Latest - New Zealand Cricket has achieved gender equality at board level after the organisation held their annual general meeting on Wednesday.
Rebecca Rolls with NZC chair Greg Barclay. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Former national women's team wicketkeeper Rebecca Rolls and cricket-loving geneticist Anna Campbell were added to the NZC Board at their first AGM held via video conference.
The pair replace Liz Dawson and Don Mackinnon on the eight-strong panel of directors, with Diana Puketapu re-elected for a further term.
The changes meant there were four men and four women on the board, with Greg Barclay retained as chairman alongside president Debbie Hockley.
Meanwhile it was also revealed at the AGM NZC's budgeted loss for the year of $2.4m had been turned into a surplus of $1.5m.
The turnaround was due to a significant reduction in activity because of the Covid-19, along with operational savings across the organisation.
Additional costs linked to the pandemic meant the budgeted loss for the 2020-21 year was $3.5m.
Boult strikes in IPL victory
Defending champions Mumbai Indians claimed their fifth Indian Premier League (IPL) title, thrashing Delhi Capitals by five wickets in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Trent Boult. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Delhi skipper Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant struck breezy fifties to help them overcome a top-order collapse, triggered by the bowling of Black Cap Trent Boult (3-30), and post a competitive 156-7 after electing to bat.
Mumbai, who had beaten Delhi three times this season en route to the final, prevailed once again with eight balls to spare, dashing their opponents' hopes of winning their maiden IPL title.
Rohit Sharma smashed a fluent 68 and Ishan Kishan made 33 not out down the order as Mumbai cruised to victory.
- Reuters
White Fern injured in Big Bash
White Fern Suzie Bates' return for the Adelaide Strikers in the Women's Big Bash League was short-lived as she reinjured her shoulder while fielding against the Melbourne Stars.
Suzie Bates,right, will undergo scans on her shoulder. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Bates missed the first seven matches of the WBBL due to a shoulder concern and will now undergo scans to determine the extent of the damage caused in Tuesday's match.
The Strikers captain immediately cradled her right shoulder in pain after attempting to throw the ball from the deep and was forced to leave the field and did not return as Stars secured victory by five wickets.
Earlier in the match Bates opened the batting for the Strikers scoring 28 off 23 balls before she was stumped.
English FA chairman quits
Greg Clarke has resigned as English Football Association chairman hours after referring to players from the BAME community as "coloured" during questions from members of parliament.
Greg Clarke Photo: AFP
"We can confirm that Greg Clarke has stepped down from his role as our chairman," the FA said in a statement.
"Peter McCormick will step into the role as interim FA Chairman with immediate effect and the FA Board will begin the process of identifying and appointing a new chair in due course."
Clarke, speaking in front of a Digital, Culture, Media & Sport select committee, was discussing issues around inclusion and diversity in grassroots football when he made the comment.
Asked about the possibility of a social media backlash for gay players 'coming out', Clarke said: "If I look at what happens to high-profile female footballers, to high-profile coloured footballers, and the abuse they take on social media.... social media is a free-for-all."
The FA issued a statement soon after saying: "Greg Clarke is deeply apologetic for the language he used to reference members of the ethnic minority community during the select committee hearing today.
"He acknowledged that using the term 'coloured' is not appropriate and wholeheartedly apologised during the hearing."
New Zealand-born wing to make Ireland debut
New Zealand-born wing James Lowe will make his much anticipated Ireland debut in the Autumn Nations Cup opener against Wales as Andy Farrell's men look to bounce back from a disappointing end to the Six Nations.
James Lowe Photo: Photosport
Former Maori All Black Lowe, 28, qualifies by residency to play for Ireland, having spent the last three-and-a-half seasons with Leinster where has played a major role in three successive Pro14 titles and a European Champions Cup.
Farrell made seven changes from the side that needed a bonus point victory over France in Paris on 31 October to seal the delayed Six Nations crown but fell to a 35-27 defeat that meant both teams missed out to champions England.
Another Irish-qualified Kiwi Jamison Gibson-Park will make his first start at scrumhalf with the experienced trio of Peter O'Mahony, Iain Henderson and Josh van der Flier coming into the pack, along with young hooker Ronan Kelleher.
The other change sees Chris Farrell start at outside centre, while Ulster's Billy Burns, a former England Under-20s flyhalf whose grandfather is Irish, looks set to win his first cap off the bench.
- Reuters
Vietnam left out of F1
The Vietnamese Grand Prix was absent from a draft 2021 calendar published by Formula One that featured a record 23 rounds, with a debut in Saudi Arabia and Brazil returning despite fears for that race's future.
Vietnam was due to host a street race in Hanoi for the first time last April, but that was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The absence of the grand prix on next year's calendar has been attributed to local issues, although Formula One did not give a reason or mention Vietnam in a statement setting out the planned season.
The BBC reported the decision not to host the race followed the arrest in August of Hanoi People's Committee chairman Nguyen Duc Chung.
The April 25 slot was left vacant, with various circuits in the frame.
Formula One has never before had more than 21 races in a season.
The season will start with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on 21 March and will end in Abu Dhabi on 5 December.
- Reuters
Six Nations cancelled
The three remaining matches in the women's Six Nations championship have been cancelled due to the logistical complications caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, organisers said.
The affected matches are Italy v Scotland, Wales v Scotland and France v Ireland but the table for the 2020 edition remains unchanged with England already crowned champions.
Six Nations CEO Ben Morel said his organisation explored every possible option before deciding to cancel.
"It is especially disappointing that these cancellations come at a time when there is such positive momentum around the women's game and for the women's Six Nations in particular," Morel said in a statement
Champions England sealed the Grand Slam for a second year running after they trounced Italy 54-0 in Parma on 1 November in their final match.
Meanwhile, World Rugby confirmed that the European qualification tournament for the women's World Cup next year has been postponed indefinitely due to coronavirus travel restrictions.
The event was due to be contested by Ireland, Italy, Scotland and the winner of the postponed Rugby Europe Women's Championship next month, with the victors qualifying for the World Cup to be held in New Zealand.
- Reuters