South Africa have announced their playing XI for the first Test against Zimbabwe, handing international debuts to exciting young talents Dewald Brevis, Codi Yusuf, and wicketkeeper-batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius. The selection signals a new era for the Proteas, as they rest key players like Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, and Tristan Stubbs for the series. With several senior stars absent, this match presents a golden opportunity for the newcomers to make an immediate impact on the international stage.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe, led by experienced skipper Craig Ervine, will be eager to turn around their poor record against their southern African neighbors. The hosts have struggled in recent encounters, losing eight of their last nine Tests against South Africa. This match marks Zimbabwe’s first Test against the Proteas since December 2017, adding extra significance to the contest.

The Zimbabwean squad features a mix of seasoned campaigners and fresh talent, including all-rounder Sean Williams, pace spearhead Blessing Muzarabani, and rising stars like Brian Bennett and Clive Madande. However, they face an uphill battle against a South African side that, despite fielding a relatively inexperienced lineup, boasts depth and quality.

Squads:
Zimbabwe: Craig Ervine (c), Brian Bennett, Sean Williams, Nick Welch, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Clive Madande (wk), Wessly Madhevere, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga, Trevor Gwandu, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Newman Nyamhuri, Wellington Masakadza, Kundai Matigimu, Prince Masvaure.

South Africa: (Playing XI) – Dewald Brevis, Codi Yusuf, Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Keegan Petersen, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj (c), Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger.

With South Africa testing their bench strength and Zimbabwe desperate to rewrite history, this Test promises to be an intriguing battle between two sides at different stages of their cricketing journey. The match could also serve as a platform for emerging stars to announce themselves on the big stage

Phoenix ultimately couldn’t drum up peak value for Durant in a trade

The Phoenix Suns finally ended months of speculation by trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, closing a saga that began at the trade deadline when Phoenix nearly dealt him to the Golden State Warriors without his knowledge. Though that deal collapsed, it effectively marked the beginning of Durant’s inevitable departure—once trust was broken, reconciliation was impossible.

Yet despite months to orchestrate a blockbuster return, the Suns settled for a surprisingly modest package: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and the No. 10 pick—far less than what Phoenix originally gave up to acquire Durant in 2023. This weak return raises questions about Phoenix’s leverage in negotiations. The most likely explanation? No other team was willing to offer more.

According to reports, potential suitors like the San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat never made strong pushes. While the Spurs’ hesitation was understandable given their youth movement, Miami’s reluctance was more puzzling. Despite having tradeable assets like Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, and future picks, the Heat reportedly balked at including them alongside salary-matching players like Duncan Robinson or Terry Rozier. Even more telling, Miami allegedly refused to part with promising young center Kel’El Ware—an unusual move for a franchise known for aggressively pursuing stars.

Durant’s limited list of preferred destinations (Houston, Miami, and San Antonio) further complicated matters. Though other teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors, reportedly explored deals, Durant’s lack of interest likely stalled talks. Two unexpected teams—the Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers—also emerged as potential dark horses, but financial hurdles made deals nearly impossible.

Denver lacked tradeable first-round picks until 2031 and would’ve needed to include Aaron Gordon or navigate complex salary rules to absorb Durant’s contract. Cleveland, meanwhile, sat deep in the second apron, requiring a third team to facilitate any trade. A package centered on Jarrett Allen might have intrigued Phoenix, but the logistics proved too difficult.

In the end, Houston emerged as the logical fit. The Rockets needed a go-to scorer, had coaches familiar with Durant (including Ime Udoka), and possessed the cap flexibility to extend him. Most importantly, they could acquire Durant without dismantling their core. For Phoenix, however, the trade leaves major questions. With a weak return and limited future draft control, the Suns now face an uphill battle—either retooling around this underwhelming haul or navigating a rebuild with few assets.

Durant gets a fresh start in Houston, but the Suns’ long-term outlook looks murky after a deal that fell short of expectations.

Sovereignty Triumphs Over Journalism in a Thrilling 151st Kentucky Derby

In a rain-soaked showdown at the 151st Kentucky Derby, Sovereignty claimed victory in the first leg of the Triple Crown, finishing with an impressive time of 2:02.31. The Bill Mott-trained colt, closing at 7-1 odds, outpaced the favored Journalism and late addition Baeza, who rounded out the top finishers.

The race began with a swift pace as Sovereignty and Journalism initially trailed behind early leaders Citizen Bull, Neoequos, and Owen Almighty. However, the two surged ahead in the final stretch, turning the competition into a dramatic duel.

This year’s Derby boasted a 5millionpurse,matchinglastyear’sprize,withSovereigntyearning5millionpurse,matchinglastyear’sprize,withSovereigntyearning3.1 million for the win. Bettors who backed the underdog reaped significant rewards—a 2winbetonSovereigntyreturned2winbetonSovereigntyreturned17.96, while exacta, trifecta, and superfecta payouts reached 48.32,48.32,231.12, and $1,682.27, respectively.

The victory marked a historic moment for owner Godolphin (led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum) and jockey Junior Alvarado, both securing their first Derby wins. For trainer Bill Mott, it was his second Derby triumph, though this one carried extra significance. His previous win in 2019 came via disqualification when Country House was declared the winner after Maximum Security’s controversial interference ruling. This time, Sovereignty’s clean, decisive victory made the celebration even sweeter.

“He made a powerful late charge,” Mott told the Los Angeles Times. “This horse earned it the right way—he’s exceptional, and Godolphin’s team prepared him perfectly.”

Heavy rain created muddy track conditions, impacting all 19 contenders. Two horses—Rodriguez and Grande—were scratched before the race due to foot injuries, with Baeza taking Rodriguez’s spot and quickly rising to 14-1 odds. Journalism entered as the 3-1 favorite but settled for second place.

The event also marked the return of trainer Bob Baffert, who had been suspended for three years following Medina Spirit’s 2021 disqualification over a banned substance. Though his horse Rodriguez withdrew, Baffert’s other entry, Citizen Bull, raced at 13-1 odds but fell short of the win.

2025 Kentucky Derby full results

1. Sovereignty
2. Journalism
3. Baeza
4. Final Gambit
5. Owen Almighty
6. Burnham Square
7. Sandman
8. East Avenue
9. Chunk of Gold
10. Tiztastic
11. Coal Battle
12. Luxor Cafe
13. Neoequos
14. Publisher
15. Citizen Bull
16. American Promise
17. Render Judgement
18. Flying Mohawk
19. Admire Daytona

Fun fact: All 19 of those horses are descended from Secretariat.