Browsing: Nathan

Nathan Lyon ranks seventh on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers with 562 scalps, making him Australiaâ€s second-most successful spinner after Shane Warne (Getty Images) NEW DELHI: Australiaâ€s stand-in captain Steve Smith sought to calm the controversy surrounding Nathan Lyonâ€s exclusion for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane, stressing that the decision was made to strengthen the batting lineup and was not personal. Lyon had described his mood as “absolutely filthy” after being dropped for the first time in 13 years in a home Test. Australiaâ€s chairman of selectors, George Bailey, termed it a “one-Test decision” and assured the 38-year-old spinner a spot for the third Test in Adelaide.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“It could have gone a few different ways, and it’s certainly nothing against Nathan. He’s a freak,” Smith said post-match, as quoted by Fox Sports.

Fakhar Zaman interview: Power hitting, playing role of mentor in ILT20, hitting sixes & more

Australia secured an eight-wicket win over Ben Stokes†England in Brisbane on Sunday, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.”Heâ€s (Lyon) been our spinner for such a long time, but the extra batting and the way the tail hung in for 50 overs gave us the balance we were after,” Smith added.Contributions from Australiaâ€s tail-enders, with pacers Michael Neser (16) and Brendan Doggett (13) supporting a strong 77 from Mitchell Starc, helped the home side post 511 in the first innings. Neser then claimed a five-wicket haul in the second innings, playing a crucial role in Australiaâ€s dominant win.”(Neser) offers something different. We can bring the keeper up, he hits the stumps, he keeps things tight, and forces batters to take risks when the ball isn’t as quick or is skidding. But it’s nothing against Nathan. He’s unbelievable and he’s done it for so long,” Smith said.Lyon ranks seventh on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers with 562 scalps, making him Australiaâ€s second-most successful spinner after Shane Warne.Australiaâ€s Marnus Labuschagne hinted that selectors may consider recalling Lyon to maintain team balance for the Adelaide Test starting December 17.”I’m not a selector, but what I will say is the same way they (selectors) looked at this game, they looked at the game objectively and said what was the best way for us to win this game (in Brisbane) with all the information we have on pink-ball cricket,” Labuschagne said, as quoted by ICC.”What plays, what favours it’s been (in past Tests). Is it pace or whatever that is or what type of bowler? And then they make the decision,” he added.Smith also praised Neserâ€s performance.”To see him him (Neser) take five wickets with an old ball…it was awesome. There was a moment earlier in the season where I was just like, ‘Man, I hope he (Neser) gets his chance’. I saw the writing on the wall there that there’s potential and for him to be able to come in and deliver,” said Labuschagne.Meanwhile, regular skipper Pat Cummins is expected to return for the Adelaide Test after an injury layoff, with the team monitoring the fitness of opener Usman Khawaja and pacer Josh Hazlewood ahead of the third Test.

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Only the great Shane Warne and legendary seamer Glenn McGrath have taken more Test wickets for Australia than Lyon. The 38-year-old needs two more to go past McGrath’s 562 and into second place on the list.

The last time Lyon was left out of a home Test was against India at the Waca in January 2012. He had played 71 consecutive home Tests.

“I’m really surprised Australia left Lyon out given his record at the Gabba and also how this ball gets soft quickly,” said former England spinner Alex Hartley on Test Match Special.

“You might need someone to hold up an end but maybe they’re thinking they’ve got enough part-time spinners to do that – Labuschagne can bowl a bit.”

Lyon has now been left out of the Australia XI twice in three Tests – he was also omitted from the day-nighter against West Indies in Jamaica in July, which Australia won by 176 runs.

On that decision, Lyon said: “Disappointed on a number of levels. I believe I can play a role in any conditions, and I still honestly believe that.

“I want to play every game for Australia, and I’ve just got that belief that I can play a role in any conditions, as every cricketer should have that belief.”

