Like mayflies and First World War pilots, the lifespan of an England top-order player has looked painfully short in recent times.

Increasingly, Andy Warhol's suggestion that everyone would have their 15 minutes of fame seems to have had England opening batsmen in mind. Most candidates in the county game have had a go - 13 of the most recent 30 Test caps given out by England have opened the batting - but with little success. Around the England squad there is a weary sign of resignation that Joe Root's decision to move back to No. 3 is to prevent 10-1 becoming 10-2.

So it is that Joe Denly finds his unlikely way into the Ashes firing line. Having become England's oldest Test debutant this century when called into the side in the Caribbean, he now finds himself with a third different batting spot in his fourth Test. He confirmed, on Tuesday, that Root had phoned and "told me he wanted me to go to No. 4."

At this stage, you will find few who see Denly as anything other than a temporary solution. Already there is talk of Jason Roy - just one innings into his career as a Test opener - moving to No. 4 and a suggestion that two new openers, Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley, could be in action before Christmas. Rory Burns, in particular, needs an improved performance at Edgbaston if he is to play at Lord's.

On the face of things, Denly may be a little fortunate to have won this opportunity ahead of the likes of Sam Northeast, James Hildreth or even Gary Ballance. He secured his selection here, in part, with 69 in the second innings in St Lucia - an innings in which he was dropped on 12 and benefited from a weary West Indies attack that had already won the series and was a man down through injury - and his captain running him out in the second innings at Lord's. Root couldn't drop him after that; he had denied him a proper opportunity.

Scratch beneath the surface, however, and he has done far more to earn this opportunity. He made a century - 167 not out - against a strong-looking Nottinghamshire attack which included James Pattinson in June and followed it with another - 154 this time - against Hampshire a couple of weeks ago. There was an innings of 88 against a Surrey side containing Morne Morkel, too. And, over the 2017 and 2018 county seasons, he scored another nine first-class centuries; most of them elegant innings that hint at real class. He is in form, he is - on the surface at least - relaxed and he is not putting too much pressure on himself. He's 33; he thought this opportunity had passed him by; everything from here is a bonus.

"Is this the highlight of my career? Yeah, probably," he said at Edgbaston on Tuesday. "Did I see it happening? Probably not.

"It's probably the biggest challenge of my career, too. There's no doubt the Australian bowling line-up is one of the best in the world and, as a top-order batter, that is where you want to be, testing yourself against the best.

"But I learned from when I previously played for England, I put too much pressure on myself. Getting back in the England team is certainly not something I've been focusing on recently. So playing in an Ashes series, for me it's just about enjoying my cricket and scoring lots of runs for Kent and seeing where it takes me.

"It took me a while to get back to any kind of form when I got dropped all those years ago. I went missing for two or three years, with all my focus on trying to get back in the England side. In recent years I've enjoyed my cricket a lot more and reaped the rewards for that. This week is going to be a very proud moment and a very special occasion for me and my family."

His reputation was not enhanced by the attempt to shoe-horn him into the World Cup squad as a spin-bowling all-rounder. It was a role for which he was never suited and for which he admits Liam Dawson was, in the end, a more natural fit. If he has any regrets, you suspect it is simply that he wasn't given the opportunity to show what he could do in the role in which he is best: a top-order batsman.

"Liam Dawson is certainly more of a bowling all-rounder than I am," Denly said. "I think it was the right decision to pick him for the World Cup squad. And it was a great opportunity for me to go back and play some red-ball cricket with Kent and get some good form going into this series."

He is, at last, in the role for which he is best suited. He is not an opener: he had not opened in County Championship cricket for three-and-a-half years when picked to open in Test cricket; and he is not a leg-spinning all-rounder: he had only once taken more than eight first-class wickets in an entire season. He is a good top-order batsman who is probably best used at No. 4.

