England's Test cricketers will be feeding off the "buzz" of a historic World Cup win as they prepare to try and regain the Ashes, according to Sam Curran. The Surrey allrounder is set to return to international duty in next week's maiden Test against Ireland and he said the dramatic scenes at Lord's on Sunday had set England up perfectly for the second half of the summer.

Curran missed out on World Cup selection, but did enjoy a productive first season at the IPL earlier this year. After a hamstring injury interrupted his return with Surrey, he has since played three Championship games as well as making an early impact on the touring Australians with England Lions - Curran claimed 6 for 95 in this week's game at Canterbury, as well as making half-centuries in each innings.

Although Curran was left out of England's most-recent Test XI in St Lucia, he was Man of the Series against India last summer and looks likely to return to face Ireland. The match at Lord's, starting on Wednesday, will be England's first four-day Test since the ICC approved the optional reduction in 2017.

"It's obviously really exciting to be in the squad for the first Test of the summer," Curran said. "It's the first four-day Test for England and the first against Ireland which makes it a massive event for them and an awesome thing to be part of. It's a slightly different England side to be in with a few of the big guns rested after the World Cup, but it's a really exciting group and we are looking forward to linking up this weekend.

"I don't think I'm alone in saying that it's probably the greatest cricket match ever, and for that to be the World Cup final was incredible. That will provide a buzz for everyone across English cricket going into the Ashes, which is the biggest series an England player can be involved in in Tests, and this match against Ireland. Days like Sunday get everyone, whether they were involved or not, more excited and desperate to do well so I'm sure it will rub off as we head into the Test part of the summer.

"I watched the final with the Lions boys in Canterbury and the excitement was amazing. It was an incredible win and the boys have so worked hard. Having spoken to my brother and a few of the others I think they celebrated pretty hard as well."

As well as his success against India, Curran played an important role with the bat in Sri Lanka last winter, helping to set England up for a 3-0 whitewash. Although his bowling was less successful in the Caribbean, he could play a pivotal role in the Ashes - his haul for the Lions, sparking an Australia collapse of 6 for 17, possibly a sign of things to come.

Curran is expected to play in the Vitality Blast for Surrey on Friday night before linking up with the Test squad, and said the "body felt good" after his recent injury.

"I feel really good going into the Ireland game," he said. "It's been quite a frustrating season really, I came back from the IPL, played my first Champo game and got injured, had a couple of weeks out. I've come back and felt good, putting in some decent performances with bat and ball. Confidence is really good, it's just trying to contribute as much as I can. Hopefully I'm in the XI on Wednesday and I can put in a performance.

"Performing against India last summer has given me quite a lot of confidence. It's a new challenge, a new summer. I can't rely on that, I need to look ahead and find performances that will beat the Australians in the Ashes. The team is pretty exciting, there will be some great cricket played. I'm really excited to see what this summer holds.

"The first aim for the World Cup guys was to win that, and they've achieved that. But there's another big test coming up, and the Ashes are the biggest thing you can play in as an England cricketer, that's what I've always felt. Hopefully we can be lifting the Urn at the Oval in September. We have to take one game at a time and try to contribute as much as you can."

The BCCI's secretary will no longer convene selection meetings. Following a directive from the Committee of Administrators (CoA), the chairpersons of the respective selection committees will now convene the meetings except on overseas tours, where the team's administrative manager will take over the convener's role.

The meeting of the senior men's selectors to pick the team for the upcoming tour of the West Indies, meanwhile, has been postponed. It was scheduled to be held on Friday, and the BCCI will announce a new date shortly.

It has been a long-standing practice in Indian cricket for the BCCI's secretary to convene and attend meetings of the selection committee.

The new BCCI constitution, however, seeks to separate the management and governance functions of the BCCI, with the Apex Council - which includes the secretary - responsible for governance, the professional management team led by the CEO responsible for the management of non-cricketing matters, and the cricket committees - including the selection committee - in charge of managing cricketing matters.

In its directive issued on Thursday, the CoA noted that it had been "informed that the practice of the Hon. Secretary convening and attending selection committee meetings has continued even after the New BCCI Constitution has become effective.

"Further, it is learnt that the selection committees continue to address emails to Hon. Secretary to seek his approval in relation to any change or replacement in the team(s). Similarly, the selection committees continue to address e-mails to the Hon. Secretary seeking his approval on travel arrangements and posting for selectors to watch and attend cricket matches."