Neser lengthens Australia’s batting at number eight and has the experience of the Gabba being his home ground, but only Warne and McGrath have more wickets than Lyon in Brisbane.

As expected, Leeds-born Josh Inglis came into the Australia side for the injured Usman Khawaja. Travis Head continues as opener, with Inglis listed to bat at number seven.

England had already confirmed their XI, with spin-bowling all-rounder Will Jacks taking the place of injured fast bowler Mark Wood.

England have not won at the Gabba since 1986 or in any of their previous three pink-ball matches in Australia.

This is the first day-nighter in Australia in which England have batted first, as captain Ben Stokes extended his team’s run of winning the toss to seven consecutive Tests.

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Welcome to Wrestling Inc.’s live coverage for “WWE SmackDown” on November 21, 2025, coming to you live from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado!

United States Champion Ilja Dragunov will be continuing the US Open Challenge tonight when he puts his title on the line once again. As Dragunov still adamantly declines to allow the aforementioned Ciampa to answer the call and challenge him for his title, he has also had successful defenses against the lines of Aleister Black on October 24, Nathan Frazer on October 31, Ciampa’s #DIY tag team partner Johnny Gargano on November 7, and the aforementioned Axiom during last Friday’s edition of “SmackDown”.

Speaking of #DIY, they will be going head-to-head with the aforementioned Frazer and Axiom in tag team competition tonight. Following Dragunov’s successful defense against Axiom last Friday, Ciampa blindsided Axiom with an attack as his frustrations with not receiving a United States Championship match from Dragunov and Dragunov’s choice of Axiom as his opponent boiled over.

Two more first round matches in The Last Time Is Now Tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13 are set to take place tonight, as Bronson Reed of The Vision collides with Carmelo Hayes while Judgment Day’s Finn Balor goes head-to-head with Penta. Whoever wins the match between Reed and Hayes will go on to face GUNTHER in a quarterfinals match this coming Monday on “WWE Raw”, while the victor of the match will take on MFT leader Solo Sikoa in another quarterfinals match that same night.

After Rhea Ripley asked to speak with AJ Lee (who had cost Becky Lynch the Women’s Intercontinental Championship to Maxxine Dupri) backstage this past Monday on “Raw”, WWE has teased the reveal of who will be joining Ripley, IYO SKY, Charlotte Flair, and Alexa Bliss & Asuka, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax, and Lash Legend as the fifth member of each respective team in the Women’s WarGames match on November 29 at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames.

Meanwhile, as Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk, Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, and Roman Reigns prepare to square off against Drew McIntyre, Logan Paul, The Vision, and Brock Lesnar in the Men’s WarGames Match, WWE has also teased some fallout from the brawl that broke out between all ten men in the closing moments of Monday’s edition of “Raw” when Reigns and Lesnar were revealed as the final members of their respective teams.

We are live! Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet audiences at home before throwing it to a video of the brawl that closed out Monday’s episode of “Raw”.

Back at ringside, Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Logan Paul are waiting in the ring.

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Nathan Frazer has released a statement following his match against Ilja Dragunov on WWE SmackDown.

Dragunov successfully defended his United States Championship against Frazer on Fridayâ€s show after Frazer answered his open challenge.

Frazer released a statement about the match on Saturday, writing:

“Me and Ilja Dragunov had a match back on NXT in 2023… it left a really bitter taste in my mouth. Bell to bell, it barely lasted 5 minutes. Last night, I got that rematch Iâ€d been dying to have for the past two years. We went to war for the United States Championship on Smackdown. I didnâ€t get the win, but it really felt like vindication for that night.”

Their singles match on SmackDown was the third between the two. The first took place on the NXT UK brand, when Dragunov successfully defended the NXT United Kingdom Championship against Frazer on the March 3, 2022, taping in London. Their second meeting was the five-minute bout Frazer referenced in his statement, from the November 28, 2023, taping in Orlando.

