Usman Khawaja says the whole Australia team knew about the 2018 sandpaper plot, and a 2018 reviewer asks Cricket Australia to look again

The stories

38 on this beat today.

Every story told the same way: what happened, who is involved, why it matters, how it works, the truth and the good news.

1. 01

   Usman Khawaja says the whole Australia team knew about the 2018 sandpaper plot, and a 2018 reviewer asks Cricket Australia to look again

   3

   players punished for a plot Khawaja says the whole team knew about

   Smith and Warner got 12 months, Bancroft 9 [1]

   8 years

   between the Cape Town Test and Khawaja speaking out

   his book, Sabr, comes out on Tuesday [2]

   88

   Tests Khawaja played for Australia

   he scored 6,229 runs and retired this year [4]

   What happened

   • Usman Khawaja, a former Australia batter, says his whole 2018 team knew of the plan to sandpaper the ball. [1]
   • "It was all of us," Khawaja told Nine's newspapers. [2]
   • Only 3 players were punished at the time, after an inquiry by Cricket Australia, which runs the game there. [3]
   • He says he thought that after 8 years the truth would be out by now. [2]
   • Khawaja says sandpaper was first discussed and used in the Test before Cape Town, at Port Elizabeth, now Gqeberha. [1]
   • He writes that Smith, the captain, threw his hands in the air and said he did not want to know. [1]
   • Bancroft then offered to use sandpaper during South Africa's first innings there. [1]
   • In 2018 Cricket Australia banned Smith and Warner for 12 months, and Bancroft for 9. [1]
   • Its inquiry looked only at day three in Cape Town, and had to finish before the last Test. [1]
   • Khawaja sat next to Bancroft all through that Test, and says nobody from the inquiry interviewed him. [5]
   • In 2021 the four said they "did not know a foreign substance was taken onto the field". [2] They said they learned of it from the big screen. [2]
   • Their representatives declined to comment on Saturday. [6]
   • He says Khawaja's account "raises questions that Cricket Australia needs to investigate further". [6]
   • Cricket Australia said it remains "comfortable with the findings of our integrity process". [3]
   • He also questioned Khawaja's timing, saying: "Books are there to sell". [6]

   Who is involved

   Khawaja played 88 Tests and scored 6,229 runs before retiring this year. [4]

   His book, Sabr, comes out on Tuesday, and he gave interviews to Nine's newspapers before it. [2]

   Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon were Australia's bowlers in Cape Town. [3]

   Peter Collins helped run a player review after the 2018 scandal. [6]

   Darren Lehmann, Australia's coach in 2018, said he did not think "everyone would have known". [7]

   • Steve Smith captain
   • David Warner vice-captain
   • Cameron Bancroft batter
   • Usman Khawaja former Australia batter; says the whole 2018 team knew
   • Pat Cummins now captain
   • Mitchell Starc bowler
   • Josh Hazlewood bowler
   • Nathan Lyon bowler
   • Peter Collins helped run the 2018 player review; wants the inquiry reopened
   • Darren Lehmann Australia's coach in 2018; says not everyone would have known
   • Cricket Australia Australia's national cricket board; its 2018 inquiry punished three players
   • Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon Australia's bowlers in 2018 and today; denied knowing in 2021

   How it unfolded

   1. 2018, 2nd Test sandpaper first used at Port Elizabeth, Khawaja says [1]
   2. 2018, 3rd Test cameras catch Bancroft in Cape Town; 3 players banned [3]
   3. 2021 Bancroft hints the bowlers knew; the 4 bowlers deny it [3]
   4. Saturday Khawaja says "all of us"; a reviewer asks for a new look [6]
   5. Tuesday Khawaja's book, Sabr, is published [2]

   Why it matters

   Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon are still Australia's Test bowlers, so the claim reaches today's team. [4]

   Bancroft never played for Australia again after hinting in 2021 that the bowlers knew. [8]

   How it works

   Investigators call the limits of an inquiry its scope: which days, events and people it will look at.

   Cricket Australia set its scope at Cape Town, so what was said a Test earlier was outside it. [1]

   Seen it before

   A teacher who asks only who threw the last paper ball never learns who started the fight.

   The truth

   • What is really going on Cricket Australia's 2018 inquiry looked only at one day in Cape Town, did not interview every player, and punished three men.Usman Khawaja now says the whole team knew, and the four bowlers who said in 2021 that they did not know have declined to comment. [1][6]
   • Khawaja says he wrote notes in the team hotel in Johannesburg in 2018, days after Cape Town. [1]
   • Who gains Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft — If Khawaja's account is accepted, blame they carried alone for eight years is shared with the team. [1]
   • Who pays Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon — They are still Australia's Test bowlers, and a 2018 reviewer says the claim raises serious questions about their account. [6]
   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether the four bowlers knew sandpaper was used at Port Elizabeth.

     Their 2021 statement spoke only about Cape Town, and their representatives declined to comment on Saturday. [1][6]

   • Nobody knows yet

     Whether Cricket Australia will reopen its inquiry.

     It says it is comfortable with its findings, but that new information can still be given to it. [6]

   • Nobody knows yet

     Which coach spoke to Bancroft just before the cameras caught him.

