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England cricketer Ben Duckett has made a significant decision to pull out of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) to focus on his career with the England Test team. Duckett was signed by Delhi Capitals at the IPL auction in December for a substantial £200,000, but he has now withdrawn from the tournament. The decision comes after a combination of a poor Ashes series, where he played all five Tests with a highest score of 42, and heavy travel following his reserve duties at the recent T20 World Cup. Duckett believes that playing for Nottinghamshire will help him regain his form and secure his place in the England team. “It was a very difficult decision, and I want to apologise to everyone at Delhi that I won’t be coming,” Duckett told the Telegraph. “I’ve spent a lot of time away from home in different places, and it felt like the best thing for me to do to be ready to play for England is to be here right now, at home, refreshing my mind and body.” Under IPL rules, players who withdraw from the tournament for reasons other than injury face a three-year ban. Duckett follows in the footsteps of Harry Brook, who also signed for Delhi in 2025 before pulling out to prioritise his England career. Duckett’s recent performances have been under scrutiny, particularly after a video of him drunk on a night out during the team’s mid-tour break in Noosa was published on social media. He has since apologised for the incident, acknowledging that it was unprofessional. The England team is currently under pressure to refresh its lineup after the Ashes defeat. While Duckett’s opening partner, Zak Crawley, may be the likelier to make way for a newcomer, Duckett has shown promise since his return to the Test team in 2022, averaging 42 with six centuries.

David Squires presents his unique visual perspective on the recent Carabao Cup final, where Manchester City emerged victorious over Arsenal in a compelling showdown at Wembley Stadium. The acclaimed cartoonist captures the essence of the match through his distinctive artistic style, focusing on pivotal moments that defined the contest.In his latest work, Squires examines the significant decisions that influenced the outcome, offering insightful commentary that resonates with football enthusiasts. The cartoon strips showcase the tactical battle between the two Premier League giants, with particular attention to the master-apprentice dynamic between the respective managers.One notable highlight featured in Squires' cartoon is the audacious performance of a young player whose cheeky antics and skillful play caught the attention of spectators and critics alike. The cartoonist effectively immortalizes these moments through his signature visual storytelling approach.The artwork provides a lighthearted yet perceptive take on the competitive nature of the cup final, illustrating how Manchester City ultimately secured their triumph over their London rivals. Squires' ability to distill complex match dynamics into accessible and entertaining visuals continues to make his work a favorite among Guardian readers.For those interested in exploring more of Squires' football commentary, the article includes links to purchase his cartoons and his latest book, 'Chaos in the Box,' which showcases his collection of sports-related artwork.

The Guardian is calling on readers to share their favorite books they've read recently as part of their ongoing 'what we're reading' series. Readers can recommend fiction or non-fiction books they've enjoyed by filling out a secure online form. The form is encrypted, ensuring that only The Guardian has access to the contributions.Share Your RecommendationsTo participate, readers simply need to provide their recommendations and contact information. One of The Guardian's journalists will be in touch before publishing the recommendations.For those having trouble with the form, an alternative link is provided: click here. Readers can also access The Guardian's terms of service and privacy policy for more information.

Isis Sio, a 19-year-old junior flyweight boxer, has made a significant recovery after being placed in a medically induced coma following a knockout loss in her fourth professional fight. According to her promoter and family, Sio is now awake and breathing on her own.Although still in intensive care, Sio has been weaned off the ventilator, as announced by ProBox TV on Monday. Her camp expressed hope for her continued progression and mentioned that she is under the care of three specialized medical divisions closely monitoring her condition.The knockout loss occurred just 78 seconds into her bout against Jocelyn Camarillo at San Bernardino’s National Orange Show Event Center last Saturday. Camarillo, a three-time amateur national champion with a previous record of 5-0, secured the win.Sio, born in North Dakota and the state’s only active female boxer, has faced challenges in her professional career, having lost three of her four bouts since her debut last September. Her previous fight also ended in a knockout loss due to a series of heavy body blows.Camarillo expressed her respect for Sio, stating, “Nothing but respect. Keeping her in my prayers and wishing her healing and a full recovery,” on Instagram after the fight.

Movsar Evloev from Russia has secured a significant victory over Lerone Murphy at UFC Fight Night 270 held at the O2 Arena. Despite receiving a point deduction for a foul, Evloev managed to edge out a majority decision win over Murphy. This triumph likely sets him up for a highly anticipated featherweight title shot against champion Alexander Volkanovski.The bout was a clash of styles, with Evloev, known for his wrestling, attempting to showcase his striking abilities, while Murphy displayed impressive defensive skills on the ground. Evloev successfully took the fight to the mat in the third round but Murphy quickly regained his footing.In the fourth round, Evloev committed a foul with a kick to Murphy's groin, resulting in a point deduction. However, Evloev intensified his grappling attack in the final round, which proved sufficient for him to secure the win, with two judges scoring the fight 48-46 in his favor and the third judge scoring it a draw 47-47 after accounting for the deduction.This victory marks a significant milestone for Evloev, positioning him for a potential title fight against Volkanovski. For Murphy, it was his first career defeat in the UFC.

