Juventus have signed midfielder Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa.
Villa are expected to get two players from Juventus – winger Samuel Iling-Junior and midfielder Enzo Barrenechea – plus £21m as part of the deal.
Luiz, 26, scored nine goals in 35 Premier League games last season as Unai Emery’s side qualified for the Champions League in fourth.
The Brazil midfielder, who is currently at the Copa America, has signed a five-year contract with Juventus.
Luiz scored an amazing goal for Aston Villa with his effort at Arsenal going straight in DIRECT from a corner…
What have Villa done so far in the window?
Image: Aston Villa signed Ian Maatsen for £37.5m this week
As well as moving Luiz on, Villa have let young midfielders Tim Iroegbunam and Omari Kellyman join Everton and Chelsea respectivelythis summer.
In return, Villa have signed Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen – who was on loan at Borussia Dortmund last season – and Everton’s Lewis Dobbin.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have an interest in Villa’s Jacob Ramsey. However, there is a big gap in the clubs’ respective valuations of the player and a transfer looks unlikely.
Villa – who have also held an interest in Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher – are not keen to sell Ramsey and have high hopes for him in the future.
Emery has a long-term admiration for Tottenham’s Giovani Lo Celso, having managed him at Villarreal.
Aston Villa fixtures: Emery’s side start with West Ham live on Sky
Aston Villa start their first Premier League campaign since qualifying for the Champions League with a trip to West Ham, live on Sky Sports.
Unai Emery’s side begin in the capital and become new West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui’s first test at 5.30pm on August 17, live on Sky Sports, before they host Arsenal at Villa Park on August 24. Villa were the only side to do the double over Mikel Arteta’s team last season.
Local rivals Wolves visit Villa Park on September 21, with the return fixture at Molineux on February 1.
Villa will have to wait until December 21 to see whether they can beat Man City on home soil two seasons in a row, with a long trip to Newcastle awaiting on Boxing Day in a busy month of Christmas fixtures, with six league matches – and a Champions League group game still to be scheduled.
The new year begins with an all-Midlands affair as Leicester visit Villa Park on January 4. A tricky-looking end to the season then awaits, as games with Newcastle and Man City end April before Villa host Tottenham on May 18, and finish their campaign a week later at Man Utd on May 25
When does the summer transfer window open and close?
The 2024 summer transfer window in the Premier League and Scottish Premiership is officially open.
The window will close on August 30 at 11pm UK time in England and at 11.30pm in Scotland.
The Premier League and Scottish Premiership brought forward Deadline Day to link up with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
Emma Raducanu won’t look beyond the Wimbledon first round, Jack Draper looks to Carlos Alcaraz for inspiration, while Katie Boulter is ready to embrace the spotlight as Britain’s big hopes spoke to media on Saturday.
Raducanu heads into Wimbledon full of confidence but played down expectations for her first match on Monday.
The former US Open champion has been in fine form on the British grass, reaching the semi-finals in Nottingham before losing to Katie Boulter in a very tight contest and then claiming her first win over a top-10 opponent against Jessica Pegula on her way to the Eastbourne quarter-finals.
She is one of the more dangerous unseeded players, but the draw was not kind, with Russian 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, who has decent grass-court pedigree, her opening opponent.
“If I get through my first round, I’d be over the moon,” said Raducanu.
Having missed out on Wimbledon last year, Emma Raducanu is excited to be returning to her home major
“I think it’s a tough match. She’s seeded really well. It’s obviously going to be hard. I think that she’s got great weapons. On this surface, it only amplifies big weapons.
“I’m expecting a really difficult match. I think it’s a match where I’m actually the complete underdog because she’s a lot older, a lot more experienced, ranked a lot higher.
“I feel like it’s just a great opportunity to try to get a good scalp, try to enjoy playing how I have been in the last few weeks, and just get back into it.”
The Kent player remains wary of pushing her body too hard, skipping French Open qualifying to practise on grass, but is encouraged by her growing physical resilience.
