test match. staging the matches is a major undertaking, these performers were booked and played at the test that never was. joe wilson, bbc news, old trafford. time for a look at the weather, here's helen willetts. hello there, it has been a showery day today, a lit of sunshine of course in between as it often the case when you have showers. but some western areas have had a lot of mist and low cloud. the reason is low pressure sitting on top of the uk. it moves away this weekend, so we will see lengthier spells of sunshine and fewer showers and it will feel fresher, because of change in wind direction. this north—westerly drops the temperature. we are keeping an eye on another area of low pressure. where we have had the sunshine in

the east, we have had some thunder storms in eastern scotland and north england and lincolnshire. on the whole the showers will move out into the nith sea tonight. it gets quite wet in the north tonight. a warm night and perhaps some drizzle around irish sea coasts. grey and misty first thing. some fog over the hills int misty first thing. some fog over the hills in t north. a soaking for parts of scotland, northern scotland. but for many areas, fewer shows, just fleeting in england and wales. more cloud and a breeze for northern ireland. still a few showers. temperatures on the the way down, freshening with that northerly wind. which then pushes our front south and it will weaken. it heads into the north of england. we have the great north run on sunday. for me running, this would be ideal conditions, but i'm not rung. patchy cloud and rain, not a conditions, but i'm not rung. patchy cloud and rain, nota bad conditions, but i'm not rung. patchy

cloud and rain, not a bad day. scotland and northern ireland, but this is the fly in the ointment, the uncertainty is how far north and east it pushes on sunday. so please stay tuned to the forecast. that's all from the bbc news at six, so it's goodbye from me and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc�*s news teams where you are. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm lizzie greenwood—hughes. here's a taster of what we have coming up on tonight's show... teenage takeover at the us open tennis — we're live in new york ahead of emma raducanu's historic final. england and lancashire cricket pick up the pieces after the final india test is cancelled. and yorkshire apologize to their former player — azeem rafiq saying he was the "victim of racial "harassment and bullying." also coming up in the programme...

the return of the magnificent seven, but are sequels ever better than the original? so plenty of good stuff for you tonight. but we're starting at the us open tennis and what could be a late night for british fans as emma raducanu becomes the first qualifier to play in a grand slam final and the first british woman to play in a major singles finalfor 44 years! the 18—year—old hasn't dropped a set all tournament and her meteoric rise is matched only by that of her opponent in the final — the 19—year—old canadian, leyla fernandez, whom raducanu knows will match her in the cool and confident stakes. we first encountered each other

because i was born in toronto and she was canadian, so we kind of made a little relationship back then, but yeah, then i played her atjunior wimbledon, but obviously since then we have both come very far in our games and as people, so... yeah, i am sure it is going to be extremely different to when we last encountered each other, but we are both playing good tennis so it will be a good match. honestly, i think i played some of my best tennis today, especially here in new york. yeah, i knew that i was going to have to be super aggressive and i managed execute, so... yeah, iamjust really happy with today's performance. honestly ijust can't believe it. crazy, all of the above, but yeah, it means a lot to be here in the situation and i wanted obviously to be playing grand slams, but i didn't know how soon that would be and to be in a grand slam

final at this stage in my career, i... yeah, i have no words. we are auoin to i... yeah, i have no words. we are going to hear _ i... yeah, i have no words. we are going to hear more _ i... yeah, i have no words. we are going to hear more about - i... yeah, i have no words. we are going to hear more about that - i... yeah, i have no words. we are going to hear more about that in i i... yeah, i have no words. we are going to hear more about that in a | going to hear more about that in a moment because our tennis correspondent is beavering his way to the live point in new york for us, but he is not quite there yet, so we are going to move on to cricket. there's been huge disappointment amongst england and india cricket fans this morning ater it was announced that today's fifth and final test had been called off. the news broke just two hours before the match was due to start. a number of india's backroom staff tested positive for covid—i9 and they were so concerned about it spreading to the playing squad that it was decided they wouldn't be able to field a team. joe wilson reports from old trafford. well, let's try and tell some of the different sides of the story of the test match that didn't happen. cancellation confirmed this morning. far too late to stop many making the journey to fill the seats. yes, they will be refunded, but they were inconvenienced, to say the least. i've been working all night, so i