     Saturday's reports call him an as-yet-unnamed member of the coaching staff, and Lehmann says it was not him. [7]

   What comes next

   Bancroft has been sent the chapter and will collect his thoughts over the next couple of days, his manager said. [6]

1. 02

   Appeals court backs the NCAA on a fifth year

   What happened

   • A US appeals court on Friday overturned an order that let some college players play a fifth season. [11]
   • The order had covered players across the country who started college in 2022-23 and had played 4 seasons. [11]
   • The 3 judges said the players' job market could not simply be all of Division I, the top level. [11]
   • A volleyball player does not sell her skills to a lacrosse team, Judge Carolyn McHugh wrote. [11]

   Who is involved

   • College players wanted a fifth year
   • The NCAA runs US college sport

   How it unfolded

   The 3rd, 4th, 6th, 9th and now 10th Circuits have all turned down such challenges to NCAA rules. [11]

   Why it matters

   Players hoping for a fifth paid season lose a route, though state courts can still rule differently. [11]

   How it works

   Competition lawyers start by defining the relevant market: who really competes to sign the same player. [11]

   The court said a football player's market is football schools, so the players' wider market failed at step one. [11]

   Seen it before

   Asking whether one shop charges too much means first asking which shops sell the same thing.

   The truth

   • The NCAA's chief lawyer said such orders had created "chaos" for this season. [11]
   • Who gains The NCAA — A fifth federal appeals court has now backed its eligibility rules, which strengthens its hand in future cases. [11]

   What comes next

   The players can ask the full court to hear the case again, but such requests are seldom granted. [11]

2. 03

   Avila wins in court, then loses a roster place

   What happened

   • A Missouri judge let Saint Louis star Robbie Avila play a fifth season of college basketball. [12]
   • On Friday the College Sports Commission said he still cannot play. [12]
   • Saint Louis already has 15 players, and a 16th would break that limit, the commission said. [12]
   • "There is no roster slot available for him," it said. [12]

   Who is involved

   The commission enforces the roster limits in the House v NCAA settlement, a deal made in a federal court. [12]

   • Robbie Avila Saint Louis star
   • Missouri judge lets him play
   • College Sports Commission says he cannot play

   Why it matters

   Avila was last season's Atlantic 10 player of the year, and his lawyers are expected to fight on. [12]

   The truth

   • The judge had barred the NCAA from using roster limits to block Avila. [12] So two rulings now point opposite ways. [12]
3. 04

   LIV's unpaid firms face $2m for $100m of claims

   What happened

   • LIV Golf's unpaid suppliers have more than $100m in claims, and $2m set aside to pay them. [15]
   • "The outlook for unsecured creditors is likely quite bleak," one bankruptcy lawyer said. [15]

   Who is involved

   Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund controls the bankruptcy, and lent $49.6m to pay for it. [15]

   How it unfolded

   LIV, the golf tour, is winding down through Chapter 11, a US bankruptcy process. [15]

   1. Chapter 11 LIV in bankruptcy
   2. Now winding down
   3. Monday LIV files its wind-down plan
   4. 20 November the creditors meet

   Why it matters

   Bankruptcy lawyers say it is hard to imagine anyone getting much back. [15]

   How it works

   Bankruptcy lawyers call firms with no claim on any asset unsecured creditors: they split whatever pot is set aside. [15]

   LIV's pot is $2m against more than $100m owed, so most firms would get back very little. [15]

   Seen it before

   When a friend who owes five people money has a few coins left, each of them gets a little.

   The truth

   • Creditors could try to claw back $15.6m in bonuses paid to 7 executives before the filing, a law professor suggested. [15]
   • Who gains Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund — As the lender running LIV's bankruptcy, it could choose to make the $2m pot bigger, though experts think that unlikely. [15]
   • Who pays LIV Golf's suppliers — They did the work, and lawyers expect them to get little or no money back. [15]
   • Nobody knows yet

     How much LIV's unpaid suppliers will get back.

     The $2m pot could change, and LIV's wind-down plan is due on Monday. [15]

   What comes next

   LIV is set to file its wind-down plan on Monday, and the creditors' committee meets on 20 November. [15]

4. 05

   Westwood fears for Europe's golf tour

   What happened

   • Lee Westwood, a former world number one golfer, says he is worried about the DP World Tour. [21]
   • He expects the US-based PGA Tour to "play hardball" with the Europeans. [21]
   • He noted that the DP World Tour has not yet announced next year's prize money. [21]

   Who is involved

   The DP World Tour is the main men's golf tour based in Europe. [21]

   • Lee Westwood former world number one
   • PGA Tour US-based
   • DP World Tour Europe-based

   How it unfolded

   Westwood joined LIV, a Saudi-backed rival tour, when it began in 2022, and LIV is now closing. [21]

   1. 2022 LIV begins, and Westwood joins
   2. This week LIV confirms it will wind down

   Why it matters

   Europe's top young players might do better on the Korn Ferry Tour, the PGA Tour's feeder, he suggested. [21]

   The truth

   • The tour says it is in "a robust and healthy position with strong cash reserves". [21]

   What comes next

   Players must sign up as DP World Tour members by 15 November. [21]

5. 06

   England's cricket board expects a loss of up to £50m

   What happened

   • The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) told county bosses it could lose up to £50m in 2027. [14]
   • It made a profit of £12.6m in 2025. [14]
   • Channel 9 pays only $27.5m to show Australia's 2027 and 2031 tours of England. [14]
   • The ECB keeps only about 30% of ticket money; the grounds that host the games keep the rest. [14]

   Who is involved

   The International Cricket Council (ICC), which runs world cricket, is also holding back part of its 2027 TV payments. [14]

   • The ICC holding back part of 2027 TV money

   How it unfolded

   India will not play in England in 2027, and Indian TV pays far more in years when India visit. [14]

   Why it matters

   The ECB expects its next deal with Sony, from 2028, to be worth far less. [14] Its Sky deal has not grown since 2019. [14]

   How it works

   Accountants call income that rises and falls on a fixed pattern cyclical revenue. [14]

   The ECB's cycle is set by who visits: India's tours bring far more TV money than Australia's. [14]

   Seen it before

   A school fair raises the most in the year a famous visitor comes, and less in the other years.