Friday was Dragunovâ€s second defense of the U.S. title, after defeating Aleister Black on last weekâ€s episode. Following the bout, Tommaso Ciampa, who had also tried to answer Dragunovâ€s open challenge, attacked Frazer from behind. Axiom and Johnny Gargano then ran out, leading to a brawl.

Frazer’s statement is below:

Me and Ilja Dragunov had a match back on NXT in 2023… it left a really bitter taste in my mouth. Bell to bell, it barely lasted 5 minutes.

Last night, I got that rematch Iâ€d been dying to have for the past two years. We went to war for the United States Championship on… pic.twitter.com/xDy0ZrGJNR

— Nathan Frazer (@WWEFrazer) November 1, 2025

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Ian Carey

Ian Carey is a writer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, whose work has been featured in NOW Magazine, The Huffington Post, and more. A lifelong wrestling aficionado born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, he has covered the industry for a decade and a half. He joined the f4wonline.com team in 2019.

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By Ella Jay

Oct. 31, 2025 4:05 pm EST

WWE

On his path to defeating Cody Rhodes at WWE Crown Jewel, Seth Rollins injured his shoulder while executing a coast-to-coast headbutt on “The American Nightmare.” As such, the now-former WWE World Heavyweight Champion is expected to be out of action for six months following his surgery. While appearing on “No-Contest Wrestling” podcast, “WWE SmackDown” star Nathan Frazer weighed in on the recent development.

“I wish him a very speedy recovery in this what seems to be a shoulder injury,” Frazer said, alluding to the ruse that involved Rollins faking a knee injury to successfully cash-in his Money in the Bank contract at WWE SummerSlam 2025. Unlike his knee injury, the damage to Rollins’ shoulder is said to be legitimate, with WWE later stripping him of the World Heavyweight Championship.

According to Frazer, his relationship with Rollins extends back to 2018, when the UK native began his in-ring training at the Black and Brave Wrestling Academy, run by Rollins and Marek Brave. At the time, Frazer was two years deep into a soccer scholarship at Tennessee Wesleyan University. After receiving money from his parents and getting accepted to train at Black and Brave, Frazer then headed to Davenport, Iowa over the summer.

“It was a crazy experience because [Rollins] was really, really present for those three months that I was training,” Frazer recalled. “I think he only missed one or two training sessions because of birthdays or he was away on a European tour, but he was very present and I got to build a rapport and a relationship with him. I got to come back every summer break from college. I would just come back and spend time at the school and just train and wrestle in the Midwest as well and build my connections there.”

While Rollins is currently sitting on the sidelines, Frazer is confident that their path will cross once again, this time for a match on WWE’s main roster that Frazer foresees as “cinema.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “No-Contest Wrestling” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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“I want to get north Wales back up there and hopefully one day I can get them to the Premier League,†says Wrexhamâ€s record signing, Nathan Broadhead. Back at the club after a 17-year absence, he did not miss a clash with Cardiff in that time but the rivals renew acquaintances in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, with the Red Dragons looking down on the boys from the Welsh capital.

The enmity between Wrexham and Cardiff has cooled given they have not faced each other since a Welsh Cup semi-final in 2004 and last met in the league in March 2002 but a lively atmosphere can be expected at StÅk Cae Ras in the battle for a quarter-final spot. The two passed each other this summer, when Wrexham continued their journey up the leagues to the Championship, while the Bluebirds dropped into the third tier for the first time in 22 years.

Broadhead is a fan of his hometown club Bangor City but was brought up in a household with affection for Tuesdayâ€s opponents, including his dad. “I know quite a few Cardiff fans and thereâ€s a lot of people who support Cardiff, and go to watch Cardiff from Bangor,†says Broadhead, who will mute a few WhatsApp groups this week. “They all say the same thing, telling me not to score. Hopefully I do score, but Iâ€m just happy to be part of it.â€

The forward started as a youth at Wrexham before, like many young north Walians, feeling compelled to head to England to join academies in Manchester or Liverpool. It was Everton in his case. The structure was not in place at Wrexham before Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney arrived, meaning they missed out on generations of talent, including Harry Wilson, Neco Williams and Danny Ward.