Japan has emerged victorious in the Women's Asian Cup, claiming their third title in the tournament. The decisive match against Australia ended with a 1-0 win for Japan, thanks to a stunning long-range goal by Maika Hamano in the 17th minute.The match, held at Stadium Australia in Sydney, was attended by a record-breaking 74,357 fans, marking a significant milestone in the growth of women's football. This victory adds to Japan's previous titles in 2014 and 2018, both of which were also won against Australia with a 1-0 scoreline.The tournament saw a substantial increase in attendance, with over 350,000 fans attending matches, approximately six times the previous record set in 2010. The Asian Cup also served as a qualifier for the 2026 World Cup in Brazil, with six teams—Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, North Korea, and the Philippines—securing their spots.Japan's team, featuring several English-based players, demonstrated exceptional skill throughout the tournament, scoring 29 goals and conceding only one across six games. Despite a strong performance from Australia, Japan's solid defense and fluid gameplay secured their victory.The final match was intense, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. However, Japan's defense held strong, particularly in the final minutes, as Alanna Kennedy's late attempt was thwarted, ensuring Japan's rock-solid defense preserved the win.

Marco Bezzecchi of Aprilia dominated the MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, securing his fourth consecutive win and taking the lead in the championship standings.Starting from the second position on the grid, the 27-year-old Italian rider quickly seized the lead and maintained it throughout the race, marking his second win of the year after triumphing at the Thailand Grand Prix earlier in the month.The race saw track degradation concerns and scorching temperatures, prompting a reduction in the race distance from 31 laps to 23, announced just before the start. Bezzecchi's teammate, Jorge Martin, finished second, while VR46's Fabio Di Giannantonio secured third place, holding off defending champion Marc Marquez.Bezzecchi attributed his victory to adjustments made to his riding style and the efforts of his team, who worked tirelessly to improve the bike's performance after a challenging Friday practice session. He dedicated the win to his friend Roberto Lunadei, a mechanic who passed away in a road traffic accident the previous week.With this victory, Bezzecchi now leads the championship standings by 11 points over KTM's Pedro Acosta. The MotoGP action will shift to the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, scheduled for March 27-29.

Real Madrid fought back to beat Atletico Madrid 3-2 in a thrilling Spanish capital derby on Sunday, courtesy of a brace from Vinicius Jr. The win keeps Alvaro Arbeloa's side within four points of La Liga leaders Barcelona.Atletico's Ademola Lookman opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a slick counterattack, but Vinicius Jr equalized from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute after David Hancko tripped Brahim Diaz. Federico Valverde then put Real ahead 2-1 with a goal capitalizing on a Jose Maria Gimenez error.Nahuel Molina silenced the Bernabeu stadium with a thunderous 30-metre strike in the 66th minute, but Vinicius Jr restored Real's lead with a cracking solo effort six minutes later. Despite Valverde's red card for an inexplicable challenge, Real held firm to secure the win.Arbeloa praised his side for showing 'pure Real Madrid mentality' to emerge with a difficult win, while Atletico boss Diego Simeone said his side deserved more from the game.

Oil prices are continuing to rise as markets see no end in sight to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The critical waterway, which usually transports about one-fifth of the global oil supply, has been brought to a standstill by Iran in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes on the country.Brent crude, the most important benchmark for global prices, rose as much as 3 percent on Sunday to top $106 a barrel, before easing slightly early on Monday to $104.63 a barrel, up nearly 1.5 percent. This represents a more than 40 percent increase in global oil prices since the start of the war.US President Donald Trump has called on other countries to help Washington reopen the Strait, but his proposal has received a muted response. None of the countries he appealed to by name – including China, Japan, France, and the UK – have publicly committed to deploying their navies to secure the strait. Japan and Australia have both stated they have no plans to send ships to the critical waterway.The closure of the strait has resulted in what the International Energy Agency has called the largest disruption to global energy supplies in history. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre, no more than five ships have passed through the strait each day since the start of the war, compared with a historical average of 138 daily transits. At least 16 commercial vessels have been attacked in the region since the war began on February 28.Trump has repeatedly stated he is willing to deploy the US Navy to escort commercial shipping through the strait if necessary. However, Trump administration officials have said that warships will not be deployed to the waterway until Tehran's military capacity has been further degraded.