Jesse Marsch hopes Canada's memorable Copa America debut changes the trajectory of football in the country, as they look to cap their campaign with a bronze medal against Uruguay.
Canada's first appearance at the tournament saw them reach the semi-finals, a memorable penalty shoot-out victory over Venezuela teeing up a meeting with Argentina.
Marsch's team gave a solid account of themselves against the holders but were beaten 2-0 with Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi on target, sending them into Saturday's third-place play-off.
Marsch, who was only appointed a few weeks before the tournament began, hopes their campaign will be a catalyst for further improvement ahead of a home World Cup in 2026.
"We want to inspire the nation," Marsch said one day after Canada's semi-final defeat. "We want to develop the sport in this country.
"We want people to remember this as a moment in time that changed the trajectory of what this sport is in Canada.
"We're establishing things at some high levels. But in order to be a real team that can hold up to the biggest moments and biggest matches, there's more work to be done.
"Physically, mentally, intellectually, we've got to find a way to develop players faster."
Marsch added he will make changes to his lineup in North Carolina, with Alphonso Davies a doubt after he suffered an injury to his left foot.
Marsch will come up against his Leeds United predecessor Marcelo Bielsa on Saturday, after his much-fancied Uruguay side were beaten 1-0 by 10-man Colombia in their own semi-final.
Daniel Munoz was sent off on the stroke of half-time after Jefferson Lerma had headed Colombia into the lead, but Uruguay were outshot seven to six while a man up despite enjoying 73% of the possession.
Bielsa believes La Celeste would have been better off against a full complement, saying: "When they have 11, Colombia are a team that plays to play, and so are we.
"In that context, we created scoring chances and the ones we conceded were generated by some concessions from us.
"Eleven against eleven, for us, it was easier to attack, and we had to defend. In the second half, playing with an extra man, it was much more difficult to attack, and we practically didn't have to defend."
Uruguay's defeat was marred by scenes of crowd violence involving the families of some Celeste players at full-time, prompting CONMEBOL to open an investigation.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Canada – Jonathan David
Canada had 25 touches in Argentina's penalty area in their semi-final, 12 more than the world champions, yet they only managed five shots from inside the box to their opponents' seven.
If they are to cap a historic campaign with a medal, they may need David to make some of those openings count.
David has underperformed his expected goals figures at this tournament, netting once from chances valued at 1.58 xG. No Canada player has attempted more than his seven shots, three of which have hit the target.
Uruguay – Darwin Nunez
Nunez has attempted more shots (20) than any other player at this edition of the Copa America, with his total of 2.59 xG only bettered by Argentina's Lautaro Martinez (2.91).
While the Liverpool man has two goals to his name, they both came in the group stage, and he has only hit the target with five of his 20 attempts.
Among all players to net at this year's tournament, only three have a worse shot accuracy than Nunez's 33% (excluding blocks), but a profitable game here could even put him back in the race for the Golden Boot.
MATCH PREDICTION: URUGUAY WIN
Uruguay have participated in the third-place play-off at the Copa America on three previous occasions, beating Colombia 2-1 in 2004, drawing 2-2 with Honduras in 2001 (then losing on penalties) and suffering a 3-1 defeat to Mexico in 2007.
A victory in North Carolina would make this Uruguay's joint-second best Copa campaign of the 21st century, after they won the title in 2011.
They have only lost four of their 15 Copa America matches against Concacaf opponents, though they are winless in their last three such games in the knockout rounds, losing 3-1 to Mexico in the the 2007 third-place match, and drawing 2-2 with Honduras in the 2001 edition after losing 2-1 to Mexico in the semi-finals.
Canada are aiming to become the third Concacaf country to finish third in the competition after Mexico (1997, 1999 and 2007) and Honduras (2001).
A victory would make this the second-best campaign by a non-CONMEBOL Copa America debutant nation, after Mexico took silver on their 1993 bow. However, Marsch's men are big outsiders.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Canada – 13.2%
Uruguay – 70%
Draw – 16.8%
Former England striker Gary Lineker says the Three Lions are on the "brink of history" after reaching the Euro 2024 final.
