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Australia names Weatherald in Ashes Test squad, calls selection “impressive” – SUCH TV
Chief selector George Bailey praised uncapped opener Jake Weatherald as “impressive” after the 31-year-old was named in Australia’s squad for the first Ashes Test. Bailey highlighted Weatherald’s attributes, saying he possesses all the qualities needed for the role.
Marnus Labuschagne was recalled to the squad, while young opener Sam Konstas was dropped from the 15-man roster. Steve Smith will captain the side in Pat Cummins’s absence due to injury.
If selected to face Ben Stokes’s England in Perth on November 21, Weatherald would become Usman Khawaja’s sixth opening partner since David Warner’s early retirement last year.
Previous experiments with Steve Smith, Nathan McSweeney, Travis Head, Labuschagne, and Konstas had not yielded long-term success.
Bailey did not confirm whether Weatherald would make his debut in the XI. “No, not confirmed in the XI,” he said.
“We still have 14 of our 15-man squad playing round four of the Sheffield Shield, so there’s more information to gather. Cameron Green returning to the bowling crease will also influence selections.”
All-rounder Green has been batting only since returning mid-year following back surgery 13 months ago, having bowled just a handful of overs this season.
If he proves fit to handle sufficient bowling workload, Green would likely bat at six, allowing Weatherald to open with Khawaja.
In that case, Labuschagne would return to his preferred number three position, after scoring five centuries in eight innings this season.
If Green is still struggling with his bowling, Labuschagne could open alongside Khawaja, with Green at three and Beau Webster retaining his spot at six.
Renshaw left out
Tasmanian left-hander Weatherald has been a top performing opener in domestic ranks over the past few years.
He put himself on the Ashes radar by clobbering 183 for Australia A during a red-ball series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin this year, with his form continuing in the Sheffield Shield.
“I think if you look at his performance over 18 to 24 months it’s been really solid and then there’s a method there that I think we like and is complementary to those other players around him in the squad,” Bailey said.
“He scores at a good rate. The way he goes about building his innings, it’s been impressive.”
His inclusion meant disappointment for Matt Renshaw, who had been tipped to get the nod as Konstas has struggled for form.
Smith takes charge because Cummins, who will travel with the squad to Perth, has not played since picking up a lower back injury against the West Indies more than three months ago.
The day-night second Test in Brisbane from December 4 is a tentative target for Cummins to return.
The ever-reliable Scott Boland will replace Cummins in the seam attack alongside quick bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Nathan Lyon provides the spin option in his 140th Test, where he can surpass Glenn McGrath to become the sixth-highest wicket-taker in history by claiming two more victims.
Uncapped Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott were included as the back-up fast bowlers and Josh Inglis will provide cover for wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Following Perth, the five-Test series moves to Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
England drew 2-2 on home turf in the most recent Ashes series in 2023, but have not won in Australia since 2010-2011.
Australia squad:
Steve Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
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Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper piled onto the Kansas City Chiefs’ dismal season on Saturday night.
The Broncos clinched the AFC West title for the first time since 2015 after the Los Angeles Chargers lost to the Houston Texans. The Chiefs have been on top of the division since 2016 with Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes leading the charge.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (19) throws a pass as he is hit by Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) and Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) during the first quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 25, 2025 (Denny Medley/Imagn Images)
Cooper made his feelings about the Chiefs clear with explicit posts directed at the franchise.
“F— the Chiefs,” he wrote on X. “B—h made a– pansies.”
Cooper has been a bright spot for the Broncos’ defense over the last three seasons. He hasn’t missed a game since 2022. This year, he has eight sacks and 49 total tackles in 16 games. He’s a big reason why Denver’s defense has been one of the best throughout the season.
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Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) during warmups against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 5, 2025 (Eric Hartline/Imagn Images)
The Broncos are third in points allowed and yards allowed this season.
Denver defeated Kansas City on Thursday night to move to 13-3 on the season.
It was the first time the Broncos had hit the 13-win mark in a single season since 2013. In that season, the John Fox-led squad made the Super Bowl but lost to the Seattle Seahawks.
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The Broncos are hoping to replicate the 2015 season rather than 2013 with their impending playoff run this year.
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Olympic hopeful Jutta Leerdam, Jake Paul’s fiancée, bounces back after crushing fall during trials
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Dutch women’s speed skating hopeful Jutta Leerdam bounced back on Sunday in the 500-meter race as she hoped to make the Olympic team for the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.
Leerdam finished in second place behind Femke Kok in the race. Kok, who set the women’s 500-meter world record in November, had a time of 36.873. Leerdam finished with a time of 37.242.
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Jutta Leerdam participates in the Staatsloterij Olympic Qualification Tournament at THIALF in Heerenveen, Netherlands, on Dec. 26, 2025. (Caroline van Leusden/EYE4images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
It was a much better than Friday’s result.
Leerdam, who is the fiancée of boxer Jake Paul, crashed and fell on the ice during the 1,000-meter event. She was seen in tears as she skated off the ice.
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Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands looks dejected competing on the Women’s 500m on Day 1 of the Dutch Speed Skating Olympic Qualifiers at Thialf on Dec. 26, 2025 in Heerenveen, Netherlands. (Henk Jan Dijks/Marcel ter Bals/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
“I’m skating so well in practice. What those girls are skating here, I could have easily skated today,” she said, via Olympics.com. “I’ve skated 1:14 here 25 times, and I feel even better now than I have in the past two years. I’m really hitting it.”
There’s still hope for Leerdam to qualify for the Olympics as the national committee will ultimately make the determination as to whether Leerdam will mae the cut.
Leerdam won a silver medal in the 2022 Beijing Games in the 1,000-meter race. She finished just behind Japan’s Miho Takagi, who set an Olympic record time.
Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands receives the gold medal for the women’s 1000m during the ISU Speed Skating World Cup at Utah Olympic Oval on Nov. 14, 2025. (Peter Creveling/Imagn Images)
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She skipped the 2025 ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Hamar, Norway, to focus on Olympic trials.
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Former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim on Sunday announced his divorce after more than six years of marriage.
Citing privacy, the cricketer requested fans and followers not to share the couple’s old photos on social media.
Taking to the social media platform Instagram, Imad urged fans and media outlets to refrain from sharing old pictures of the couple.
“After much thought, and due to repeated conflicts that could not be resolved over the past few years, I have filed for divorce,” Imad wrote. “I sincerely request everyone to respect our privacy and avoid using or sharing any old couple photos.”
The 37-year-old further asked people not to refer to Sania as his spouse going forward and cautioned against speculation or misinformation surrounding the matter.
“I request everyone not to engage in or believe any misleading narratives. Any attempt to defame or involve others in this personal matter will be addressed through the proper legal channels if necessary,” he stated.
Imad also addressed the situation regarding their children, reaffirming his responsibilities as a father.
“Regarding the children, I remain their father and will continue to care for them fully and responsibly,” he added, concluding the statement by thanking supporters for their understanding and respect.
Meanwhile, Imad’s wife also took to Instagram and said, “Like many marriages, ours had difficulties, yet it continued to exist.”
Imad Wasim and Sania Ashfaq tied the knot in 2019, and they have three children.
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