Mark Wood Cleared After Hamstring Scare As England Finalise Ashes Plans

England can breathe again. Mark Wood, one of the country’s quickest and most electrifying fast bowlers, has been given the all-clear after a hamstring scare during the Ashes warm-up match in Perth. The veteran speedster had left the field on Thursday with tightness in his left hamstring—the same leg on which he underwent knee surgery earlier this year—raising immediate concern across the England camp.

But a Friday scan brought relief instead of bad news. Wood has been cleared to continue preparing for the first Ashes Test on 21 November at Optus Stadium, a venue expected to favour pace and bounce. While he will not feature in the final day of the tour game against the England Lions, the team confirmed he will “continue to train as planned” ahead of the series opener.

The timing couldn’t be better for England, especially after Australia suffered their own setback with Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the first Test due to a hamstring injury. Wood, who hasn’t played a Test since August 2024 due to elbow and knee issues, remains central to England’s strategy to hit Australia with express pace alongside Jofra Archer.

England hinted at their tactical approach by selecting five fast bowlers—including Wood and Archer—and no frontline spinner in their warm-up XI. Now, with Wood cleared but still returning from long-term rehab, selectors must decide whether he features in the opening Test or continues building fitness through Lions fixtures running concurrently.

If he doesn’t play, England may turn to Josh Tongue as a like-for-like replacement, or reintroduce spin through Shoaib Bashir or Will Jacks.

In other squad news, young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has been ruled out of the remainder of the Lions’ tour with a leg injury and will return to the UK. Despite the setback, he is expected to be fit for Big Bash League action with Hobart Hurricanes next month.

With Wood fit again and Archer firing, England’s pace battery is nearly complete. And with the Ashes countdown officially on, the visitors will hope their speed merchants can unsettle Australia on what promises to be a fiery Perth surface.

Kai Trump Shows Grit Despite Missing LPGA Cut In Nerve-Filled Debut

Kai Trump’s highly anticipated LPGA debut didn’t end with a fairytale finish, but the 18-year-old amateur certainly delivered effort, heart, and a glimpse of what could become a bright future. Competing as a sponsor exemption at the Annika tournament in Florida, the granddaughter of U.S. President Donald Trump finished last in the 108-player field, but her journey over two rounds captured attention far beyond the scorecard.

After an opening-day struggle that saw her post an 83 in front of unusually large galleries, Kai bounced back with a more composed second round, carding a five-over-par 75 to finish 18-over overall. The nerves that overwhelmed her on Thursday seemed to settle into something calmer.

“For the first day I was definitely really nervous. I think the nerves just got to me,” she admitted. “When I went out there today I felt very calm and peaceful. That’s why I played better.”

Her improved performance featured four birdies—including a near hole-in-one with an eight iron from 140 yards—and a steady par on the intimidating 18th for the second straight day. But the round wasn’t without drama. A triple bogey on the fifth could have derailed her momentum, yet she handled it with refreshing maturity.

“Things are going to happen. You can’t go back in time and fix it,” Kai said. “I told my caddie Allan Kournikova, ‘Let’s just move on.’ We even laughed about it.”

Despite playing only three events this season and currently ranking 461st in the AJGA standings, she made an impression with her power off the tee, averaging 241 yards while hitting 11 out of 14 fairways. England’s Charley Hull, playing three groups ahead, praised the young amateur’s composure and striking ability, noting how tough the course is even for seasoned pros.

Meanwhile, at the top of the leaderboard, Linn Grant and Grace Kim share the lead at nine under, with several big names—including Nelly Korda—lurking close behind.

As for Kai Trump, her LPGA debut may not have ended in a weekend appearance, but it showcased something just as valuable: resilience, talent, and a willingness to learn in real time. For an 18-year-old preparing to join the University of Miami golf program, this is only the beginning.

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani has been named Major League Baseball’s Most Valuable Player for the third consecutive year, and the fourth time overall. The 31-year-old two-way star played a pivotal role in the Dodgers securing back-to-back World Series titles, including this year’s victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ohtani, who excels both as a pitcher and hitter, received the National League MVP award in unanimous fashion, securing all 30 first-place votes. His four MVP titles now place him second on the all-time list, trailing only Barry Bonds, who won seven between 1990 and 2004.

“If I’m playing well as an individual that means I’m helping the team win, so in that sense, hopefully I can end up with a couple more MVPs,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “But it’s all about winning games.”

Ohtani also became the first player in MLB history to earn MVP honors in both leagues, having previously won the American League award in 2021 and 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels.

In the AL, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge claimed his third MVP award, joining legendary Yankees Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, and Mickey Mantle as three-time winners. Judge, who previously won in 2022 and 2024, expressed his gratitude for the achievement.

“It’s tough for me to wrap my head around,” Judge said. “It’s mind blowing from my side of things, because I play this game to win, I play this game for my teammates, my family, all the fans in New York. You’ve got to pinch yourself every single day. It’s truly an incredible honour.”

Ohtani and Judge’s historic accomplishments highlight a remarkable season for MLB’s top stars, proving that elite performance and consistency continue to define baseball’s modern legends.