England produced arguably their best performance of the tournament so far as they beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the semi-final on Wednesday.
It has been 58 years since England's men won a major tournament, the 1966 World Cup, though that and their Euro 2020 final appearance both came on home soil.
Gareth Southgate's side are now looking to make history against Spain on Sunday by winning the European Championships for the first time.
"I think it's hugely significant for English football," said Lineker, who represented England at four major tournaments.
"They were in a final, they were in the last final of the Euros, of course, and that was at Wembley, and that ended up in huge disappointment [losing to Italy on penalties].
"This is going to be tough; it's going to be difficult, but they're on the brink of history. No English team in football has ever won a major tournament abroad."
At times during Euro 2024, England have been criticised for their performances after edging to a first-place finish in Group C before having to come from behind in each of their three knockout matches.
Xavi Simons gave the Netherlands the lead on Wednesday before Harry Kane cancelled out his goal from the penalty spot.
Ollie Watkins then came off the bench to score the winner in the 90th minute, with his goal the fourth England have scored after the 80th minute in the tournament so far, including extra time.
In their final Euro 2024 test, they come up against a Spain side who have won all their games at the tournament, but Lineker is confident they will find a way past La Roja in Berlin.
"They have got that kind of never-say-die attitude, which is something that is hugely important," Lineker added.
"Even when they weren't playing great, they were grinding out results. And it's an old football cliche that if you can win when you play badly, then things are not that bad.
"I don't really think I'm surprised at how we have done it, because we've got the individuals, world-class footballers right across the pitch.
"Yes, they started slowly, and something wasn't quite right about things, but they've worked it out, and they've got gradually better as the tournament progressed. It's much better that way round."
Declan Rice says England's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy will "haunt him forever" and has urged the team to use it as motivation against Spain on Sunday.
England booked their place in the Euro 2024 showpiece with a last-gasp 2-1 win over the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday.
In their last such final, they were beaten 3-2 on penalties at Wembley after playing out a 1-1 draw with Italy over 120 minutes.
Rice was one of those in the team that lost three years ago, and he is keen to put that result behind them by going one better this time around.
"Seeing Italy lift that trophy will haunt me forever," said Rice.
"We are now presented with another opportunity where we can write our own history, but we are up against another top side who we have to massively respect.
"Hopefully, now we can do it. Not only for each other but also for the manager. I think he deserves it."
Under Gareth Southgate, England have now reached at least the semi-final stage three times, and Sunday's match in Berlin is their first-ever major tournament final on foreign soil.
This time, they will come up against three-time winners Spain, and the Three Lions manager says there is no room for error if they want to come out on top.
"They would be rightly favourites for what they have done this tournament. They have been the best team," said Southgate.
“They have got a day longer and in the past three finals, maybe more, it has been quite significant, so we have got to get our recovery spot on.
“Tactically we will have to be perfect as they are such a good side. But, you know, we are here."
Rory McIlroy was surprised by Keegan Bradley's appointment as the USA captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup, saying there is no way a player-captain role can work effectively.
The PGA of America confirmed Bradley's appointment on Monday after Tiger Woods decided against leading the team at Bethpage Black golf course in New York.
Bradley just missed out on the team for last year's 16.5-11.5 loss to Europe in Rome but was expected to be in contention for a place at the USA's home tournament, prompting several players to express surprise at his appointment.
While McIlroy believes Bradley's experience of the course will benefit the USA, he is unsure what to make of the appointment.
"It's a surprise for everyone. But he knows Bethpage very well. He went to university in the area. He's obviously very passionate about the Ryder Cup," McIlroy said.
"It's certainly a departure from what the US have done over the last few years, and time will tell if that's a good thing or not."
Asked if serving as a player and captain at the same time can ever work, McIlroy revealed he has rejected the chance to take on such a role for the 2027 event, which takes place in County Limerick, Ireland.
"Absolutely not," McIlroy said. "I've contemplated it for Adare but there's too much work that goes into it. I've seen what Luke [Donald] went through, preparing for Rome.
"There's no way you can be as good a captain as you need to be and be a playing captain as well. If you want to be the best captain you can be, you can't play.