“I wanted to do well for the club and also to get the academy and everything like that back to where it was,†says Broadhead, who wants Wrexham to be a hub for talent from north Wales. “If you get youngsters in, give them a chance; if big teams want them, they make money off that.â€

There was an offer to return on loan while Wrexham were in the National League but a teenage Broadhead decided he was not physically ready. It cost the Red Dragons an initial £7.5m to bring Broadhead back from Ipswich, with a potential further £2.5m, and goalkeeper Ward also returned this summer, on a free. The Broadhead deal is a sign of the spending power the club has with Reynolds and McElhenney at the tiller. “I didnâ€t think Iâ€d end up back here,†Broadhead says. “The club is on a trajectory and the investment thatâ€s been put in is eye-catching.â€

Traditionally, Wrexhamâ€s more vicious rivalry has been with Chester, while Cardiff have focused attention on Swansea and Newport. But their meetings were not without friction and that was exacerbated in the 1980s when there was conflict over which club would host Wales internationals.

Oxford goalkeeper Jamie Cumming fails to keep out a snap shot from Nathan Broadhead (left) as Wrexham manage only their third league win of the season. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

The Racecourse Ground was known for offering an intimidating atmosphere, helping the national team to have a fine record there. Ninian Park, however, was bigger and could bring in greater revenue. That drew the Football Association of Wales to the Cardiff option but the results did not match those in Wrexham, leaving many of those outside the capital infuriated.

The two fanbases make up a lot of the hardcore Wales away following, coming together behind Wrexhamâ€s Broadhead and Kieffer Moore, and players at Cardiff including the Colwill brothers. Cardiff will take 1,200 supporters to Wrexham, filling out the away end. The fact that the ground is one stand short, while a new one is constructed behind one goal, will take away from the atmosphere somewhat, but those packed inside will be eager to make up for it.

If Wrexham are benefiting from their owners†investment, many Cardiff supporters would say their clubâ€s predicament is down to the ownership of Vincent Tan. They find themselves a tier below Wrexham for the first time since 2000-01. Since then they have spent two years in the Premier League.

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Part of Wrexhamâ€s global profile can be attributed to the Welcome to Wrexham documentary. Its popularity made Paul Mullin into an international star but Broadhead is not concerned about building a brand. “Iâ€ve never watched any of their movies,†he says. “I just came here for what I wanted. I didnâ€t think about that too much. I just wanted to do well, as soon as I came here. Thatâ€s it, really. It was the same when I went to Sunderland – I didnâ€t watch theirs. I wanted fresh eyes and fresh everything. I didnâ€t want any negative or any judgment.â€

Nathan Broadhead was a big signing for Wrexham in the summer, moving from Ipswich for an initial £7.5m that could rise to £10m. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Broadhead is almost 200,000 Instagram followers behind Mullin, who moved to Wigan on a season-long loan in June, but doing it on the pitch is all that matters. After a slow start back home, Broadhead scored the winner against Oxford on Wednesday, only the third time Wrexham have picked up maximum points in 12 league games this season. “Itâ€s not gone as well as I thought,†says Broadhead. “But the lads are trying their best and we need to put it right. A win can change a lot of things. Confidence is everything.â€

After a 21-year wait, two very different versions of Wrexham and Cardiff are ready to do battle again. “To be part of that as a Welsh lad is a nice feeling, and hopefully the north can be on top,†says Broadhead with a knowing smile.

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TORONTO – Three innings after taking a foul ball off his right knee in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, Blue Jays right fielder Nathan Lukes exited in the top of the fourth inning on Sunday night.

As part of his 12-pitch plate appearance in the bottom of the first inning against Mariners starter Bryce Miller, Lukes fouled off a fastball that hit directly on his right knee, causing him to fall down and receive a lengthy visit from Blue Jays athletic trainer Jose Ministral and manager John Schneider.

