i have my an iranian missile. i have my suspicions. i don't want to say that because others have their suspicions also. it is a tragic thing. departments in england record their worst ever performance departments in england record their woi’st ever performance more departments in england record their worst ever performance more signs of a tough christmas on the high street. they may not be able to pay their annual staff bonus. in moment it it'll be time for sports day but what else is coming this evening on bbc news. after suffering a heart attack. on the report that the ukrainian plaintiffs had by missile, how that scenario could've played out. and later, will be taking a look at

tomorrow's front pages in the papers, our guestsjoining tomorrow's front pages in the papers, our guests joining us tomorrow's front pages in the papers, our guestsjoining us at tomorrow's front pages in the papers, our guests joining us at the radio presenter, that is all ahead on bbc news. now it is time for sports day. hello and thanks forjoining us on sportsday this evening. i'm ben croucher. our headlines tonight. a climb—down from betting companies and scathing criticism in parliament — we'll bring you the latest on the gambling industry's deal to show fa cup matches. no doubles delight in sydney as great britain lose their atp cup quarter final against australia. we hearfrom barry hearn on his plans for snooker — including taking the sport to saudi arabia and the obstacles that throws up. and as faras, and as far as, the government said 0k. also coming up in the programme. after that memorable fifth day in cape town and ben stokes' heroics —

we ask if five day test cricket could soon be a thing of the past. and we find out more about wheelchair motocross — backflips and all — with the 15—year—old world champion from wales. welcome along and thanks for your company. plenty to pack into the programme this evening. we'll start sportsday with further developments to the story surrounding gambling companies showing the fa cup. you might remember last weekend the fa cup third round matches kicked off later than normal to encourage people to take a minute to think about their mental health. the uneasy relationship between gambling and mental health was brought into focus yesterday when it emerged that you could watch some fa cup matches via bet365‘s website and app if you placed a bet or had a deposit in your account.

today — we've learned that seven gambling firms have bought the rights to show matches in a similar way — prompting severe criticism from several members of parliament. everything about this deal needs to be dealt with. everything about the gambling act needs reform and certainly the gambling commission. they say we did not really mean this and will review it. they do give them financial assistance and i would urge my right honourable friend to say to the faa, unless they move on this quickly, we will review their financial support. earlier today, the betting and gambling commission announced that it would offer to give up its exclusive rights to broadcast these matches. our sports editor dan roan explained the significance of that to me. i think it gives the fa something to work with, something of an issue, if you were to just live stream every fa cup match, where does that put

the broadcasters who have spent enough a lot of money on exclusive rights to certain matches each round? rights to certain matches each round 7 they could rights to certain matches each round? they could could tear up the contract, but the stream matches, but not the ones that the bbc have, that may be one way to resolve the issue but does give you some idea of the pressure that these bookmakers and the faa find themselves in in the wake of this controversy. and how damaging has this whole saga been for the fa at the start of the year? it is very embarrassing. the timing is unfortunate because they started this deal in 2017 before they decided to distance themselves from the gambling industry. they recognise there is a contradiction there given that there were the regulators overseeing the rules and they make no attempt to try to move away from gambling. this deal was done before that and it is only now

that i think it actually created this because it is contradictory with the mental health campaign that the president duke of cambridge is spearheading and was given such publicity and kicked off one minute late and recognition of the campaign that he is launched and it is that which the arrangement seems to be a contradiction of. so i think that is why it has become an issue. but i think it reflects on the whole of the football industry, so many more than half of all the clubs in the top two divisions have gambling companies that have short sponsors, stadium sponsored by bookmakers. and you cannot watch football on live television without seeing football advertisements, watching on skyler

bt, -- advertisements, watching on skyler bt, —— sky. they will try to regulate the industry as well so that the fears that young fans are exposed to the gambling industry, that there is something done about that there is something done about that in the future. i think it has been a very interesting moment to have this debate. tim henman said it was hugely disappointing as his great britain team exited the atp cup at the quarter final stage. the new nations tournament — being hosted in australia — treated us to an epic quarter final between britain and the hosts — going right down to the wire in the doubles and a case of what might have been. joe lynskey was watching. one of the oldest rivalries and a brand—new competition. they had this to settle. it is long! for great britain it was one of four match points they let slip away, the

climax that for the cloud, and watching team—mates, tapped an extraordinary deck. he true once again on his underarms serve to see off—camera nori and with sydney behind them now australia, the semi final place to be sealed with a victory in the next singles match but britain's dan evans had other ideas. a sensational swing. with ten possible support, evans thrust his tea m possible support, evans thrust his team back in the tie. it took a more than three hours to sealed this most gutsy victory on a tie—break and all the doubles were decided, evans opponent went straight back on court, still after that setback, he had a slight touch. that set this