"If you want to be the best player, you can't captain. So it's one or the other, especially with how big the Ryder Cup has become and how many things you have to do in the lead-up.
"Keegan is the 19th-ranked in the world so he has a great chance of making the team. If he does, I think he's going to have to give that captaincy role to one of the vice-captains."
Europe will look to win the Ryder Cup on American soil for the first time since 2012 next year, with the event starting on September 25.
Harry Kane is England's greatest ever player and a certainty to start Sunday's Euro 2024 final versus Spain, says former Three Lions defender Gary Neville.
Kane has scored three goals to help England to a second straight Euros final, including an equaliser from the penalty spot in Wednesday's semi-final win over the Netherlands.
However, the Bayern Munich star's performance levels have been criticised throughout the tournament and it was his replacement from the bench, Ollie Watkins, who steered England into the final with a last-minute winner versus the Oranje.
Ivan Toney also replaced Kane to good effect against Switzerland in the quarter-finals, converting a no-look penalty as England triumphed on spot-kicks, and some have suggested Gareth Southgate should drop his captain for Sunday's Berlin showpiece.
Neville disagrees, pointing to the fact his nine knockout-stage goals at World Cups or European Championships are the most of any European player in history.
"I spoke to Wayne Rooney four or five weeks ago before the tournament started and he said Harry Kane is the greatest England player ever," Neville told Sky Sports News. "I wouldn't fight to disagree with him.
"Harry Kane has been absolutely sensational. I always called him gold when he was at Tottenham, you just know full well that he's going to deliver for you. He's a solid character.
"I think he's obviously below his best in this tournament, it does look like he is carrying something and it wouldn't surprise me at all if it emerged in a week or two that he's had issues during the tournament with something that he's trying to bandage up.
"You look at that record now and some of the greatest goalscorers of all time are on that list. Harry Kane is someone who will not be dropped by Gareth Southgate.
"I know there is a sense that people think we are better without him, but it wouldn't send a great message to the squad internally. He's very clearly their leader and Southgate has full, total faith in him.
"I also think if you're the opposition team, he is England's talisman. He's the man who has gone over to Germany this year and has ripped it up from a goalscoring perspective."
As well becoming the first England captain to lift a major trophy on foreign soil, Kane could add the Golden Boot to the one he won at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Dani Olmo is currently ahead of him in the running by virtue of recording two assists, with both players level on three goals.
Paul Skenes was masterful again, throwing seven no-hit innings with 11 strikeouts as the Pittsburgh Pirates held on for a 1-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.
Skenes threw 99 pitches in his 11th major league start and walked one while lowering his ERA to 1.90.
Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, has surrendered two runs or fewer in nine of his starts and has struck out 89 in 66 1/3 innings.
The combined no-hit bid ended when Jake Bauers opened the eighth with a single off Colin Holderman. The Brewers loaded the bases with two outs in the inning, but Holderman escaped the jam by striking out William Contreras.
Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his fourth save, finishing a two-hitter.
Aaron Civale was the tough-luck loser for Milwaukee, as he pitched six-hit ball into the seventh inning.
Pittsburgh scored the game’s lone run in the seventh. Ke’Bryan Hayes reached on a leadoff single, but he was erased when Jack Suwinski hit into a fielder’s choice.
Yasmani Grandal then doubled into the gap in right-center and Suwinski scored from first with a headfirst slide.
The Brewers lost for the fifth time in seven games, while the Pirates have won three of four.
Here are all 11 strikeouts by Paul Sꓘenes in case you missed it.
Play of the Day presented by @STIHLUSA pic.twitter.com/inUgh4YsN7
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 11, 2024
Phillies finish sweep of Dodgers
Aaron Nola pitched six strong innings and was backed by three home runs as the major league-leading Philadelphia Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 5-1 victory.
Nola became the majors’ fourth 11-game winner after allowing four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts.
Matt Strahm, Jeff Hoffman and Jose Alvarado each pitched one inning to finish the five-hitter.
Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh hit solo homers for the Phillies, who swept the Dodgers for the first time since 2011 – and first at home since 2008.
Philadelphia led every inning of the series except the first one on Tuesday, which ended with both teams scoreless.