   The truth

   • Who pays England's county cricket clubs — Most rely on ECB funding to stay in business, and 10 of the 18 already lost money in their latest accounts. [14]
   • Nobody knows yet

     How big the ECB's loss will be.

     ECB sources hope to bring it down to about £35m, because the ICC has not fixed how much it will hold back. [14]

1. 07

   'Clicky Ponting' is banned, and his team relegated

   What happened

   • Club cricketer Brian Devine was banned from all cricket for 2 years on Friday. [10]
   • He clicked his fingers to sound like the ball touching the bat, and the umpire gave the batter out. [9]
   • Saltburn was fined £300, and its second team was relegated and will start 2027 with 60 points off. [9]

   Who is involved

   His nickname nods to Ricky Ponting, a former Australia captain. [10]

   • Ricky Ponting former Australia captain

   How it unfolded

   Video of it, from a July match in North Yorkshire, went viral around the world. [9]

   Why it matters

   The league said the case put strain on a volunteer-run club, and on those "abused online and in person". [10]

   How it works

   Why punishing a whole team makes its players watch each other

   Economists call it joint liability: when the whole group pays for one member's wrong, every member has a reason to stop it.

   The twist

   When only the cheat is punished, the rest of the team has nothing to lose by staying quiet. When the whole team is punished, every player has a reason to stop the cheat before it happens.

   Step by step

   1. 1 One player breaks a rule to help the team
   2. 2 If only that player is punished, teammates lose nothing by keeping quiet
   3. 3 If the whole team is punished, every teammate has something to lose
   4. 4 So teammates have a reason to watch each other and stop it early
   5. 5 But players who did nothing wrong pay too

   The same force, elsewhere today

   Where this chain is also running, in today's other stories.

   • 'Clicky Ponting' is banned, and his team relegated

     The league believed other Saltburn players were involved, banned only Devine, and then relegated the whole second team, so the club paid as a group.

   • A judge keeps Miami Carol City out of the playoffs

     Florida's school sports body banned the whole team for a lack of control over the programme, though 11 players said they had done nothing wrong.

   Where you've seen this

   Village lending groups

   banks such as Grameen lend to small groups, and if one member fails to repay, the others lose new loans, so members choose and watch each other

   A class kept in

   a teacher who keeps the whole class in for one pupil's noise gives every pupil a reason to tell the noisy one to stop

   Football crowds

   when a club is fined for its fans' behaviour, the club has a reason to find and ban the troublemakers itself

   The catch

   It works only if members can see and stop each other in time. And it always lands on some people who did nothing wrong.

   And the whole of it

   By Khawaja's account, everyone in that 2018 dressing room knew some part of what happened, and the punishment decided which three of them paid for all of it. Most of us have stayed quiet in a group when we knew only one person would be blamed.

   The truth

   • The league believed other Saltburn players were involved, but Devine was the only player punished. [9]
   • Who gains Middlesbrough Cricket Club — Saltburn's relegation keeps Middlesbrough, who had been relegated, in Division Two. [10]

1. 08

   Mohammed Shami retires from Test cricket

   What happened

   • India fast bowler Mohammed Shami retired from Test cricket on Friday, 13 years to the day after his debut. [22]
   • He took 229 wickets in 64 Tests. [23]
   • He plans to keep playing shorter, white-ball cricket for Bengal. [24]

   Who is involved

   "He helped me quite a lot," said Morne Morkel, India's bowling coach. [24]

   How it unfolded

   His first Test was in November 2013, and his last was against Australia in June 2023. [22]

   1. November 2013 first Test
   2. June 2023 last Test

   Why it matters

   His 229 wickets put him just outside India's top 5 fast bowlers by Test wickets. [23]

   How it works

   Shami's debut stood out for reverse swing: making an old ball curve late in the air. [23]

   Bowlers keep one side of the ball shiny and let the other side roughen, so it swings. [1]

   Seen it before

   A paper plane bent a little on one side always drifts towards that side.

   What comes next

   India's next Test starts in Wellington, New Zealand, on 19 November. [25]

2. 09

   Alcaraz saves 2 match points; Jodar and Tiafoe reach Turin

   What happened

   • Carlos Alcaraz saved 2 match points to beat Taylor Fritz 6-7 7-5 6-3 in the Paris Masters quarter-finals. [26]
   • The defeat ended Fritz's hopes of reaching the ATP Finals in Turin. [26]
   • So Rafael Jodar, a Spaniard, takes the last place instead. [26]
   • Earlier, Ben Shelton beat Tommy Paul 6-4 4-6 6-3 and hit 19 aces. [27]
   • That result sent another American, Frances Tiafoe, to the ATP Finals for the first time. [27]

   Who is involved

   The ATP Finals, in Turin from 15 to 22 November, closes the men's season. [27][26]

   • Carlos Alcaraz won
   • Taylor Fritz out
   • Frances Tiafoe first ATP Finals
   • Casper Ruud quarter-final
   • Nuno Borges quarter-final

   How it unfolded

   1. 15 November ATP Finals begin in Turin
   2. 22 November the final

   Why it matters

   Jodar's place depended on a match he did not play: had Fritz won, Fritz would have gone instead. [27]

   Good news

   • Frances Tiafoe qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time, and will play in Turin from 15 November.

