World number one Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the WTA Canadian Open tournament in Montreal due to fatigue, Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday. The 27-year-old from Belarus, runner-up at the Australian and French Opens, comes off semi-final runs at Wimbledon and Berlin and titles at Madrid and Miami.&nbsp;"I'm looking forward to kicking off the North American hard-court swing, but to give myself the best chance for success this season, I've decided it's in my best interest to skip Montreal," Sabalenka said.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/golf-why-wyndham-clark-us-open-2023-winner-banned-by-oakmont-club-1752685999423">Wyndham Clark, US Open 2023 winner, banned by Oakmont club for locker damages</a>&nbsp;Missing the July 27-August 7 event leaves the reigning US Open champion only one major tuneup, at Cincinnati in August, before she tries to defend her crown on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts.&nbsp;"I'll miss my amazing Canadian fans, but I'm already looking forward to seeing you all next year," Sabalenka said. "Thanks for your understanding and support -- it means the world to me."&nbsp;Sabalenka was upset in the Wimbledon semi-finals by American Amanda Anisimova.&nbsp;"We're obviously disappointed that Aryna won't be with us this year," tournament director Valerie Tetreault said.&nbsp;World number 10 Paula Badosa of Spain withdrew from the event due to injury. The two departures opened spots in the main draw for American Caty McNally and Japan's Moyuka Uchijima.&nbsp;Canada's Eugenie Bouchard announced on Wednesday that she will retire from professional tennis after the WTA event in Montreal, her hometown.&nbsp;Bouchard, 31, rose as high as fifth in the world rankings and enjoyed her best career season in 2014 when she reached her only Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon.&nbsp;She also made semi-final runs that year at the Australian and French Opens and reached the fourth round at the US Open, her best career showings in each of the Grand Slam tournaments.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Missing the July 27-August 7 event leaves the reigning US Open champion only one major tuneup, at Cincinnati in August, before she tries to defend her crown on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the WTA Canadian Open tournament in Montreal due to fatigue, Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday. The 27-year-old from Belarus, runner-up at the Australian and French Opens, comes off semi-final runs at Wimbledon and Berlin and titles at Madrid and Miami. "I'm looking forward to kicking off the North American hard-court swing, but to give myself the best chance for success this season, I've decided it's in my best interest to skip Montreal," Sabalenka said. Also read | Wyndham Clark, US Open 2023 winner, banned by Oakmont club for locker damages Missing the July 27-August 7 event leaves the reigning US Open champion only one major tuneup, at Cincinnati in August, before she tries to defend her crown on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts. "I'll miss my amazing Canadian fans, but I'm already looking forward to seeing you all next year," Sabalenka said. "Thanks for your understanding and support -- it means the world to me." Sabalenka was upset in the Wimbledon semi-finals by American Amanda Anisimova. "We're obviously disappointed that Aryna won't be with us this year," tournament director Valerie Tetreault said. World number 10 Paula Badosa of Spain withdrew from the event due to injury. The two departures opened spots in the main draw for American Caty McNally and Japan's Moyuka Uchijima. Canada's Eugenie Bouchard announced on Wednesday that she will retire from professional tennis after the WTA event in Montreal, her hometown. Bouchard, 31, rose as high as fifth in the world rankings and enjoyed her best career season in 2014 when she reached her only Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon. She also made semi-final runs that year at the Australian and French Opens and reached the fourth round at the US Open, her best career showings in each of the Grand Slam tournaments. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Missing the July 27-August 7 event leaves the reigning US Open champion only one major tuneup, at Cincinnati in August, before she tries to defend her crown on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts.

Tennis: World no.1 Aryna Sabalenka withdraws from WTA Montreal event

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to miss up to 12 weeks recovering from a shoulder operation after the Spanish giants said Wednesday he had successfully undergone surgery. "Our player Jude Bellingham has undergone successful surgery for a recurrent left shoulder dislocation," said Real Madrid in a statement. "Bellingham will now begin a period of rehabilitation prior to his return to recovery work." While Madrid did not specify the expected length of his recovery time, Spanish media have reported it will take around 12 weeks for him to return to action.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/golf-why-wyndham-clark-us-open-2023-winner-banned-by-oakmont-club-1752685999423">Wyndham Clark, US Open 2023 winner, banned by Oakmont club for locker damages</a>Bellingham has been struggling with shoulder discomfort after dislocating it in a La Liga match in November 2023, and playing with a brace under his shirt since then.The England midfielder held off on the operation until after Madrid's participation in the Club World Cup this summer, with Xabi Alonso's side reaching the semi-finals.Bellingham is set to miss the La Liga visit to face rivals Atletico Madrid in late September, as well as the club's first two Champions League matches.The 22-year-old midfielder should be back in action by the time Madrid host Barcelona in the first Clasico of the season in late October."I've got the point where... I'm fed up with the brace, and having to tug on it and having (other) players tug on it, and it rearranging all the time," said Bellingham during the Club World Cup.The midfielder will also miss World Cup qualifiers with England against Andorra and Serbia on September 6 and 9 respectively.Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The England midfielder held off on the operation until after Madrid's participation in the Club World Cup this summer, with Xabi Alonso's side reaching the semi-finals.

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to miss up to 12 weeks recovering from a shoulder operation after the Spanish giants said Wednesday he had successfully undergone surgery. "Our player Jude Bellingham has undergone successful surgery for a recurrent left shoulder dislocation," said Real Madrid in a statement. "Bellingham will now begin a period of rehabilitation prior to his return to recovery work." While Madrid did not specify the expected length of his recovery time, Spanish media have reported it will take around 12 weeks for him to return to action. Also Read - Wyndham Clark, US Open 2023 winner, banned by Oakmont club for locker damages Bellingham has been struggling with shoulder discomfort after dislocating it in a La Liga match in November 2023, and playing with a brace under his shirt since then. The England midfielder held off on the operation until after Madrid's participation in the Club World Cup this summer, with Xabi Alonso's side reaching the semi-finals. Bellingham is set to miss the La Liga visit to face rivals Atletico Madrid in late September, as well as the club's first two Champions League matches. The 22-year-old midfielder should be back in action by the time Madrid host Barcelona in the first Clasico of the season in late October. "I've got the point where... I'm fed up with the brace, and having to tug on it and having (other) players tug on it, and it rearranging all the time," said Bellingham during the Club World Cup. The midfielder will also miss World Cup qualifiers with England against Andorra and Serbia on September 6 and 9 respectively. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The England midfielder held off on the operation until after Madrid's participation in the Club World Cup this summer, with Xabi Alonso's side reaching the semi-finals.