Following the CoA's directive, the BCCI's office bearers and the CEO will no longer attend any meetings of the cricket committees.

The selection committee chairperson or the team's administrative manager, on tour, will prepare minutes of every selection meeting, and forward them to the secretary for record-keeping. The selection committee will not need the approval of either the BCCI secretary or the CEO in relation to the teams they select and any changes or replacements they make.

After taking nearly three weeks to make a final decision, dual-threat quarterback Haynes King committed to Texas A&M on Wednesday.

King, the top QB in the ESPN 300 and No. 19 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, made his intentions known in an interview with the Longview News-Journal.

"[Coach] Jimbo Fisher, he's proven to develop quarterbacks and put them into the [NFL]," King told the News-Journal. "He's been very successful at that. He coaches you hard, and I'm used to that. He coaches you like you're his son."

King's commitment is one of the biggest recruiting wins to date for Fisher since he arrived in College Station.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound quarterback made official visits to Texas A&M, Tennessee, Auburn and Duke from May through the first three weeks of June before narrowing his choices to the Volunteers and Aggies.

The East Texas multisport standout -- who boasts 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash, along with being a talented passer -- bolsters a Texas A&M recruiting class that was already knocking on the door of the top 10 prior to King's commitment.

King becomes the highest-ranked prospect in a class that includes five fellow ESPN 300 prospects: receiver Demond Demas (No. 21 overall), cornerback Jaylon Jones, receiver Troy Omeire, defensive end/linebacker Fadil Diggs and receiver Muhsin Muhammad III.

With a star signal-caller now in the fold, the Aggies are moving toward a potential top-five class, with a number of ESPN 300 targets still on the board, including No. 1 overall Zachary Evans, running back Daniyel Ngata, cornerback and recent Oklahoma decommit Dontae Manning, offensive guard Chris Morris, offensive tackle Garrett Hayes and linebacker Kourt Williams.

King, who will play in the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game, led Longview High to a 16-0 record and the Texas 6A D-II state championship as a junior. He passed for 3,877 yards and 42 touchdowns with just four interceptions in 2018, and he rushed for more than 650 yards.

As Melvin Gordon's contract impasse reaches a week, the Los Angeles Chargers running back says that teammates and running backs around the league support him.

Gordon said he gave some teammates a heads-up that he would threaten to hold out if he didn't get a new deal.

"They're all behind me. They all got my back," Gordon told ESPN in a sit-down interview this week. "They all told me, 'You know what -- we don't really speak on contracts -- but you just go and do what's best for your family.' And I'm glad I got that support from them."

Gordon, 26, who was drafted 15th overall by the Chargers in 2015, is entering the final year of his rookie contract -- a fifth-year option worth $5.6 million. However, agent Fletcher Smith told ESPN's Adam Schefter last Thursday that without a new deal, Gordon will not report to training camp and will demand a trade.

Gordon had expressed support for Le'Veon Bell's contract holdout last season. He said he is now getting encouragement from other running backs.

"A lot of running backs have reached out to me just saying go out and get what you deserve," Gordon said. "A lot. A lot of starters. A lot, a lot of backs."

Gordon reiterated what he said Saturday: that he wants to remain a Charger, and he wants fans to know that.

"Just because we're going through contract issues right now doesn't mean I want to get traded," he said. "I love being a Charger. I don't want them to feel like I don't want to be there."

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Gordon rushed for 5.1 yards per carry and had 14 total touchdowns in 2018. He also averaged 114.6 scrimmage yards per game last season, the best by any Chargers player since LaDainian Tomlinson (121.8 in 2007), according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Gordon skipped most of the offseason but attended mandatory minicamp. The Chargers are scheduled to open training camp July 24 in Costa Mesa, California.

He said that he knows what he wants in a new deal, "and they know what I want, so we're just going to see what happens."

Could that mean a holdout like Bell did before getting dealt by the Steelers to the Jets?

"I'm prepared to do what I got to do, but like I said, I hope it doesn't come to that," Gordon said.

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland -- Rory McIlroy's start to The Open in his native Northern Ireland couldn't have been much worse.

McIlroy, the favorite to win the 148th Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club, hit his tee shot on the first hole out of bounds and ended up with a quadruple-bogey 8 on the par-4, 421-yard hole.

McIlroy's opening drive hit a woman and cracked the screen of the mobile phone in her pocket.