   What comes next

   Alcaraz plays Casper Ruud or Nuno Borges in the semi-finals. [26]

3. 10

   WTA says sorry to Pegula over a hidden microphone

   What happened

   • The WTA, which runs women's professional tennis, has apologised to Jessica Pegula. [17]
   • A live stream had broadcast Pegula privately calling her rival Mirra Andreeva a "diva" to her coach. [17]
   • Chair Valerie Camillo called it "regrettable and unacceptable", and the recording equipment was removed. [17]

   Who is involved

   • Jessica Pegula overheard
   • Mirra Andreeva the subject

   How it unfolded

   The WTA had not told players there were microphones on the practice courts. [17]

   Why it matters

   Pegula said there is far more filming and recording of players at tournaments than in the past. [17]

   The truth

   • The WTA put it down to "a failure in our technical execution and monitoring". [17]
4. 11

   Antonelli fastest in Brazil; Russell drops 5 places

   What happened

   • New champion Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time in second practice for the São Paulo Grand Prix. [28]
   • Lando Norris, in an upgraded McLaren, was 0.253 seconds slower. [28]
   • Mercedes can win the teams' title in Brazil by scoring 3 more points than Ferrari. [29]
   • Antonelli is racing in a helmet in Brazil's yellow and green, for Ayrton Senna. [30]
   • George Russell will start 5 places lower because Mercedes fitted another new engine. [31]

   Who is involved

   Senna, a 3-time champion from Brazil, was killed in a crash in 1994. [30]

   • Kimi Antonelli new champion, fastest
   • Ayrton Senna 3-time champion, killed in 1994

   Why it matters

   Mercedes chose Brazil for the penalty because overtaking is usually easier at Interlagos. [31]

   How it works

   Formula One limits how many engines a car may use, and each new one past the limit costs grid places. [31]

   Russell had 7 races left and each engine is built for 6 weekends, so one more penalty was expected. [31]

   Seen it before

   A team allowed a set number of substitutes must play on short once it has used them up.

5. 12

   Rangers shares up 35% since the Knicks split

   What happened

   • Shares in the New York Rangers ice hockey team have risen 35% since it split from the Knicks basketball team. [32]
   • Shares in the Knicks' company are up 4.6% over the same time. [32]
   • The market values the Rangers company 31% below Sportico's $4.15bn estimate of what the team is worth. [32]
   • Investors see the hockey team as more likely to be sold or bought out, Sportico reported. [32]

   How it unfolded

   The two teams became separate companies on the stock market on 27 October. [32]

   Why it matters

   One analyst wrote that "the real upside scenario" for the Rangers is a sale or a take-private. [32]

   How it works

   Finance calls a deal that buys every shareholder out and takes a company off the stock market a take-private. [32]

   The analyst said the odds of a take-private for the Rangers seem higher than ever since the split. [32]

   Seen it before

   A shop that sells bikes and books may fetch more if the bike half is sold on its own.

6. 13

   NBA plays its 35th game in Mexico

   What happened

   • The Indiana Pacers and Denver Nuggets play in Mexico City on Saturday night. [33]
   • It is the 35th NBA game in Mexico: 16 in the regular season and 19 before it. [33]
   • "Maybe down the road there's Mexico City," Commissioner Adam Silver said. [33]
   • Las Vegas and Seattle remain at the front of the line for new teams. [33]

   Who is involved

   • Indiana Pacers Saturday night
   • Denver Nuggets Saturday night
   • Las Vegas first in line
   • Seattle first in line

   How it unfolded

   NBA owners were told last month that a Mexico City group had approached the bank running the league's expansion. [33]

   Why it matters

   Mexico City has 22 million people, and a team there could reach the rest of Latin America. [33]

   The truth

   • Silver later said nothing was imminent in Mexico. [33]
7. 14

   ESPN bars its stars from betting on inside news

   What happened

   • ESPN told its on-air staff they may not bet on prediction markets using news they learn through work. [19]
   • The memo names Polymarket, but not its rival Kalshi. [19]
   • Its examples include awards votes, player moves and sports media deals. [19]

   Who is involved

   • Polymarket named
   • Kalshi not named

   How it unfolded

   ESPN first gave its staff a betting policy in 2023, before launching its own betting brand, now closed. [19]

   1. 2023 first betting rules for staff
   2. Last week memo adds prediction markets

   Why it matters

   Reporters can learn such news before the public, and the memo bans using it to bet. [19]

   How it works

   The memo calls it insider betting: using news the public does not have yet to place a bet. [19]

   Prediction markets list bets on such things as awards votes, which a reporter may already know the answer to. [19]

   Seen it before

   Seeing the answers before a test is not luck, because nobody else gets the same chance.

   The truth

   • An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment. [19]
8. 15

   DraftKings counts its prediction bets generously

   What happened

   • DraftKings, a big US betting company, cut its 2026 sales forecast, and its shares closed down 21.3% on Friday. [34]
   • It says it now runs the "clear" number three prediction-market exchange in the US. [34]
   • That ranking uses notional volume, which counts every contract bought as $1. [34]
   • So a 1-cent bet on a long shot counts as $1, the same as a 60-cent bet. [34]
   • In October ordinary users made only $840m of the exchange's $4.7bn in notional volume. [34]

   How it unfolded

   DraftKings also cut jobs this week, in at least its third round of cuts this year. [16]

   Why it matters

   Analysts link the gambling industry's cuts to AI and to competition from prediction markets. [16]

   How it works

   Statisticians call the yardstick you choose a metric, and a different metric can give a different order. [34]

   By notional volume, DraftKings had about 0.01% of the US market during the World Cup. [34] By October it had near 3.6%. [34]

   Seen it before

   A runner who counts every lap of a tiny track can claim more laps than one on a big track.

