Ten major controversies in Test cricket were ranked by a panel from Test Match Special and BBC Sport readers, with results shared on the TMS podcast. The list includes well-known incidents like the “sandpapergate” scandal, ball-tampering allegations, and disputes over umpiring.
Key Facts
Australia is playing its first Test match in South Africa since the sandpapergate scandal happened eight years ago.
Test Match Special selected and ranked ten big scandals in Test cricket history with input from a BBC Sport audience.
One scandal involved Pakistan being found guilty of ball-tampering in a 2006 match against England, which led to the match being forfeited.
In 1987, a Test match between England and Pakistan was stopped over a conflict between England’s captain Mike Gatting and umpire Shakoor Rana.
The 1975 Ashes series saw a Test game cancelled after the pitch was vandalized by supporters of George Davis.
Kerry Packer created World Series Cricket to improve TV ratings by recruiting top players, causing disruption in the cricket world.
Before neutral umpires were introduced, concerns about fairness and bias in umpiring were common in international cricket.
The scandal rankings were revealed and discussed by cricket commentators Jonathan Agnew, Steven Finn, and Andy Zaltzman on the TMS podcast.
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Lionel Messi played his last game for Argentina in a friendly match against Benin, ending a 21-year career with the national team. About 85,000 fans attended the stadium in Buenos Aires to say goodbye to the football star.
Key Facts
Lionel Messi’s final game for Argentina was a friendly match against Benin.
His international career lasted 21 years.
Messi was the captain of Argentina’s World Cup-winning team.
He is widely considered one of the greatest football players ever.
Around 85,000 people came to the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires for his farewell.
The match marked the end of Messi’s long and successful time playing for his country.
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The United States men’s soccer team beat Canada 1-0 in Minnesota, with Justin Ellis scoring the only goal. The match was physical and had many fouls, but the US team kept a clean sheet with goalkeeper Brian Schwake making his first international start.
Key Facts
The game took place in Minnesota on a cool autumn evening.
Justin Ellis scored for the US with a quick finish, marking his second goal in three games.
Brian Schwake was the US goalkeeper and kept a clean sheet (no goals allowed) in his first match for the national team.
There were 43 fouls during the game, with the US committing one fewer than Canada.
The match was physical and stop-start, with many interruptions from fouls.
Canada has a history of playing aggressively, having many fouls and yellow cards in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
US players tried to maintain possession and break down Canada’s defense, but the flow of the game was often disrupted.
The referee was Steven Madrigal from Costa Rica, who had to carefully manage 50/50 challenges and fouls.
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Lionel Messi played his last game for Argentina in Buenos Aires, scoring a goal and helping his team win 3-0 against Benin. The match was a special event where 85,000 fans gathered to celebrate Messi’s 21-year international career, highlighting his achievements including the 2022 World Cup win.
Key Facts
Lionel Messi ended his international career with Argentina on October 6, 2026.
He scored his 126th international goal and assisted the first goal in a 3-0 win over Benin.
The match took place at Buenos Aires' Monumental Stadium with 85,000 supporters attending.
Messi played 208 international games, the most by any Argentine player.
A minute-long tribute happened in the 10th minute, honoring Messi’s jersey number 10.
Messi was visibly emotional, wiping tears as he arrived and at the end of the game.
The University of Buenos Aires gave Messi an honorary doctorate before the match.
A drone show displayed Messi’s image and thanked him after the final whistle.
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Two yellow Labrador dogs named Stella and Mabel jumped into a big pile of leaves during the first leaf pile jump of the fall season at Jody Hartman’s home. This lighthearted event was captured in a video shared by CBS News.
Key Facts
Jody Hartman raked leaves into a large pile for his dogs.
The dogs’ names are Stella and Mabel.
Stella and Mabel are yellow Labrador retrievers.
The dogs jumped into the leaf pile for the first time this fall.
Tony Dokoupil reported the story for CBS News.
The video is part of CBS Evening News coverage.
The event highlights a simple outdoor activity for dogs in autumn.
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The United States men's national soccer team (USMNT) played a friendly match against Canada. The game featured many young players and was seen as a chance for the US team to continue its recent strong performance following a 3-0 win over Mexico.
Key Facts
The USMNT and Canada played an international friendly soccer match.
Both teams included many young, up-and-coming players.
The US recently beat Mexico 3-0 with notable performances by young players.
Canada’s coach, Jesse Marsch, is originally from the USA.
Alphonso Davies from Canada did not play because he is on his honeymoon.
Several US players made their first appearances or started in the match.
The match is seen as a low-pressure game to test new players and strategies.
The US and Canada share the world’s longest border (5,525 miles / 8,891 km).
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England’s football team is recovering after losing to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final. Coach Thomas Tuchel is using recent Nations League games to test players and build a strong team led by captain Harry Kane, who recently matched the record for most appearances and continues to score frequently.
Key Facts
England lost to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final.
Thomas Tuchel is the head coach of England’s football team.
Harry Kane has made 125 appearances for England, tying a national record.
Kane has scored 91 goals for England, the most in the country’s history.