After a one-stroke penalty, McIlroy hit his second tee shot into the deep rough on the left side of the fairway. His fourth shot was low and ended up in even thicker rough on the left side of the green. He was forced to take an unplayable lie near the green.

Then he made a great pitch shot to about 2 feet and two-putted for 8.

After the opening hole, McIlroy's odds to win The Open dropped from 8-to-1 to 33-to-1 on online betting sites. He also hit his opening tee shot out of bounds during his practice round Wednesday.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, it's the first time McIlroy started a major championship with a double-bogey or worse since the 2012 Masters, when he opened with a double-bogey. It's only his second quadruple-bogey in a major (he had one on the 11th hole in the final round of the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion) and only the fourth in his PGA Tour career.

No major winner in the past 20 years started a tournament with worse than a double-bogey.

McIlroy's forgettable start spoiled The Open's highly anticipated return to Royal Portrush, where it hadn't been played since 1951. McIlroy, 30, grew up in nearby Holywood, and he set the Royal Portrush course record with a 61 when he was 16.

He talked about the pressure of playing in The Open in his native country Wednesday.

"I'm just treating this like any other Open Championship," McIlroy said. "I've played well here for the last few years. I've played well on this golf course. So I've just got to go out and hit the shots and stay in the present. If I just keep putting one foot in front of the other, hopefully by Sunday night that will be good enough."

McIlroy wasn't the only player who saw everything fall apart on a hole. David Duval posted a 13 on the par-5 seventh hole.

The 2001 champion also had a quadruple-bogey 8 on the fifth at Royal Portrush. He birdied the first two holes and is 11 over through eight.

Duval won at Royal Lytham & St. Annes 18 years ago but now spends more time as a golf commentator than he does playing professional events.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Newly signed Reggie Bullock underwent surgery Wednesday for a cervical disk herniation, the New York Knicks announced.

The team said it would provide an update on his rehab and progress around the start of training camp.

On Tuesday, Bullock signed a two-year, $8.2 million deal with the Knicks. The sides reworked the deal after his medical issue prompted the team to back out of its original two-year, $21 million agreement.

Bullock, 28, averaged 11.3 points in 63 games for the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers last season. He was acquired by the Lakers ahead of the trade deadline in February in exchange for guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and a second-round draft pick.

Bullock also has played for the Suns and Clippers since being drafted with the 25th overall pick in 2013.

The procedure took place at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

BOSTON -- Last year's Boston Celtics were defined by a point guard wearing No. 11. Wednesday afternoon, the team unveiled both their new point guard, Kemba Walker, and new No. 11, Enes Kanter, in what was hailed as a new day for the franchise.

Still, Kanter couldn't help but take one poke at Kyrie Irving during the introductory press conference at the team's practice facility.

"It was my old jersey number," Kanter said, before adding with a smile, "and I wanted to be the reason no one else did," referencing Irving's Nike commercial shot at TD Garden with his father, Drederick, last fall, in which he said the same thing.

As the room broke into laughter, Kanter quickly followed up with, "I had to say it."

For the most part, though, Wednesday was about new beginnings in Boston. The franchise tried to turn the page on the past two years -- which, for much of that time, seemed like the start of a long run in Boston for Irving. But over the final few months of last season the bloom was off the rose between the two sides, with an abrupt loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs -- a round earlier than the Celtics reached without him a year earlier -- marking the final time Irving would play for the team.

That was confirmed at the start of free agency, when he opted to leave as a free agent to join Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan with the Brooklyn Nets -- a decision that didn't come as a surprise to Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge.

"I think I had a pretty good idea in March or April," Ainge said, when asked when he knew Irving would leave. "Not for sure though, not certain.

"But I was obviously thinking a move in a different direction at that point, thinking of the different options."

It turned out that once Irving and Al Horford, who opted out of the final year of his contract and wound up signing with another Atlantic Division rival, the Philadelphia 76ers, chose to leave town, those options centered on, according to Ainge, Walker and Kanter. Ainge said the two of them were the team's top priorities in free agency after the draft, and that it was able to come to an agreement with Walker almost immediately after free agency opened at 6 p.m. on June 30.

Throughout the season, Walker had been open about wanting to remain in Charlotte, where he'd spent the first eight years of his career after winning a national championship at the University of Connecticut as a junior in 2011. Ultimately, though, he said the draw of being with a franchise that has consistently won -- Boston has been in the playoffs five straight seasons, and has won at least one series in each of the last three of them -- was too much to pass up.