“I feel very confident in my body,” she said. “I was able to play three matches at a high level last week and come out physically unscathed.
Image: Raducanu admits she would be ‘over the moon’ to reach the second round at Wimbledon, after a tough draw
“I think I’m in a really good place. Last year I did a good chunk of work at the end of the year to get back and healthy. I’ve continued that work on throughout this year.
“I feel good in my body. There’s no doubts. I would say this preparation has worked out really well. I got a great balance between matches but also staying fresh and not playing too much.”
Draper: I don’t see any reason I can’t be one of the best players in the world
A year ago Draper sat on his sofa watching near contemporary Carlos Alcaraz lift the Wimbledon title and plotting his way to the top.
A shoulder injury was the latest and most painful physical problem for Draper, forcing him to miss the whole grass-court season and dropping his ranking back outside the top 100.
“It really, really motivated me and was actually I think a blessing in disguise because my body wasn’t ready,” he said.
“I don’t think mentally I was ready either to be a top player. It was a good break that I needed to rediscover the fire I needed. From there, I’ve been great.”
A look back at the story of Jack Draper’s sensational victory at the Stuttgart Open
Twelve months on, things are very different. Draper is the British No 1, ranked 29th and seeded for the first time at a Grand Slam, and has just won his first ATP Tour title in Stuttgart before posting a career-best win over Alcaraz at Queen’s.
The 22-year-old’s leaping, jubilant celebration showed just what that meant and now he is being talked about again as a player who can potentially rival Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at the top of the sport.
“I’ve come a long way in a year and I’m very proud of that,” said Draper. “I just want to keep going.
Draper continued his fine form by beating the defending Queen’s Club champion Carlos Alcaraz and said there is no place he’d rather be right now
“I’m excited to see after Wimbledon, as well, leading into the Olympics, the hard courts, that’s when we’ll really see where my tennis is at. The grass, you do get away with certain things.
“If my game keeps on improving, I keep the mindset, and keep on improving physically like I have been, I don’t see there’s any reason why I can’t be one of the best players in the world. That’s my aspiration, that’s my goal.
“Everything feels good now. I’m definitely feeling a lot more fearless on the court, but I also have practised it enough and I’ve prepared well enough that I know those shots are more likely to go in than they used to before.”
Boulter: I’m ready to embrace spotlight and expectation
Boulter is ready to embrace the Wimbledon spotlight. The 27-year-old goes into the tournament as the leading home hope for success in the women’s draw having maintained her upward trajectory for more than a year.
Image: Katie Boulter says she is ready to embrace the spotlight and expectation of being a Brit competing at Wimbledon
Boulter made a big breakthrough by winning her first WTA Tour title in Nottingham last June and has followed that up with a bigger crown in San Diego and then a successful defence of the tournament that takes place only a few miles from her home in Leicestershire.
She is seeded for the first time at Wimbledon as the world No 32 and is a clear British No 1.
Boulter has seen up close the expectations and attention on long-term boyfriend Alex De Minaur at his home grand slam, the Australian Open, but feels comfort rather than anxiety now the boot is on her foot.
“I’m sure it’s going to get more and more hectic as it goes along, it always does,” she said.
Boulter and Alex de Minaur head to the park to discuss the early stages of their relationship and how life has changed in the past year
“But it’s awesome. It’s really nice to be a part of such an incredible, historic tournament that I’ve watched since I was a kid. To then become someone that can be leading that pack, it helps me, I think it pushes me on.
“Knowing there’s going to be a lot of people out there cheering for me, it puts me a bit at comfort knowing that I’m going to have that to rely on if need be.
“Also being seeded, it’s a moment for me to show the dedication I’ve put in these last few years. I think that’s a little pat on the back for me. I’m striving for more but I’m happy at the moment with where I’m at.”