England and Real Madrid mid-fielder Jude Bellingham out for 12 weeks after surgery

A crush at an aid centre in southern Gaza killed at least 20 people on Wednesday, with the site's operator blaming "agitators" within the crowd and the Palestinian territory's civil defence agency attributing the panic to Israeli gunfire.It was the first time that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the United States and Israel, acknowledged deaths at one of its distribution sites after weeks of chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of Palestinians being killed nearby while waiting to collect rations.AFP footage showed lifeless bodies taken to a nearby hospital, in the city of Khan Yunis, with some placed on the floor and others on already-bloodied beds.Abdullah Alian, a witness, said that mayhem unfolded as the crowd of aid-seekers was hit with stun grenades and pepper spray."When they saw people starting to die on the ground and people on top of each other suffocating, they opened the gate and people started climbing on top of each other."It was not clear whether he was referring to US contractors securing GHF sites, Israeli forces or another party. Paramedic Ziad Farhat said that after more than 21 months of devastating war, "there are not enough hospitals for the injured or the martyrs". "Enough of the tragedies that we are living."The latest deaths came as indirect negotiations between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas were ongoing, aiming to seal a deal for a 60-day ceasefire, the release of hostages held in Gaza and the unfettered flow of much-needed aid into the territory.Hamas has accused Israel of wanting to retain long-term military control of Gaza a key sticking point in the talks, which are now in their second week in Qatar.<h2>'Stampede'</h2>The GHF said it understood that 19 of those killed on Wednesday "were trampled and one was stabbed amid a chaotic and dangerous surge".The organisation said the crush was "driven by agitators", adding: "We have credible reason to believe that elements within the crowd -- armed and affiliated with Hamas -- deliberately fomented the unrest".Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 20 people were killed in the incident, blaming it on fire from Israeli troops.Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that thousands had gathered at the site when "Israeli forces opened fire and used (tear) gas, causing panic and a stampede after aid centre guards closed the main gates in front of the hungry crowd".The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment.The GHF, an officially private effort, began operations on May 26 as Israel eased a two-month aid blockade that had sparked warnings of famine.On Tuesday, the UN said it had recorded 875 people killed in Gaza while trying to get food since late May, including 674 "in the vicinity of GHF sites".Last week, UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters that "most of the injuries are gunshot injuries".The GHF -- accused by aid organisations of catering to Israeli military needs -- has denied that fatal shootings have occurred in the immediate vicinity of its aid points, and the Israeli army has accused Hamas of firing at civilians, though witnesses have blamed the military.<h2>'No progress'</h2>In the truce negotiations, Hamas is seeking a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and last week rejected an Israeli proposal that it said would have kept troops in more than 40 percent of the territory.Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Wednesday that work was ongoing to revise Israeli pullback maps, citing an unnamed foreign official.Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas's political leadership, told AFP that Israel "has not yet delivered any new or revised maps regarding military withdrawals"."What is happening on the ground confirms (Israel's) intentions and plans to maintain and prolong military control within the Gaza Strip for the long term," he said.Speaking in Gaza on Wednesday, Israel's army chief Eyal Zamir said that "in the coming days, we will know whether or not we have an agreement", according to a military statement.A Palestinian source close to the negotiations earlier told AFP there had been "no progress so far".If a deal is not reached, Israel will "intensify and expand combat operations as much as possible, beyond what we are currently doing", Zamir said.The war was sparked by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed 58,573 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

It was the first time that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the United States and Israel, acknowledged deaths at one of its distribution sites after weeks of chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of Palestinians being killed nearby while waiting to collect rations.

A crush at an aid centre in southern Gaza killed at least 20 people on Wednesday, with the site's operator blaming "agitators" within the crowd and the Palestinian territory's civil defence agency attributing the panic to Israeli gunfire. It was the first time that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the United States and Israel, acknowledged deaths at one of its distribution sites after weeks of chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of Palestinians being killed nearby while waiting to collect rations. AFP footage showed lifeless bodies taken to a nearby hospital, in the city of Khan Yunis, with some placed on the floor and others on already-bloodied beds. Abdullah Alian, a witness, said that mayhem unfolded as the crowd of aid-seekers was hit with stun grenades and pepper spray. "When they saw people starting to die on the ground and people on top of each other suffocating, they opened the gate and people started climbing on top of each other." It was not clear whether he was referring to US contractors securing GHF sites, Israeli forces or another party. Paramedic Ziad Farhat said that after more than 21 months of devastating war, "there are not enough hospitals for the injured or the martyrs". "Enough of the tragedies that we are living." The latest deaths came as indirect negotiations between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas were ongoing, aiming to seal a deal for a 60-day ceasefire, the release of hostages held in Gaza and the unfettered flow of much-needed aid into the territory. Hamas has accused Israel of wanting to retain long-term military control of Gaza a key sticking point in the talks, which are now in their second week in Qatar. 'Stampede' The GHF said it understood that 19 of those killed on Wednesday "were trampled and one was stabbed amid a chaotic and dangerous surge". The organisation said the crush was "driven by agitators", adding: "We have credible reason to believe that elements within the crowd -- armed and affiliated with Hamas -- deliberately fomented the unrest". Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 20 people were killed in the incident, blaming it on fire from Israeli troops. Agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that thousands had gathered at the site when "Israeli forces opened fire and used (tear) gas, causing panic and a stampede after aid centre guards closed the main gates in front of the hungry crowd". The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. The GHF, an officially private effort, began operations on May 26 as Israel eased a two-month aid blockade that had sparked warnings of famine. On Tuesday, the UN said it had recorded 875 people killed in Gaza while trying to get food since late May, including 674 "in the vicinity of GHF sites". Last week, UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters that "most of the injuries are gunshot injuries". The GHF -- accused by aid organisations of catering to Israeli military needs -- has denied that fatal shootings have occurred in the immediate vicinity of its aid points, and the Israeli army has accused Hamas of firing at civilians, though witnesses have blamed the military. 'No progress' In the truce negotiations, Hamas is seeking a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and last week rejected an Israeli proposal that it said would have kept troops in more than 40 percent of the territory. Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Wednesday that work was ongoing to revise Israeli pullback maps, citing an unnamed foreign official. Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas's political leadership, told AFP that Israel "has not yet delivered any new or revised maps regarding military withdrawals". "What is happening on the ground confirms (Israel's) intentions and plans to maintain and prolong military control within the Gaza Strip for the long term," he said. Speaking in Gaza on Wednesday, Israel's army chief Eyal Zamir said that "in the coming days, we will know whether or not we have an agreement", according to a military statement. A Palestinian source close to the negotiations earlier told AFP there had been "no progress so far". If a deal is not reached, Israel will "intensify and expand combat operations as much as possible, beyond what we are currently doing", Zamir said. The war was sparked by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza has killed 58,573 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