have not slept a wink or night, to get here today to be cancelled at the last minute, i find shocking. we come from london. we stayed here last night— come from london. we stayed here last night and we booked a hotel last night and we booked a hotel last night— last night and we booked a hotel last night when he came... fortnight?— last night when he came... fortniuht? ., ~ ., fortnight? fortnight. and now we have had to _ fortnight? fortnight. and now we have had to try and _ fortnight? fortnight. and now we have had to try and cancel- fortnight? fortnight. and now we have had to try and cancel that, l have had to try and cancel that, so it has_ have had to try and cancel that, so it hasjust — have had to try and cancel that, so it hasjust been _ have had to try and cancel that, so it has just been a _ then there is no game. back in london, positive _ then there is no game. back in london, positive changes - then there is no game. back in london, positive changes to i then there is no game. back in | london, positive changes to the coaching staff... inaudible again, against the backroom staff here yesterday, so india didn't come and train, but the pcr test came back negative. we went to bed thinking the game was going to take place. certainly. but these assurances apparently not enough to convince india's players that it was safe. today the ecb came to speak to us. who's to blame for the fact this test match won't happen? i us. who's to blame for the fact this test match won't happen?- test match won't happen? i don't think it is a _ test match won't happen? i don't think it is a blame _ test match won't happen? i don't think it is a blame game, - test match won't happen? i don't think it is a blame game, we - test match won't happen? i don't think it is a blame game, we arel think it is a blame game, we are still living in a very different

environment for elite sports, so to go from one anxiety inducing environment to another one, which is the playing field, is a very different environment, so i think that sometimes goes past the point where players are comfortable to go out to take the field, which is what we're seeing here. i out to take the field, which is what we're seeing here.— we're seeing here. i take that on board, but _ we're seeing here. i take that on board. but we — we're seeing here. i take that on board, but we also _ we're seeing here. i take that on board, but we also know - we're seeing here. i take that on board, but we also know as - we're seeing here. i take that on board, but we also know as of. we're seeing here. i take that on i board, but we also know as of last night the tests of the indian players came back negative think the assumption is you can play. some people go on from that to assume there is no interest in... because of their other vested financial interest in making sure the players are fit for the ipl. another school of thought, isn't it because it is unfair, joe, that is not the case in this case. unfair, joe, that is not the case in this case. , ., unfair, joe, that is not the case in this case. , . . , . , unfair, joe, that is not the case in this case-— this case. they are as fans of cricket as _ this case. they are as fans of cricket as our _ this case. they are as fans of cricket as our fans _ this case. they are as fans of cricket as our fans are - this case. they are as fans of cricket as our fans are in - this case. they are as fans of cricket as our fans are in this | cricket as our fans are in this country as well.— cricket as our fans are in this country as well. cricket as our fans are in this count as well. ~ . . . . country as well. michael vaughan has followed the — country as well. michael vaughan has followed the series _ country as well. michael vaughan has followed the series for _ country as well. michael vaughan has followed the series for the _ followed the series for the commentary box. he is well aware that the ipl will start soon. i ififiiiii that the ipl will start soon. i will be honest. _ that the ipl will start soon. i will be honest. i _ that the ipl will start soon. i will be honest, ithink—