British No 1 Katie Boulter reveals which five guests she would invite to a dinner party. Listen to the full episode on the Sky Sports Tennis podcast
Murray: I’m willing to takes risks to try and play at Wimbledon
Andy Murray is willing to take risks to compete at Wimbledon one final time but gave no guarantee he will play singles after a practice session on Saturday.
The Scot took to the All England Club’s practice courts at Aorangi Park a week after undergoing surgery to remove a spinal cyst.
His reaction afterwards was somewhat downbeat but he is still hoping to be able to take to the court on Tuesday against Czech Tomas Machac.
“Whether there’s enough time or not, I don’t know, but I’m trying,” Murray told reporters. “I need to be able to move properly, which I can’t yet, so let’s see in 48 hours or so.
“There’s risks associated with what I’m trying to do and I’m willing to take that to try and play.”
Jacquie Beltrao brings the latest update on Andy Murray’s recovery and his efforts toward Wimbledon
Murray confirmed earlier this week that he is planning for Wimbledon, where he is also due to play doubles with his brother Jamie, and the Olympics to be the final tournament of his career.
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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have announced their retirement from international T20 cricket after India’s win over South Africa in the World Cup final in Barbados.
Kohli snapped a lean run of form in the tournament, which had seen him score just 75 runs in seven innings at an average below 11, by hitting 76 from 59 deliveries in his side’s total of 176-7.
After India limited South Africa to 169-8 in reply to win their second T20 World Cup and first since 2007, the 35-year-old confirmed in his Player of the Match interview that he was now quitting T20Is.
Captain Rohit, 37, then revealed in his post-match press conference that he was also retiring from the format after striking 4,231 runs in 159 matches with five tons and 32 half-centuries.
Kohli bows out from T20Is with 4,188 runs in 125 games at an average of 48.69, hitting 38 fifties and a sole hundred.
Kohli says it is time for India’s new generation to take the T20I team forward
‘It is time for the new generation to come through for India now’
He said: “This was my last T20 World Cup.
“It is time for the new generation to come through for India now. We have some amazing players coming through and they have to take this team forwards now.
“One day you feel like you can’t get a run but one day, things just click. I am so proud to get the runs for the team the day it mattered most.
“The occasion prompted that change for me. I felt like it was now or never.
Image: Kohli’s innings underpinned India’s total of 176-7 against South Africa at Kensington Oval
“We have wanted to lift a trophy for a long time and the occasion made me put my head down, respect the situation and play the innings that the team needed from me.
“I wasn’t feeling myself before today. I wasn’t confident. So I am very grateful and humble right now. It has been difficult, so there are a lot of emotions.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in for me yet. It’s an amazing day, I am so thankful.”
Image: Rohit Sharma captained India to their first T20 World Cup title since 2007
Rohit said: “This was my last game as well. There’s no better time to say goodbye to this format. I’ve loved every moment of this.
“I started my India career in T20 and this is what I wanted to do. I wanted to win the cup and say goodbye.”
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Novak Djokovic has declared himself “pain free” after overcoming Daniil Medvedev in an exhibition match ahead of Wimbledon.
The former world No 1 was expected to miss the tournament he has won seven times after having knee surgery less than three weeks ago but now appears almost certain to play against Vít Kopriva in the first round on Monday.
Annabel Croft assesses what Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from the French Open to injury
Djokovic’s movement was not completely perfect in a 6-3 6-4 win over Medvedev at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic at Hurlingham, with the 37-year-old, who wore strapping on his right knee, showing a reluctance to push off from that leg when out wide, but he served well and struck the ball crisply.
Asked about his fitness afterwards, the record 24-time Grand Slam winner gave a big sigh before saying: “I can tell you that I enjoyed myself really, really much today.
“I can tell you that pain-free tennis is the best tennis. I was pain-free and I’m really glad. It was a great test obviously against one of the best players in the world.
“I’ve played a couple of practice sets but I really wanted to test myself. The test was very successful so I’m obviously really glad. It’s been an intense three weeks after surgery, spending a lot of hours rehabbing.