It was the first time that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the United States and Israel, acknowledged deaths at one of its distribution sites after weeks of chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of Palestinians being killed nearby while waiting to collect rations.

20 Palestinians killed in a stampede near aid distribution site says Gaza Humanitarian Fund

Spanish football club Atletico Madrid announced Tuesday an agreement with Brazilian outfit Botafogo to sign 2022 World Cup winner Thiago Almada.&nbsp;"Our club and the Brazilian side have reached an agreement, pending confirmation once the player passes the required medical examination and signs the contract," the La Liga outfit posted on social media.&nbsp;The 24-year-old Argentinian spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon, where he scored two goals and laid on five assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for the French club.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-india-coach-under-whom-team-attained-number-1-test-ranking-questions-jadejas-intent-after-lords-loss-1752598282616">Ex-India coach, under whom team attained number 1 Test ranking, questions Jadeja's intent after Lord's Loss</a>&nbsp;Almada has 10 caps for his country, and was part of their World Cup-winning squad in Qatar. He also represented Argentina in the 2024 Paris Olympics.&nbsp;The right-footed attacking midfielder came through the ranks at local side Velez Sarsfield, where he made his professional debut in 2018 at the age of 17.&nbsp;He joined MLS side Atlanta in 2022, being voted best rookie in the league after his first season.&nbsp;Almada's form earned him a move to Botafogo last summer.He made 26 appearances for the Rio de Janeiro-based club, winning the Brazilian league and Copa Libertadores, before heading off on loan to Lyon in January.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Thiago Almada spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon, where he scored two goals and laid on five assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for the French club.

Spanish football club Atletico Madrid announced Tuesday an agreement with Brazilian outfit Botafogo to sign 2022 World Cup winner Thiago Almada. "Our club and the Brazilian side have reached an agreement, pending confirmation once the player passes the required medical examination and signs the contract," the La Liga outfit posted on social media. The 24-year-old Argentinian spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon, where he scored two goals and laid on five assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for the French club. ALSO READ | Ex-India coach, under whom team attained number 1 Test ranking, questions Jadeja's intent after Lord's Loss Almada has 10 caps for his country, and was part of their World Cup-winning squad in Qatar. He also represented Argentina in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The right-footed attacking midfielder came through the ranks at local side Velez Sarsfield, where he made his professional debut in 2018 at the age of 17. He joined MLS side Atlanta in 2022, being voted best rookie in the league after his first season. Almada's form earned him a move to Botafogo last summer. He made 26 appearances for the Rio de Janeiro-based club, winning the Brazilian league and Copa Libertadores, before heading off on loan to Lyon in January. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Thiago Almada spent the second half of last season on loan at Lyon, where he scored two goals and laid on five assists in 20 appearances in all competitions for the French club.

Atletico Madrid agree deal for Argentina international Thiago Almada

A raucous reception will greet Rory McIlroy as the British Open returns to Royal Portrush and Northern Ireland on Thursday for the first time since Shane Lowry's 2019 triumph.McIlroy will be heralded by an expected crowd of 200,000 across the four days after ending his 11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.&nbsp;But a long list of contenders, including world number one Scottie Scheffler and reigning champion Xander Schauffele, stand between the hometown hero and a second Claret Jug.&nbsp;"When I was looking at the calendar for 2025, this was the tournament that was probably circled even more so than the Masters for different reasons," he told reporters after a practice round on Monday.&nbsp;"It's lovely to be coming in here already with a major and everything else that's happened this year. I'm excited with where my game is."&nbsp;McIlroy will be desperate to at least put on a better show than in 2019 when he opened his tournament with a ruinous quadruple bogey on his way to a first-round 79, missing the cut despite a second-round charge.&nbsp;"The golf on Thursday feels like a bit of a blur. I try to forget that part of it," said the 36-year-old, who famously shot a 61 at Portrush 20 years ago.&nbsp;"But I remember the run on Friday. I remember I was making a charge and making a run to try to make the cut, and I hit a 6-iron into the 14th, second shot, and I remember the roar from the crowd...&nbsp;"It was really special."&nbsp;McIlroy will play the first two rounds alongside world number four Justin Thomas and England's Tommy Fleetwood, teeing off at 3:10 pm local time (1410 GMT) on Thursday.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ex-india-coach-under-whom-team-attained-number-1-test-ranking-questions-jadejas-intent-after-lords-loss-1752598282616">Ex-India coach, under whom team attained number 1 Test ranking, questions Jadeja's intent after Lord's Loss</a><h2>Schauffele searching for best</h2>Schauffele was undoubtedly one of the two most in-form players in the world alongside Scheffler when he romped to his second major title of 2024 at Troon 12 months ago.The American has not posted a top-five finish this year, though, and has admitted he is struggling for rhythm.&nbsp;A tied-eighth effort at the Scottish Open in North Berwick last weekend provided a glimmer of hope that being back on links courses could help him rediscover his form."I think I had a better understanding of what I was doing, which was helpful when I was hitting bad shots," he said of his efforts in Scotland.&nbsp;The last 11 Opens have produced first-time champions, with the last previous winner to lift the trophy Ernie Els in 2012.&nbsp;Scheffler is one of the players hoping that trend continues.&nbsp;The 29-year-old is the title favourite after bouncing back from an uncharacteristically slow start to the season.&nbsp;The three-time major champion has finished in the top 10 on each of his past 10 starts, winning three times including the PGA Championship.&nbsp;"I could not care any less about being the favourite or not being the favourite," said Scheffler. "We all start even par and the tournament starts on Thursday. That's pretty much all that matters."&nbsp;Lowry sparked jubilant scenes with his sensational six-shot triumph six years ago when the island of Ireland hosted the competition for the first time in 68 years.&nbsp;The Irishman is still waiting for a second major title despite a series of near misses since."I am a better golfer than I was in 2019," he said.&nbsp;"But it doesn't mean I'm going to go out and win by seven this year instead of six."It's just golf; that's the way it is. I think, as a golfer, you always have to look at it as the glass is always half full. You can't look at it any other way."&nbsp;The 7,381-yard, par 71 lay-out will provide a tough test, with rainy and breezy conditions forecast for all four days.&nbsp;Two-time champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland will hit the opening tee shot at 6:35 am local time, playing with Northern Irish youngster Tom McKibbin and Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Rory McIlroy will be heralded by an expected crowd of 200,000 across the four days after ending his 11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.

