Manchester Giants have returned their local core of North West talent as Jack Hudson, David Ulph, and Jordan Whelan have all agreed contract extensions for the 2021-22 British Basketball League (BBL) campaign.

All three made strong contributions last season, starting a combined 54 games, playing a total of over 2400 minutes, and combing for 31 points, 15 rebounds, and 7 assists for the team per outing. That chemistry was evident as the group of local stars go way back, with Hudson and Whelan having played alongside each other for North West teams as juniors; while Hudson and Ulph have played on the same teams progressing through the divisions in the last five years for both Liverpool Basketball Club and Lancashire Spinners.

As the one-year countdown began, a festival of sport was showcased as many of the events that will be part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games programme – including a boxing ring, basketball court, netball court, squash court and sprint track - was on show in Centenary Square in the city.

Up to 10 thletes from Nigeria will not be allowed to take part in the Tokyo Olympic Games, for failing to meet the minimum testing requirements under Rule 15 of the Anti-doping Rules. Another 10 athletes from Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco and Ukraine were also disqualified.

In a statemen released by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), athletes from ‘Category A’ countries grouped as ‘high risk’ because of deficiencies in their testing programmes were required to undergone at least three no-notice out-of-competition tests (urine and blood) in the 10 months leading to a major event.

Former footballers from seven Midlands clubs will try their hand at a different sport in aid of a mental health charity.

Leicester City’s Alan Smith, Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock and West Bromwich Albion’s Chris Brunt are just some of the names who will be playing in The Midlands Legends Charity Golf Day in support of The Kaleidoscope Plus Group. Event organisers Watson Metters Golf have organised the event in aid of the charity which supports people living with mental ill health and are encouraging keen golfers and football fans alike to join in the fun and form a team.

Gary Wheway, Head of Business Development and Fundraising said: “We’re excited to be clubbing together with Watson Metters Golf to launch the first Midlands Legends Charity Golf Day in support of Kaleidoscope.

“It’s going to be a great day and we’ve got some big names involved. You could be teeing off in a team of four alongside one of your favourite footballing legends in a bid to be crowned champion team of the Midlands.

“There will be prizes for closest to the pin and fines for anyone that goes in the bunkers. We’ve also got a live interactive scoreboard so no matter where you are on the course, you’ll know who you’ve got to beat to reach the top of the board.” The event will be held at the Forest of Arden Golf Club, an 18-hole course, in Birmingham, on October 29 and compered by Talksport’s Tom Ross.

Mike Watson from Watson Metters added: “With household names taking part representing Wolves, West Brom, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Leicester City, Derby County and Nottingham Forest the day is shaping up to be one to remember.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to work alongside the Kaleidoscope Plus Group. We have no doubt the day will be the springboard for a fantastic relationship for years to come and we can't wait to see the benefits the day will bring to those that need it most.”

All players will receive breakfast before the action on the course begins. This will then be followed by a dinner reception in the evening which includes a live auction, prize giving and entertainment. Golf and Dinner Tickets are £199pp+VAT with dinner-only tickets and sponsorship packages also available.

It’s a sell out at Edgbaston for Birmingham Phoenix on Sunday 1 August as the women’s and men’s team return home to play their second home games in The Hundred versus Midlands’ rivals Trent Rockets.

Having welcomed more than 12,000 spectators for the first back-to-back games at Edgbaston one week ago, ticket sales have soared with Sunday sold out and limited space available for the subsequent home games against Oval Invincibles (Wednesday August 4) and Welsh Fire (Monday August 9).

India's Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar and Avesh Khan have been ruled out of the Test series against England because of injury.

Opening batsman Gill returned home to India after suffering a shin injury in June's World Test Championship final defeat by New Zealand. All-rounder Sundar misses out with a finger injury, while fast bowler Khan fractured his thumb in a warm-up match.

Batsmen Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav have been named as replacements. The pair have been called up from India's second-string squad which is currently playing Twenty20 series in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has linked up with the squad in England after recovering from Covid-19, while bowling coach Bharat Arun and Wriddhiman Saha and Abhimanyu Easwaran have completed their period of isolation. The first Test in the five-match series begins on August 4 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

India's squad: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohd. Shami, Md. Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prithvi Shaw, Suryakumar Yadav.