“I kind of always wanted to give myself a chance to be in London. I think my surgeon is here. He’s the MVP for sure the last three weeks. I’m trying to take it day by day and see how far it goes.”
Image: Novak Djokovic lost out to Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s Wimbledon’s men’s singles final
Djokovic has been leaning on fellow athletes who have suffered similar injuries, including American Taylor Fritz, who faced the same situation three years ago and recovered in time for Wimbledon.
“I asked him, I asked many athletes – [Stan] Wawrinka, Lindsey Vonn, Zlatan Ibrahimovic – and they were all very kind to share some of their experiences and give me some contacts of people who could help me out,” said Djokovic.
Medvedev did not sense any physical weakness in his opponent but thinks there could still be question marks about how Djokovic will handle the demands of Wimbledon.
“He seems to be fine,” the world number five told the PA news agency. “You never know what he feels inside of him.
“It’s a five-set match on grass [at Wimbledon], never easy for the knee, so I don’t know how it’s going to go during the matches. But he seemed to be moving well, even if I got him off guard a little bit.”
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Club professional Frank Bensel Jr admitted it was “like an out-of-body experience” after making back-to-back holes-in-one during the second round of the US Senior Open.
Incredibly, Bensel followed up an ace on the 184-yard fourth hole with another on the 203-yard fifth at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island.
According to the National Hole-in-One Registry, the odds of carding two aces in the same round are 67 million to one. It does not provide odds for consecutive holes.
“I’ve played a lot of golf in my life and just to see a hole-in-one in a tournament is pretty rare,” Bensel said after following his consecutive aces with four-straight bogeys along with three more on the back nine in a round of 74.
“The first one was great, so that got me under par for the day. And then the second one, I just couldn’t believe it. To even think that that could happen was amazing.
“Hit the ball kind of in the right place and then it just started rolling. I was kidding around and I was like, ‘Okay, now let’s go for another one’, and it happened to go in. Everybody just couldn’t believe it. We all went nuts.
“I’ve got a lot of family and friends here and they were all going crazy, and the guys I played with, same thing, they couldn’t believe it. It was amazing.
“This will be remembered obviously forever and ever. After these two holes-in-one, I just didn’t even know… it was like an out-of-body experience. I was more excited than I wanted to be.”
It is thought that the only other instance of a player making consecutive holes-in-one during a tournament occurred in even more remarkable circumstances during the 1971 Martini International at Royal Norwich.
John Hudson followed a hole-in-one at the 195-yard 11th with another ace at the par-four 12th, which measured 314 yards.
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Rangers have completed the signing of Liam Kelly after the goalkeeper signed a two-year deal at Ibrox.
The Scotland international is manager Philippe Clement’s fifth summer signing, after the arrivals of Jefte, Clinton Nsiala, Connor Barron and Oscar Cortes – while Mohamed Diomande made his loan move permanent.
Kelly returns to the club on the expiration of his Motherwell contract – having left Rangers in 2018 and played for Livingston, Queen’s Park and the Fir Park club.
He will provide competition to No 1 Jack Butland, while Robby McCrorie could depart in search of first-team action. Kelly was part of the Scotland squad at Euro 2024 – but did not feature in Germany.
Kelly said: “It is unbelievable to be back at Rangers, when I left, I probably never thought I would be back, but I am so delighted to be here. I know the size of the club, I spent 14 years here, so it is a great feeling, and I am looking forward to the new challenge.
“You always have faith in your own ability that you can play at the top level and this club is the highest level. I am joining a really talented group of players and a really talented group of goalkeepers, so I am excited.”
Defender Leon Balogun has told Sky Sports News that Rangers will be ready for a title race next season, vowing to get any weaknesses
Clement added: “I am delighted we have been able to secure the signing of Liam. We have had some really positive conversations, and he is a goalkeeper with experience in Scotland and in the Scottish Premiership which will be valuable for our squad.
“Under Colin Stewart, we have a really strong goalkeeping department, and the addition of Liam will only further strengthen that as we prepare for the 2024/25 season.”