   The truth

   • DraftKings did not report how much volume its app sends to other exchanges. [34]
9. 16

   Ex-reporter Dianna Russini set for a betting show

   What happened

   • Dianna Russini, a former NFL reporter for The Athletic, is expected to return to work next week. [20]
   • BetUS, an offshore sportsbook, says an unnamed NFL specialist will host its new betting show. [20]
   • The show promises "data-backed NFL picks and predictions". [20]

   Who is involved

   • Dianna Russini former NFL reporter
   • BetUS offshore sportsbook

   How it unfolded

   She resigned after photos showed her with New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel at a resort in April. [20]

   1. Monday host named
   2. Wednesday first show

   Why it matters

   Front Office Sports reported that she is expected to launch content paid for by betting firms. [20]

   The truth

   • A line saying the show was "powered by BetUS" was later edited off its page. [20]

   What comes next

   BetUS will name the host on Monday, and the first show airs on Wednesday. [20]

10. 17

    US college men's soccer stays in the autumn

    What happened

    • US colleges voted down a plan to move top-level men's soccer to a season across autumn and spring. [35]
    • 247 Division I schools voted to cancel it, Goal reported, 106 of them with no men's team. [35]
    • Backers said players get too little rest between matches in the current season. [35]
    • It would also have matched Europe's calendar and the new MLS one. [35]

    Who is involved

    • Europe autumn to spring
    • MLS a new calendar

    How it unfolded

    The plan would have paused for winter and ended with a spring championship. [35]

    1. Aug-Nov first half of the season
    2. Feb-spring second half and the final

    Why it matters

    US Soccer's chief executive, JT Batson, had called the plan "exciting news for the future of the American soccer pathway". [35]

    How it works

    Political scientists call any stage where a plan can be blocked a veto point.

    Here the plan missed 75% support at the first stage, so every school could vote, even those without teams. [35]

    Seen it before

    A class votes on a football trip, and pupils who never play football still get a say.

11. 18

    A 1952 baseball card sparks two lawsuits

    What happened

    • Cardsmiths, a trading-card maker, has sued the company that owns the rights to Mickey Mantle's name. [36]
    • Cardsmiths made its own version of that card, which it calls a "transformation". [36]
    • Cardsmiths says Mantle IP wrote to Best Buy and GameStop telling them to stop selling its cards. [36]

    Who is involved

    Mantle was a famous baseball player; a 1952 Topps card of him sold for a record $12.6m four years ago. [36]

    • Cardsmiths card maker
    • Mantle IP rights owner
    • Best Buy told to stop
    • GameStop told to stop

    How it unfolded

    Mantle IP calls it a "reproduction", and sued Cardsmiths in September. [36] Cardsmiths filed its own case on 28 October. [36]

    1. September Mantle IP sues
    2. 28 October Cardsmiths sues back

    Why it matters

    Cardsmiths wants a judge to declare its card a "transformative, expressive work" protected by the US First Amendment. [36]

    How it works

    Trademark law asks whether buyers could think a product's owner approved it. [36]

    Mantle IP points to online posts asking whether the card was an original or a reprint. [36]

    Seen it before

    A T-shirt with a band's name makes people think the band made it, even when it did not.

12. 19

    New Zealand reach their first final since 2013

    What happened

    • New Zealand beat Tonga 34-10 to reach the Rugby League World Cup final, their first since 2013. [37]
    • Kalyn Ponga started at full-back just 23 days after breaking his arm. [37]
    • The Kiwis led by only 2 points at half-time, then scored 22 points in a row. [38]

    Who is involved

    • New Zealand 34
    • Tonga 10
    • Jason Taumalolo switched to Tonga in 2017

    How it unfolded

    Tonga rose after Jason Taumalolo chose to play for them over New Zealand in 2017. [38]

    That year Tonga became the first tier-two nation to beat a top side, by beating New Zealand. [38]

    Why it matters

    Taumalolo slumped to the turf at the end, knowing his international career was likely over. [38]

    How it works

    Sports governance calls the rules on which country a player may represent eligibility rules.

    Taumalolo's 2017 switch from New Zealand to Tonga led many of the world's best players to follow. [38]

    Seen it before

    When the best player in a class joins a new team at break time, others go with him.

    Good news

    • Kalyn Ponga broke his arm 23 days before the World Cup semi-final, started it anyway at full-back, and New Zealand won 34-10 to reach their first final since 2013.