There are some concerns. For one thing, he looked rushed by the quick bowlers in the Caribbean in a way that James Vince, for example, rarely did in Australia. For another, most of his runs in recent years (though not this season) have been scored in Division Two of the County Championship; this will prove quite a step up in quality. And while he plays the cover drive as sweetly as anyone, the manner of his first innings dismissal at Lord's - beaten by one that nipped back - suggested the flaw that troubled him during his first incarnation as an international player, a decade or so ago, remains. And if it remains, this Australia attack may well find it.

But he is calm, he is experienced and he has more class with the bat than some have given him credit. He really does have a chance to take his career to another level.

There was one other familiar face at England training on Tuesday. Marcus Trescothick, finally coming to the end of his illustrious playing career, has been drafted into the England coaching set-up for the first two Ashes Tests and was on hand to provide throw-downs and, where necessary, impart advice and encouragement. After all he has been through, it was good to see him back in an England shirt. And, after all he has been through, he will have valuable perspective to pass on to today's players. Most of all, like Denly, he provides a reminder that, whatever happens in the next few weeks, there are a great many things more important than cricket. Even Ashes cricket.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

WESTFIELD, Ind. -- The Indianapolis Colts are shutting down quarterback Andrew Luck for at least the next two practices, and possibly longer, due to a left calf strain that has bothered him since late April.

"Yeah, you can say setback," Luck said Tuesday. "I'm not where I want to be. I did not improve feeling-wise, pain-wise. This is something I vowed to myself after going through 2016-17. I would be, one, honest with myself about how I felt pain-wise with things. Two, honest with the people involved. Make sure we took the time about making good decisions going forward. I know I did not improve with the three practices."

The quarterback said there hasn't been any talk about him having surgery on his calf.

"The nature of it is a calf strain. I say lower leg because I feel pain in my ankle area. I've had images and X-rays and everything, and my Achilles is not at extra risk. There is no tears or swelling or anything that's indicated," he said.

Luck practiced on a limited basis in the first two days of training camp before having a "maintenance" day off and practicing again Sunday. Luck was scheduled to practice Tuesday after the team had Monday off, but he instead spent time in the weight room.

"Opening up a little bit, I feel like something is going to yank, something is going to pull," Luck said when asked where he has pain. "Trying to change direction aggressively, and that's something you need to do to play football, and I'm not there yet."

Luck's injury was described as minor when he originally injured his calf in late April. He didn't take part in the team's OTAs or minicamp, but coach Frank Reich said in June that he felt his quarterback could play if they had to play again. Reich still feels that way and Luck said he's "played in football games with way more pain." But it's not the regular season, so Luck and the Colts are in agreement that there's no need for him to press the issue.

"I trust Andrew and want to listen to him, the feedback," Reich said. "He knows what he feels, so I think we're doing the right thing here."

Reich determined back in the spring that Luck would not play in the preseason opener at Buffalo on Aug. 8. It's too early to tell, according to Reich, if Luck will play in the second or third preseason games. It wouldn't be surprising if Luck didn't take a snap in the preseason, as the Colts have used a cautious approach with him since general manager Chris Ballard was hired in the winter of 2018.

"We want to get him a little bit (of playing time) in the second game, a little in Game 3," Reich said. "But it's not absolutely necessary. I think it's important for his mentality, his psyche that he just feels ready to go and we need a good full week of practice, full speed where he feels confident."

One of the reasons Luck is in no rush to rush back is because of what he endured while dealing with his right shoulder injury. He originally injured his shoulder in Week 3 of the 2015 season. He didn't have surgery until January 2017. Luck missed the entire 2017 season and he didn't start throwing a football until the spring of June 2018. He was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year last season after throwing for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns.

"I still have some emotional scars (from 2016 and 17) and that lives with me still, but I'm trying to use it in a positive way," said Luck, who added he expects to play in their Week 1 game at the Los Angeles Chargers.

Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett will continue to work with the starting unit until Luck returns.