A raucous reception will greet Rory McIlroy as the British Open returns to Royal Portrush and Northern Ireland on Thursday for the first time since Shane Lowry's 2019 triumph. McIlroy will be heralded by an expected crowd of 200,000 across the four days after ending his 11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April. But a long list of contenders, including world number one Scottie Scheffler and reigning champion Xander Schauffele, stand between the hometown hero and a second Claret Jug. "When I was looking at the calendar for 2025, this was the tournament that was probably circled even more so than the Masters for different reasons," he told reporters after a practice round on Monday. "It's lovely to be coming in here already with a major and everything else that's happened this year. I'm excited with where my game is." McIlroy will be desperate to at least put on a better show than in 2019 when he opened his tournament with a ruinous quadruple bogey on his way to a first-round 79, missing the cut despite a second-round charge. "The golf on Thursday feels like a bit of a blur. I try to forget that part of it," said the 36-year-old, who famously shot a 61 at Portrush 20 years ago. "But I remember the run on Friday. I remember I was making a charge and making a run to try to make the cut, and I hit a 6-iron into the 14th, second shot, and I remember the roar from the crowd... "It was really special." McIlroy will play the first two rounds alongside world number four Justin Thomas and England's Tommy Fleetwood, teeing off at 3:10 pm local time (1410 GMT) on Thursday. ALSO READ | Ex-India coach, under whom team attained number 1 Test ranking, questions Jadeja's intent after Lord's Loss Schauffele searching for best Schauffele was undoubtedly one of the two most in-form players in the world alongside Scheffler when he romped to his second major title of 2024 at Troon 12 months ago. The American has not posted a top-five finish this year, though, and has admitted he is struggling for rhythm. A tied-eighth effort at the Scottish Open in North Berwick last weekend provided a glimmer of hope that being back on links courses could help him rediscover his form. "I think I had a better understanding of what I was doing, which was helpful when I was hitting bad shots," he said of his efforts in Scotland. The last 11 Opens have produced first-time champions, with the last previous winner to lift the trophy Ernie Els in 2012. Scheffler is one of the players hoping that trend continues. The 29-year-old is the title favourite after bouncing back from an uncharacteristically slow start to the season. The three-time major champion has finished in the top 10 on each of his past 10 starts, winning three times including the PGA Championship. "I could not care any less about being the favourite or not being the favourite," said Scheffler. "We all start even par and the tournament starts on Thursday. That's pretty much all that matters." Lowry sparked jubilant scenes with his sensational six-shot triumph six years ago when the island of Ireland hosted the competition for the first time in 68 years. The Irishman is still waiting for a second major title despite a series of near misses since. "I am a better golfer than I was in 2019," he said. "But it doesn't mean I'm going to go out and win by seven this year instead of six. "It's just golf; that's the way it is. I think, as a golfer, you always have to look at it as the glass is always half full. You can't look at it any other way." The 7,381-yard, par 71 lay-out will provide a tough test, with rainy and breezy conditions forecast for all four days. Two-time champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland will hit the opening tee shot at 6:35 am local time, playing with Northern Irish youngster Tom McKibbin and Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Rory McIlroy will be heralded by an expected crowd of 200,000 across the four days after ending his 11-year wait to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April.

British Open Preview: Rory McIlroy returns to Portrush as Xander Schauffele defends crown

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, roughly halving the contentious deployment in the city, the Pentagon said Tuesday.President Donald Trump ordered thousands of National Guard and hundreds of Marines into Los Angeles last month in response to protests over federal immigration sweeps -- a move opposed by city leaders and California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom."Thousands of members are still federalised in Los Angeles for no reason and unable to carry out their critical duties across the state," Newsom wrote on X, referring to the Guard's support of firefighting missions across the state. "End this theater and send everyone home," Newsom said.Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell on Tuesday confirmed the release "of 2,000 California National Guardsmen (79th IBCT) from the federal protection mission," adding "the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding."Mayor Karen Bass credited peaceful protests and legal action for the withdrawal, which she termed a "retreat.""This happened because the people of Los Angeles stood united and stood strong. We organized peaceful protests, we came together at rallies, we took the Trump administration to court -- all of this led to today's retreat," the Democratic mayor said.As a so-called "sanctuary city" with hundreds of thousands of undocumented people, Los Angeles has been in the crosshairs of the Trump administration since the Republican returned to office in January.After immigration enforcement raids spurred unrest and protests last month, Trump -- who has repeatedly exaggerated the scale of the unrest -- dispatched the National Guard and US Marines to quell the disruption.It was the first time since 1965 that a US president deployed the National Guard against the wishes of a state governor.Newsom has said the troops were not necessary to address the mostly peaceful protests.In late June, his office reported California National Guard firefighting crews were "operating at just 40% capacity due to Trump's illegal Guard deployment" as fires were "popping up across the state."California is fighting the Trump administration in court over the deployment, arguing that the president overstepped his authority, though the troops have been allowed to remain for now.Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell on Tuesday confirmed the release "of 2,000 California National Guardsmen (79th IBCT) from the federal protection mission," adding "the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding."