Turner’s shot in the first inning off Anthony Banda opened the scoring, and he added an infield single in the fourth.
In the 21 games since he returned to the lineup following a 38-game stint on the injured list with a left hamstring strain, Turner is batting .356 with 11 multi-hit games.
Gavin Lux homered for the Dodgers, who have scored seven runs during a four-game skid.
Astros win 9th straight home game
Six different players drove in a run and the Houston Astros won their ninth straight at home, 6-3 over the Miami Marlins to complete a three-game sweep.
Jake Meyers doubled home a run, Jeremy Pena had a run-scoring single and Jon Singleton and Joey Loperfido added sacrifice flies to help the Astros win their ninth in 12 games.
Jake Bloss allowed two runs and four hits over four innings in his second major league start, while Tayler Scott got the final two outs of the sixth for the win.
Josh Hader struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 17th save.
Bryan De La Cruz and Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit solo homers for the National League-worst Marlins, who have lost eight of 10.
Ollie Watkins revealed that his celebration in England's semi-final victory over the Netherlands was dedicated to both Lewis Dunk and Dean Henderson.
Watkins scored late to book England's place in the Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday as the Three Lions came back from Xavi Simons' opener.
The Aston Villa striker netted only the second ever 90th-minute winning goal in a European Championship knockout tie, sparking wild scenes in Dortmund.
Watkins raced away after squeezing the ball beyond Bart Verbruggen, running towards the England bench to celebrate his fourth and most important international goal.
Both Dunk and Henderson, who have yet to play a single minute in Germany, were among the first to embrace Watkins.
"I did make a promise to Deano and Dunky that, if I scored, I would run over and celebrate with them," Watkins said on the latest episode of the Lions' Den.
"Sometimes you can feel a little bit left out because you're not on the pitch making that impact.
"So me celebrating with them, obviously I've been on sitting on the bench experiencing that and I just wanted to make it special for everyone.
"It was nice that they all jumped on the pitch and could be a part of it."
Watkins' strike saw him become England's newly crowned hero on the international stage, but fellow substitute Cole Palmer also played an important part in the winner.
The pair were introduced in the 80th minute and made an almost instant impact.
Palmer's assist for Watkins was the first time two substitutes have combined for a goal for England in the knockout stages of a major tournament.
The 28-year-old said that he predicted the impact he and the Chelsea midfielder would have on proceedings having worked closely together in training.
"You've got to have that belief when you're going on the pitch to that you're going to bring something to the team, bring some energy, and for me, when I've got the ball there, I knew I had to be selfish and shoot because I may not get another opportunity," Watkins said.
Barbora Krejcikova paid an emotional tribute to Jana Novotna following her semi-final victory against Elena Rybakina at Wimbledon.
Krejcikova came from a set down to emerge victorious, beating the 2022 Wimbledon champion 3-6 6-3 6-4 in a remarkable turnaround on Centre Court.
The world number 31 became the seventh Czech-born woman to reach a women's singles final at Wimbledon in the Open Era, following in the footsteps of her former coach.
Novotna, who won the competition in 1998 when she defeated France's Nathalie Tauziat, passed away in 2017 from ovarian cancer at the age of 49.
The pair first met when Krejcikova was 18 years old, with the 28-year-old reduced to tears as she dedicated the win to her former friend in her post-match interview.
"I just miss her very much, I miss her so much," Krejcikova said after reaching her first Wimbledon women's singles final.
"Definitely I remember thinking about Jana a lot. I have so many beautiful memories and when I step on the court here, I am fighting for every ball, and I am sure that is what she would want me to do.
"She was telling me a lot of stories about her journey here and how she was trying to win Wimbledon. I was so far away when we had this talk.
"Now I am here and I am in a final!
"I remember thinking about her a lot. I have so many beautiful memories and when I step on the court I fight for every single ball as that is what she would want me to do."
Krejcikova will face Jasmine Paolini in Saturday's final in what will be the first women's singles final at a grand slam during the Open Era where two opponents have previously met in a grand slam qualifier.
The Czech won in straight sets in the aforementioned clash at the Australian Open in 2018 and is expecting a tough encounter against the world number seven.
