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Travis Head expects Sam Konstas to open in WTC final
"Most likely I'd go back in the middle order and Sam would open," Head told reporters in Galle. "But I'm glad I'm not a selector. Josh has had an amazing start, the guys are playing well, Greeny's going to be fit. So it's going to be hard to fit [them all] in. I think that's what we want. We want an Australian cricket team that's tough to get in.
"I think that's all we've ever known is players that are unlucky and players that are in the team and expecting good performances. And that's where the pressure comes [from], it's trying to hold your spot every Test, knowing that there's people behind you. We're in a strong position. It's better having seven or eight batters talked about than three or four."
When it emerged that Konstas was likely to lose his spot, stand-in captain Steven Smith stressed the value that could be gained from still being on tour. As it transpired, Konstas spent much of the opening match ill at the team hotel but was back training with the squad on Tuesday.
"I know there was a little bit of talk around whether he might play or not, whether there's a series that, I guess, you can blood [him]. But whether he played or not played, it's great to have him here and great to have him experience the conditions.
"I don't think there's been a Test match in the history that they've blooded someone or thought there was a free hit. We're here to win 2-0, and Sam's a big part of where we're going. There's no doubt about it.
"For someone to come in and take the game [on] the way he did in Melbourne, the confidence he's got, it's a good thing to have a young kid around that's a bit naive and just plays the game the right way. He's got a huge future for Australia. It'll just be how he, over the years, deals with adversity. At this stage, he looks like he deals with it really well."
Head, named the Allan Border Medalist on Monday night after a dominant 12 months, reflected with a degree of satisfaction at being able to play the role asked of him in the opening Test, which included taking three boundaries off the opening over, although added there had not been a preconceived plan to attack from the outset.
"It was not by design to go out and score as quick as I did," he said. "If they present an opportunity to score, I want to score. Probably disappointing [was] the fact that the one risk I took did end up being the one [that got me] out. The percentages, I still felt like I was a chance, but I did flirt with danger and was out.
"But sometimes you've got to take those risks and sometimes you've got to try and push the game. I felt that was the right moment to really try and put the foot down. I guess that's hard to say in Test cricket, but I felt like I played well, I played positively, I played what the team needed at the time. It goes different ways in terms of what they offer and how they bowl. It was nice I was able to take the opportunity at the start of the Test."
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
Varun Chakravarthy added to India's ODI squad for series against England
Varun's inclusion is a significant development considering these ODIs against England are the first 50-over games India are playing since August last year and the only series before the upcoming Champions Trophy. A number of specialist bowlers in the Champions Trophy squad - Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah - are on the comeback trail from injuries. Bumrah is part of the squad for only the third ODI against England, with Harshit Rana in the 16 for the first two games.
India play England in Nagpur, Cuttack and Ahmedabad on February 6, 9 and 12 before heading to Dubai for the Champions Trophy. They can make changes to their Champions Trophy squad until February 11 without approval from the ICC.
India ODI squad vs England
Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana (first two ODIs), Jasprit Bumrah (third ODI), Varun Chakravarthy
Eagles' Moore: Focused on SB, not on Saints talk
NEW ORLEANS -- Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore smiled expectantly as a crowd of New Orleans-based reporters rushed to crowd around him and start peppering him with questions about his future.
The fact that the New Orleans Saints are the last team looking for a head coach points to Moore as their top candidate; he's the only named candidate who can't be hired yet because his team is playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
"It's obviously been a good process," he said of his preliminary meetings with Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and other team officials in Philadelphia last week. "Having an opportunity to meet with Mickey and their leadership group has been great, and it's set up in a way that allows us to focus on this game and we'll see what happens after that."
Sitting on a stool Monday night along what is normally the home sideline area for Saints games in the Superdome, Moore grinned as he danced around questions about whether he was imagining himself back there -- and in charge -- next fall.
He offered additional assurances that his "pure focus" was on Sunday's matchup with the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, and he doesn't "have to worry about a single thing except this opportunity" to coach in the Super Bowl.
Moore is a former backup QB who played behind Dak Prescott in Dallas in 2017 before becoming his position coach the next year. This season, he directed an Eagles offense that featured Saquon Barkley as the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards.
