During the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 20 wickets fell, with Australia leading England by 46 runs by day's end. A record crowd of over 93,000 watched as both teams struggled with batting, with England bowled out for 110 in response to Australia's 152.
Key Facts
The match took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with a record crowd of 93,442.
A total of 20 wickets fell on the first day, the most since 1902 at this venue.
Australia ended the day with scores of 152 in their first inning and 4/0 in their second inning.
England was dismissed for 110 runs in their first inning.
Josh Tongue took a career-best 5 wickets for 45 runs for England.
England lost their series as they had already been defeated in three previous matches.
The fall of wickets was rapid, with Australia's bowlers putting England's batters under pressure.
Michael Neser and Scott Boland were key bowlers for Australia, taking crucial wickets.
On Christmas Day, the Detroit Lions were eliminated from NFL play-off contention after losing to the Minnesota Vikings. In other NFL games, the Denver Broncos narrowly defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, possibly marking Travis Kelce's last home game, while the Dallas Cowboys won against the Washington Commanders.
Key Facts
The Detroit Lions lost to the Minnesota Vikings 23-10, ending their play-off hopes.
Jared Goff, the Lions' quarterback, was responsible for five turnovers in the game.
Detroit needed to win their remaining games to qualify for the play-offs, but they failed.
Minnesota's defense was effective, with their quarterback Max Brosmer winning despite low statistics.
Travis Kelce may have played his final home game with the Kansas City Chiefs after losing to the Denver Broncos.
The Denver Broncos won 20-13 against the Chiefs, improving their tight-game record.
The Dallas Cowboys also played and won their game against the Washington Commanders.
In a chaotic first day of the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne, Australia led after bowling England out for 110 runs. This was after Australia scored 152 runs in their first innings. England struggled with their batting, making it one of their lowest totals since their current leadership took charge.
Key Facts
The match is the fourth Ashes Test being played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
On the first day, Australia scored 152 runs, with Michael Neser scoring 35.
England was all out for 110, with Harry Brook scoring 41 runs.
Australian bowlers Michael Neser and Scott Boland took multiple wickets; Neser took four, and Boland took three.
It was the first time since 1909 that 20 wickets fell on an opening day of an Ashes Test.
Australia started their second innings by the end of the first day and had scored 4 runs without losing a wicket.
The crowd at the cricket match was 94,199, which is a record for this venue.
The pitch conditions made it tough for batters, contributing to the high number of wickets lost.
Urban Meyer, a former Ohio State coach, expressed doubt that Kalen DeBoer, Alabama's head coach, would leave for the Michigan Wolverines. DeBoer is currently busy with Alabama's playoff games, and despite rumors, he seems committed to staying with Alabama.
Key Facts
Urban Meyer discussed Kalen DeBoer's possible move from Alabama to Michigan.
DeBoer is currently leading Alabama in a college football playoff run.
Alabama recently won a key game against the Oklahoma Sooners to stay in championship contention.
Michigan is looking for a new coach after firing Sherrone Moore.
DeBoer has publicly stated his intention to remain with Alabama.
There are reports of Michigan trying to recruit DeBoer, but the move appears unlikely.
Meyer believes DeBoer will not leave Alabama, citing the school's strong infrastructure and current controversies surrounding Michigan.
England's cricket team adjusted their bowling strategy in the Ashes series against Australia. By bowling with a fuller length in Melbourne, they succeeded in limiting Australia to 152 runs, improving their performance significantly.
Key Facts
England changed their bowling approach to use a fuller length.
The new average length in Melbourne was 6.89 meters compared to 7.85 meters in earlier tests.
Australia scored only 152 runs on the first day in Melbourne.
Josh Tongue took five wickets by bowling deliveries in the fuller length area.
England's fuller bowling in Melbourne was the second-fullest under coach Brendon McCullum.
England's bowlers received positive feedback for their focused strategy, contrasting with their earlier struggles.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce discussed retirement possibilities after a loss to the Denver Broncos. Kelce joked about quitting after seeing a large Powerball jackpot but said he will decide his future with family and the Chiefs organization. He has one game left this season and is not under contract for 2026.
Key Facts
Travis Kelce is a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs lost to the Denver Broncos, 20-13.
Kelce, 36 years old, plans to consider retirement but has not made a final decision.
He joked about retiring only after seeing a large lottery prize.
Kelce has one more game this season and is not under contract for 2026.
He played alongside a third-string quarterback, Chris Oladokun, due to team injuries.
Kelce is expected to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame after retiring.
Travis Kelce, a Kansas City Chiefs player, may retire after this NFL season. His recent game against the Denver Broncos marked his last home game of the season and possibly his career. The Chiefs lost to the Broncos, leaving them out of playoff contention.