    What comes next

    New Zealand will play Australia or Samoa in next weekend's final. [38]

13. 20

    New Zealand's women reach the final too

    What happened

    • New Zealand's women beat Samoa 32-0 in Newcastle to reach the Women's Rugby League World Cup final. [39]
    • Stacey Waaka scored a hat-trick, taking her to 9 tries, joint top in the tournament. [39]
    • New Zealand scored 4 tries in the final 12 minutes. [39]

    Who is involved

    • New Zealand 32
    • Samoa 0
    • Australia 54
    • Fiji semi-final on Sunday

    How it unfolded

    Australia beat them 54-4 in the 2021 final. [39]

    Why it matters

    Samoa's young side had the better chances in the first half, but did not score from good positions. [39]

    What comes next

    They play the winner of Sunday's semi-final between Australia and Fiji, in Brisbane next weekend. [39]

14. 21

    Rugby league's next World Cup heads to the US

    What happened

    • The next Rugby League World Cup, in 2030, will be held in the Pacific, likely with games in the US. [40]
    • Reports say matches would be mostly in Hawaii and Utah, which have large Pacific Islander communities. [41]
    • The US team would need its federation made a full member to qualify automatically. [41]

    Who is involved

    • Hawaii likely host
    • Utah likely host
    • England close to hosting
    • France close to hosting

    How it unfolded

    A week ago, England and France were close to being chosen as hosts. [40]

    1. Monday the details announced
    2. 2030 the World Cup

    Why it matters

    Hosting in the US is part of the sport's push into the big North American market. [41]

    How it works

    Event planners call it following the diaspora: holding games where people with roots in the playing nations live.

    Hawaii has one of the largest Pacific Islander populations outside Tonga, Samoa, Australia and New Zealand. [41]

    Seen it before

    A band from abroad plays first in the city where most of its fans have moved.

    The truth

    • Nobody knows yet

      Where in the US the 2030 Rugby League World Cup will be played.

      Reports name Hawaii and Utah, it is unclear whether Las Vegas is included, and the official details are due on Monday. [41][40]

    What comes next

    The International Rugby League, the sport's world body, is expected to announce the details on Monday. [40]

15. 22

    Keenan's hat-trick in Ireland's 42-12 win

    What happened

    • Ireland beat Argentina 42-12 in Dublin on Friday night, scoring 6 tries. [42]
    • Full-back Hugo Keenan scored 3 tries, in his first home game for 21 months. [43]
    • Captain Dan Sheehan went off after failing a head injury assessment. [42]
    • Ireland did not score after the 55th minute. [42]
    • Coach Andy Farrell said "we missed a chance to be ruthless". [42]

    Who is involved

    The match was part of rugby union's Nations Championship. [42]

    • Ireland 42
    • Argentina 12
    • Dan Sheehan captain; failed a head check

    Why it matters

    The two sides could meet in the knockout rounds of next year's World Cup in Australia. [43]

    The truth

    • Keenan called Argentina "a really tough Argentinian side"; the Guardian's match report called that "a bit loose". [43]

    Good news

    • Hugo Keenan played at home for Ireland for the first time in 21 months on Friday, and scored three tries.
16. 23

    Everton go fifth as Moyes matches a club record

    What happened

    • Everton came from behind to beat Coventry 3-1 in the Premier League on Friday. [44]
    • Thierno Barry scored twice and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall added the third. [44]
    • The win lifted Everton to fifth. [45]
    • Manager David Moyes equalled Harry Catterick's club record of 592 games in charge. [45]

    Who is involved

    • Everton 3
    • Coventry 1
    • Thierno Barry scored twice
    • Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the third

    How it unfolded

    Moyes has the smallest squad in the league and is in the last year of his contract. [45]

    Why it matters

    Coventry manager Frank Lampard said 3 big decisions went against his side, including a hair pull. [44]

    How it works

    This season a hair pull is not automatically a foul; referees weigh its force and intent. [44]

    Referee Stuart Attwell judged James Tarkowski's tug on Caleb Yirenkyi not enough for a penalty. [44]

    Seen it before

    A teacher lets a light nudge in the lunch queue go, but stops a hard shove.

17. 24

    Jobe Bellingham called up; Palmer left out

    What happened

    • Jobe Bellingham, 21, was called up to England's senior squad for the first time. [46]
    • Only 11 of the 22 outfield players went to last summer's World Cup. [47]
    • Coach Thomas Tuchel left out Cole Palmer, saying he "misses too many opportunities to impress". [48]

    Who is involved

    His brother Jude, 23, is one of the team's key players. [46]

    • Jobe Bellingham 21, first call-up
    • Jude Bellingham 23, key player
    • Gary Neville brother
    • Phil Neville brother

    How it unfolded

    The last brothers to play together for England were Gary and Phil Neville, 19 years ago. [47]

    1. Thursday Croatia at Wembley
    2. 3 days later Spain in Madrid

    Why it matters

    Palmer has played in only 3 of Tuchel's 26 games in charge. [48]

    The truth

    • Tuchel admitted Jude had nagged him to pick Jobe. [47] He also said Jobe is there "on his own merits". [46]

    Good news

    • Jobe Bellingham was called up to England's squad for the first time, alongside his brother Jude. The last brothers to play together for England were Gary and Phil Neville, 19 years ago.

    What comes next

    England play Croatia at Wembley on Thursday and Spain in Madrid 3 days later. [47]

18. 25

    Charlton have lost all 8 games in the WSL

    What happened

    • Charlton have played 8 games in the Women's Super League, England's top division, and lost all 8. [49]
    • They lost 6-0 to Chelsea on Sunday, and concede more than 3 goals a game. [49]
    • Their record signing, Linda Lif Boama, suffered a serious knee injury in September. [49]

    Who is involved

    • Chelsea 6
    • Charlton 0
    • Crystal Palace second-bottom, also promoted

    How it unfolded

    They were promoted last season after beating Leicester on penalties in the play-off. [49]

    Why it matters

    The gap between the WSL and the second tier has been called an "absolute ocean". [49]

    How it works

    Sports economists call it competitive balance: how evenly money and talent are spread through a league.

    Charlton beat bigger-spending second-tier clubs to go up, but now meet clubs with chunkier wallets still. [49]

    Seen it before

    A school team moved up a year plays older, bigger pupils, and the scores show it.