During the regular season, the Eagles ranked eighth in the NFL offensively (367.2 yards per game), but gained most of their yards on the ground. Philadelphia ranked second in rushing (179.3 ypg) and 29th in passing (187.9 ypg).
"You build around your players," Moore said. "There's different styles we've played over the years and that's the fun part of it.
"You have certain things that you have strong feelings about from a coaching perspective," he added. "But I think it's important to do what your players do best and surround yourself with as many opportunities to get those guys in those situations as you can."
If he is hired in New Orleans, he'd take over an offense starring dynamic running back Alvin Kamara. And his quarterback could be Derek Carr, against whom he once played in college when Moore was at Boise State and Carr was with Fresno State.
"Tons of respect for him as a quarterback in this league," Moore said of Carr. "He's had a tremendous career and done a lot of really good things."
Moore hasn't had extensive experience in New Orleans but has a relationship with the family of Archie Manning from his days at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, Louisiana, which he called an "awesome experience."
Whenever he winds up being a head coach, Moore said he would expect to continue to be the primary playcaller for the offense.
"Certainly it's a passion of mine, something that had gotten me to this place," he said. "You hate to stop doing what you love as you go through this journey."
Eagles offensive players didn't seem surprised to see Moore on New Orleans' short list.
"He's the worst coordinator I've ever had," Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata said jokingly, as if that might prevent the Saints from hiring him.
"Kellen's been the best," Mailata continued. "He's done a great job setting up plays, explaining the schemes and the whys behind certain motions, formations. It's a magical thing. It's no wonder why he's a finalist to be a head coach here."
'Love doing this': Retiring not on Kelce's radar
NEW ORLEANS -- Travis Kelce has no plans to retire anytime soon even if the Kansas City Chiefs win a third straight Super Bowl on Sunday.
The future plans of the 35-year-old Kelce have been a lingering question as his fame has risen off the field thanks to his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift and a media career boosted by one of the most popular sports podcasts.
Kelce was asked at opening night festivities Monday night before Kansas City plays Philadelphia in the Super Bowl where he plans to be in three years.
"Hopefully still playing football," he said. "I love doing this, I love coming into work every day. I feel like I still have a lot of good football left in me. We'll see what happens. I know I've been setting myself up for other opportunities in my life. That's always been the goal knowing football only lasts for so long. You have to find a way to get into another career and another profession. I've been doing that in my offseason. But for the most part, I plan on being a Kansas City Chief and playing football."
Kelce is still playing at a high level even if he has fallen off a bit from his peak. He had 97 catches this season but gained only 823 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Kelce had a throwback game in the divisional round win over Houston with seven catches for 117 yards and enters the Super Bowl with the most catches in the playoffs (174) and second to Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in yards receiving (2,039) and TD catches (20).
Kelce was one of the most popular players with the media during opening night, with a large group of reporters and others surrounding his podium for the entire hour, peppering him with questions on all sorts of topics from football to dances to whether he planned to give Swift a ring if the Chiefs win on Sunday. He quickly responded, "A Super Bowl ring? Next question."
Kelce did say his relationship with Swift helps him on the football field by providing motivation that he needs to work as hard as she does to remain at the top of his game.
"I better hold up my end of the bargain," he said. "If she's out here being the superstar she is, never taking no for an answer, and always working her tail off, I better match that energy for sure."
Eagles QB Hurts: SB LVII loss to Chiefs 'lit a fire'
NEW ORLEANS -- Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII "lit a fire" in him and that he is focused on finishing the job this time around as the two teams get set for their title bout rematch on Sunday.
"I've learned so much," Hurts said Monday. "It's the same as any other game and, you know, I think the moments are the moments. But ultimately, you know, every game has its lessons -- good, bad or indifferent. So, just being able to become wiser, grow and mature and take all these lessons in for the next season and the next games.
"It's had a great driving force. It lit a flame, lit a fire in me, and to have this opportunity again is exactly what you work for."
Hurts had arguably his best performance as a pro in his Super Bowl debut two years ago, accounting for 374 yards and four total touchdowns. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs outscored Philadelphia 17-8 in the fourth quarter, however, for a 38-35 come-from-behind win.
