‘Humdinger’ – Joe Root hopes England and New Zealand can be at respective best

Your support helps The Independent cover important issues like reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech, with on-the-ground reporting. Donations enable journalists to investigate stories from all perspectives, providing trusted news without paywalls. Aston Villa, led by Unai Emery, advance to the FA Cup quarter-finals thanks to Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford's impact, while Cardiff's Omer Riza praises his team's defensive effort despite a 2-0 loss. Full Article

The NCAA football rules committee has proposed charging teams with a timeout or penalty for players faking injuries well after plays during games, with a timeout to be charged when medical personnel evaluate players after the ball has been spotted and a delay-of-game penalty for teams without timeouts. This proposal, among others, aims to address the issue of faking injuries, with the SEC implementing guidelines and the rules committee suggesting losing timeouts for suspicious instances....

The 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers are projected to dominate MLB, but surprisingly, their fantasy baseball value doesn't reflect their expected success. Despite having top players like Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, the team's depth and rotating rotation make them a challenge for fantasy managers. With a strong bullpen by committee and a bench mob led by Tommy Edman, the Dodgers are built for long-term success but may frustrate fantasy owners throughout the season. Full Article

Texas will raise football season ticket prices by $13 per game to cover rising costs, including $30 million in new expenses and 200 new scholarships. Athletic director Chris Del Conte announced the price increase, aiming to maintain Texas as the top athletic department. Texas reported record operating revenue and expenses in the 2024 fiscal year, becoming the first top-division public school to surpass $300 million in both categories. Full Article

The R&A has concerns about awarding the Open to Trump Turnberry due to fears of turning the major into a political circus and the venue's relatively low income for the organization. Despite Trump's desire to host the Open at Turnberry, the R&A remains hesitant due to logistical and commercial factors, as well as the need for the focus to be solely on golf. While renovation work at Turnberry is praised, hosting the British major at...

Mavericks reportedly offered Luka Dončić to the Timberwolves for Anthony Edwards before ultimately trading him to the Lakers for Anthony Davis. Dončić has since averaged 19.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 1.5 steals per game with the Lakers, helping them to a 4-2 record. Edwards, on the other hand, expressed surprise at the potential trade and joked about being traded himself, while also facing a possible suspension for technical fouls. Full Article