California is experiencing a powerful winter storm with heavy gusts of wind, flooding, debris flows, and snowstorms taking over the state. The weather forecast warned that this time would be the wettest Christmas Southern California has witnessed so far in years, with flash flood and mudslide warnings.As per the Los Angeles county officials, 380 evacuation orders were issued for the residences in the regions affected by the January wildfire. Official warnings also state that the car drivers should “turn around and not drown” when they witness the debris flows.“Just a few inches can lift a vehicle off the roadway and put lives at risk,” wrote the California San Bernardino public information office while warning the drivers.Mud and debris rushed down a road as firefighters in San Bernardino county rescued people trapped in their cars. “I came across (a road) where there was a car sucked away by the water and realised we were trapped here,” said Dillan Brown who rented a cabin in Wrightwood with his wife and 14-month-old daughter. He shared that they were stranded in the woods with almost no food and only enough diapers.“Severe, widespread flash flooding is expected,” the National Weather Service said, adding that “lives and property are in great danger.” Videos show damage caused due to gusty winds as trees can be seen fallen on the residential properties. Wet roads and floods have also caused havoc for the people, as several roadways were also closed due to flooding, making the travellers more prone to crashes.Sacramento sheriff deputy James Caravallo reportedly passed away in a weather-related crash, as investigated by the California Highway Patrol. “Our hearts are with Deputy Caravallo’s family, and we ask the public to keep Deputy Caravallo’s loved ones and our Sheriff’s Office family in their thoughts and prayers,” the agency said in a post on social media.The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for the greater Tahoe region, which shall stay in effect till Friday morning. Governor Gavin Newsom has also declared a state of emergency in six counties to speed up state support for storm response efforts.Emergency resources and first responders have been deployed across several coastal and Southern California counties, with the California National Guard placed on standby.

NEW DELHI: England head coach Brendon McCullum is under mounting scrutiny after another humbling Ashes tour Down Under, and former spinner Monty Panesar has floated a bold alternative: Ravi Shastri. With England losing the Ashes inside 11 days and trailing 0-3 with two Tests remaining, Panesar believes a rethink at the top may be inevitable — and that Shastri is uniquely qualified for the job.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking to journalist Ravi Bisht on his YouTube channel, Panesar argued that England need a coach who understands how to beat Australia in their own conditions, both tactically and mentally. “You have to think: who exactly knows how to beat Australia?” Panesar said. “How do you take advantage of Australia’s weaknesses, mentally, physically, and tactically? I think Ravi Shastri should become England’s next head coach.”

Panesar’s case rests squarely on Shastri’s record. Under his stewardship, India won back-to-back Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia — first in 2018/19, India’s maiden series triumph there, and again in 2020/21. The latter victory was particularly remarkable, coming after India were bowled out for 36 in Adelaide and despite a squad ravaged by injuries.McCullum, appointed after England’s 4-0 Ashes defeat, initially transformed the Test side alongside captain Ben Stokes. England won 10 of their first 11 matches, but that momentum has stalled. Since then, England have lost 16 of their next 33 Tests and failed to win marquee five-match series against Australia or India.

Despite the noise, McCullum has reiterated his desire to continue, though he acknowledged his future may not be in his hands. Contracted until the 2027 ODI World Cup, he remains motivated even amid criticism.Panesar’s intervention, however, reframes the debate. For him, the question is simple: who knows how to win in Australia? His answer — Ravi Shastr i— adds a compelling twist to England’s coaching conversation.

Australia’s captain Steve Smith. (AP Photo)

Australia are in no rush to lock in their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test, with stand-in captain Steve Smith revealing selectors want another close look at a “quite furry” Melbourne Cricket Ground surface before finalising their pace-heavy attack.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Despite confirming Australia will field an all-pace bowling unit for the fourth Ashes Test, Smith said the exact combination of quicks will only be settled after a final inspection of the wicket on Friday. Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser and returning fast bowler Jhye Richardson are vying for the last two bowling spots.

