Pat Cummins is "on track" to return for the second Ashes Test.

Australia captain Pat Cummins has confirmed he is "on track" to return for the second Test of the Ashes series against England, which begins in Brisbane on December 4. Cummins, who has not played since July due to a lower back injury, will miss the opening Test in Perth on November 21. However, the 32-year-old paceman is optimistic about his recovery and has resumed bowling with a reduced run-up. "It's all feeling really good. On track and yeah, probably better than I expected," said Cummins.

Cummins added that his recovery is progressing steadily, with each training session bringing him closer to full fitness. He plans to increase his workload once he reaches Perth and expects to be near a full run-up by then. Despite missing the first Test, the Australian captain is hopeful about making his return for the second Test, which will be a day-night match in Brisbane.

Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland are expected to form Australia’s pace attack in Perth, with Steve Smith taking over as captain in Cummins' absence. Cummins played a key role in the 2023 Ashes series, taking 18 wickets as Australia retained the Ashes with a 2-2 draw in England. He has 91 wickets in 19 Tests against England, with an average of 24.10.

Regarding his recovery, Cummins emphasized that he is taking it step by step. He stated, "It's probably not until you get a bit closer that you can really know where you're at," adding that his body is feeling great. While Cummins is eager to play as much of the Ashes series as possible, he acknowledged the importance of managing his workload to avoid burnout. "If we bowl 40 or 50 overs in one game and then there’s another match soon after, it might be a bit too much," he said.

Lewis Hamilton has criticized the lack of transparency with race stewards in Formula 1.

Lewis Hamilton has called for Formula 1 to address what he sees as a lack of “transparency and accountability” from race stewards.

Hamilton’s comments stem from the Mexico City Grand Prix, where he, along with several other drivers, felt the stewards made mistakes. The issue arose after the first corner, where some drivers cut the chicane but were not penalized or asked to give up positions gained. Hamilton lost a position to his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in that incident, and was later penalized for not relinquishing an advantage gained when he left the track during a battle with Max Verstappen. Hamilton ultimately finished in eighth place, with Leclerc second and Verstappen third.

Hamilton expressed frustration, saying, “There isn’t any clarity, and I think that’s probably part of the bigger issue — transparency and accountability. And also the secrecy in which decisions are made.” He emphasized the need for action on this matter, suggesting it should be addressed behind the scenes.

Hamilton also subtly referenced the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he lost the championship to Verstappen amid a controversial decision by then-race director Michael Masi during a late-race safety car period. Masi’s actions led to widespread criticism, and he was later dismissed by the FIA after a report revealed his decisions were due to “human error.”

Hamilton stressed that stewarding decisions have significant consequences, stating, “They ultimately steer careers. They can decide the results of championships, as you’ve seen in the past.” He believes more work is needed to ensure the integrity of these decisions moving forward.

As is standard, the FIA has declined to comment on individual stewarding decisions, as they operate independently of the governing body.

Venus Williams, 45, has been granted a wildcard entry for the Auckland Classic.

Venus Williams has been granted a wildcard entry for the Auckland Classic in January, marking another chapter in the legendary American’s remarkable career.

The 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion returned to the tour in July after a 16-month absence, defeating fellow American Peyton Stearns, then ranked 35th, at the Washington Open. That victory made Williams the second-oldest woman ever to win a WTA Tour-level singles match.

She later received a wildcard for the US Open, where she pushed Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova to three sets in an impressive first-round battle.

Auckland Classic tournament director Nicolas Lamperin praised her impact, saying: “Venus has had a profound influence on the evolution of women’s tennis and has inspired the next generation with her unshakeable passion for the sport. All sports fans should take this opportunity to see one of the game’s all-time greats in action.”

Williams, who won the Auckland Classic in 2015, will compete at the event for the first time since 2023. The tournament runs from 5–11 January and serves as a key lead-up to the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of 2026, beginning on 18 January.

‘I can’t believe it’ – Penge challenges McIlroy in Race to Dubai following suspension

English golfer Marco Penge admits he is “in disbelief” as he prepares for the DP World Tour’s penultimate event, the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, where he will play alongside Rory McIlroy with a real chance of winning the Race to Dubai.