"A big fight. I know that she is a huge fighter and she showed today, but it will be the same from me. We are playing great tennis and it will be a great match on Saturday."
Gareth Southgate believes England have every chance of upsetting Spain in Sunday's Euro 2024 final, although he warned the Three Lions will have to be at their best with and without the ball.
England are through to their second successive European Championship final after Ollie Watkins came off the bench to net a 90th-minute winner in Wednesday's semi-final against the Netherlands.
They have now reached more major tournament finals in four attempts under Southgate (two), than they did in 23 campaigns before his 2016 appointment (one).
But if England are to end a 58-year wait to follow up their 1966 World Cup win, they will have to get past the only team to win all six of their matches at the tournament.
Since the group stage was introduced in 1980, only France in 1984 (5/5) have won the Euros while maintaining a 100 per cent record.
While Southgate has full faith in England's ability to hurt La Roja, he says their first challenge will be to get hold of the ball.
"We will have to get the ball off them first," Southgate said of Spain. "It is not as simple as us having the ball and making them run.
"We have to be exceptional with the ball and without it. They have been the best team.
"We are starting to show a better version of ourselves, but we are in there with what we have shown to this point.
"We have as good a chance as they do. We have come here to win it. It is a huge task, but we are still here and fighting."
Luis de la Fuente's side reached the final by overcoming France 2-1 on Tuesday, and their 13 goals at this edition of the Euros have only ever been bettered by France in 1984 (14).
The Spain squad watched Wednesday's second semi-final together, before De la Fuente began preparing for Sunday's showpiece game.
He told Spanish outlet La 1: "Both teams were very tough opponents.
"We are going to have played all the great teams in this competition, and it couldn't be any other way. The two best teams made it to the final.
"We had dinner and were watching the match, and then we were in our office, analysing it in a more relaxed way.
"Now our work begins to analyse England in more detail."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Spain – Lamine Yamal
Yamal made history in the last four, his stunning equaliser making him the youngest player to ever score at a World Cup or Euros.
Aged 17 years and one day, he could be the youngest ever player to feature in a World Cup or European Championship final, surpassing Pele's record from the 1958 World Cup (17 years, 249 days).
He has three assists so far at Euro 2024, with no Spaniard ever providing more at a single edition of the tournament.
He has had 13 shot involvements following a ball carry at Euro 2024 (six shots, seven chances created), at least three more than any other player.
England – Phil Foden
Foden produced his best display of the tournament in the semi-finals, recording a game-high three shots, hitting the post with one long-range strike and seeing another effort cleared off the goal line.
He also completed all 40 of his attempted passes before being withdrawn for Cole Palmer, who teed up the Three Lions' winner.
England's switch to a back three has benefitted Foden, allowing him to play from the right-hand side and cut onto his favoured left foot.
Might he silence his doubters on the biggest stage of all?
MATCH PREDICTION: SPAIN WIN
This will be the third meeting between Spain and England at the Euros, and the Three Lions have fond memories of the previous two, winning 2-1 in the group stage in 1980 and progressing on penalties after a quarter-final draw in 1996.
However, La Roja have only lost four of their last 14 meetings with England overall, having lost the previous seven in a row.
Spain have also won their last three major tournament finals and could become the first European nation to triumph in four straight World Cup/Euros title matches.
The Opta supercomputer gives them a 60.4 per cent chance of lifting the trophy to England's 39.6 per cent.
England will play their first major tournament final on foreign soil after playing the showpiece games at the 1966 World Cup and Euro 2020 at Wembley.
They have never lost a match in Berlin in six attempts (four wins, two draws), only playing more often in Helsinki (eight times), Amsterdam and Sunderland (seven each) without ever losing.
Can they upset the tournament's outstanding team to bring it home?
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Spain – 40.5 per cent
England – 29.0 per cent
Draw – 30.5 per cent
Donna Vekic revealed she was in "so much pain" in her record-breaking Wimbledon semi-final defeat to Jasmine Paolini, explaining her tears in the third set of a marathon match.
Vekic let slip a first-set lead to lose 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8) on Centre Court and miss out on a major final debut.