“We’ve landed on a 12, we just want to take a look at the wicket tomorrow,” Smith said. “It’s got about 10mm of grass on it, quite furry, quite green. I dare say it’s going to offer quite a bit, particularly on day one with the weather looking cold and overcast.”Smith added that conditions through the week appear “conducive” for seam bowling, reinforcing Australia’s decision to go without a spinner, even if Nathan Lyon had been available.“If Nathan was available, we’d probably still be having the same conversation,” Smith said. “So it’s certainly nothing to do with Todd Murphy’s skill.”

The delay in naming the XI also comes amid enforced changes. Regular skipper Pat Cummins has been rested for workload management, while Lyon’s hamstring injury has ruled him out for the remainder of the series. Smith returns to captain the side after missing the third Test with an inner-ear issue, saying he is now feeling “100 per cent”.“It was a shame to miss that one,” Smith said. “I was watching from the hotel and wished I could have been out there, but it was the right call at the time.”Smith’s return reshapes the batting order. Usman Khawaja, who made 82 and 40 after a late recall in Adelaide, will drop to No.5, while Alex Carey remains at six following his match-winning century in the Ashes-clinching third Test. Cameron Green is set to bat at seven, edging out Josh Inglis.The bowling focus, however, remains the main talking point. Neser is chasing his first red-ball Test appearance, Doggett offers continuity after Brisbane, and Richardson is closing in on his first Test in four years.“It’s exciting to see Richardson back into the fold,” Smith said. “We know the skills he can possess. When he’s had opportunities at this level, he’s been outstanding.”Australia hold a 3-0 lead in the series, but Smith insisted selection decisions will be dictated purely by conditions, not the scoreboard, as the hosts look to make full use of what could be a lively Boxing Day pitch.Australia XII for fourth Test:

The US Department of Justice on Tuesday said that it has uncovered over a million additional documents “potentially related” to the Jeffrey Epstein case.In a social media post on X, the Department of Justice said that finishing the release of all of Epstein’s files could take a “few more weeks.”

“The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI have informed the Department of Justice that they have uncovered over a million more documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. The DOJ has received these documents from SDNY and the FBI to review them for release, in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, existing statutes, and judicial orders,” the DOJ said.“We have lawyers working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims, and we will release the documents as soon as possible. Due to the massive volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks. The Department will continue to fully comply with federal law and President Trump’s direction to release the files,” it added.30,000 pages releasedThis comes days after the DOJ released 30,000 more pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, while noting that some of these documents contain “untrue” claims made against President Donald Trump.In an X post, the DOJ claimed that the documents against Donald Trump are “false” and would have been “weaponised” against him.“The Department of Justice has officially released nearly 30,000 more pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponised against President Trump already. Nevertheless, out of our commitment to the law and transparency, the DOJ is releasing these documents with the legally required protections for Epstein’s victims,” the DOJ wrote on X.A 2021 subpoena to the Mar-a-Lago Club, founded by Trump in 1995, is also among the documents, as reported by CNN. The subpoena relates to a probe into Epstein’s former girlfriend and convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.The documents also include a letter signed by “J Epstein,” which was sent to convicted sex offender Larry Nassar in the same month Epstein died by suicide in 2019. The letter, as reported by CNN, makes references to Trump without explicitly naming him. The letter contains the phrase “our president.”However, the DOJ said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed that the letter is fake. The DOJ noted that the writing in the letter does not appear to match Epstein’s, and the letter was postmarked three days after his death.The US passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act last month, prompting the DOJ to release documents related to Epstein, who was charged as a sex offender.Newly released documents tied to Epstein have put a spotlight on previously unseen photos of the late convicted sex offender with a host of high-profile figures, including legendary popstar Michael Jackson, musician Mick Jagger, and former US President Bill Clinton.The DOJ has released thousands of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, but a substantial number of documents remain unpublished.Among the newly released documents is a grand jury interview with an unnamed FBI agent from May 2007. The agent described an allegation that Epstein recruited a 15-year-old girl to give him a topless massage.The agent said a witness had recruited other girls from among their peer group, adding: “Epstein liked girls like her, which is thin and blonde and attractive,” as quoted by The Independent.Another witness quoted in the files described Epstein as selective and highly focused on the age of the girls he allowed to work for him, adding that Epstein rejected some girls he “didn’t really like” and once dismissed a potential masseur as “too old” at 23.