Key Facts
Travis Kelce is a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.
There is speculation that he may retire after this NFL season.
Kelce's recent game against the Denver Broncos was possibly his final home game.
Kansas City Chiefs lost to the Broncos with a score of 20-13.
Travis Kelce made five receptions for 36 yards in the game.
Chiefs are no longer in the playoff race with a current record of 6-10.
Kelce will play one more game this season against the Los Angeles Chargers.
He plans to discuss retirement decisions with family, friends, and team when the time comes.
Snoop Dogg headlined the NFL halftime show during a game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. His performance featured several of his hits, guest performances, and a mix of holiday songs. The show included several guest artists such as Lainey Wilson and Andrea Bocelli.
Key Facts
Snoop Dogg performed at the NFL halftime show for a game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.
The event took place at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
He began with songs from Dr. Dre like "The Next Episode" and "Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang."
Snoop Dogg also performed holiday music such as "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
Guest performers included EJAE, Audrey Nuna, Rei Ami, Lainey Wilson, and Andrea Bocelli.
Lainey Wilson performed "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."
The show concluded with "White Christmas," featuring Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo Bocelli.
Australia quickly took three wickets from England at the start of the fourth Ashes Test cricket match in Melbourne. England began their innings with a score of 8-3 within the first five overs.
Key Facts
The match is part of the Ashes series between Australia and England.
It is the fourth Test match of the series.
Australia got three early wickets against England.
England's score was 8-3 early in their innings.
The match is being played in Melbourne.
The report is specifically about day one of the match.
In the fourth Ashes Test match in Melbourne, Brydon Carse bowled Mitchell Starc out, but there was a close call about whether Carse bowled a no-ball. A no-ball is when a bowler steps over the line on the pitch, which is not allowed.
Key Facts
England and Australia are playing in the fourth Ashes Test match in Melbourne.
England's bowler Brydon Carse took the wicket of Australia's Mitchell Starc.
There was a question about whether Carse bowled a no-ball, which means his foot was close to stepping over the line.
Replay showed that Carse narrowly avoided stepping over the line.
Australia was at 152-8 on the first day of this Test match.
The live coverage of the match is available only to UK users.
Josh Tongue took his third wicket by getting Steve Smith out for nine runs. This left Australia with a score of 51-4 on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.
Key Facts
Josh Tongue is a cricket player.
He took his third wicket in the innings.
Steve Smith was dismissed for nine runs.
Australia's team score was 51-4 when Smith was out.
The match is part of the Ashes series.
It is the fourth Test of the series, happening in Melbourne.
On the first day of the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne, Gus Atkinson from England got an early wicket by dismissing Travis Head, who scored 12 runs. This left Australia with a score of 27-1.
Key Facts
Gus Atkinson dismissed Travis Head during the cricket match.
Travis Head scored 12 runs before getting out.
The event took place on the first day of the fourth Ashes Test.
The match is being held in Melbourne, Australia.
At the time of Head's dismissal, Australia's score was 27-1.
The Ashes Test matches are a series of cricket games between England and Australia.
There is speculation that Travis Kelce might retire after the Kansas City Chiefs' recent game against the Denver Broncos. Kelce has not yet made a final decision and will consider his future after the season ends. He plans to discuss retirement with his family before deciding.
Key Facts
Travis Kelce played what could be his last home game for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs lost the game against the Denver Broncos with a score of 20-13.
Fans showed strong support for Kelce during what might be his final home appearance.
Kelce mentioned he will think about retirement after consulting with his family.
NFL legend Tony Gonzalez suggested Kelce could be considering retirement.
Kelce will play at least one more game against the Las Vegas Raiders before making his decision.
The retirement decision will take place during the offseason.
The Kansas City Chiefs played a home game against the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day, which might have been Travis Kelce's last home game for the Chiefs. After the game, Kelce exchanged a notable handshake with Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, which drew reactions from fans and the NFL. At age 36, Kelce's future with the team is uncertain as he is set to become a free agent.
Key Facts
The game between the Chiefs and Broncos took place on Christmas Day.
The Chiefs lost 20–13 to the Broncos.
Travis Kelce, a veteran tight end for the Chiefs, may have played his last home game for the team.
Kelce shared a notable handshake with Broncos quarterback Bo Nix after the game.
The NFL posted about the handshake, which sparked reactions from fans.
At 36, Kelce is going to be a free agent.
Kelce has had a successful career with three Super Bowl wins.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day with a score of 119-96. Lakers head coach JJ Redick openly criticized his team for their poor performance and emphasized the need for improvement in future games.
