in the night match on day one against the United States in Mumbai, carrying the hopes of a billion-plus home cricket supporters.

Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India will start as firm tournament favourites and are expected to ease into the Super Eight stage from Group A.

But they will be wary of the United States, who are looking to take down another cricketing powerhouse, having shocked Pakistan to make the Super Eights in 2024.

Former champions Australia and England are also strong contenders to lift the trophy and deny holders India the title for a record second straight time.

The 2021 winners Australia have been hit hard by the absence of pace spearhead Pat Cummins, who was ruled out with a lower back injury.

Pace bowler Josh Hazlewood will miss the early stages as he recovers from hamstring and Achilles injuries.

Led by Mitchell Marsh, the Australians should still ease into the next round from Group B against Ireland, who they play first on Wednesday, plus co-hosts Sri Lanka Oman and Zimbabwe.

Harry Brook's England, full of confidence after a 3-0 T20 series win in Sri Lanka this week, are expected to make the Super Eights from a Group C that also features two-time winners West Indies, debutants Italy, Nepal and Scotland.

Brook, under intense scrutiny after having to apologise for an incident with a night club bouncer in New Zealand last year, takes charge at a global tournament for the first time since he replaced Jos Buttler as white ball captain.

England, who start with a match against Nepal on Sunday in Mumbai, won the tournament in 2010 and 2022.

Scotland, after their 11th-hour call-up to replace Bangladesh, will take guard on the opening day when they face the West Indies in Kolkata.

Football powerhouse Italy will make an appearance at a cricket World Cup for the first time, and will kick off against the Scots in Kolkata on Monday.

South Africa, the runners-up in 2024, have never won a white ball World Cup, but are buoyed by winning the World Test Championship last year.

They will be a threat but must first emerge from a tough-looking Group D that contains dangerous opponents in New Zealand and Afghanistan.

They begin against Canada on Monday in Ahmedabad, with the UAE the other team in that group.

The top two teams from each of the four groups of five teams will advance to the Super Eights, with the top four making the semi-finals.

- Politics, pullouts -

There will be relief at the weekend when the action gets under way finally after weeks of political posturing that has dominated the build-up to 10th edition of the showpiece tournament.

Bangladesh refused to play in India, citing security concerns, as relations between the two countries soured and were kicked out by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from England's Group C.

The ICC is led by Jay Shah, the former Indian cricket board secretary and son of the powerful Indian home minister Amit Shah.

Pakistan, who had backed Bangladesh's plea to have their games moved to Sri Lanka, were cleared to play by the Islamabad government but they ordered the team not to play the marquee group clash against fierce rivals India on February 15.

According to media reports, the ICC is still waiting formal communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board on the boycott, leaving the door slightly ajar for a last-minute deal to get the game on.

If India are awarded a walkover, Pakistan will lose two points and take a big hit to their net run rate.

If any of their other three Group A games are lost to the weather then it could make it almost impossible for Pakistan to qualify.

Pakistan's pullout will result in a loss of millions of dollars in revenue for broadcasters, and will be a huge letdown for fans on both sides.

The crisis was triggered last month when India's cricket board ordered the IPL's Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, a move that deepened political strains between the neighbours.

The tournament will conclude with the final on March 8 in Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on whether Pakistan go that far.

- Faisal KAMAL

PATRICE MOTSEPE JOINS $4 BILLION CLUB AMID MINING RALLY AND GLOBAL EXPANSION

South African mining magnate Patrice Motsepe, who serves as president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and is an in-law of President Cyril Ramaphosa, has joined the $4 billion net-worth club, propelled by a rally in gold and copper assets and a strategic expansion into Australia.

Patrice Motsepe joins $4 billion club amid mining rally and global expansion

• Patrice Motsepe, South African mining magnate and CAF president, has reached a net worth of $4.2 billion.

• His wealth growth is attributed to his mining interests in African Rainbow Minerals and Harmony Gold Mining Co.

• Motsepe's ventures now include significant investments in Australian mining, highlighting a strategic copper shift.

• He diversifies into other sectors including financial services and renewable energy through African Rainbow Capital.

• This achievement positions him among a select group of African billionaires who surpass the $4 billion net worth milestone.

Motsepe’s fortune is now estimated at about $4.2 billion, placing him among the world’s top 1,000 richest individuals, according to Forbes data, and making him the fourth South African to ever reach the $4 billion milestone.