that the ipl will start soon. i will be honest, i think all— that the ipl will start soon. i will be honest, i think all of - that the ipl will start soon. i will be honest, i think all of this - that the ipl will start soon. i will be honest, i think all of this is i be honest, i think all of this is about— be honest, i think all of this is about money. i completely get players. — about money. i completely get players, what they have gone through in the _ players, what they have gone through in the last— players, what they have gone through in the last year and a half, it has been _ in the last year and a half, it has been difficult, bio bubbles. the mentai— been difficult, bio bubbles. the mental health side is very important, we have to look after that _ important, we have to look after that i_ important, we have to look after that. i believe this week is about money, — that. i believe this week is about money, making sure those players get to the _ money, making sure those players get to the ipl_ money, making sure those players get to the ipl because they want to earn those _ to the ipl because they want to earn those big _ to the ipl because they want to earn those big checks, which again i get, but i those big checks, which again i get, but i don't _ those big checks, which again i get, but i don't get it when it is at the expense — but i don't get it when it is at the expense of— but i don't get it when it is at the expense of a test match.- expense of a test match. let's finish with _ expense of a test match. let's finish with a _ expense of a test match. let's finish with a reminder - expense of a test match. let's finish with a reminder of - expense of a test match. let's finish with a reminder of all. expense of a test match. let's| finish with a reminder of all the effort that goes into staging an event like this and show you some performers who did come. just a few seconds of entertainment. to finish. there is one other cricket destroy for you. there is one other cricket destroy foryou. —— there is one other cricket destroy for you. —— cricket story for you. the government has condemned yorkshire cricket for showing what they call a "lack of genuine contrition" in a statement made by the county regarding their former player azeem rafiq. it follows an investigation. in this investigation it was concluded that he was the victim of

racial harassment and bullying, following harassment at the club. paul ogden has this report. a year ago ayearago in a year ago in 2020 azeem rafiq alleged harassment and bullying towards him personally, but also institutional racism at the county cricket club. the accusations and question date back as far as his junior year in 2008 and, he claims, drove him to thoughts of suicide. i don't know how close it took me to the edge and i know how close i was to tip over the edge and... i think if i can help drive a change, get conversation going, make people wake up conversation going, make people wake up to the reality that we are in, our great game is in... hopefully it will help at least one person not get that close to it. aha, will help at least one person not get that close to it.— get that close to it. a year-long independent — get that close to it. a year-long independent investigation - get that close to it. a year-long independent investigation into l get that close to it. a year-long - independent investigation into azeem rafiq's claims was commissioned by yorkshire. published today under pressure from mps under the dcms

committee it reports that seven of 43 allegations were upheld. these include yorkshire failing to serve halal food to include yorkshire failing to serve halalfood to him on a match day, three separate incidents of racist language used by former players, a former coach regularly using racist language, jokes about religion making azeem rafiq feel comfortable about his faith and he was bullied about his faith and he was bullied about his faith and he was bullied about his weight and lack of fitness. yorkshire have today apologised to azeem rafiq and his family, clearly admitting that there is no question that azeem rafiq, during his first spell as a player at yorkshire, was the victim of racial harassment. today's statement, brookshire chairman roger hutton reiterates... —— yorkshire chairman.

you would think that the work that the county and the sport and all sports have been... undertaking in recent years, certainly the momentum that we have now, that that question should not be asked now in 2021 of what needs to change. i would like to say that those processes are already and should already be in place because if they are not that we have got some serious problems. yorkshire have been invited to speak to us tonight, but they say they are making no further comment. for his part, a spokesman for azeem rafiq today has described the way in which the process is being handled by yorkshire as, atrocious, accusing the county cricket club of failing to accept the obvious that this is, according to azeem rafiq's representatives, and institutional problem. azeem rafiq still has an outstanding tribunal launched

against yorkshire and he still plans to proceed with it, regardless of today's announcements. paul ogden, bbc news. let's get back to the tennis now and as promised we can go live to new york where a terrace correspond in rough russell follows during may. thank you for taking time out of your very busy schedule to talk to us. am i right in thinking emma raducanu is on the practice courts right now and if so have you had a chance to see her? i have you had a chance to see her? i have not had a chance to watch her with my own eyes so far, but she is due to be practising right now, ahead of the final tomorrow evening. she will be on the same court novak djokovic will be practising on later head of his evening semifinal in the men's singles against alexander zverev from germany. her opponent leylah fernandez will be practising a bit later in the afternoon, at a similar time a bit later in the afternoon, at a similartime as a bit later in the afternoon, at a similar time as the match will be taking place tomorrow, which players often like to do to make sure their bodies are in sync. but i think it will be a very nervy day for both of