After making the playoffs only twice in his career -- and losing in the first round each time -- Walker said he was ready to do more winning as he approaches his 30s.

"Throughout my career we just haven't been consistent with winning," Walker said. "I'm not saying that's going to happen here, because I don't know. I can't see the future or anything like that, but I want to win. I want to be on a team that goes out and competes every night on a high level.

"Watching Boston over the years, man, that's just what they've done. That's what they've done. They've competed at a very high level each and every year, been in the playoffs every year, and I want to be a part of something like that. So that was kind of some of the things that went into my decision."

It wasn't at all clear the Celtics would be in a position to be competitive again when Irving was all but certain to leave and Horford appeared likely to join him at this time a month ago. At that point, it looked like Boston would be pivoting to a re-tooling of their roster centered on their young wings, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

But when Walker came into the picture, the Celtics were quickly able to get a new building block for the present -- one they hope, along with improved play from Gordon Hayward a full year removed from the devastating leg and ankle injuries that robbed him of all but the first six minutes of the 2017-18 season, will allow them to remain in the mix atop the East.

"It's different," Walker said. "I don't know if we're going to be better, I can't tell the future, but we have a really good team, a bunch of young guys who are very talented who I'm looking forward to playing with.

"But yeah, do I think we can be good? Yeah, I do. I think I'll be a huge part of that, as well as to grow the young guys, we need those guys to step up and be huge for the team, as well as Gordon. We want Gordon to have a great year as well, which I think he will because he's been working. That's what it takes to succeed in this league.

"So yeah, I'm excited. Hopefully it's great things to come."

Naturally, one All-Star point guard replacing another is going to draw comparisons. That is especially true here, given how tumultuous Irving's final season in Boston turned out to be. Walker, though, said he didn't reach out to Irving before making his decision on whether to play for the Celtics.

And, when it comes to the comparisons, Walker said he will have no problem dealing with them.

"It's fine," he told ESPN's Jackie MacMullan in a sit-down interview Wednesday. "It's OK. I guess it's going to come with the territory. It wasn't a great year for those guys [last year]. There's always such expectations with this organization, and things didn't go well, so now that I'm coming in and I'm taking [Kyrie's] place, I know I'm going to be asked questions about him and things like that.

"It just didn't work out. It happens. It happens so much in this league. We know how great of a player Kyrie is, but it just didn't work out. Hopefully I can come in and it works out. That's my plan. But you can't tell the future. You never know what's going to happen. But through hard work, dedication and us working together, hopefully we can get things back on track."

One recurring theme throughout last season was Irving's rocky relationship with the team's young players, which went through many ups-and-downs throughout the year. Boston will be hoping Walker, especially now that he's around for the next four years, will be able to forge a stronger one.

The fact he already has relationships with Tatum and Brown -- Tatum recently signed with Jordan Brand, which Walker is part of, and the two spent time in Paris together, and he went on a trip to Africa with Brown in the past -- should help. And when asked directly about it, Walker said he was confident he'd be able to help them grow into the players Boston hopes they can be.

"I think so," Walker said. "I think so. I think my skills complement these guys. I love to get in the lane and I'm gonna have a lot of attention. That'll definitely open up opportunities for other guys, but for the most part, I think I made my teammates better in other ways, just being a good teammate, wanting the best for those guys and pushing them as much as possible. It's going to be fun. I'm looking forward to the opportunity."

He told MacMullan that part of what drew him to Boston was the chance to play alongside Tatum after spending that time with him in Paris -- though he said Tatum never once implored him to come to Boston in free agency.

"We spoke for quite some time," Walker said. "When we left Paris and the days went on and FA came and I made my decision, a lot of it was because of him.

"[We talked] about the city, about the fans, the atmosphere, Coach Stevens, some of the players on the team, how things went last year and stuff like that.

"[But] not once did he say, 'Come [here].'"

As for his own number selection, Walker said he chose to wear No. 8 -- the same as former fan favorite Antoine Walker -- because his birthday is May 8, and because "there's no numbers available," he said with a laugh.

"But it's cool to wear Antoine Walker's number. I spoke to him, and he gave me the blessing as well, so I'm excited."

The Oklahoma City Thunder's discussions to move nine-time All-Star guard Chris Paul to a new destination are parked, and an increasing expectation exists that he will start the season with the team, league sources tell ESPN.