match to a decider, first to ten points wins. but for every chance britain created, the home site was hit back. at 17 — britain created, the home site was hit back. at 17 - 16 britain created, the home site was hit back. at 17 — 16 australia broke through. i use as much energy as i could. i through. i use as much energy as i could. lam having through. i use as much energy as i could. i am having a through. i use as much energy as i could. lam having a bit through. i use as much energy as i could. i am having a bit of red wine tonight. the atp cup sets tennis up for its new season. if it goes on like this, there'll be some year ahead. lets quickly take you through some other headlines on thursday. tottenham's harry kane will be out of action for at least three months. he's due to undergo surgery on a ruptured hamstring after limping off during their defeat at southampton on new years day ticket prices have been announced for british cricket's new short format competition, the hundred. they range from ten to 35 pounds for the men's games, and from eight pounds for the women's. under 16s will pay a fiver. the hundred features eight

new city—based teams and begins in mid july. britain's sam sunderland is out of the dakar rally after crashing in the saudi arabian desert on stage five. the 2017 winner hurt his back and shoulder injuries and was airlifted to hospital. a spokesman for his ktm team said his injuries were not too serious. and england's beau greaves has had a 16th birthday to remember. the teenager is through to the semi—finals of the women's bdo world championships in london after beating aileen de graaf of the netherlands two sets to one. the man who has led manchester city women to six trophies is as many years is to leave the club next month. nick cushing is to become the assistant at new york city men saying the decision to leave the etihad campus was not one he'd taken lightly. our sports reporter jo currie has more. not many people have seen this coming, they have been able to keep

a relatively under wraps which is very rare in football these days. it is testament to how successful nick cushing has been with manchester city since taking charge in 2013, he has managed to deliver six major trophies, including the 2016 title which was a triple winning season, he delivered the fa cup at wembley as of the league cup along the way he has managed to international players. he has also nurtured the careers of england youngsters. so, he has proved himself for almost every level. the only truth that has eluded him as the champions league, he is going to the semi finals twice but some people may ask, why is he leaving one of the most high—profile jobs and brings football in the world and the answer is this move to new york city is a fantastic opportunity for him to prove himself in the men's game but perhaps he feels he is taking manchester city as far as he can for now.

immediately, his final game will be at home for arsenal. and number two at home for arsenal. and number two at the moment, taking charge of the interim, it is something to see but manchester director that because there will be a lot of high—profile player in people and men's football will be very interested in the coming of the next miniature. —— manager. now on sportsday we like to sink our teeth into some of the big talking points around the world of sport and in cricket over the last week, the one thing that's got everyone's tongue wagging is the potential for test cricket to be reduced from five to four days. good commercial sense and giving players more of a rest or ruining the tradition of the game? adam wild has been looking at both sides of the argument for us, adam, why has this debate arisen now? it is not a new argument. it is not even a it is not a new argument. it is not even a new it is not a new argument. it is not even a new idea. he used to have all sorts of different length tests even timeless tests, i the test went on

for 12 days, following the standard since 1979. a couple of years ago comes africa played zimbabwe in a designated four—day test, perhaps not the best as it was over within two days but they really fired the starting pistol on these current debates. you may remember last year, they played ireland and lords, very entertaining although admittedly that as well was done after three days. those matches have really fuelled this on going argument but four—day tests, that is with the international cricket council led by this man are going to discuss later and this proposal is to there is a sense that this is a very real prospect from 2023. so the big question is why. the answer perhaps will not be surprised to hear is primarily money. there has been a steady decline in the past few

decades of test matches going to a fifth day. but just decades of test matches going to a fifth day. butjust this week in cape town, they can be thrilling when they do. the last ten tests have all gone to a fifth day. so there is evidence for it. but they are there is evidence for it. but they a re costly there is evidence for it. but they are costly when they do not go the distance and they can be very expensive on the venues that still have to pay all of the costs but the revenue, most crucially, playing fewer days has freed up more time on the calendar when the big talking points would be what you do at this time, your players get more rest and thatis time, your players get more rest and that is one thing but what is more likely is that it can be used to fit in more cricket which is more lucrative and increasingly more popularfor lucrative and increasingly more popular for tv audiences, particularly in india which is the real driving force of the world game. also there is a sense that cricket would do something to make it more commercially appealing. quicker games like day and night games, seeing as we do that. some

the key reasons behind the idea and the key reasons behind the idea and the reaction this week has been mixed to say the least. taking a quick look at it, starting with the governing bodies. running the game in england, they're saying their definite proponents of the four—day test co nce pt definite proponents of the four—day test concept but cautiously so. cricket south africa even stronger have said this week... the players for the most part have been significantly less welcoming and let us significantly less welcoming and let us take a look at some of this, following that in the game in cape town. michael, another captain in a move to four—day tests would ultimately damage. the federation of

international cricket association made a statement within which they say. lots of high—profile players have been speaking out on this this week. all against reducing the test. another husband speaking to the bbc. this is what inspired me to be a cricketer and i still believe that it inspires even the generation under me to get involved in play cricket as well. yes, t20 tournaments are all well and good and those kinds of things, you can earn a lot of money in a short space of time but i think most cricketers, even current players would like