The Eagles then had a disappointing 2023 campaign, dropping five of their final six regular-season games after a promising 10-1 start before falling in the first round of the playoffs.
They rebounded this season with a 14-3 record followed by three home wins in the playoffs, including a 55-23 drubbing of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game.
Hurts had another big game in a big moment, going 20-of-28 for 246 yards against Washington and accounting for four scores to set up a Kansas City-Philadelphia Super Bowl for the second time in three years.
"It's a blessing. To see all the hard work pay off and have this opportunity again, it means everything," he said.
The Eagles' most notable addition since the first Super Bowl matchup is running back Saquon Barkley, who put together an MVP-caliber season and who needs just 30 yards to eclipse Terrell Davis' mark for most rushing yards in a season, including playoffs. They also boast the No. 1 defense in football.
Their hope is that the new additions along with lessons learned from the first time around will put them on top.
"You've got to be able to finish," Hurts said, "and that's going to take great focus, a great week of prep this week, putting it all together."
Booker, 28, becomes Suns' all-time scoring leader
Devin Booker became the Phoenix Suns' all-time leading scorer Monday night at the Portland Trail Blazers, breaking Walter Davis' franchise record of 15,666 points.
Booker, 28, surpassed Davis on a 3-pointer with 7:34 remaining in the third quarter. He reached the milestone in his 10th season and 642nd game for the Suns.
Booker hugged family members at the next timeout and was given a loud ovation by the fans in Portland.
"It means everything," Booker said. "Just being drafted to a franchise that believed in me, taking a chance on me as an 18-year-old kid and going through a rebuild phase and just sticking with it. Keeping my head down. The love and support has always been there. I don't take it from granted.
"I take it seriously putting 'Phoenix' across my chest."
The Blazers had a 120-117 lead when Deni Avdija fouled Booker on a 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left in overtime. Booker made the first two free throws but missed the third, which Deandre Ayton grabbed for his 20th rebound as the Trail Blazers held on for a 121-119 win.
Booker finished with 34 points, giving him 15,678 for his career.
"The city loves Devin," Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said of Booker's connection to the franchise and the Phoenix region.
Asked where Booker ranks for him among all the great players he has coached, Budenholzer replied, "He's at the top tonight."
"He's the all-time leading scorer for the Phoenix Suns," Budenholzer added. "He's our guy. He's special. A really, really special night for Book."
Davis played in 766 games (359 starts) for Phoenix from 1977 to 1988. He was a six-time All-Star for the Suns and also played for the Denver Nuggets and the Trail Blazers. Davis died in 2023 at age 69.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Malone says Nuggets 'not trading Michael Porter'
Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone quieted rumors that Michael Porter Jr. could be dealt this week, saying after his team's 125-113 win over the New Orleans Pelicans that "we're not trading Michael Porter."
Porter had a season-high 36 points in Monday's win on 12-of-22 shooting, including 7-of-12 from 3-point range. After the game, Malone was asked if he has had conversations with Porter about the trade rumors.
"No because we're not trading Michael Porter," Malone said. "So I'm not touching base with anybody on that. ... And if there's something coming, obviously [Nuggets GM Calvin Booth] will talk with me and I'm sure we'll communicate with whatever players. But Michael is a really important piece, he helped us win a championship."
Porter is enjoying his best season since a back injury kept him out for most of the 2021-22 season, but the Nuggets as a team have been inconsistent. He's the only player on Denver's roster eligible to be traded before the Feb. 6 deadline who makes more than $9 million this season, making him a prime candidate to be dealt should the Nuggets make a significant move.
A 6-foot-10 wing with a sweet shooting stroke, Porter has been an iron man for Denver after an injury-plagued start to his career, playing in 81 games last season and every game thus far this year.
"As long as I'm here, I'm going to be here and I'm going to be happy and I'm going to play hard and try to be available and try to help win games," Porter said after Monday's game. "And then if the day came where they wanted to trade me and they wanted to go a different direction, then I'll be excited for the new opportunity. But ... it's not something I think about at all."
He's in the third year of a five-year, maximum rookie contract extension he signed in 2022. He has two years and nearly $80 million left on the deal.
NEW ORLEANS -- Patrick Mahomes is preparing to play for the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he's also a Texas native and a fan of the Dallas Mavericks.