Oklahoma City has been working with Paul and his representatives on finding a trade, but nothing is materializing so deep into summer free agency, sources said. Both sides believe there are benefits to Paul, 34, playing out the season with the Thunder. For now, there's a belief that there could be more success exploring trade scenarios again after Dec. 15 -- or even the completion of the 2019-20 season, league sources said.

The market expands on Dec. 15, when players who signed offseason free-agent deals can become eligible to be included in trade packages.

The Thunder traded Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets for Paul, two future first-round picks and two pick swaps.

Because the Houston-Oklahoma City trade came so late in free agency -- coupled with three years, $124 million left on Paul's contract -- there are no contenders with the cap space or roster structure to incorporate parameters of a deal for Paul. The Thunder made the trade with Houston to accommodate Westbrook's wishes, but ensuing talks with Paul and his representatives found two sides sharing a belief that a season together could be beneficial to both, sources said.

Here is the formula for why:

*40% of players under contract cannot be traded

* There are no teams with significant cap space (ATL has the most @ $7M)

* Biggest trade exception is GSW ($17.2M) who is hard capped- next is DAL @ $11.8M https://t.co/H6FExQmTAf

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 17, 2019

Thunder general manager Sam Presti welcomes the idea of Paul playing for his franchise this season, and Paul has warmed to the idea of the Thunder as a landing spot for the year based on the organization and a competitive talent level. The Thunder don't have a Western Conference championship contender, but they do have a core with Paul, Danilo Gallinari, Steven Adams, Dennis Schroder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander that will not be participating in the NBA's annual race to the bottom. It promises to be a competitive environment for Paul to play the season.

Paul had a positive experience in Oklahoma City during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, when his New Orleans team was relocated there because of Hurricane Katrina.

For now, Oklahoma City doesn't feel a need to surrender draft compensation to unload Paul's contract, sources said. The Thunder want to be competitive and believe that Paul can serve as a mentor to Gilgeous-Alexander, a second-year guard who's considered the franchise's future playmaker.

Oklahoma City has gathered eight future first-round picks in the Paul George and Westbrook trades since the start of free agency, including the Miami Heat's 2021 and 2023 first-rounders via the LA Clippers. Miami's 2021 pick is unprotected. The Thunder could have as many as 15 first-round picks between the 2020 and 2026 NBA drafts.

A two-year-old spat between Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price and Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley, who is a TV analyst for the team, rose up again this week in the midst of a disappointing season in Boston.

Two years ago, Price was upset about a comment the analyst made on air about Red Sox left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and confronted Eckersley on the team plane, blocking his way, mocking and cursing at him as some players applauded.

In a profile published on the Boston Globe website on Tuesday, Eckersley said he does not plan on ever talking with Price.

"I didn't know how to deal with that. I don't plan on saying a word to him, I don't plan on seeing him, never," Eckersley said in the article. "I don't really give a --- one way or another. I don't think he really cares one way or the other."

Price responded on Twitter on Wednesday, first with a row of crying-laughing emojis, then saying in response to a critic, "I had a meeting set up to apologize to him and he backed out that day. Get your facts right." Later, he added, "ECK needs attention."

When he got to Fenway Park on Wednesday, Price asked to speak to reporters and took off on Eckersley.

"Honestly, I just think it's trash. He had an unbelievable career and he's a Hall of Famer," Price said. "I saw his special on MLB Network. It was cool. The one thing that stood out to me was that he had zero former teammates in that interview. Not one talking about him. It was him talking about himself.

"If anybody ever does a special on me after baseball, I won't need to go on that interview. I will have former teammates. I will have former coaches. He didn't have that. To me, that's all you need to know. That tells the story right there."

According to a release on the documentary ahead of its debut last year, the special did in fact have interviews with some of Eckersley's former teammates, including Ron Darling and Bruce Hurst.

Price, who is in the fourth year of a seven-year, $217 million contract, has had a testy relationship with Boston fans. He seemed to have put that behind him last season, especially in the second half of the season and the playoffs, when he showed grit and pitched lights out.

This season, Price leads Boston starters with a 3.16 ERA, and he has a 7-2 record with 102 strikeouts. But the rest of the rotation, especially Chris Sale and Rick Porcello, have been ineffective and the bullpen wildly inconsistent. Coming off their World Series title, the Red Sox entered Wednesday 10 games behind the Yankees in the AL East.

Manager Alex Cora got pulled into the spat on Wednesday. He told reporters he did not think the issue was a distraction in the clubhouse, but said he had talked with Price about it in the morning. "It sucks that it keeps coming [up]."