A 50-strong British under-20 team has been announced for the event on August 14

European under-20 800m champions Oliver Dustin and Isabelle Boffey will headline a 50-strong British under-20 team for the Manchester International on August 14.

The match will see athletes from England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, BAL/UKWL (British Athletic League / UK Women’s League), GB Juniors and international teams battle at the Manchester Regional Arena.

Dustin led a GB one-two-three in the men’s 800m in Borås, while Boffey claimed double gold, winning both the 800m and 4x400m.

In total, eight medallists from the European Under-20 Championships make the British under-20 team, including women’s 4x100m duo Cassie-Ann Pemberton and Immanuela Aliu.

Seamus Derbyshire, who took silver in the 400m hurdles, will contest that event once again, as well as form part of the men’s 4x400m relay team.

A total of 18 athletes will make their British debuts in Manchester, led by English Schools champion Joel Pascall-Menzie, who produced the fourth-fastest all-time under-17 100m clocking of 10.48 as he scooped the title earlier this month.

British under-20 team

Men
100m: Joel Pascall-Menzie
200m: Fraser Angus
400m: Ethan Brown
800m: Oliver Dustin
Mile: Thomas Keen
3000m: Max Heyden
110m hurdles: Tre Thomas *subject to fitness
400m hurdles: Seamus Derbyshire
3000m steeplechase: Remi Adebiyi
3000m race walk: Matthew Crane
4x100m: Owain Lloyd Hughes, Toby Makoyawo, Destiny Ogali, Tobi Ogunkanmi, Joel Pascall-Menzie
4x400m: Ethan Brown, Lewis Davey, Seamus Derbyshire, Callum Dodds, Ben Hawkes
High jump: Sam Brereton
Pole vault: Frankie Johnson
Long jump: Stephen MacKenzie
Triple jump: Miraji Ahmed
Shot put: Lewis Byng
Hammer: Shaun Kerry
Discus: James Tomlinson
Javelin: Tom Hewson

Women
100m: Immanuela Aliu
200m: Hannah Kelly
400m: Louise Evans
800m: Isabelle Boffey
Mile: Erin Wallace
3000m: Saskia Millard
100m hurdles: Jenna Blundell
400m hurdles: Marcey Winter
3000m steeplechase: Maisey Grice
3000m race walk: Pagen Spooner
4x100m: Leonie Ashmeade, Kiah Dubarry-Gay, Lakeisha Owusu-Junior, Cassie-Ann Pemberton, Eve Wright
4x400m: Isabelle Boffey, Nayanna Dubarry-Gay, Louise Evans, Hannah Foster, Marcey Winter
High jump: Jodie Smith
Pole vault: Jade Spencer-Smith
Long jump: Ore Adamson
Triple jump: Jazz Sears
Shot put: Serena Vincent
Hammer: Charlotte Williams
Discus: Samantha Callaway
Javelin: Lauren Farley

Andy Murray says he could return to playing singles at the Cincinnati Masters next month.

The Briton, 32, has been competing in doubles since June having had a hip resurfacing operation in January.

He is playing doubles with brother Jamie at the Citi Open this week but had previously said it was "pretty unlikely" he would play singles at the US Open, which starts on 26 August.

"Best-case scenario probably would be Cincinnati," said Murray.

"Then if I wasn't able to play in Cincinnati, there's a good chance I would probably wait until after New York because I wouldn't want my first tournament to be playing best of five [sets]."

The men's singles event at Cincinnati starts on 11 August.

After playing with this brother this week in Washington, three-time Grand Slam champion Murray is due to partner Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in the doubles at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, which begins on 5 August.

He and Lopez won the doubles title at Queen's in June, which was the Scot's first tournament since his career-extending surgery.

Murray last played in the mixed doubles with Serena Williams at Wimbledon, where they reached the third round.

"For the most part, I'm going to practise singles and play doubles to compete and then each week I'm just going to see," he added.

