Sport shorts: Jofra Archer’s Ashes boost for England, second boxer dies in a week, Everton unveil new stadium design
Ten things from the world of sport on Friday 26 July

1. Archer fitness boost for England
Jofra Archer has handed England a boost after it was confirmed that the fast bowler will play for Sussex against Surrey in the Vitality Blast tonight.
If selected the 24-year-old, who was a star of England’s Cricket World Cup win, could be set to make his Test debut against Australia in the first Ashes match at Edgbaston starting on 1 August.
Meanwhile, in the Test match at Lord’s Ireland have been set a target of 182 to win against England, who were 303 all out in their second innings.
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2. Arsenal stars ‘chase off’ moped carjackers
Two Arsenal footballers were yesterday targeted by would-be carjackers riding a moped in north London. Footage circulating on social media appears to show Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac chasing off the men, who are armed with knives, at about 5pm. The men escaped without taking the car and there have been no arrests so far.
Ozil and Kolasinac ‘fine’ after attempted carjacking
3. Boxing mourns another death
The boxing world is mourning the death of a second fighter in the space of a few days. Russian Maxim Dadashev passed away on Tuesday and yesterday it was confirmed that Argentine Hugo Santillan had died from injuries sustained from a fight on Saturday. The World Boxing Council said: “Rest in peace dear champion.”
4. Amir retires from Test cricket
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has announced his retirement from Test cricket. However, the 27-year-old will continue to play one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches. He said: “It has been an honour to represent Pakistan in the pinnacle and traditional format of the game but I have decided to move away from the longer version so I can concentrate on white-ball cricket.”
5. Everton unveil stadium design
Premier League club Everton have revealed the designs for their new stadium. The 52,000-seater ground is expected to cost £500m and will be located on the banks of the River Mersey in Liverpool’s docklands.
6. Fifa Club World Cup dates confirmed
Champions League winners Liverpool will play in the semi-final of the 2019 Fifa Club World Cup in Qatar on Wednesday 18 December. They will then play in the third-placed play-off or final on Saturday 21 December.
7. No panic for Bottas
Valtteri Bottas’s contract at Mercedes expires at the end of the 2019 season, but the Finn is not too concerned about his future just yet. Max Verstappen, George Russell, Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso have been linked with Mercedes, but reports suggest that Bottas’s deal will be extended with the Silver Arrows. Bottas said: “There is no news yet, but also no panic. In terms of performance, I have had my best season so far in F1.”
F1: George Russell ‘absolutely committed’ to Williams despite Mercedes ambition
8. Tour de France comes to a close
After 21 gruelling stages the Tour de France finishes on Sunday with the cyclists riding from Rambouillet to the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Julian Alaphilippe is the current race leader while Egan Bernal, Geraint Thomas, Steven Kruiswijk, Thibaut Pinot and Emanuel Buchmann are also in contention.
2019 sports event calendar and live TV guide: what’s on this weekend?
9. Zaha in demand
The race to sign Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha is heating up with Everton, Arsenal and now Chelsea in the running. It’s claimed that Zaha would prefer a move to Arsenal, but according to reports Everton are in talks with Palace. The Toffees are set to make a £60m bid which includes a player going to Selhurst Park, that player is understood to be striker Cenk Tosun. However, Everton and Arsenal could both miss out on Zaha as Chelsea are also “weighing up a bid”.
Premier League transfer news: Zaha, Kean, Bale, Dybala, Pepe
10. Solskjaer desperate to sign Maguire
Manchester United may be forced to meet Leicester City’s £80m asking price for central defender Harry Maguire. United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to sign the England international after Eric Bailly suffered a knee injury in the 2-1 pre-season win against Tottenham yesterday.
Today’s back pages: Man Utd in a hurry to sign Harry
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