Director of football recruitment, Nils Koppen said: “We are thrilled to welcome a goalkeeper with Liam’s experience into our squad.
“He is someone who knows the demands of this club and league, and enjoyed a positive past few seasons at Motherwell. It is important we continue to strengthen all aspects of the squad, and it is fantastic we have been able to add Liam to the group.”
Meanwhile, striker Hamza Igamane is also closing in on his move to Rangers.
He is set to join from Moroccan club AS Far Rabat where he scored seven goals and provided six assists in 20 appearances this season.
Boyd: Rangers need stability
Kris Boyd on the challenges ahead for Philippe Clement at Rangers, including if the delays to work at Ibrox will impact the team at the start of the season
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd on Sky Sports News:
“Clement will obviously want to bring in his own players. It’s more difficult with the players under contract trying to move them out.
“The ones he’s brought in in the past have done reasonably well but you have to start winning things on a regular basis.
“There have been rumours Connor Goldson and James Tavernier will move on. They’re under contract. It’s not going to be easy to force them out. They need someone to come along and take them off your hands, if that’s the case.
“But a continuous turnover of 10, 12 players every summer is no good. Rangers need to get stability.”
The 2024 summer transfer window in the Premier League and Scottish Premiership officially opened on Friday June 14.
The window will close on August 30 at 11pm UK time in England and at 11.30pm in Scotland.
The Premier League and Scottish Premiership brought forward Deadline Day to link up with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
Max Verstappen has faced fresh questions about his Red Bull future beyond the end of this season but said he is staying for 2025.
Despite being on a contract that runs to the end of 2028, Verstappen’s future at the team has been subject of on-off speculation all season following tension at the team at the start of the year following the investigation into Christian Horner and public interest from Mercedes as they search for a replacement for Lewis Hamilton.
In the latest show of interest from Red Bull’s rivals, Mercedes chairman Ola Kallenius told Sky Germany at last week’s Spanish GP that Verstappen “would look good in silver”, although team boss and co-owner Toto Wolff subsequently said there were not any ongoing talks with the triple world champion.
Horner has repeatedly said that there was no doubt Verstappen would remain with Red Bull but, with the rumours about 2025 never having completely gone away, Verstappen was quizzed about his plains again when he appeared in front of the media in Thursday’s drivers’ press conference ahead of this weekend’s Austrian GP.
“I think I’ve said this before. Naturally, of course, people are talking but it’s most important just that we just have a very competitive car for the future,” said Verstappen, who is leading this year’s world championship by 69 points.
“At the moment, of course, it is very tight but we are working very well as a team to try and improve more.
“For sure, I said this already with the team, we are working and focusing also on next year to try and be competitive again.
Max Verstappen swiftly takes the lead from George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix
Asked if that meant that if his Red Bull car was not fastest by the end of the year, he would leave: “I don’t think that’s how Formula 1 works where then suddenly you could say ‘well, bye guys!”
“It’s not how it works.
“I’ve got a long contract with the team, I’m very happy where I’m at and, like I said before, we are focusing already on next year with things that we can implement on the car. So, I guess that should say enough of where I’m driving next year.”
Verstappen was then later asked to give a direct ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer over whether he would still be at Red Bull in 2025.
“You didn’t get that out of my answer before?” he replied, with a smile.
“I mean, ok, yes.
“But that’s what I said, we are already also working on next year’s car. I think when you are very focused on that that means you are also driving for the team.”