    What comes next

    They visit second-bottom Crystal Palace, another promoted side, on Sunday. [49]

19. 26

    Teenage gangs trouble non-league football

    What happened

    • Disorder by fans under 18, some apparently as young as 10, is spreading through non-league football in England. [50]
    • In Chester, youths in balaclavas chased a taxi carrying Hednesford Town fans, and one boy showed a blade. [50]
    • Hednesford banned 20 young fans, and now bars under-16s who come without an adult. [50]
    • The groups find each other with Snapchat's map, and celebrate on TikTok. [50]

    Who is involved

    The UK Football Policing Unit calls it its "most important" priority. [50]

    Why it matters

    Some non-league crowds are bigger than League One's, under rules set decades ago, said Redditch's chairman. [50]

    The truth

    • TikTok removed one account glorifying the violence only after the Guardian alerted it. [50]
20. 27

    Asofa-Solomona knocks out Gallen, then leaves the ring

    What happened

    • Former rugby league player Asofa-Solomona knocked out Paul Gallen in a Sydney boxing match on Friday night. [51]
    • At least 2 of the final punches landed after Gallen was already out, a writer at ringside said. [51]
    • Asofa-Solomona then jumped out of the ring towards a spectator, and pulled back his punch just in time. [51]
    • He said the spectator had made a racist ape gesture at him. [51]

    Who is involved

    • Asofa-Solomona won
    • Paul Gallen knocked out

    Why it matters

    "He beat me fair and square," Gallen said on Saturday. [51]

    How it works

    In boxing, the fighter and the referee are both meant to stop punches once a fighter cannot defend himself. [51]

    The columnist wrote that blows still landed while Gallen hung between the ropes and the canvas. [51]

    Seen it before

    A teacher steps in the moment one child is down in a playground fight, not after.

    What comes next

    New South Wales Police are investigating. [51]

21. 28

    McIlroy shoots 63 in Abu Dhabi

    What happened

    • Rory McIlroy shot a 63, 9 under par, in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Championship. [52]
    • He is 1 shot behind the leaders, Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Francesco Laporta. [52]

    Who is involved

    The Race to Dubai is the DP World Tour's season-long points table. [52]

    • Jon Rahm joint leader
    • Tyrrell Hatton joint leader
    • Francesco Laporta joint leader

    How it unfolded

    He received a 2-shot penalty on Thursday. [52]

    Why it matters

    He is chasing his 8th Race to Dubai title, which would equal Colin Montgomerie's record. [52]

    What comes next

    The top 50 in the table go on to next week's season-ending event in Dubai. [52]

22. 29

    Porzingis steps away from basketball

    What happened

    • Kristaps Porzingis said on Friday he is stepping away from basketball to look after his health. [53]
    • "My body didn't respond the way I anticipated," he wrote. [53]

    Who is involved

    • Kristaps Porzingis Golden State Warriors

    How it unfolded

    The Golden State Warriors signed him to a 2-year, $40m contract in late June. [53]

    He has been out since late September. [53]

    Why it matters

    He said he would work with the Warriors to "find a solution that makes sense". [53]

    The truth

    • Nobody knows yet

      What illness has stopped Kristaps Porzingis.

      Neither he nor the Warriors have named it, and he did not say whether he will play again. [53]

23. 30

    Knicks defend Taylor Swift against their own players

    What happened

    • Knicks players Tyler Kolek and Miles McBride called Taylor Swift a "performative" fan on a video-game livestream. [18]
    • Tyler Kolek said celebrity fans "just want to be seen at the game". [18]
    • On Friday the team said Swift "has been a Knicks fan for many years". [18]

    Who is involved

    Swift married Travis Kelce, an American football player, at Madison Square Garden in July. [18]

    • Tyler Kolek Knicks guard
    • Miles McBride Knicks guard

    Why it matters

    Kolek and McBride are both eligible for contract extensions, and the Knicks hold a $2.5m option on Kolek. [18]

24. 31

    Patriots' Henderson in hospital with unexplained symptoms

    What happened

    • New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson says unexplained neurological symptoms put him in hospital for days. [54]
    • His tests came back "positive and reassuring", but the cause is unknown. [54]

    Who is involved

    Neurological means to do with the brain and nerves; he says his strength and coordination were affected. [54]

    • TreVeyon Henderson Patriots running back

    Why it matters

    Henderson, 24, has run for 203 yards this season. [54]

    The truth

    • Nobody knows yet

      What caused TreVeyon Henderson's symptoms, and when he can play.

      Doctors have not found a cause, and he gave no date for a return. [54]

    What comes next

    He is expected to miss Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers. [54]

25. 32

    Aiyuk asks the NFL to let him back

    What happened

    • Brandon Aiyuk returned to the San Francisco 49ers' offices on Friday to start asking the NFL to reinstate him. [55]
    • "I'm back to 100%," the wide receiver said. [55]
    • He owes the team about $13m in bonus money, The Ringer reported. [55]
    • The 49ers still hold his rights, and would have to trade or release him. [55]

    Who is involved

    • Brandon Aiyuk 49ers wide receiver
    • San Francisco 49ers hold his rights

    How it unfolded

    The 49ers voided about $27m of his guaranteed pay in 2025, after he missed terms in his contract. [55]

    Why it matters

    Coach Kyle Shanahan said he "couldn't care less" what happened at the meeting. [55]

    How it works

    Contract lawyers call it forfeiture: breaking a contract's terms can cost money already paid. [55]

    Aiyuk's unmet terms turned bonus money he had been paid into a $13m debt to the team. [55]

    Seen it before

    Break the rules of a flat you rent, and you can lose the deposit you already paid.