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles, roughly halving the contentious deployment in the city, the Pentagon said Tuesday. President Donald Trump ordered thousands of National Guard and hundreds of Marines into Los Angeles last month in response to protests over federal immigration sweeps -- a move opposed by city leaders and California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. "Thousands of members are still federalised in Los Angeles for no reason and unable to carry out their critical duties across the state," Newsom wrote on X, referring to the Guard's support of firefighting missions across the state. "End this theater and send everyone home," Newsom said. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell on Tuesday confirmed the release "of 2,000 California National Guardsmen (79th IBCT) from the federal protection mission," adding "the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding." Mayor Karen Bass credited peaceful protests and legal action for the withdrawal, which she termed a "retreat." "This happened because the people of Los Angeles stood united and stood strong. We organized peaceful protests, we came together at rallies, we took the Trump administration to court -- all of this led to today's retreat," the Democratic mayor said. As a so-called "sanctuary city" with hundreds of thousands of undocumented people, Los Angeles has been in the crosshairs of the Trump administration since the Republican returned to office in January. After immigration enforcement raids spurred unrest and protests last month, Trump -- who has repeatedly exaggerated the scale of the unrest -- dispatched the National Guard and US Marines to quell the disruption. It was the first time since 1965 that a US president deployed the National Guard against the wishes of a state governor. Newsom has said the troops were not necessary to address the mostly peaceful protests. In late June, his office reported California National Guard firefighting crews were "operating at just 40% capacity due to Trump's illegal Guard deployment" as fires were "popping up across the state." California is fighting the Trump administration in court over the deployment, arguing that the president overstepped his authority, though the troops have been allowed to remain for now. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell on Tuesday confirmed the release "of 2,000 California National Guardsmen (79th IBCT) from the federal protection mission," adding "the lawlessness in Los Angeles is subsiding."

Pentagon orders withdrawal of 2,000 National Guard troops from Los Angeles. Here's why

Scottie Scheffler said on Tuesday he does "not care" about being the tournament favourite as he prepares for his latest tilt at a maiden British Open title this week at Royal Portrush. The world number one has never seriously threatened to win a Claret Jug, but is again enjoying a run of supreme form and arrives in Northern Ireland as the PGA champion. The American has emphatically rebounded from a slow start to the year after suffering a freak hand injury cutting himself on a wine glass, reeling off 10 successive top-10 finishes including three victories.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-was-ex-nfl-qb-teddy-bridgewater-suspended-as-miami-northwestern-coach-1752575366099">Ex-NFL QB Teddy Bridgewater announces suspension from high school coach job</a>"I could not care any less about being the favourite or not being the favourite," he said."We all start even par and the tournament starts on Thursday. That's pretty much all that matters."Scheffler produced his best British Open finish last year with a tie for seventh, but ended his tournament at Troon in ignominious style with an embarrassing topped tee shot on the 18th en route to a closing double-bogey.He has never missed the cut at the links major before, though, and believes he has what it takes to lift the Claret Jug."In terms of links golf, I love the style of golf. I think it's really fun and you have to be creative," Scheffler added."You have to hit a lot of really good shots. There's a challenge to it, but I think it's a lot of fun."We'll see how the weather turns out this week. Weather has a pretty dramatic effect on how the golf course is going to play."Scheffler won nine titles last season, including the Masters and the Olympic gold medal.His third major title at the PGA Championship in May is one of his three victories so far this year, but he says he doesn't set himself specific targets."I don't look at wins and losses or stuff like that."I don't sit down at the beginning of the year and say I want to win X number of times; I want to win this many majors; I want to win this many tournament events. That's not something I do."That's not something that works for me."Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

His third major title at the PGA Championship in May is one of his three victories so far this year, but he says he doesn't set himself specific targets.

Scottie Scheffler said on Tuesday he does "not care" about being the tournament favourite as he prepares for his latest tilt at a maiden British Open title this week at Royal Portrush. The world number one has never seriously threatened to win a Claret Jug, but is again enjoying a run of supreme form and arrives in Northern Ireland as the PGA champion. The American has emphatically rebounded from a slow start to the year after suffering a freak hand injury cutting himself on a wine glass, reeling off 10 successive top-10 finishes including three victories. Also Read - Ex-NFL QB Teddy Bridgewater announces suspension from high school coach job "I could not care any less about being the favourite or not being the favourite," he said. "We all start even par and the tournament starts on Thursday. That's pretty much all that matters." Scheffler produced his best British Open finish last year with a tie for seventh, but ended his tournament at Troon in ignominious style with an embarrassing topped tee shot on the 18th en route to a closing double-bogey. He has never missed the cut at the links major before, though, and believes he has what it takes to lift the Claret Jug. "In terms of links golf, I love the style of golf. I think it's really fun and you have to be creative," Scheffler added. "You have to hit a lot of really good shots. There's a challenge to it, but I think it's a lot of fun. "We'll see how the weather turns out this week. Weather has a pretty dramatic effect on how the golf course is going to play." Scheffler won nine titles last season, including the Masters and the Olympic gold medal. His third major title at the PGA Championship in May is one of his three victories so far this year, but he says he doesn't set himself specific targets. "I don't look at wins and losses or stuff like that. "I don't sit down at the beginning of the year and say I want to win X number of times; I want to win this many majors; I want to win this many tournament events. That's not something I do. "That's not something that works for me." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

His third major title at the PGA Championship in May is one of his three victories so far this year, but he says he doesn't set himself specific targets.

Scottie Scheffler 'could not care any less' about being British Open favourite

Manchester City have signed a blockbuster new kit deal with Puma worth a reported £1 billion ($1.34 billion) over the next 10 years. City's extension of their contract with Puma ranks as the largest kit manufacturing partnership in Premier League history. Having agreed a £65 million per year deal with the German company in 2019, City's new arrangement is believed to be worth a £100 million per year until 2035, according to British media reports.&nbsp;That figure shatters the £90 million per year deal signed by Manchester United with Adidas in 2023.Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are both reported to have kit deals worth in excess of £100 million per year. "We joined forces with Puma with the ambition to challenge ourselves and go beyond the expectations. We have achieved this and more over the last six seasons," City Football Group chief executive Ferran Soriano said.&nbsp;“Puma have seamlessly integrated into our organisation, and we have enjoyed many historic moments together, engaging fans globally.” Puma chief executive Arthur Hoeld added: "Puma's partnership with Manchester City has been a great success both on and off the pitch. "Trophies, a perfect stage for our performance products and commercial success were exceptional."&nbsp;City's massive deal comes after the club's first season without major silverware since 2016-17.Pep Guardiola's men finished third in the Premier League after winning the title for the previous four seasons. They also suffered a shock FA Cup final defeat against Crystal Palace and crashed out of the recent Club World Cup in the last 16 against Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Manchester City sign kit deal worth reported $134million