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Austrian GP schedule
Thursday June 27 12.30pm: Drivers’ Press Conference
Friday June 28 7.50am: F3 Practice 9am: F2 Practice 11am: Austrian GP Practice One (session starts at 11.30am) 12.55pm: F3 Qualifying 1.50pm: F2 Qualifying 3pm: Austrian GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 3.30pm)*
Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Austrian Grand Prix
Saturday June 29 8.25am: F3 Sprint 10am: Austrian GP Sprint (race starts at 11am)* 12.25pm: F2 Sprint 2pm: Austrian GP Qualifying build-up 3pm: Austrian GP Qualifying 5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday June 30 7.25am: F3 Feature Race 8.55am: F2 Feature Race 12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Austrian GP build-up* 2pm: The AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX* 4pm: Chequered Flag: Austrian GP reaction* 5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
F1’s triple-header continues at the Austrian Grand Prix this coming week – with the Sprint format returning at the Red Bull Ring. Watch every session live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s big race at 2pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott said the “unfair” pitch in Trinidad was “not what you want to have in a World Cup semi-final” after his side were thumped by South Africa.
Afghanistan, playing in the last four of any World Cup for the first time, were rolled for 56 – their lowest T20I score – on a tough surface as some balls leapt up off the surface and others scuttled through low.
South Africa reached their target in 8.5 overs to qualify for their maiden World Cup final and will play England or India in Barbados on Saturday (3.30pm UK and Ireland).
Score summary – South Africa vs Afghanistan
Afghanistan 56 all out in 11.5 overs: Tabraiz Shamsi (3-6), Marco Jansen (3-16), Anrich Nortje (2-7), Kagiso Rabada (2-14); Azmatullah Omarzai (10)
South Africa 60-1 in 8.5 overs: Reeza Hendricks (29no off 25), Aiden Markram (23no off 21); Fazalhaq Farooqi (1-11)
Highlights as South Africa stormed into their first Men’s T20 World Cup final with a nine-wicket win over Afghanistan on a difficult Trinidad pitch
Former England batter Trott said: “I don’t want to get myself into trouble, I don’t want to come across as bitter or sour grapes but that’s not the pitch that you want to have in the semi-final of the World Cup. Plain and simple.
“It should be a fair contest. I’m not saying it should be flat completely with no spin and no seam movement, but you shouldn’t have bets, worrying about going forward and the ball flying over your head.
“T20 is about attacking, scoring runs and taking wickets, not looking to survive.”
It was a tough match for us as a team. We might have done a bit better than that, but the conditions didn’t let us.
Trott ‘proud’ of beaten Afghanistan
Trott was also frustrated by the quick turnaround Afghanistan faced, having played in the final Super 8s match on Monday night and then featuring in the first semi-final in Tarouba 48 hours later, although he stressed that was not cause of his side’s defeat.
South Africa had an extra 24 hours to prepare for the match, having concluded their Super 8s campaign with a win over host nation West Indies in Antigua on Sunday.
Trott said: “Playing the last group game and then playing the first semi-final isn’t ideal – travelling and not really having, a day off if you like. But that’s not a reason we didn’t win.
“We knew the schedule, so that’s not an excuse as such. In tournaments you can’t have everything your own way, you’ve got to fight and play against the odds. We have done that at times and I’m very proud of that.”
Reeza Hendricks hit the winning runs as South Africa beat Afghanistan by nine wickets in Tarouba
Afghanistan’s stellar tournament included wins over New Zealand and Australia, with Trott adding that their heavy loss to South Africa will not “define” their last few weeks.
‘Defeat gives us indication of what we need to work on’
Trott said: “I think whenever you lose a game like this it’s always going to hurt. And it should hurt. We put so much into it, there’s so many sacrifices made by the players, coaching staff, management officials.
“We arrived in high spirits, ready to take on a strong South African side and make sure we gave a good account of ourselves.
“I feel like we haven’t done that today so that’s the most disappointing thing. But I’m very proud of the guys.
Highlights from Afghanistan’s historic 21-run win over Australia in the Super 8s at the T20 World Cup
“This one performance doesn’t necessarily define the tournament, but it also gives us an indication of where we need to work on and what we need to get better at if we’re going to be competitive more consistently.
“And who we can rely on, who’s going to get us over the line.”
Watch South Africa take on England or India in the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup final live on Sky Sports Cricket from 3pm on Saturday (3.30pm first ball).
