Steve Smith reflected on Australia's Boxing Day loss to England at the MCG, raising concerns about pitch conditions and the diminishing role of spin bowling in Test cricket.

Melbourne

Steve Smith addressed Australia's defeat to England at the MCG, where the team was dismissed for 132 in their second innings, resulting in a four-wicket loss that keeps the Ashes series alive. Smith credited England's strong bowling performance but criticized the pitch for providing excessive assistance to seamers, leading to 36 wickets falling in just two days.

Smith also expressed concern about the broader impact of modern pitch preparation, suggesting that it is reducing the effectiveness of spin bowlers in Test cricket. He questioned the current approach to pitch design and warned that these trends could have significant implications for the future of the game.

Steve Smith reflects on Australia's Ashes defeat

Steve Smith had plenty to reflect on after Australia's Boxing Day collapse at the MCG. His team managed just 132 in their second innings, gifting England a four-wicket victory that keeps the Ashes alive. Tough loss in the end. I thought England came out today and played some really good cricket. They got the ball in the right areas and dismissed us. With 36 wickets falling across just two days, Smith believes the surface offered far too much assistance to the seamers. The captain admits his side never managed to build the partnerships needed to soften the ball and make batting easier. 36 wickets over two days probably offered just a little bit too much. Maybe if you took it from 10 to 8 it would have been a nice challenging wicket but maybe a little bit more even I suppose. But Smith's biggest concern extends beyond this match. He fears modern pitch preparation is killing spin bowling in Test cricket entirely. A lot of the wickets we're playing on now I think spin has been, I mean, it's the easiest thing to face on some of these wickets that are offering a lot of seam. I don't know whether it's something that can be spoken about. I love seeing spinners play a part in the game but right now why would you? England's first win narrows the series to 3-1 but Smith's questions about cricket's future may prove more significant.

The latest attack comes as presidents Zelenskyy and Trump prepare to meet in Florida on Sunday amid ongoing efforts to end the war.

Kyiv

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According to the Chinese foreign ministry, the sanctions entail freezing the companies’ assets in China and banning individuals and organisations from accessing them.

Beijing

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Somalia reacted angrily Friday (December 26) after Israel formally recognised the northern region of Somaliland as an "independent and sovereign state" -- the first country to do so. U.S. President Donald Trump said he opposed U.S. recognition of Somaliland in an interview with the New York Post.

Somaliland

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Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an "immediate" ceasefire on Saturday (December 26), the two countries said in a joint statement, pledging to end border clashes that killed dozens of people.

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Some of the stabbed victims remain in serious condition. A 38-year-old man was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory, authorities said.

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Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was shocked by the "horrific killing spree" and pledged Israel would reinforce its security.

Jerusalem

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The United States launched airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Nigeria's Sokoto State on Thursday. Nigerian authorities denied Trump's claim of mass killings of Christians amid mixed reactions to the U.S. intervention.

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday (December 26) he planned to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump soon and that a lot could be decided before the New Year as Washington pushes diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

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The United States carried out airstrikes against ISIS militants in northwest Nigeria at the request of Nigeria's government, U.S. President Donald Trump and the U.S. military said on Thursday, claiming the group had been targeting Christians in the region.

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Official results show Asfura edged out his main rival Salvador Nasralla by less than one percentage point. Marred by delays and fraud claims, the Honduran election continues Latin America's shift to the right.

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The U.S. Department of Justice says it has found more than a million more documents potentially tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, delaying a full release for weeks while officials redact details to protect victims.

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Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Christmas Mass Wednesday evening where he described the celebration as a feast of "faith, charity and hope". He reminded the faithful that refusing to help the poor and vulnerable is comparable to rejecting God altogether.

Rome

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled progress in a Ukraine-Russia peace plan, after he told journalists about a new draft that would include a free economic zone and demilitarization. Holly Williams has the latest.

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Democrats and some Republicans are blasting the Justice Department over its handling of the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, which included major redactions.

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Bolsonaro is expected to undergo the procedure on 25 December.

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Two police officers have been killed in an explosion in Moscow, Russian investigators said on Wednesday. Their deaths come just two days after a car bomb killed a top general in the same area of the Russia capital.

Moscow

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country and the United States have reached a consensus on several critical issues aimed at bringing an end to the conflict with Russia — but sensitivities around territorial control in Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland and the management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remain unresolved.

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The latest Epstein file release alleges a connection between former prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell, including emails in which an individual identified as 'A' requested 'inappropriate friends.'

London

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The US and Venezuela are in a war of words at the UN Security council following America's seizure of ships off Venezuela's coast. Venezuela's ambassador strongly condemned the U.S. actions, labeling them as extrajudicial executions and a military blockade intended to destabilize the country.

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Two people are dead after an explosion at a nursing home in Bristol, Pennsylvania, and several are still missing, Gov. Josh Shapiro said.

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A Delaware state trooper was killed Tuesday during a shooting at a Wilmington DMV, the Delaware State Police said. The state's governor confirmed the shooter is also dead.

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The Libyan army's chief of staff, Mohammed Ali Ahmed Al-Haddad, died in a plane crash after leaving Turkey's capital Ankara, the prime minister of Libya's internationally-recognized government said, adding that four others were on the jet as well.

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Two men have been found guilty of plotting to kill hundreds in an Islamic State-inspired gun rampage against the Jewish community in England, a planned attack investigators say demonstrates the resurgent risk posed by the militant group.

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The FDA has approved the pill version of the weight loss drug Wegovy, the first oral medication of its kind. The new pills are expected to be available in a few weeks.

Breakdown