"In terms of how I'm moving and feeling and pulling up the next day from these practices, I'm really happy with where I'm at. I think I'm quite close.

"If I keep progressing and feel good in three weeks' time then I'll play singles as soon as I'm ready.

"It's just to get to where I want to get to. I'll need to play matches and get a little bit more work done in the gym on my cardio."

Colombia claim mixed title
By HOWARD HARDING – Squash Mad International Correspondent

After success in the women’s singles in the XVIII Pan American Games in Peru, USA added two further squash gold medals to its Lima haul after title triumphs in both the Men’s and Women’s Doubles events.

US women’s No.1 Amanda Sobhy added to her personal gold collection by partnering her younger sister Sabrina Sobhy to a straight games victory in the women’s doubles final at the Villa Deportiva Nacional Videna in the Peruvian capital.

The top-seeded Sobhy siblings successfully retained the title won four years ago in Toronto by Amanda and former world No.1 Natalie Grainger when they beat Canadian pair Samantha Cornett and Danielle Letourneau 11-10, 11-8 in 24 minutes.

Sobhy senior later told her Twitter followers: “Gold medal with the sis in the women’s doubles! Bringing this one home to the Sobhy household!”

USA then struck gold in the Men’s Doubles when Chris Hanson and Todd Harrity recovered from a game down to overcome Canadians Shawn Delierre and Nick Sachvie 6-11, 11-5, 11-8 in 46 minutes.

The 3/4 seeded US pair made their breakthrough in the semi-finals where they despatched the second-seeded hosts’ Diego Elias & Alonso Escudero in straight games.

“Yesterday was historic for Team USA squash doubles,” said Paul Assaiante, the Ganek Family US Squash Head National Coach. “It brought us goosebumps to see our men and women on top of the podium over the likes of Canada, Mexico and Peru.

“Amanda and Sabrina had to come back from 6-1 in the first game of the final and the second game was tight point by point, but they were able to pull out another doubles gold for the U.S,” Assaiante said.

“The men were another story. Do you believe in miracles? Canada jumped all over Todd and Chris in the first game. There simply didn’t seem to be any holes in their armour, but Todd and Chris picked up the pace and effectively took away their shot-making.”

Colombia claimed their first squash gold medal of the 2019 Games when Catalina Pelaez and Miguel Rodriguez justified their top-seeding in the Mixed Doubles by seeing off Diana Garcia and Alfredo Avila 11-10, 11-4 in the final.

The unseeded Mexican pairing claimed their surprise place in the final with successive victories over the No.2 seeds from Argentina and US duo Olivia Blatchford Clyne and Andrew Douglas, one of the 3/4 seeds, in the semi-finals. 

XVIII Pan American Games Squash Championship, Lima, Peru.

Men’s Doubles Semi-Finals:
[5/8] Shawn Delierre & Nick Sachvie (CAN) bt [1] Arturo Salazar & Cesar Salazar (MEX) 9-11, 11-7, 11-5 (55m)
[3/4] Chris Hanson & Todd Harrity (USA) bt [2] Diego Elias & Alonso Escudero (PER) 11-8, 11-8 (37m)
Final:
[3/4] Chris Hanson & Todd Harrity (USA) bt [5/8] Shawn Delierre & Nick Sachvie (CAN) 6-11, 11-5, 11-8 (46m)

Women’s Doubles Semi-Finals:
[1] Amanda Sobhy & Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt [3/4] Giselle Delgado & Anita Pinto (CHI) 11-5, 11-3 (13m)
[3/4] Samantha Cornett & Danielle Letourneau (CAN) bt [2] Laura Tovar & Maria Tovar (COL)
Final:
[1] Amanda Sobhy & Sabrina Sobhy (USA) bt [3/4] Samantha Cornett & Danielle Letourneau (CAN) 11-10, 11-8 (24m)

Mixed Doubles Semi-Finals:
[1] Catalina Pelaez & Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt [3/4] Hollie Naughton & Andrew Schnell (CAN) 11-10, 11-5 (28m)
Diana Garcia & Alfredo Avila (MEX) bt [3/4] Olivia Blatchford Clyne & Andrew Douglas (USA) 11-6, 11-5 (19m)
Final:
[1] Catalina Pelaez & Miguel Rodriguez (COL) bt Diana Garcia & Alfredo Avila (MEX) 11-10, 11-4 (35m) 

Pictures courtesy of  WSF

England flanker Brad Shields will be out for up to six weeks, meaning he may not play again before the squad depart for the World Cup in Japan.