England bowler Ollie Robinson conceded a County Championship-record 43 runs in an over while playing for Sussex against Leicestershire at Hove.
Robinson was taken for six fours and two sixes by Louis Kimber, with three boundaries coming off no-balls, in an eye-wateringly expensive nine-ball over in which he also shipped a single.
Earlier in the week, England spinner Shoaib Bashir – who is currently on loan at Worcestershire from Somerset – conceded 38 runs in an over against Surrey, including five Dan Lawrence sixes.
Image: There was only one winner of this battle in Hove!
At that point, Bashir’s over was the joint-most expensive in Championship history, equalling the 38 runs Alex Tudor was taken for when Surrey played Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford, of which a young Andrew Flintoff struck 34.
But Robinson now has the unwanted record outright after being taken apart by Leicestershire batter Kimber, who clinched a 62-ball century during the carnage having begun the over 72 not out from 56 deliveries.
Shoaib Bashir shipped 38 runs in an over on Monday as he was taken apart by Surrey’s Dan Lawrence while playing for Worcestershire
Robinson and Bashir could conceivably be in England’s XI for the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s from July 10, live on Sky Sports, so the touring batters may be licking their lips!
How the record-breaking over panned out…
Ball 1 – Kimber pulls a six over deep backward square leg
Ball 2 – Kimber clubs a four in a similar spot off a no-ball
Ball 3 – A Robinson bouncer is cracked to deep third for four
Ball 4 – Kimber nails Robinson for six over backward square
Ball 5 – Another four for Kimber, through square leg
Ball 6 – Kimber clinches century with off-side four, off no-ball
Ball 7 – Kimber drills four through mid-on
Ball 8 – Another no-ball by Robinson is cover-driven for four
Ball 9 – A pulled single for Kimber
Image: Robinson could play a key role in the England Test side this summer
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Lando Norris has “emerged from the pack” as the most “consistent challenger” to Max Verstappen with Red Bull expecting the McLaren driver to remain a big threat to them at their home Austrian GP this weekend.
Verstappen and Norris have finished in the top two positions at five of the past six grands prix.
Although the reigning champion has won five of those races to Norris’ one, the McLaren driver finished on the Red Bull driver’s tail at Imola, Montreal and, last Sunday, Barcelona to suggest he could still yet prove a genuine title threat to Verstappen over the 14 races that remain in the record-length 2024 season.
Norris’ latest runner-up finish in Spain moved him ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc into a career-best second place in the Drivers’ Championship, with the 24-year-old trailing Verstappen by 69 points.
And reflecting on his driver’s narrow two-second victory over Norris at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said: “If Lando would have had track position it would have been difficult to beat them.
“It was so close between the two of them and they were 18 seconds ahead of the rest.
“I would say that Lando has emerged from the pack as the most consistent challenger.”
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Horner added: “We’ve had four pole winners in the last four races. It’s very, very tight.
“But Lando I would say, he seems to have worked out these tyres, McLaren have done a great job as well, and they’re going to push us hard for the rest of the year.”
Watch as George Russell and Norris battle for P2 at the Spanish Grand Prix
Norris, who won his maiden grand prix at the start of May at the Miami GP, has now finished second 10 times in races – nine times as runner-up to Verstappen – since McLaren introduced their transformative car upgrade at last year’s Austrian GP.
A lap of the Red Bull Ring takes little over 60 seconds to complete and Horner said ahead of this weekend’s Sprint event: “On such a short lap, it’s going to be so tight and we expect McLaren and Lando to be fast again.
“Ferrari and Mercedes? Who knows. If you look at the gap to those guys after the race it was pretty similar to last year. The one who has stepped up is Lando.”
Max Verstappen reflected on his thrilling performance to take the win at the Spanish Grand Prix
Indeed, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff – whose improving team finished third and fourth at Barcelona ahead of the Ferraris – acknowledged that Red Bull and McLaren currently are a step ahead of the field.