26. 33

    A judge keeps Miami Carol City out of the playoffs

    What happened

    • A Miami judge on Friday refused to lift Miami Carol City High School's football playoff ban. [13]
    • Georgia officials suspended 4 Grayson players for one game each. [13]
    • Its director testified that the ban was for a broader "lack of institutional control". [13]
    • 11 players and their parents had argued that it punished students who did nothing wrong. [13]

    How it unfolded

    The ban followed a fight after an October game against Grayson, a school in Georgia. [13]

    Florida's school sports body also cited earlier recruiting and transfer breaches at Carol City. [13]

    1. October fight after the Grayson game
    2. Friday judge keeps the ban

    Why it matters

    The players pointed to a Florida law against penalising student athletes for others' violations. [13]

    How it works

    Florida's school sports body banned the whole team for a lack of control over the programme, though 11 players said they had done nothing wrong.

    The idea, in story 07: Why punishing a whole team makes its players watch each other →

    The truth

    • The judge did not rule that every player deserved to be excluded; he only refused an emergency order. [13]
    • Who pays Miami Carol City players who were not in the fight — They lose a playoff run, and seniors may never get another chance at one. [13]
27. 34

    A midnight coin toss decides an Oklahoma playoff place

    What happened

    • 3 Oklahoma high school football teams learned by coin toss at midnight which 2 would reach the playoffs. [56]
    • Liberty, Central Sallisaw and Gore tied for third in their district, and every tiebreaker was used up. [56]
    • Each coach flipped a coin at the same time, and the two that matched went through. [56]
    • Liberty and Central Sallisaw both landed tails, so Gore's season ended. [56]
    • The toss, outside a restaurant, was streamed live on the state body's Facebook page. [56]

    Who is involved

    • Liberty tied third
    • Central Sallisaw tied third
    • Gore tied third

    Why it matters

    In most Oklahoma classes only the top 4 teams in each district go through. [56]

    How it works

    Leagues break ties with a list of tests, and only when every test fails does chance decide. [56]

    Seen it before

    Two friends who have argued every reason for the front seat end up tossing a coin.

    The truth

    • Who pays Gore High School — Its players lost a playoff place without losing a game for it. [56]
28. 35

    Valparaiso stun Purdue in double overtime

    What happened

    • Valparaiso beat Purdue 83-80 in double overtime on Friday, with a three-pointer at the buzzer. [57]
    • Purdue are 0-2 for the first time since the 1976-77 season. [57]
    • Purdue's run of 23 home wins in November ended. [57]

    Who is involved

    • Valparaiso 83
    • Purdue 80

    How it unfolded

    Purdue lost 3 experienced players, one of them now in a sixth year at Kansas after a court order. [57]

    Why it matters

    Oklahoma also lost on opening night, as a 28.5-point favourite. [57]

    How it works

    Bookmakers set a points spread: the margin by which they expect the favourite to win. [57]

    Purdue were expected to win by 19.5 points, and lost by 3. [57]

    Seen it before

    Everyone at school says the top pupil will win the race by miles, and then someone else wins.

29. 36

    Tallest player in women's college basketball history

    What happened

    • Texas Tech's Stephanie Okechukwu is 7 feet 1 inch tall. [58]
    • On Thursday she became the tallest player ever in a top-level US women's college game. [58]
    • Okechukwu had 6 points and 10 rebounds in a 64-37 win over Charlotte. [58]

    Who is involved

    She was born in Nigeria and went to high school in Japan. [58]

    How it unfolded

    The previous tallest, Marvadene Anderson, was 6 feet 11 and played 9 games for Pittsburgh. [58]

    Why it matters

    Texas Tech said it began recruiting players from abroad a couple of years ago. [58]

    Good news

    • She is the first 7-footer to play NCAA women's basketball. [58]
30. 37

    Birdman wins at Flemington before the biggest crowd since 2017

    What happened

    • Birdman won the $3m Champions Stakes at Flemington, in Melbourne, on Saturday. [59]
    • The crowd of 70,414 was the biggest for the day since 2017. [59]
    • The 4-day Melbourne Cup carnival drew 307,889 people in all. [59]
    • In Sydney, jockey Nash Rawiller won both big races at Rosehill, including the $2m Five Diamonds. [60]

    Who is involved

    Carlton football captain Patrick Cripps is part of the group that owns a share of Birdman. [59]

    • Patrick Cripps Carlton captain, part-owner
    • Nash Rawiller won both big races at Rosehill

    Why it matters

    Horses had to leave the track another way so the rowdy young crowd would not frighten them. [59]

31. 38

    Melbourne beat Geelong by 4 points in an AFLW final

    What happened

    • Melbourne beat Geelong by 4 points in Saturday's AFL Women's qualifying final, after trailing by 28. [61]
    • Geelong's Chloe Scheer missed a set shot from about 20 metres with 18 seconds left. [61]
    • Melbourne won by 56 points to 52, and go to a preliminary final. [61]
    • "The outcome of the game is not on her," Stinear said of Scheer. [61]

    Who is involved

    Geelong coach Mick Stinear coached Melbourne for 10 seasons. [61]

    • Melbourne 56
    • Geelong 52
    • Mick Stinear Geelong coach, ex-Melbourne

    Why it matters

    Geelong played at Ikon Park, not at home, because their ground was booked for dirt-bike racing. [61]