Key Facts
The Lakers lost to the Rockets with a score of 119-96.
JJ Redick criticized the Lakers for their inconsistent performance after the game.
The Lakers have a record of 19 wins and 10 losses for the season.
Austin Reaves, a key Lakers player, left the game early due to a calf issue.
The Lakers are on a three-game losing streak.
The team is scheduled to practice on Saturday and plays against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
The upcoming game against the Kings is seen as a chance for the Lakers to regain confidence.
The Lakers currently trail teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets in the standings.
Newcastle United's head coach, Eddie Howe, mentioned that plans for upgrading the club's stadium and training ground are uncertain. The team is still deciding whether to expand St James' Park or build a new stadium, and while training facilities are improving, a long-term solution is needed. CEO David Hopkinson said the club will remain at its current stadium for many years.
Key Facts
Eddie Howe is Newcastle United's head coach.
Newcastle's stadium plans are undecided; options include expanding St James' Park or building a new stadium.
Current improvements are underway at Newcastle's training ground, but a new site may be needed.
St James' Park was once one of the largest stadiums in the UK but has been surpassed by others in capacity.
The club remains at St James' Park in its current form for the foreseeable future.
Financial gaps exist between Newcastle and other top clubs in terms of match-day and commercial income.
Howe emphasized that while facilities are important, decisions should be well-thought-out, even if they take time.
The goal is to improve facilities to reflect the club's ambition.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim stated that players will only leave the team during the January transfer window if suitable replacements can be found. Several players, such as Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee, are eager to play more but face restrictions due to squad limitations. Amorim emphasizes a long-term strategy, stating unplanned departures could weaken the team's depth.
Key Facts
Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim will not let players leave unless replacements are found.
Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee are looking for more playing time, with Mainoo interested in a loan move.
Even with players returning from injury and international duty, Amorim believes the squad is too small to let players go without replacements.
Seven senior players will miss the Boxing Day match against Newcastle.
Manchester United is considering new signings in January, but potential targets should fit a long-term plan.
Amad Diallo, Noussair Mazraoui, and others are expected to return to the squad soon.
Casemiro and Harry Maguire may discuss moves with other clubs starting January 1.
Amorim believes Kobbie Mainoo could be a key player for the club's future despite limited playtime.
The Los Angeles Lakers faced the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day, losing their player, Austin Reaves, to a calf injury during the game. Reaves had played part of the first half before being ruled out for the remainder due to calf soreness, a recurring issue for him. His status for upcoming games, starting with the December 28 match against the Sacramento Kings, remains uncertain.
Key Facts
Austin Reaves left the Lakers' Christmas Day game against the Rockets due to a sore left calf.
Reaves played 15 minutes in the first half and scored 12 points with one rebound, one assist, and one block.
Reaves had recently returned to play against the Phoenix Suns after missing three games due to a calf injury.
The Lakers lost their game against the Suns despite Reaves contributing 17 points.
The Lakers' match against the Rockets was their second consecutive loss.
If Reaves is unavailable, this could impact the Lakers' standing in the Western Conference, where they are currently fourth.
The Lakers are set to play against the Sacramento Kings on December 28, and Reaves’ participation is still unclear.
The Denver Nuggets play the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA game on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. The game features star players like Nikola Jokić for the Nuggets and Anthony Edwards for the Timberwolves, and will be broadcast on ESPN. Fans can watch the game live through different streaming services such as Fubo.
Key Facts
The game is scheduled for December 25, 2025, at 10:30 PM ET.
It will be broadcast on TV channels ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
Nikola Jokić, playing for the Nuggets, is averaging 28.9 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 10.9 assists per game.
The Denver Nuggets have a strong offense, leading the NBA in assists per game.
Anthony Edwards, from the Timberwolves, is averaging 28.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game.
The Timberwolves are ranked 5th in the Western Conference.
The Nuggets have won both matchups against the Timberwolves in 2025 so far.
Fans can live stream the game using services like Fubo, which offers a free trial.
The Detroit Lions lost to the Minnesota Vikings, ending their hopes of making the playoffs. The Lions' coach, Dan Campbell, expressed disappointment and took responsibility for the season's outcome. The team struggled with turnovers and their offense couldn't overcome the Vikings' defense.
Key Facts
The Detroit Lions lost 23-10 to the Minnesota Vikings.
This loss officially eliminated the Lions from the playoff race.
The Lions experienced their third straight loss.
Coach Dan Campbell admitted disappointment and took blame for the team's performance.
The Lions' quarterback, Jared Goff, was intercepted twice and sacked five times.
Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery were limited to 66 yards combined.
The team's next and final game is against the Chicago Bears.