“The McLaren was very quick [in Spain]. How quick, I don’t know, I think Max always has a little bit in the pocket and you see that makes that difference,” said Wolff.
“But definitely there’s not a lot at the moment between these two and they are definitely setting the benchmark.”
Is Norris a genuine title threat to Verstappen?
Although Norris’ championship deficit to Verstappen has grown by 13 points in the last two races despite McLaren having chances to win both – with the Dutchman now enjoying a season-high lead at the top of the standings of those 69 points – that could yet change quickly if the McLaren driver is able to convert his car’s ever-growing pace into a run of wins given how many points remain up for grabs this season (396).
This weekend’s Sprint event in Austria alone, which features a 100km race on the Saturday in addition Sunday’s main grand prix, offers an additional eight points compared with the majority of events.
A frustrated Lando Norris reviews the Spanish Grand Prix where he finished second.
Asked about his title chances after Spain, Norris said: “We should have got some points back on Max. Potentially, there was a chance to beat him in Canada. So two races that I finished second and he’s won
“But Max needs to stop winning in order to achieve that. Yeah, even though I moved into second in the championship, that doesn’t matter. I couldn’t care if I was second or 10th.
“It’s more about the gap to what Max is and he’s still extending it at the minute and that’s something we can’t afford to do or can’t afford to kind of let him run away with it at this point of the season.
“But we can do. You know, if I just made some better decisions in Canada and if I had a better start [on Sunday], we could have won two races. And I know there’s a lot of, and there kind of always has been a lot of ‘shoulda, woulda, couldas’, but we have what it takes. It’s just about putting it all together.”
‘Red Bull know where to improve’
Norris won a thrilling qualifying duel with Verstappen to claim just his second career pole position in Spain but then almost immediately lost that advantage at the start of the race when he dropped from first to third behind his victory rival and a fast-starting George Russell at the first corner.
George Russell snatches the lead from Lando Norris at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Having lost crucial track position, McLaren then extended Norris’ first two stints compared with the Red Bull with the Englishman coming back at Verstappen on pace on each occasion on fresher tyres after his pit stops before effectively running out of laps to attempt an overtake at the end of the race.
“McLaren certainly look fast at the end of stints, which is something we’ve seen at a couple of races now,” noted Horner.
“So their degradation seems to be good. But that’s a little bit offset by the strategy and the overlap in the tyre life.
“We had enough to get the job done and it’s the seventh victory of our 10 races. Four of them have been very hard but, again, the team are working at a level that we’re still delivering the pit stops, strategy etc but Max again demonstrated why he’s the world champion – at the key, key moments he delivers.”
The best of the action from an eventful Spanish Grand Prix.
Horner added: “He’s fantastic under pressure, he’s always been fantastic. Last year was a unicorn year, now it’s a more normal year. It’s not normal to win all the races, all of the time, and we’re having to fight very, very hard for them and Max is making the key difference.
“But we know where we need to improve. We are getting a better understanding of where our strengths and weaknesses are and we are doing enough at the moment to keep growing that championship lead.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Austrian GP schedule
Thursday June 27 12.30pm: Drivers’ Press Conference
Friday June 28 7.50am: F3 Practice 9am: F2 Practice 11am: Austrian GP Practice One (session starts at 11.30am) 12.55pm: F3 Qualifying 1.50pm: F2 Qualifying 3pm: Austrian GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 3.30pm)*
Saturday June 29 8.25am: F3 Sprint 10am: Austrian GP Sprint (race starts at 11am)* 12.25pm: F2 Sprint 2pm: Austrian GP Qualifying build-up 3pm: Austrian GP Qualifying 5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday June 30 7.25am: F3 Feature Race 8.55am: F2 Feature Race 12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Austrian GP build-up* 2pm: The AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX* 4pm: Chequered Flag: Austrian GP reaction* 5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
F1’s triple-header continues at the Austrian Grand Prix this coming week – with the Sprint format returning at the Red Bull Ring. Watch every session live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s big race at 2pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