The Wasps forward, 28, returned home early from a training camp in Italy last week after injuring a foot.

He now faces a race to prove his fitness before England's World Cup opener against Tonga on 22 September.

"Brad has got a tear in the lower foot," said assistant coach John Mitchell.

"It's always a little bit niggly - and it's four to six weeks for him - but we will continue to appraise his recovery and see where he gets to."

Head coach Eddie Jones will name his 31-man World Cup squad on 12 August - the day after England's first warm-up match against Wales at Twickenham.

Jones' side then face Wales in Cardiff, with games against Ireland and Italy completing their preparations.

With experienced former captain Chris Robshaw omitted, a fully fit Shields would appear to be a near certainty for selection.

"Obviously we have got a deadline, and that is important," said Mitchell. "But there is plenty of time to go."

Defence coach Mitchell, meanwhile, played down concerns about the fitness of winger Jack Nowell, who flew back from Italy for a medical assessment on his ankle problem.

But he said he had "no idea" when the Exeter back would be available for selection, with a "clearer view" expected "once he is out of his surgical review".

"Jack is going really well," said Mitchell, who added Nowell's return home was "in his programme" and "happens with all surgical situations".

Mitchell also said lock George Kruis was back training after his ankle operation, with England running drills this week against Italy's national side in extreme humidity in Treviso.

"The heat isn't so bad, but the variance in the humidity means it takes a while to adapt," he said. "We have had some humidity ranging between 75 and 90% which makes you sweat.

"Italy were in on Monday, which was invaluable. It is always nice at some point in your preparation to train against an organised opposition you are not familiar with on a day-by-day basis."

Mitchell said there were strict parameters in place to avoid a repeat of England's training session against Georgia earlier in the year, when brawls erupted between the two sets of forwards.

"There were rules around the contact constraints, so there was no bone on bone or live contact," he said.

"It was really constructive and unemotional, which often isn't the case when forwards are up against forwards. Both countries got a lot out of it."

STATESVILLE, N.C. – Jordan Anderson Racing and Niece Motorsports have partnered to field an entry for sprint car racer Mark Smith in the Eldora Dirt Derby this week at Eldora Speedway.

“When the opportunity presented itself to put Mark Smith in a truck, it was a no brainer,” said Jordan Anderson Racing’s Jordan Anderson. “His success on the dirt has been proven over the years and it’s going to be an honor to see him get an opportunity in NASCAR on the dirt. Incredibly grateful to everyone in the shop that put in the extra hours and helped make this happen. From Mark’s partners at Selinsgrove Speedway, and NRG Controls North, to Rolando Arroyo from Traction Marketing Group, it’s been a complete team effort to make this dream a reality.”

The 48-year-old Smith, from Sunbury, Pa., is a veteran sprint car driver and co-owner of Mach 1 Chassis. This year he has earned seven sprint car victories driving his own Mach 1 Chassis house car.

Smith will drive the No. 38 Chevrolet Silverado with sponsorship from Selinsgrove Speedway and NRG Controls North.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to compete at the NASCAR level,” said Smith. “These types of opportunities typically don’t present themselves at 48 years old. I’m looking forward to strapping into the No. 38 Chevy Silverado and compete at a track that I’m very familiar with. The entire team has done a great job preparing a truck I feel confident in, and I’m hoping that we can bring home a finish that everyone will be proud of.”