Manchester City have signed a blockbuster new kit deal with Puma worth a reported £1 billion ($1.34 billion) over the next 10 years. City's extension of their contract with Puma ranks as the largest kit manufacturing partnership in Premier League history. Having agreed a £65 million per year deal with the German company in 2019, City's new arrangement is believed to be worth a £100 million per year until 2035, according to British media reports. That figure shatters the £90 million per year deal signed by Manchester United with Adidas in 2023. Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are both reported to have kit deals worth in excess of £100 million per year. "We joined forces with Puma with the ambition to challenge ourselves and go beyond the expectations. We have achieved this and more over the last six seasons," City Football Group chief executive Ferran Soriano said. “Puma have seamlessly integrated into our organisation, and we have enjoyed many historic moments together, engaging fans globally.” Puma chief executive Arthur Hoeld added: "Puma's partnership with Manchester City has been a great success both on and off the pitch. "Trophies, a perfect stage for our performance products and commercial success were exceptional." City's massive deal comes after the club's first season without major silverware since 2016-17. Pep Guardiola's men finished third in the Premier League after winning the title for the previous four seasons. They also suffered a shock FA Cup final defeat against Crystal Palace and crashed out of the recent Club World Cup in the last 16 against Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Manchester City's whopping deal comes after the club's first season without major silverware since the 2016-17 season. Pep Guardiola's team finished third in the English Premier League after winning the title for the previous four seasons

Computer drives containing unreleased music by US superstar Beyonce Knowles and plans related to her concerts were stolen last week in Atlanta, police said Monday, with a suspect still at large.&nbsp;The items were stolen from a rental car used by Knowles's choreographer and a dancer on July 8, two days before the pop icon kicked off the Atlanta leg of her "Cowboy Carter" Tour, a police incident report said.&nbsp;Choreographer Christopher Grant, 37, told police that he returned to the car to find its rear window smashed and their luggage stolen.&nbsp;Inside were multiple jump drives that "contained watermarked music, some un-released music, footage plans for the show, and past and future set list (sic)," the report said.&nbsp;Also missing were an Apple MacBook, headphones and several items of luxury clothing.&nbsp;Police investigated an area where the MacBook and headphones had pinged their location, but the report did not mention any items being recovered.&nbsp;Atlanta Police said in an online statement that a warrant had been issued for an unnamed suspect's arrest, but that the suspect remained at large.&nbsp;Knowles ends her four-night stint in Atlanta on Monday and then wraps up the "Cowboy Carter" tour in late July in Las Vegas.&nbsp;The tour kicked off in April after the global superstar took home her first "Album of the Year" Grammy for the country-themed album.

The items were stolen from a rental car used by Knowles's choreographer and a dancer on July 8, two days before the pop icon kicked off the Atlanta leg of her "Cowboy Carter" Tour. Stolen computer drives contained unreleased music by Beyonce Knowles. 

Computer drives containing unreleased music by US superstar Beyonce Knowles and plans related to her concerts were stolen last week in Atlanta, police said Monday, with a suspect still at large. The items were stolen from a rental car used by Knowles's choreographer and a dancer on July 8, two days before the pop icon kicked off the Atlanta leg of her "Cowboy Carter" Tour, a police incident report said. Choreographer Christopher Grant, 37, told police that he returned to the car to find its rear window smashed and their luggage stolen. Inside were multiple jump drives that "contained watermarked music, some un-released music, footage plans for the show, and past and future set list (sic)," the report said. Also missing were an Apple MacBook, headphones and several items of luxury clothing. Police investigated an area where the MacBook and headphones had pinged their location, but the report did not mention any items being recovered. Atlanta Police said in an online statement that a warrant had been issued for an unnamed suspect's arrest, but that the suspect remained at large. Knowles ends her four-night stint in Atlanta on Monday and then wraps up the "Cowboy Carter" tour in late July in Las Vegas. The tour kicked off in April after the global superstar took home her first "Album of the Year" Grammy for the country-themed album.

The items were stolen from a rental car used by Knowles's choreographer and a dancer on July 8, two days before the pop icon kicked off the Atlanta leg of her "Cowboy Carter" Tour. Stolen computer drives contained unreleased music by Beyonce Knowles.&nbsp;

Unreleased Beyonce music stolen from car in Atlanta

The X account of Sesame Street's Elmo, a beloved children's TV character, shared antisemitic and anti-Donald Trump posts after being hacked on Sunday.&nbsp;A slew of messages calling for the extermination of Jewish people and labeling the US president a "puppet" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were shared on the account.&nbsp;Around 650,000 users follow Elmo, the fuzzy red monster who teaches his young audience about kindness and patience.&nbsp;An archived version of the X account showed several messages were published on Sunday afternoon. They were later removed, although a link to a Telegram page apparently associated with the hack remained in the account's bio section.&nbsp;Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, said that an unidentified hacker was behind the posts.&nbsp;"Elmo's X account was briefly compromised yesterday by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts," a spokesperson told AFP in a statement.&nbsp;"The account has since been secured," they added.&nbsp;The hacking on Elon Musk's X platform is the latest in a string of hate speech incidents since the billionaire bought then-Twitter in 2022 and axed moderation policies that he considers censorship.&nbsp;On Saturday, his xAI startup apologized for antisemitic posts published on X by its artificial intelligence assistant Grok, which praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.&nbsp;&nbsp;Antisemitism is facing particular scrutiny in the United States after two Israeli embassy staffers were killed outside a Jewish museum in Washington in May.&nbsp;&nbsp;A firebombing attack at a protest in Colorado supporting Israeli hostages held in Gaza left over a dozen people wounded in June, and an 82-year-old woman later died from her injuries.&nbsp;Anger over Israel's conduct of its war in Gaza resulted in widespread protests on US university campuses, with the government cracking down on the demonstrations after accusing them of antisemitism.

