england's men will perhaps feel glad the year is almost over sfter capping off their busiest year of yest cricket with a humiliating and humbling defeat in hamilton. needing a very unlikely 658 runs to win, the tourists resumed day four on 18—2 but lost wickets at regular intervals, eventually bowled out for 234, giving the home side a huge 423 run win. a disappointing test — but a 2—1 victory for england in the three—match series. we know we didn't play anywhere near our capability. it's a disappointing way to end the tour and end disappointing way to end the tourand end ouryear disappointing way to end the tour and end our year with a loss. but, look, what we came here to achieve, we've managed to achieve. it's no mean feat coming to new zealand and defeating them, because they're a very, very strong home team in their conditions. the victory for new zealand also meant that tim southee finished his career with a win before retiring. he'll finish as new zealand's second—highest test

wicket—taker, and he was good with the bat too. only three men have gone better than his 98 sixes. every opportunity to play for new zealand's been a special moment. i've been very fortunate to do it almost 400 times, which not a lot of people get to do. so, yeah, very honoured, very privileged to have done it and fulfilled a childhood dream. yeah, i've loved every moment of it. the ups and the downs are part of the journey. ups and the downs are part of thejourney. and i guess that's what makes you the cricketer and the person that you become. elsewhere — pakistan have got off to a winning start in the first of three one—day internationals against south africa. batting first, south africa made 239—9 from their 50 overs — heinrich klaasen top scoring with 86 for the home side in paarl. but it wasn't enough — pakistan calculating their chase to perfection, winning with three balls to spare with three wickets in hand. the second 0di is on thursday. meanwhile, england's women have won their first test match in a decade. starting the day with a lead of 145, england were bowled out for 281 on day four of their

match against south africa — setting their opponents 351 to win. and the home side didn't even reach triple figures, bowled out for 64 — their lowest test total — as england secured a 286—run victory in bloemfontein. england's attention will now turn to january and their ashes series against australia down under. it's slightly different with a pink ball, and obviously slightly different conditions at the mcg. but yeah, we'll have to adapt to it as we see fit. but i think the fact that we were able to play like we did with only two days�* preparation after the white—ball series should be giving us confidence, because it will be the same in australia. 0bviously that mentality to flip between is a really hard thing to do. so, yeah, just getting more experience with doing that as players hopefully will stand us in really good stead. afterjust missing out on the ballon d'or to manchester city's rodri, viniciusjunior has now got his hands on an individual trophy. the real madrid and brazil forward been named the men's player of the year at the fifa best awards.

vinicius played a key role in real�*s champions league and la liga—winning campaign last season, scoring 24 goals. and for a second year in a row, barcelona midfielder aitana bonmati has been named the women's player of the year. she was a key part of the spain team that won the 2023 women's world cup, and also won the ballon d'or earlier this year. the promoters behind the european super league project have asked football's governing bodies to give official recognition to their new proposal called the unify league. the a22 group's new competition would involve four leagues and 96 teams. unlike the original super league proposal, the organisers say that unify league qualification would be based on domestic league performance. 12 teams signed up to the super league plan back in 2021. but it soon collapsed after protests from fans. uefa and fifa are yet to comment on the new idea. to the premier league: has marcus rashford reached the end of the road at manchester united 7 he says he's "ready for a new challenge" after being asked about

his future at the club by sports journalist henry winter. rashford has been at the club since 2015 and has made 24 appearances this season, but played no part in united's win against rivals manchester city at the weekend. chelsea's mykhailo mudryk says he is in "complete shock" after testing positive for a banned substance. he's been provisionally suspended, after the premier league club were contacted by the football association to say there'd been an "adverse finding in a routine urine test". mudryk denies knowingly using any banned substance. a much better day for chelsea women, as their remarkable season goes on after yet another victory — but it wasn't completely straightforward. they fell behind to real madrid in theirfinal group game of the women's champions league — but two goals from catarina macario saw chelsea win 2—1 — and made sure they topped the group with six wins from six and extend their unbetaen run in all competitions to 16 matches. celtic�*s miserable campaign is over. they failed to win

a single point in the group — six straight defeats, including their final loss — a 3—0 defeat at twente — meaning they finish bottom of the group. group a has also been concluded — with lyon, just like chelsea, also progressing with a perfect record — after they beat wolfsburg i—0. roma beat galatasaray 3—0 — but miss out on the knockout stages on goal difference. it's fight week in saudi arabia — and we're building up to the rematch between tyson fury and world champion 0leksandr usyk on saturday night. the ukrainian became the first four—belt undisputed heavyweight champion when he beat fury on points six months ago. ade adedoyin reports. welcome to riyadh for what is the first media event for what is a huge week in both fighters�* careers. as is usual, this media event is taking place in what is set up as an airport runway. alongside me is steve bunce. i can�*t underestimate just how big a week this is for both men. the? week this is for both men. they have these _ week this is for both men. they have these weeks _ week this is for both men. they have these weeks in _ week this is for both men. tie have these weeks in saudi —

it�*s five days of events. in the �*90s, it was one day, 1.5 days of events.s here, it�*s five full days— six— and seven—hour days. meetings, greetings, press conferences, press sessions. it�*s a ridiculously long week, and the boxers need to work out how to function. luckily, usyk and fury have been here and done it before and know how to get the best out of themselves. that said, best out of themselves. that said. with — best out of themselves. that said, with the _ best out of themselves. that said, with the amount - best out of themselves. that said, with the amount of- best out of themselves. that said, with the amount of media obligations this week, sometimes the week itself can defeat you. they�*ve been here before. emotions will be running high after what happened in the first fight in may. managing your emotions will be key. you�*ve seen them this week. what have you made of them? , ~ ,., this week. what have you made of them? , ~ ., _ ~ of them? this week so far, usyk has been fun. _ of them? this week so far, usyk has been fun. he's _ of them? this week so far, usyk has been fun. he's used - of them? this week so far, usyk has been fun. he's used all- of them? this week so far, usyk has been fun. he's used all of. has been fun. he�*s used all of his ukrainianjokes, all of his catchphrases, where he puts on a british—ukrainian accent. you know the stuff, he�*s the joker. but he�*s not really. because the moment the interview�*s over, he glazes over and he�*s gone. fury has come in flying. he�*s five or six hours�* late

for the first series of interviews. he was swearing. he was aggressive. he was standing up was aggressive. he was standing up in his chair. he was getting in the face of people. 0ther interviews here, was one word, sometimesjust a nod. he�*s fixed. if it�*s an act, it�*s quite alarming. if it�*s serious, it�*s even more alarming. serious, it's even more alarming-— alarming. what's been interesting _ alarming. what's been interesting in - alarming. what's been interesting in the - alarming. what's been - interesting in the build-up to interesting in the build—up to this is — normally, you see fury posting messages on social media, telling you how training�*s going, calling usyk names. he�*s been dead quiet. did he succumb to him in may? i think fury looked back and said "you know what would be a good idea? what if i don�*t communicate, don�*t let everybody know how many miles i�*m running, how much food i�*m eating?" he�*s had no contact, so he claimed to me, except with his children, his family, and more importantly his beloved wife paris. he�*s had no contact. as he said to me,

"i�*ve put down my phone"" if he�*s done that, that is good. that is really good. imilli he's done that, that is good. that is really good.— that is really good. will be fascinating _ that is really good. will be fascinating to _ that is really good. will be fascinating to see - that is really good. will be fascinating to see how - that is really good. will be | fascinating to see how they manage themselves this week. a massive week for both men, as we 770