England’s key attacking players include Kane, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, and Jude Bellingham.
New players like Morgan Gibbs-White have joined the squad after initially being left out.
Midfielder Alex Scott had a strong debut but is currently injured.
Declan Rice, an important midfielder, is being rested to manage his fitness.
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Scotland’s national football team lost 2-1 to Slovenia at Hampden, showing defensive problems and lack of control in the game. The Scottish coach, Sebastien Pocognoli, changed tactics late in the match, but the team struggled to respond effectively, leading to their defeat.
Key Facts
Scotland played against Slovenia at Hampden Stadium and lost 2-1.
Scotland’s defense, especially the back three players, was repeatedly exposed by Slovenia’s attacks.
Slovenia scored twice in the second half, including a goal by Aljosa Matko.
Scotland’s coach Sebastien Pocognoli changed the team’s formation and players late, trying to even the score.
Scotland had a quiet and unenergetic game with few clear chances.
Scotland lost 2-1 to Slovenia in a Nations League football match, after leading at halftime. Scotland’s team captain, Andy Robertson, said the team was outplayed and did not perform well, while Slovenia scored two goals in the second half to win the game.
Key Facts
Scotland led 1-0 at halftime with a goal by Ryan Christie.
Slovenia scored two second-half goals by Danijel Sturm and Aljosa Matko to win 2-1.
Scotland captain Andy Robertson said the team was "outfought" and "not good enough."
Slovenia appeared fresher and more determined despite playing the same number of games.
Scotland’s new manager, Sebastien Pocognoli, aims for a more attacking style but the team struggled in this match.
Some former players and analysts expressed doubts about Scotland’s defensive tactics and team performance.
This loss followed a positive win over North Macedonia in Scotland’s previous game.
Scotland’s head coach Pocognoli is being tested after a mixed run of recent matches.
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Thousands of fans gathered at Buenos Aires' Monumental stadium to watch Lionel Messi play his last match for Argentina's national soccer team. Messi, who has been the team's captain and top scorer for 21 years and helped Argentina win the World Cup, said it is time for younger players to take over.
Key Facts
Lionel Messi is playing his final international match for Argentina.
Messi has been part of Argentina's national team for 21 years.
He is the team's all-time top scorer.
Messi captained Argentina to a World Cup victory.
The match took place at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
Thousands of fans came to support Messi in his last game.
Messi said he is stepping down so a new generation can lead the team.
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Lionel Messi is playing his farewell match for Argentina in a friendly game against Benin at Estadio Monumental. The article highlights Messi’s impressive career, his importance to Argentina’s national team, and the significance of this final appearance.
Key Facts
Lionel Messi is part of Argentina’s starting lineup for his farewell match.
Argentina is playing against Benin, a team ranked 93rd in the FIFA world rankings.
The match is a friendly game, meaning it is not part of a tournament or competition.
Messi has had a long and successful international career with Argentina, including World Cup appearances.
There was a period when Messi briefly retired from international football in 2016 but returned after public support.
Argentina often plays friendlies against lower-ranked teams for easier logistics and financial reasons.
The match is being broadcast in the U.S. on Vix, a Miami-based streaming service.
This game is seen as a chance for Argentina and its fans to celebrate Messi’s contribution to football.
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Harry Kane played his 125th game for England, matching the record for most appearances. He scored twice in England’s 3-0 win against Czechia in the Nations League, helping his team continue their winning streak.
Key Facts
Harry Kane equaled the England men’s appearance record with 125 caps, matching Peter Shilton.
Kane scored his 90th and 91st goals for England in the match at Wembley Stadium.
England won 3-0 against Czechia in their third straight Nations League victory.
The first goal came from an own goal by Czech defender Vladimir Coufal after a cross from Kane.
Kane scored again five minutes before half-time and once more with a header in the second half.
England’s head coach, Thomas Tuchel, made several changes but kept Kane on until late in the game.
England now has nine points from four Nations League games, aiming for a top-two finish in Group A3.
Trent Alexander-Arnold returned to the team for the first time in two years and played right-back.
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Mikel Merino scored two goals to help Spain win 2-1 against Croatia in the Nations League quarter-finals, securing Spain’s place in the next round. Croatia took the lead first, but Spain equalized early in the second half, and a red card for Croatia helped Spain score the winning goal.
Key Facts
Mikel Merino scored both goals for Spain in their 2-1 win over Croatia.
Ivan Perisic scored first for Croatia but was sent off with a second yellow card near the end.
Spain remains undefeated for 42 consecutive games.
Spain leads Group A3 by three points over England.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon made several key saves during the match.
Croatia had lost 7-0 to England in their previous game.
Merino entered as a substitute and scored both goals after the break.
Spain’s win ensured they qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals with two games left.
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England won 3-0 against the Czech Republic in a Nations League match at Wembley with Harry Kane scoring two goals. The article reviews player performances, highlighting different players’ contributions and ratings after the game.
Key Facts
Harry Kane scored two goals and reached his 125th game for England, tying a national record.
England beat the Czech Republic 3-0 in the Nations League match.
