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Labuschagne slams another big century to send Ashes message | The Express Tribune

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Labuschagne slams another big century to send Ashes message | The Express Tribune


The Queensland batter’s red-hot form has reignited his push for a return to Australia’s Test squad

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne has hit four centuries in five innings in the lead up to the Ashes. PHOTO: AFP


SYDNEY:

Run-hungry Marnus Labuschagne slammed his fourth century in five innings Thursday to make an emphatic case to be in Australia’s side for the opening Ashes Test against England.

The Queensland captain was dropped ahead of Australia’s mid-year Test tour of the West Indies after an extended lean spell.

But he has come roaring back to stake his claim to be part of the team that pads up in Perth on November 21.

Batting at three, he crunched 159 off 197 balls against South Australia, while Test opener Usman Khawaja hit a composed 46.

Labuschagne’s ton backed up the 160 he made in the opening Sheffield Shield round against Tasmania. He has also blitzed two 50-over centuries this season.

The 31-year-old opened with Khawaja in June’s losing World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s.

But a growing chorus of former greats, led by David Warner and Matthew Hayden, are adamant he should revert to his usual spot at number three.

That would mean all-rounder Cameron Green shifts back to six and Beau Webster misses out in Perth, with the question of who opens with Khawaja still to be resolved.

Incumbent opener Sam Konstas’s quest to retain his spot has not gone well.

After a forgettable West Indies series, the 20-year-old was dismissed for a four-ball duck playing for New South Wales against Victoria on Wednesday.

He made only four and 14 against Western Australia last week, leaving selectors with plenty to ponder.



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Huskers earn top overall seed in volleyball tourney

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Huskers earn top overall seed in volleyball tourney


Undefeated Nebraska earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament bracket released Sunday.

The five-time national champion Huskers (30-0) have dominated this season, dropping just seven sets. They lead Division I in hitting percentage at .352.

Dani Busboom Kelly, who won NCAA titles as both a Nebraska player and assistant, took over at her alma mater this season after longtime Huskers coach John Cook retired. Busboom Kelly led Louisville to the NCAA final in 2024, where the Cardinals lost to Penn State.

The other No. 1 seeds are Kentucky, Texas and Pitt. The Wildcats have won one NCAA title, and the Longhorns have four. The Panthers reached the final four the past four seasons but lost in the semifinals each time.

Pitt and Stanford finished tied atop the ACC at 18-2, and the Cardinal won their head-to-head matchup 3-2 at Stanford on Nov. 14. But the Panthers’ overall body of work secured them the last No. 1 seed, while nine-time NCAA champion Stanford is the No. 2 seed in Texas’ region.

SEC regular-season and tournament champion Kentucky defeated Texas 3-2 in the conference tournament final. They would face each other in the national semifinals should they advance that far.

Defending national champion Penn State, the only school that has appeared in every NCAA tournament dating back to the event’s start in 1981, is a No. 8 seed in Texas’ quarter of the bracket. St. Thomas (Minnesota) and Toledo are both making their first appearance in the tournament.

The Big 12 led all leagues with 10 teams in the field, the Big Ten has nine, the ACC seven and the SEC five.

Early-round matches will be held from Dec. 4 to 6 on campus sites. The regionals, scheduled for Dec. 11-14, will be hosted by the four highest seeds still standing in each quarter of the bracket.

The final four is at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, for the third time in the tournament’s history. It was there that Penn State won the championship in 2010 and Nebraska won its most recent title in 2017.

The national semifinals are Dec. 18 (ESPN), and the championship match is Dec. 21 (ABC).



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Commanders vs. Broncos live updates: Washington tightens up in red zone, yields field goal

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The Commanders return from their bye week searching for their first victory since Oct. 5. It won’t be easy against the Broncos, who have won eight straight.



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Ruben Amorim: Man United ‘steal’ set-piece routines from rivals

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Ruben Amorim: Man United ‘steal’ set-piece routines from rivals


Ruben Amorim has said that Manchester United are “stealing” set-piece routines from other clubs after goals from two free-kicks helped earn a valuable 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.

United came from behind at Selhurst Park thanks to second-half goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount, both of which came from Bruno Fernandes set plays.

Amorim’s team have now scored 10 Premier League goals from set-pieces this season — joint most with table-toppers Arsenal.

“We work a lot,” Amorim said when asked about United’s improvement at set-pieces.

“We have more time to work, we work a lot and we learn a lot in England.

“I think you are used to seeing that, but when you come for the Premier League you learn a lot with other teams how to do it and we are stealing a lot of things to score goals.”

United looked destined for another set-back following Monday’s defeat to 10-man Everton when Crystal Palace went in at half-time 1-0 up thanks to a retaken penalty from Jean-Philippe Mateta.

But there was marked improvement in their performance after the break as Amorim’s team recorded just their second league win away from home since March.

“I just said to the players we need to be more alive and you can feel that,” Amorim said.

– Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee inspire Man United comeback win at Crystal Palace
– Zirkzee leads Man United comeback in game of two halves vs. Palace
– Premier League table

“So if you are more alive, you are in more places, you are near the ball more often. I think everyone did that.

“But we also need to understand that the opponent was tired also in the second half.

“And when you increase the rhythm and the opponent gets tired a little bit, suffers right away a goal, you felt that we had the control of the game and that’s it.”



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