Sports News 12:30

BULLETIN SPORTS NEWS 21 November 12:30 pm

Good day, let’s look at the latest sports news and scores:

# We start off with cricket: The wickets keep tumbling in Perth. A venomous Mitchell Starc took seven wickets for 58 and Australia bowled England out for just 172 on day one of the first Ashes Test. England captain Ben Stokes won the toss at a packed Perth Stadium and opted to bat first, but the visitors had few answers to Starc’s onslaught. Harry Brook with 52 and Ollie Pope with 46 offered the only resistance as England crumbled after lunch. Shortly before stumps, Australia was realing on 121 for nine after Stokes took five wickets.

Meanwhile it was confirmed that India’s captain, Shubman Gill, will not play in the second Test against South Africa, starting in Guwahati tomorrow. He injured his neck in the first Test in Kolkata which the Proteas won by 30 runs. The medical staff warned of aggravating the injury if he plays. Rishabh Pant will lead the hosts, while top-order batter Sai Sudharsan is expected to take Gill’s place. Play already starts at 5.30 in the mornings, South African time, because of early sunsets in the eastern city.

# Rugby: Springbok lock Lood de Jager has lost his appeal against a four-match ban. He was red-carded for a dangerous tackle on Thomas Ramos during the victory over France earlier this month. De Jager appeared before an independent appeal committee, where he argued the sanction did not merit a red card, as there were mitigating circumstances, including a drop in height from Ramos. After considering further submissions, the panel upheld the decision that the tackle merited a red card and the sanction that followed.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson meanwhile made sweeping changes to his team for tomorrow’s Test against Wales in Cardiff. This follows their humiliating loss to England last week. Only two players remain in the starting-15 – captain and lock Scott Barrett, and blindside flanker Simon Parker. New Zealand last lost to Wales in 1953, but Robertson says they won’t underestimate the opposition. Wales’ victory over Japan by a single point last weekend gave them their first win at home in over two years.

# And tennis: A global players’ advocacy group co-founded by Novak Djokovic is close to settling with Tennis Australia in its case accusing some governing bodies of underpaying players and imposing an unsustainable schedule. The group filed a class-action lawsuit in March, saying the ATP, WTA, International Tennis Federation and International Tennis Integrity Agency had indulged in anti-competitive practices and showed disregard for player welfare. The organisers of the four Grand Slams were added to the case in September. If the settlement is approved, Tennis Australia will exit the litigation.

Stay tuned for more news………….