Around 650,000 users follow Elmo, the fuzzy red monster who teaches his young audience about kindness and patience. On Sunday, the X account of the beloved character shared antisemitic and anti-Donald Trump posts after being hacked. 

The X account of Sesame Street's Elmo, a beloved children's TV character, shared antisemitic and anti-Donald Trump posts after being hacked on Sunday. A slew of messages calling for the extermination of Jewish people and labeling the US president a "puppet" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were shared on the account. Around 650,000 users follow Elmo, the fuzzy red monster who teaches his young audience about kindness and patience. An archived version of the X account showed several messages were published on Sunday afternoon. They were later removed, although a link to a Telegram page apparently associated with the hack remained in the account's bio section. Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind Sesame Street, said that an unidentified hacker was behind the posts. "Elmo's X account was briefly compromised yesterday by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts," a spokesperson told AFP in a statement. "The account has since been secured," they added. The hacking on Elon Musk's X platform is the latest in a string of hate speech incidents since the billionaire bought then-Twitter in 2022 and axed moderation policies that he considers censorship. On Saturday, his xAI startup apologized for antisemitic posts published on X by its artificial intelligence assistant Grok, which praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Antisemitism is facing particular scrutiny in the United States after two Israeli embassy staffers were killed outside a Jewish museum in Washington in May. A firebombing attack at a protest in Colorado supporting Israeli hostages held in Gaza left over a dozen people wounded in June, and an 82-year-old woman later died from her injuries. Anger over Israel's conduct of its war in Gaza resulted in widespread protests on US university campuses, with the government cracking down on the demonstrations after accusing them of antisemitism.

Around 650,000 users follow Elmo, the fuzzy red monster who teaches his young audience about kindness and patience. On Sunday, the X account of the beloved character shared antisemitic and anti-Donald Trump posts after being hacked.&nbsp;

Sesame Street puppet Elmo's X account gets hacked, shares antisemitic and racist messages

Shoaib Bashir was ruled out of the remainder of England's series against India less than an hour after taking the match-clinching wicket in the third Test at Lord's on Monday.&nbsp;The 21-year-old off-spinner spent much of the match off the field with a fracture to his little left finger -- on his non-bowling hand -- after dropping a hard-hit return catch from Ravindra Jadeja in India's first innings.&nbsp;He returned to dismiss Mohammed Siraj after tea on Monday's final day when India's last man played a defensive shot only for the ball to trickle back onto his leg stump as England won a thrilling encounter by 22 runs.&nbsp;Victory left England 2-1 up in this five-match series but they are now set to call-up a new specialist spinner for the fourth Test at Old Trafford starting on July 23.&nbsp;The likes of Liam Dawson and Jack Leach are vying to fill the gap left by Bashir's absence.Bashir's place in the team has been called into question recently, with his 10 wickets in three Tests against India this series coming at an expensive average of over 54.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-bowlers-achieve-rare-test-record-at-lords-first-time-since-1955-1752498536717">In series dominated by batters, Indian bowlers achieve RARE Test record first time since 1955</a><h2>Written in the stars</h2>England captain Ben Stokes has consistently backed Bashir.&nbsp;"It was great that Bash was able to get that last wicket with everything he had to deal with this week," Stokes told reporters.&nbsp;"He's 21-years-old and he's got a very badly broken finger. To go out there and bat for us and to be willing to sit there on the bench, waiting for his moment to come on and bowl, I think just proves how much it means to everyone who gets the opportunity to put the shirt on."Not even a couple of breaks is going stop anyone getting out there. To finish that game off was written in the stars.&nbsp;"It's not good news for Bash, it's very disappointing for us as a team and for him, but I think the courage that he showed (was outstanding)."&nbsp;The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed Bashir would miss the final two matches."England spinner Shoaib Bashir has sustained a fracture to his left finger and has been ruled out of the remainder of the Rothesay Test series against India," it said.""He is scheduled to undergo surgery later this week.&nbsp;"England will name their squad for the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford in the next couple of days."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Shoaib Bashir was ruled out of the remainder of Englands series against India less than an hour after taking the match-clinching wicket in the third Test at Lords on Monday.

Shoaib Bashir was ruled out of the remainder of England's series against India less than an hour after taking the match-clinching wicket in the third Test at Lord's on Monday. The 21-year-old off-spinner spent much of the match off the field with a fracture to his little left finger -- on his non-bowling hand -- after dropping a hard-hit return catch from Ravindra Jadeja in India's first innings. He returned to dismiss Mohammed Siraj after tea on Monday's final day when India's last man played a defensive shot only for the ball to trickle back onto his leg stump as England won a thrilling encounter by 22 runs. Victory left England 2-1 up in this five-match series but they are now set to call-up a new specialist spinner for the fourth Test at Old Trafford starting on July 23. The likes of Liam Dawson and Jack Leach are vying to fill the gap left by Bashir's absence. Bashir's place in the team has been called into question recently, with his 10 wickets in three Tests against India this series coming at an expensive average of over 54. ALSO READ | In series dominated by batters, Indian bowlers achieve RARE Test record first time since 1955 Written in the stars England captain Ben Stokes has consistently backed Bashir. "It was great that Bash was able to get that last wicket with everything he had to deal with this week," Stokes told reporters. "He's 21-years-old and he's got a very badly broken finger. To go out there and bat for us and to be willing to sit there on the bench, waiting for his moment to come on and bowl, I think just proves how much it means to everyone who gets the opportunity to put the shirt on. "Not even a couple of breaks is going stop anyone getting out there. To finish that game off was written in the stars. "It's not good news for Bash, it's very disappointing for us as a team and for him, but I think the courage that he showed (was outstanding)." The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed Bashir would miss the final two matches. "England spinner Shoaib Bashir has sustained a fracture to his left finger and has been ruled out of the remainder of the Rothesay Test series against India," it said. ""He is scheduled to undergo surgery later this week. "England will name their squad for the fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford in the next couple of days." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Shoaib Bashir was ruled out of the remainder of England's series against India less than an hour after taking the match-clinching wicket in the third Test at Lord's on Monday.