Lukes eventually stayed in the game, fouling off another fastball before taking the 12th pitch and drawing a walk. The Blue Jays werenâ€t able to capitalize further after George Springerâ€s leadoff home run, with Lukes only advancing to second base on Addison Bargerâ€s walk in the first inning.

Lukes fought to stay in after the inning, even taking his at-bat in the third, flying out to left field. But Lukes didnâ€t run out to the outfield for the top of the fourth, with Myles Straw taking over in right. After receiving an X-ray, Lukes was diagnosed with a right knee contusion and will be undergoing further evaluation, per Blue Jays PR.

“He’s about as tough as they come,†Schneider said on the FOX broadcast. “Obviously, wanted to stay in. … Right now, it looks more like a bruise. Hopefully that’s the case. But I think if anyone’s going to be ready to go tomorrow, if he’s physically allowed to, it’ll be Nate.”

Lukes, 31, has been an everyday player for the Blue Jays, especially late in the season and in this postseason run. They need him, too, after he hit .333 in the AL Division Series and posted a .730 OPS across 135 games this season.

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Texas Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi has undergone surgery for a sports hernia and should be ready for the start of the 2026 season, a source confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

Eovaldi, who went 11-3 with a career-best 1.73 ERA in 22 starts for the Rangers, had the procedure in Phoenix and is expected to be ready in four weeks, the source said. He was shut down in late August with a rotator cuff strain, but scans last week showed that injury was healing, according to a report.

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He fell short of the innings needed to qualify as the MLB leader, with Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes (1.97) leading the majors and Detroit’s Tarik Skubal (2.21) atop the American League. Pitchers need to average one inning per team game to qualify.

Eovaldi, 35, was one of baseball’s best pitchers all season, and part of the Rangers’ MLB-leading 3.47 ERA as a staff. He was left off the American League All-Star team after missing most of June with elbow inflammation, but Texas still gave him a $100,000 All-Star bonus that is in his contract.

This was Eovaldi’s third consecutive season with at least 11 wins since joining the Rangers. He signed a $75 million, three-year contract in December that runs through 2027.

Eovaldi has a 102-84 career record and 3.84 ERA over 14 big league seasons with six teams and has won World Series championships with Boston in 2018 and Texas in 2023. He made his MLB debut with the Dodgers (2011-12) and later pitched for the Marlins (2012-14), the Yankees (2015-16), Rays (2018) and Red Sox (2018-22).

Eovaldi’s surgery was first reported by alldlls.com.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Great Britain’s Nathan Maguire thanked his family for helping him achieve his dream after winning T54 1500m bronze at the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi.

Maguire overtook Switzerland’s Marcel Hug on the final bend and finished behind Chinese pair Jin Hua and Luo Xingchuan.

The 28-year-old added to the bronze he won in the T54 800m at the 2024 World Championships in Kobe.

“This is what I’ve dreamed of for my whole career,” Maguire told BBC Sport.

“It’s always special to be able to do this in front of your family.

“I’ve never been to a race without my parents with me and I know how much they put into me when I was growing up to get me to this point, so it’s a team effort.”

Maguire finished fourth in the T54 400m on Tuesday but has the opportunity to pick up another medal in the 800m event this weekend.

Britain’s Hannah Taunton missed out on a medal in the women’s T20 1500m final as she finished fourth in four minutes 42.95 seconds, seven seconds behind Australia’s Annabelle Colman who took bronze.

Brazil’s Antonia Keyla Da Silva Barros set a world record of 4:19.22 to take gold.

Sophie Hahn, a two-time Paralympic champion over 100m, finished eighth for Great Britain in the women’s T38 200m final in 27.11, with Colombia’s Karen Palomeque taking gold with a world record of 24.98.

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Tristan Stubbs is run out for 58 by Jofra Archer after the England seamer drops the ball but manages to…