Panaji: Mumbai City FC have informed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) that its parent company has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with the City Football Group (CFG) where the group will sell its shareholding of the club to Mumbai City Football India Pvt Ltd.CFG, the world’s leading private owner and operator of football clubs with 13 football clubs across five continents, including Manchester City FC — had entered into a partnership with Mumbai City in November 2019. The group became majority shareholder with 65% shares while actor Ranbir Kapoor and businessman Bimal Parekh combined to hold the remaining 35% of shares.CFG’s exit from Mumbai City comes at a time when Indian football has come to a standstill. Mumbai started their preparations late this season and hesitatingly took part in the Super Cup where they were knocked out in the semifinals by eventual champions FC Goa. The club has not made an official statement.The agreement between All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partner, Reliance-subsidiary FSDL ended early this month. The absence of a new commercial partner and a failed tender has left a huge question mark over the future of the top-tier league.“CFG’s 65% shares have been purchased by Mumbai City’s parent company,” a source told TOI on Wednesday. “The AIFF was informed about this sale as part of the club licensing requirements. The regulations state that the federation must provide its written consent.”Since CFG’s partnership with Mumbai City, the club has won the ISL Shield and Trophy twice. All three Mumbai coaches under the group — Sergio Lobera, Des Buckingham and Petr Kratky — have had success during their time in India, winning trophies and playing an attractive brand of football.The club has several national players like captain Lallianzuala Chhangte, Akash Mishra, Brandon Fernandes, Valpuia and Vikram Partap Singh, while foreign players like Tiri, Jorge Ortiz, Jorge Pereyra Diaz and Jon Toral are all established names.

The 2025/26 Ashes have been retained by Australia in record-breaking fashion, but the Boxing Day Test at the MCG remains the crown jewel of the cricket calendar. While the urn is staying in Australia after a dominant 3-0 start, pride, World Test Championship points, and individual careers are very much on the line as 90,000+ fans descend on Melbourne.

Australia enter the MCG on a high after clinical victories in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide. The series was sealed in just 11 days of play—the fastest since 2002/03. England, meanwhile, are in damage-control mode. After failing to pass 300 consistently and struggling to contain a rampant Australian middle order, Ben Stokes‘ side faces the daunting task of avoiding a 5-0 whitewash.

Team combinations

Steve Smith returns to lead the side as Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the remainder of the series to manage a back issue. Legendary spinner Nathan Lyon is out with a hamstring injury, opening the door for Todd Murphy. When it comes to England, 21-year-old Jacob Bethell has been called up to debut at No. 3, replacing Ollie Pope, who was dropped after a string of low scores. Their best performer of the tour, Jofra Archer, is out with a side strain. Gus Atkinson returns to the side to provide the pace threat. Stokes and Joe Root remain the heart of the team, but they need support from the likes of Zak Crawley and Harry Brook to post a competitive total.

Boxing Day Test Pitch Report

The MCG pitch for the 2025 Boxing Day Test is expected to be a high-quality, balanced surface that continues the venue’s recent trend of being one of Australia’s most improved cricket wickets. Expect a “green tinge” and moisture on Day 1. With an unseasonably cool forecast (topping at 17°C), the ball is expected to swing and seam significantly in the first two sessions. Traditionally, the MCG pitch flattens out during Days 2 and 3. Once the initial moisture evaporates, it becomes an excellent surface for stroke play, favoring set batters.

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Test stats and records at Melbourne Cricket Ground

• Total Matches: 119
• Matches won batting first: 58
• Matches won bowling first: 43
• Average 1st innings Score: 307
• Average 2nd innings Score: 314
• Average 3rd innings Score: 251
• Average 4th innings Score: 171
• Highest total recorded: 624/8 (142 Ovs) By Australia vs Pakistan
• Lowest total recorded: 36/10 (23.2 Ovs) By South Africa vs Australia
• Highest score chased: 332/7 (159.5 Ovs) By England vs Australia
• Lowest score defended: 83/10 (48.4 Ovs) By Australia vs India

Also READ: Ashes 2025-26: England unveils their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test; no place for Ollie Pope and Jofra Archer