IND vs ENG: England's Shoaib Bashir out of remainder of India series due to finger fracture

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc produced a devastating opening spell as the West Indies were demolished for 27, the second-lowest score in Test history, to suffer a humiliating 176-run defeat on the third day of the third and final game at Sabina Park on Monday.&nbsp;Australia swept the series 3-0 after earlier victories in Barbados and Grenada to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy.&nbsp;Mitchell Starc reached the landmark of 400 Test wickets and Scott Boland completed a hat-trick but the hosts just avoided New Zealand's record low of 26, set in 1955.&nbsp;"We didn't think things would start going our way with the ball today until the sun went down a bit," Starc said after collecting the player of the match and series awards."But anyway our bowling attack has been pretty much on the money throughout the series," he added.&nbsp;West Indies captain Royston Chase warned his side must improve with the first of five T20 internationals on Monday.&nbsp;"Assessing this series is simple: the bowlers kept us in the contest and the batting let us down time after time," he said.&nbsp;"We need to put in some serious work on our batting moving forward if we really want to compete," he added.&nbsp;West Indies were set a victory target of 204 after the tourists lost their last four wickets within 45 minutes of the start of play to be dismissed for 121 in the second innings, their lowest Test innings total against the West Indies for 30 years.&nbsp;Alzarri Joseph led the effort with his best Test innings figures of five for 27 while Shamar Joseph claimed four for 34 to finish with 22 wickets in the series and go past the 50-wicket mark in Tests along the way.&nbsp;Everything else in the frenetic first session faded into irrelevance though in the face of Starc's wrecking ball-type performance as he reached the break with figures of five for six off five overs, finishing with six for nine when he bowled last man Jayden Seales half an hour into the second session to seal the win.&nbsp;In his 100th Test, the left-armer made up for a luckless first innings, when he picked up just one wicket, by dismissing John Campbell with the first ball of the second innings and adding two more victims –- debutant Kevlon Anderson and Brandon King off successive balls -- before the opening over was completed.&nbsp;Starc's 400th wicket came at the start of his third over when the other opener, Mikyle Louis, was palpably leg-before.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-bowlers-achieve-rare-test-record-at-lords-first-time-since-1955-1752498536717">In series dominated by batters, Indian bowlers achieve RARE Test record first time since 1955</a>&nbsp;At that stage, the West Indies were five for four and Starc boasted the astonishing figures of four wickets for no runs.&nbsp;The 35-year-old eventually conceded two runs via the outside edge of Shai Hope's bat but then promptly trapped the same batsman lbw for his fifth wicket.&nbsp;He had taken just 15 deliveries, the fewest ever in Test history, to complete a five-wicket haul.&nbsp;Skipper Chase was then caught behind off Josh Hazlewood to make the score an eye-popping 11 for six.&nbsp;Boland then stole the honours at the start of the second session when he dismissed Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph and Jomel Warrican off successive deliveries to complete the rare feat of a Test hat-trick.&nbsp;"I was a bit nervous bowling that last ball (to Jomel Warrican)," Boland said.&nbsp;"I was just trying to concentrate and keep bowling balls in good areas," he added.Australia were without first-choice wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who suffered a concussion when hit on the helmet by Alzarri Joseph late on day two. Josh Inglis replaced him behind the stumps.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Mitchell Starc reached the landmark of 400 Test wickets and Scott Boland completed a hat-trick but the hosts just avoided New Zealands record low of 26, set in 1955.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc produced a devastating opening spell as the West Indies were demolished for 27, the second-lowest score in Test history, to suffer a humiliating 176-run defeat on the third day of the third and final game at Sabina Park on Monday. Australia swept the series 3-0 after earlier victories in Barbados and Grenada to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy. Mitchell Starc reached the landmark of 400 Test wickets and Scott Boland completed a hat-trick but the hosts just avoided New Zealand's record low of 26, set in 1955. "We didn't think things would start going our way with the ball today until the sun went down a bit," Starc said after collecting the player of the match and series awards. "But anyway our bowling attack has been pretty much on the money throughout the series," he added. West Indies captain Royston Chase warned his side must improve with the first of five T20 internationals on Monday. "Assessing this series is simple: the bowlers kept us in the contest and the batting let us down time after time," he said. "We need to put in some serious work on our batting moving forward if we really want to compete," he added. West Indies were set a victory target of 204 after the tourists lost their last four wickets within 45 minutes of the start of play to be dismissed for 121 in the second innings, their lowest Test innings total against the West Indies for 30 years. Alzarri Joseph led the effort with his best Test innings figures of five for 27 while Shamar Joseph claimed four for 34 to finish with 22 wickets in the series and go past the 50-wicket mark in Tests along the way. Everything else in the frenetic first session faded into irrelevance though in the face of Starc's wrecking ball-type performance as he reached the break with figures of five for six off five overs, finishing with six for nine when he bowled last man Jayden Seales half an hour into the second session to seal the win. In his 100th Test, the left-armer made up for a luckless first innings, when he picked up just one wicket, by dismissing John Campbell with the first ball of the second innings and adding two more victims –- debutant Kevlon Anderson and Brandon King off successive balls -- before the opening over was completed. Starc's 400th wicket came at the start of his third over when the other opener, Mikyle Louis, was palpably leg-before. ALSO READ | In series dominated by batters, Indian bowlers achieve RARE Test record first time since 1955 At that stage, the West Indies were five for four and Starc boasted the astonishing figures of four wickets for no runs. The 35-year-old eventually conceded two runs via the outside edge of Shai Hope's bat but then promptly trapped the same batsman lbw for his fifth wicket. He had taken just 15 deliveries, the fewest ever in Test history, to complete a five-wicket haul. Skipper Chase was then caught behind off Josh Hazlewood to make the score an eye-popping 11 for six. Boland then stole the honours at the start of the second session when he dismissed Justin Greaves, Shamar Joseph and Jomel Warrican off successive deliveries to complete the rare feat of a Test hat-trick. "I was a bit nervous bowling that last ball (to Jomel Warrican)," Boland said. "I was just trying to concentrate and keep bowling balls in good areas," he added. Australia were without first-choice wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who suffered a concussion when hit on the helmet by Alzarri Joseph late on day two. Josh Inglis replaced him behind the stumps. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Mitchell Starc reached the landmark of 400 Test wickets and Scott Boland completed a hat-trick but the hosts just avoided New Zealand's record low of 26, set in 1955.

WI vs AUS: Mitchell Starc inspires Australia as West Indies all out for 27 in pink-ball Test

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.

Afp