Jordan Pickford had some shaky moments and may face competition for his goalkeeper position.
Trent Alexander-Arnold performed well, especially in handling opponents who play deep.
Several young players, such as Jarell Quansah and Lewis Hall, showed promising performances.
Jude Bellingham played well but was not as strong as in a recent game against Croatia.
Substitutes like James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite gained valuable international experience.
The article included player ratings from both BBC Sport staff and fans through an online rater.
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A big fan of Lionel Messi named Yadil M Iqbal traveled from Kerala, India, to Buenos Aires, Argentina. He went there to watch Messi play his last international soccer game against Benin.
Key Facts
Yadil M Iqbal is a huge fan of Lionel Messi.
Yadil traveled all the way from Kerala, India to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The purpose of his trip was to see Messi’s final international match.
Messi’s last game was against the team from Benin.
This event marks the end of Messi’s international soccer career.
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Lane Johnson, a star player for the Philadelphia Eagles, has retired after 14 seasons in the NFL. He decided to stop playing to focus on his mental health and spend more time with his family.
Key Facts
Lane Johnson played as a right tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles for 14 seasons.
He is a two-time first-team All-Pro and was selected to the Pro Bowl six times.
Johnson announced his retirement at age 36, citing mental health and family as his main reasons.
He had planned to play one more season but changed his mind after thinking it over.
Johnson thanked the Eagles organization, teammates, and fans in his retirement statement.
He missed several games and practices recently due to personal reasons before retiring.
Johnson helped the Eagles reach three Super Bowls and won two of them.
He was drafted fourth overall by the Eagles in the 2013 NFL draft and spent his entire career with the team.
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Cristiano Ronaldo said Portugal coach Jorge Jesus broke promises about playing time and public explanations, which led Ronaldo to leave the training camp before a match. Ronaldo apologized for not greeting fans and leaving his teammates but said he remains available for future games after any punishment.
Key Facts
Ronaldo claimed coach Jorge Jesus agreed he would miss two matches to manage fitness but then asked him to play 30 minutes in one game.
Ronaldo warmed up but was not put into the game, which he said broke the coach's promise.
A later meeting supposedly resulted in an agreement that Jesus would publicly clarify the situation, but Jesus did not follow through as promised.
Ronaldo left the Portugal team camp because, he said, Jesus broke his word twice.
Jesus denied making any agreement with Ronaldo but left open the possibility that Ronaldo could return.
Ronaldo apologized for not greeting fans and for abandoning his teammates during the controversy.
Ronaldo said he is still willing to play for Portugal if he stays fit and scores goals for his club.
The Portuguese Football Federation has not responded yet to Ronaldo’s public statement.
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Cristiano Ronaldo says he will not retire from playing for Portugal's national football team, despite leaving the team camp after being left out of starting lineups. He admits he should be punished for breaking the coach’s trust and says he accepts any consequences the Portuguese Football Federation decides.
Key Facts
Ronaldo left Portugal’s team camp after not playing against Norway and learning he would not start against Denmark.
He has scored 146 goals in 234 games for Portugal, both world records.
Ronaldo helped Portugal win the 2016 European Championship and the Nations League twice.
He publicly said he should be punished for leaving the team and accepts the consequences.
Portugal’s coach, Jorge Jesus, said Ronaldo can still return to the national team.
Ronaldo said he wants to keep playing for Portugal if he remains physically fit and is scoring goals.
He said he will be available for selection after any suspension ends.
Ronaldo currently plays for the Saudi club Al-Nassr.
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The US men’s national soccer team will play an international friendly match against Canada in Minnesota. This game follows recent wins for both teams, and fans can watch it on FS2 or stream it on Fubo.
Key Facts
The US team recently beat Mexico 3-0 and is aiming for a fourth win in a row.
Canada has won its last two matches against the US and had recent wins over Chile and Peru.
The game will be at Allianz Field in St Paul, Minnesota, starting at 8 pm Eastern Time.
US viewers can watch the match on FS2 or stream it via Fubo, while Canadians can stream it on Fubo.
The US coach, Mauricio Pochettino, is using young players like 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan, who scored his first international goal recently.
Canada’s coach, Jesse Marsch, believes his team can beat many opponents but must control key moments in the game.
Pochettino may change the US team lineup because of the busy schedule and to give more players a chance.
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Harry Kane has played 125 times for England, matching the record for the most appearances held by Peter Shilton for 36 years. Kane is England’s top scorer with 89 goals and began his international career by scoring within two minutes of his first game.
Key Facts
Harry Kane made his 125th England appearance against the Czech Republic in the Nations League.
This appearance ties Peter Shilton’s record for most England caps, set 36 years ago.
Kane has scored 89 goals for England, the highest in the country’s history.
He started his international career with a goal just 79 seconds into his debut.
Kane began playing football as a goalkeeper at age six before becoming a striker.
He played youth football for Ridgeway Rovers, the same club David Beckham once played for.
Arsenal and Watford both initially passed on signing him as a young player.
Kane attended Chingford Foundation School, where he was known for strong work ethic and skill.
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