The 27-year-old has become one of Britain’s brightest golf prospects this season, claiming three victories and far exceeding his original goal of merely reaching the season-ending play-offs. His breakout year comes after a turbulent start — Penge began 2025 under suspension for breaching tour rules by betting on golf events, though not on himself or tournaments in which he played. An independent panel later confirmed that the integrity of those events had not been compromised, and he served a three-month ban, with one month suspended.

Since his return, Penge has surged up the rankings, winning the Open de España, which earned him a debut at next year’s Masters and a place on the PGA Tour. He now sits fewer than 500 points behind McIlroy in the Race to Dubai standings, with Tyrrell Hatton close behind. “To finish top 50 was my goal after being suspended,” Penge told BBC Sport. “I still am in disbelief that I’m in this position — not because I don’t think I’m good enough, but because it’s happened so fast.”

Penge says he’s relishing the chance to compete with McIlroy and Hatton. “Rory is the best player of my generation, and my game is probably most similar to his,” he said. “I just want to enjoy it, learn from them, and see where I need to improve.” For a player who only narrowly kept his tour card last year, his rapid rise has been nothing short of remarkable — and now, he’s within reach of one of golf’s biggest prizes.

Norrie edges another three-set clash to reach semifinals

Britain’s Cameron Norrie battled through another three-set match to advance to the Moselle Open semi-finals, as he continues his push for a first title since 2023. The 30-year-old world number 27 defeated French lucky loser Kyrian Jacquet 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 — his third straight three-set win and third victory over a home player this week. Norrie, the only seed remaining in the draw, has now reached his first hard-court semi-final since Metz last year and will face Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego for a spot in Saturday’s final.

Norrie started strongly, racing to a 4-1 lead before a nosebleed and a late surge from Jacquet halted his momentum. The world number 156 then used his serve and forehand to great effect, taking five consecutive games to claim the opening set. In the second, Norrie was again troubled by a nosebleed at 4-4 and called for the physio but recovered to save a break point and dominate the tie-break.

Ultimately, Jacquet’s 48 unforced errors proved decisive as Norrie broke to love at 4-4 in the third set and served out the match. The Brit, whose last ATP title came at the 2023 Rio Open, continues to show resilience and form heading into the final stretch of the season.

Elsewhere, Lorenzo Musetti remains two wins away from qualifying for the ATP Finals after reaching the Athens Open semi-finals. The Italian world number nine defeated France’s Alexandre Muller 6-2, 6-4 to set up a clash with Sebastian Korda, needing to win the title to secure the final spot in Turin. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic reached the 199th semi-final of his career with a 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 victory over Nuno Borges, as the 38-year-old chases his second trophy of the year and 101st overall.

‘What a thrill’ – Great Britain claim two more gold medals at the World Championships

Great Britain added two more gold medals to their tally at the Track World Championships, as Katie Archibald and Maddie Leech won the women’s madison, followed by Anna Morris successfully defending her individual pursuit title.

Archibald, 31, and Leech, 22, produced a commanding performance to secure victory by six points over France’s Victoire Berteau and Marion Borras. Italy’s Chiara Consonni and Vittoria Guazzini took bronze with 20 points after a crash ended the Netherlands’ hopes. “The track’s been running really fast this week and I’ve been so excited for this race,” said two-time Olympic champion Archibald. “Everything else has been just a thrill and an opportunity, so I was glad to welcome the pain and take home the jersey.”

Morris, who claimed gold in the event last year in Denmark, led an all-British final in Santiago, Chile, beating team-mate Josie Knight by 2.317 seconds. Knight had been the fastest qualifier until Morris overtook her in the final session to set up the British showdown. “It’s a new experience warming up with the person you’re about to race against,” said Morris. “We’ve both trained so hard for this, so whoever won, we knew we’d both be proud.”

The medals for Morris, Knight, and Leech add to their earlier team pursuit bronze, marking another stellar night for British cycling. In the men’s sprint quarter-finals, Matt Richardson clocked an impressive 9.210 seconds to qualify first, setting up a semi-final clash with Australia’s Leigh Hoffman.