them. the practice session will probably come as a bit of a relief. the more time you spent on court, the last time you have to spend thinking about walking out on a grand slam final that neither anticipated being in. find grand slam final that neither anticipated being in.- grand slam final that neither anticipated being in. and i imagine, althou:h anticipated being in. and i imagine, althou . h it anticipated being in. and i imagine, although it is _ anticipated being in. and i imagine, although it is obviously _ anticipated being in. and i imagine, although it is obviously a _ anticipated being in. and i imagine, although it is obviously a gift - although it is obviously a gift having this line—up because there's so much to talk about and such a great story to have these two teenagers at a grand slam final, it is also probably a bit of a nightmare for journalists like is also probably a bit of a nightmare forjournalists like you because you don't know what is going to happen, do you? we know they have played each other once, but it was a long time ago and they are different now. how do you think this match will go? now. how do you think this match will no? ., now. how do you think this match will no? . ., ., . will go? that one meeting was a “unior will go? that one meeting was a junior wimbledon _ will go? that one meeting was a junior wimbledon in _ will go? that one meeting was a junior wimbledon in 2018, - will go? that one meeting was a junior wimbledon in 2018, which will go? that one meeting was a - junior wimbledon in 2018, which emma raducanu won on the grass, a very different scenario and i don't think we can read too much into that. i think it is a match that raducanu can definitely win, but leylah fernandez will be thinking exactly the same, she has got more tour experience, she won a wta match at 15, her ranking is higher and i think given that this is

unprecedented and neither expected to be in a final like this, it is very impossible to call how it will go. they know each other, which i think it will be reassuring, perhaps. imagine what would have been like to walk out and play a naomi osaka or serena williams in your grand slam final. that means they have something in common. that, they have something in common. that, the conversation that started when they were about 12 or 13 because leylah fernandez from canada and emma raducanu was born in toronto and lived there until she was two years old, so they realise they have something in common. it is years old, so they realise they have something in common.— something in common. it is a really aood for something in common. it is a really good for the _ something in common. it is a really good for the women's _ something in common. it is a really good for the women's game - something in common. it is a really good for the women's game to - something in common. it is a really| good for the women's game to have everyone talking about it, but why is there a gap that both of them have been able to sneak through and reach the final?— reach the final? well, there is a lona and reach the final? well, there is a long and proud _ reach the final? well, there is a long and proud tradition - reach the final? well, there is a long and proud tradition of - reach the final? well, there is a . long and proud tradition of teenage grand slam champions in the women's game. it is harderfor the men because of the extra physicality required to win over the best—of—5 sets and monica seles won nine grand slam titles as a teenager. gaining

oster pinko won the grand slam a few days after she turned 20, another player won this title here a couple of years ago at the age of 19. it is the fact they are so lowly ranked and emma raducanu was a qualifier that has taken everybody by surprise and itjust goes to show that there is more strength in depth in the women's game, but the top players have struggled to find the consistency. everybody craves the consistency. everybody craves the consistency serena williams has had any grand slams over the years. of course, that is virtually impossible, and they have taken the opportunity with style, probably feeling they have nothing to lose with the pressure off.— with the pressure off. there is another british _ with the pressure off. there is another british player - with the pressure off. there is another british player in - with the pressure off. there is| another british player in action right now, jamie murray, and it has gone to a deciding set?— gone to a deciding set? there will be a british _ gone to a deciding set? there will be a british winner _ gone to a deciding set? there will be a british winner of _ gone to a deciding set? there will be a british winner of the - gone to a deciding set? there will| be a british winner of the doubles. jamie murray and bruno suarez up againstjoe salisbury, the first time two british men have come face to face in a men's doubles final. murray started very well indeed, winning the first set, butjoe salisbury, who plays with the