Durham has secured Peter Siddle’s services for their upcoming County Championship matches as fellow Australian seamer Scott Boland is sidelined due to plantar fasciitis. Boland’s injury has forced him to withdraw from his stint at Durham, prompting the club to seek Siddle as his replacement. Having previously played for Nottinghamshire, Lancashire, Essex, and Somerset, Siddle is an experienced county cricketer with a proven track record.
The New England Patriots are expected to select North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Maye, a two-year starter for the Tar Heels, has all the tools to be a franchise quarterback in the NFL. He has a strong arm, good mobility, and is a natural leader. Maye is considered to be the best quarterback prospect in this year’s draft, and many experts believe he would be a perfect fit for the Patriots.
Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) Keshav Maharaj has hailed his teammates, R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, while expressing gratitude for sharing the same franchise with the Indian spin duo in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Maharaj has emerged as a dependable spin option for RR since his debut, learning from Ashwin’s experience and trying to emulate Chahal’s white-ball brilliance. The Royals, who have been in sensational form this season, will rely on their bowling unit, including Maharaj, Chahal, and Trent Boult, as they face Mumbai Indians on Monday.
The Denver Broncos are bringing back cornerback Levi Wallace, adding experience to a young secondary led by star Patrick Surtain II. Wallace, a veteran of six NFL seasons, has been a regular starter throughout his career and provides depth at a position where the Broncos lacked it. The move aligns with Denver’s strategy of signing low-cost veterans without taking opportunities away from younger players.
As college baseball enters its second half, key series have taken place, shaping the landscape of the season. Here are 15 takeaways from the weekend’s action:
1. Kentucky and Tennessee had a top-10 showdown, with Tennessee winning the series and emerging as the team to beat in the SEC East.
2. While Kentucky lost its first SEC series, it showcased its capabilities and is still a contender.
3. Wake Forest has won three straight ACC series, putting them firmly in the NCAA Tournament conversation.
4. Florida State faced a tough loss on the road, raising concerns about their pitching depth.
5. California swept Oregon State, breaking their eight-game winning streak and putting them back in the NCAA Tournament mix.
6. Oregon State’s recent struggles expose weaknesses in their defense and bullpen.
7. NC State captured a series against rival North Carolina, solidifying their position as a formidable ACC team.
8. Coastal Carolina defeated Louisiana for a series win, boosting their hosting resume.
9. Louisiana is still a contender for the Sun Belt title, despite the series loss.
10. The parity in the Big 12 is evident, with every team having a series win over each other.
11. UConn has rebounded from a slow start, sweeping Georgetown to lead the Big East.
12. UNC Wilmington has remained dominant in the CAA, winning a series at Northeastern.
13. Louisiana Tech showcased their potential with a series win at Dallas Baptist.
14. DBU has lost three straight series, but their top-20 RPI keeps them in NCAA Tournament contention.
15. Michigan has won five straight conference series, proving their consistency in the Big Ten.
The Vancouver Canucks celebrated their first home playoff game in nine years with a thrilling 4-2 comeback win over the Nashville Predators on Sunday night. Dakota Joshua and Pius Suter combined for three consecutive third-period goals to rally the Canucks, with Joshua scoring the franchise’s fastest two goals in playoff history. Thatcher Demko made 20 saves for the win, while Jason Zucker and Ryan O’Reilly scored for the Predators. Game 2 of the first-round series will be played on Tuesday night in Vancouver.
Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra has criticized Mumbai Indians’ (MI) bowling performance in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. Chopra highlighted that despite their strong batting lineup, MI has struggled with their bowling unit, with Jasprit Bumrah being the only exception.
The Atlanta Braves have made a roster move, optioning starting pitcher Darius Vines to Triple-A Gwinnett. Bryce Elder has been recalled from Gwinnett and will start on Monday against the Miami Marlins. Elder was expected to be the first starter called up after Spencer Strider went down for the season with a torn UCL. However, Allan Winans and Darius Vines got the first few starts due to the way the rotation worked out. Vines showed a lot of promise in his two starts, allowing only one run over 4.2 innings against the Astros and cruising against the Rangers before allowing a couple of home runs in the fourth inning. Elder is 2-0 with a 3.31 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 16.1 innings in three starts for the Stripers this season.
The Brooklyn Nets have officially announced the appointment of Jordi Fernandez as their new head coach. Fernandez brings a wealth of experience to the role, having worked as an assistant coach in both the NBA and G League. In his previous roles, Fernandez has demonstrated his ability to develop players and implement innovative systems.
Mumbai Indians, under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, are determined to bounce back from their disappointing defeat against Rajasthan Royals in their previous encounter. Despite a challenging start to their IPL 2024 campaign, young star Tilak Varma remains optimistic about the team’s prospects. Mumbai Indians are focusing on taking each game at a time and adapting their strategy to the conditions of the Wankhede Stadium pitch.