The achievement places Motsepe in a small group of African billionaires who have surpassed the $4 billion mark, including Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person; Johann Rupert, the luxury-goods billionaire behind Richemont; Nicky Oppenheimer, the former De Beers heir; Nassef Sawiris of Egypt; Mike Adenuga of Nigeria; and Abdulsamad Rabiu, the Nigerian industrialist whose fortune is anchored in cement and sugar.

Mining strength underpins wealth gains

Motsepe’s rise has been driven largely by his exposure to mining assets, particularly gold. He is the founder and largest shareholder of African Rainbow Minerals Ltd. (ARM), holding a 45.9% stake, and maintains an indirect interest in Harmony Gold Mining Co., South Africa’s largest gold producer.

ARM shares have risen more than 15% since the start of the year, lifting the company’s market capitalisation to roughly $3 billion and increasing the value of Motsepe’s stake to about $1.37 billion.

Harmony Gold shares have gained over 12%, taking the company’s valuation to approximately $14.4 billion and pushing the estimated value of Motsepe’s indirect holding to around $1.7 billion.

The gains have coincided with a surge in gold prices to record levels, as investors reassess monetary policy expectations and seek refuge in safe-haven assets.

Australian copper push signals strategic shift

Motsepe’s mining exposure is no longer confined to Africa. Through his influence at Harmony Gold, the billionaire has backed a significant expansion into Australia, marking a strategic push into copper, a metal critical to electrification and the global energy transition.

Harmony recently completed the $1 billion-plus acquisition of MAC Copper Ltd., owner of the high-grade CSA Copper Mine in New South Wales, one of Australia’s longest-running underground copper operations.

The company is also advancing the Eva Copper project in Queensland, with total development spending expected to reach up to $1.7 billion.

Nasser et Motsepe

From first Black billionaire to diversified capital allocator

Through African Rainbow Capital, Motsepe has stakes in financial services, technology, infrastructure, and renewable energy, including Tyme Group, a Singapore-based digital bank operating across Africa and Southeast Asia.

Despite this diversification, his wealth growth comes amid a $195 million Tanzanian mining lawsuit against his firm, highlighting the challenges of cross-border resource investments.

Nevertheless, crossing the $4 billion mark remains rare among African billionaires, underscoring how commodity exposure, strategic diversification, and influence in sport and politics can elevate industrialists to the global wealth elite.

- OLAMILEKAN OKEBIORUN

VENUS WILLIAMS SET TO BREAK RECORD AS FULL AUSTRALIAN OPEN WOMEN'S WILDCARD LIST CONFIRMED

Venus Williams applauding during a match

Tennis icon Venus Williams has received a wildcard to compete at the 2026 Australian Open, with the full list of wildcard recipients for the women’s singles event now confirmed.

There had been much anticipation to learn if Williams would be given a wildcard for this year’s Australian Open, with the American last having played the Melbourne Grand Slam in 2021.

The former world No 1 and seven-time major singles champion, who is 45, is currently ranked 581st in the WTA singles rankings.

Last year, Williams returned to the tour after an absence of more than a year to play in Washington, Cincinnati and at the US Open.

The Australian Open confirmed today that Williams had received the eighth and final wildcard for the women’s singles main draw.

“I’m excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer,” said Williams.

“I’ve had so many incredible memories there, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career.”

Williams was a runner-up at the Australian Open in 2003 and 2017, while she was also a semi-finalist in 2001 and a quarter-finalist on a further six occasions.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said: “Venus is a true legend and trailblazer of our sport – she’s an inspiration to us all.

“I’m delighted we’ll see her on court again at both the Hobart International and Australian Open.”

At the age of 45, Williams is set to become the oldest woman to play in the Australian Open singles draw. She will break the record held by former Japanese star Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she competed at the 2015 Australian Open.

Australian Open 2026 women’s singles wildcards

• Emerson Jones (Australia)

• Zarina Diyas (Kazakhstan)

• Elizabeth Mandlik (USA)

• Tiantsoa Sarah Rakotomanga Rajaonah (France)

• Priscilla Hon (Australia)

• Talia Gibson (Australia)

• Taylah Preston (Australia)

• Venus Williams (USA)

Williams has also been given wildcards to compete at the tournaments in Auckland and Hobart ahead of the Australian Open.

Venus Williams’ schedule at the start of 2026

• ASB Classic, Auckland (WTA 250) – January 5-11

• Hobart International (WTA 250) – January 12-17

• Australian Open – January 18-February 1

- Ewan West