Mahomes was like most fans stunned by the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic from the Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.
"Luka is such a franchise player,'' Mahomes said at opening night at the Super Bowl on Monday. "I know it hurt my heart as a Mavs fan, but I'm excited for the future and having [Anthony Davis].
"It definitely hurts more than anything knowing Luka and the work that he put in and the time he's put in in Dallas and the city and how he's done so much for it. That's been the thing that's hurt me the most. But I'm excited for the future of the Mavs as well. Having AD and Kyrie [Irving] and all these guys they have, they'll have a chance to go out there and compete. But I'm excited for Luka too and to get to learn under LeBron [James] and become even a better basketball player.''
Before he could process the stunning trade, Mahomes, who sits courtside at Mavericks games when he can, went on X early Sunday morning to express his disbelief with a two-word message: "Wait what?" He followed that with another post saying, "I'm sick (right now.)"
Wait what?
Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) February 2, 2025
He made it clear Monday, however, that the trade wouldn't chase him away from watching the Mavericks play again.
"I know the Mavs have a great basketball team and getting Anthony Davis is going to help them,'' Mahomes said. "I'll be there. I'm a Mavs fan through thick and thin.''
England's Chessum takes positives from Ireland loss
England may be without wing Cadan Murley for the meeting with the 2022 Grand Slam winners on Saturday.
The 25-year-old, who scored a try on his debut in Dublin before struggling under the high ball in the second half, missed training on Monday with a foot injury which required a scan.
Tom Roebuck or Ollie Sleightholme would be the likeliest to step in if he is unavailable to face France, who opened their campaign with a 43-0 thrashing of Wales.
"That is the scary thing for those watching - they have managed to put 40 points on a team when you don't really think they have reached second gear," added Chessum.
"They come to live in the opposition 30 metres, they have a big pack of forwards who can go to work at the set-piece and, the obvious one, they have Antoine Dupont and whoever is going to sit in the driving seat at 10 for them this weekend.
"We know what their threats are. Today's preparation has been about installing what we think we can do to them."
Whale Takes the Reigns for Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Royal Enfield has announced Australian racer Max Whale as its newest addition to the Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfield Team for this year, following Johnny Lewis retirement.
Whale rode a strong 2024 debut in Mission AFT SuperTwins, where he notched multiple top-10 finishes. Now poised for success in the top level of the Progressive American Flat Track ranks with a distinguished team built by Lewis, Whale becomes Royal Enfields first international rider. Known for his aggressive riding style, Whale made an impact early in his career, turning pro in 2018 and securing back-to-back runner-up finishes in the AFT Singles presented by KICKER Championship in 2020 and 2021.
Weve been impressed with what Max has been able to do on the track for a number of years, and we cant wait for him to be part of Royal Enfields next chapter, said Adrian Sellers, Head Custom & Motorsport at Royal Enfield. Max is a young, aggressive racer with tons of skill, but most exciting to us is uncorking the potential weve seen. With Johnny taking an integral role in bike and rider development, we strongly believe this tandem will take this team to the next level.
Lewis spent five years as Moto Anatomy X Royal Enfields lead racer, team manager, and bike developer. Beyond race day, Lewis was critical to ultimately making a winner of Royal Enfields Twins FT racebike a role he will continue in 2025 as he focuses on maximizing Whales talents.
Its been an amazing ride with this group, and I am very proud of the team and bike weve built alongside Royal Enfield, Lewis said. I couldnt be more excited to continue my work with this team, this bike, and now working with Max in this next chapter of our careers. There are some similarities between him and I that we think will lend to a really smooth transition and a really successful 2025 season.
In Lewis first year at the helm in 2020, he scored a Mission AFT SuperTwins win and led the team to two podiums in the Royal Enfield Twins FTs debut season. Over the next four years, he would develop a bike that would secure two more victories at the prestigious Lima HM and Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, respectively, stand atop three more podiums, and earn 10+ top-five finishes.
In 2024, with Lewis sidelined with an injury, the team brought in Dalton Gauthier to fill in for a number of races. Joining mid-season, Gauthier was able to turn in a number of impressive finishes and take the third step of the podium at the Orange County Half-Mile.
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