It appeared emotions had got the better of the first-time semi-finalist as victory slipped away despite a further early break in the decider, eventually losing after two hours and 51 minutes.
This was the longest women's singles semi in Wimbledon history, and Vekic insisted her tears were provoked by the punishment her body took in the epic encounter.
"I thought I was going to die in the third set," Vekic said in her post-match news conference. "I had so much pain in my arm, in my leg.
"It was not easy out there, but I will recover.
"I was more crying because I had so much pain, I didn't know how I could keep playing. My team tells me I can be proud of myself.
"It's tough right now. It's really tough to be positive right now. It was so close."
Paolini will now play Barbora Krejcikova in Saturday's final, her second grand slam title match after losing to perennial French Open champion Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros in June.
"Two grand slam finals in a row was crazy to believe, I think, no?" Paolini said. "I'm also surprised how at the moment, until now in this moment, I'm living this.
"I feel maybe Saturday I will be so nervous, I don't know, but I feel also relaxed. I'm the same person. I'm doing the same things. I'm surprised a little bit how I'm managing this.
"I don't want to say more, because maybe Saturday I'm going to be shaking. I'm surprising myself to live this with with really relaxing mood."
Barbora Krejcikova came from a set down to stun Elena Rybakina to reach the Wimbledon final where she will face Jasmine Paolini on Saturday.
Krejcikova extended her unbeaten record against the Kazakh world number four to three matches, emerging a 3-6 6-3 6-4 victor on Centre Court.
The opening two games saw Rybakina assert her dominance, securing a break point early on as she racked up a four-game lead without reply.
Krejcikova would get her first game on the board soon after and would find a break of her own in the eighth game, but her slow start was punished as Rybakina saw out the first set, serving five aces along the way.
Krejcikova found her rhythm, but she made hard work of sealing the second set after serving two double faults in the ninth game, opening the door for her opponent. However, she was able to get the job done to take the game to a decider.
Krejcikova and Rybakina exchanged a number of long rallies in the third set, but it would be the world number 31 who would get the decisive break point.
The seventh game saw Rybakina lead with a service hold to love, but Krejcikova then put three games together on the spin to edge closer to victory.
There was to be no comeback for the 2022 Wimbledon champion, as Krejcikova completed the turnaround on serve as Rybakina sent a forehand long to confirm her remarkable triumph.
"Unbelievable. "It is very tough to explain, but a lot of joy and a lot of emotions. Also there is a lot of relief and I am super proud," Krejcikova said in her post-match interview.
"I am so proud about my game and my fighting spirit today.
"I was trying to fight for every single ball, during the second set I was getting my momentum and when I broke her I started to be in the zone and I didn't want to leave the zone."
Data Debrief: Krejcikova ends wait for grand slam final appearance
It has been a long time coming for Krejcikova, who reached her first grand slam final since Roland-Garros in 2021.
The Czech is the player with the most women’s singles grand slam main draw appearances between their first two Major finals (13, Roland-Garros 2021 and Wimbledon 2024), since Karolina Pliskova (18 between the US 2016 and then Wimbledon 2021).
Her meeting with Paolini on Saturday will be the first women's singles final at a grand slam during the Open Era, where the two opponents previously met in a grand slam qualifier, doing so at the Australian Open 2018.
Jamie Smith starred on his Test debut as he struck a half-cenutry to help England edge closer to a resounding victory against the West Indies at Lord's.
Smith scored 70 runs from 119 deliveries as England followed on from their opening day dominance, ending the day with a 171-run lead over their opponents.
The debutant was one of five players to reach a half-century, with Joe Root (68) and Harry Brook (50) backing up the opening day totals scored by Zak Crawley (76) and Ollie Pope (57).
England led by 250 runs after being bowled out for 371 and continued their dominance with the ball in hand.
Anderson opened England's attack and got the first wicket of the afternoon, bowling West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite before capturing Alick Athanaze late on for his 703rd international wicket.
Ben Stokes also took two wickets (2-25) which included Jason Holder off the final ball of the day to leave the West Indies 79-6 heading into tomorrow's action.
Data Debrief: Stokes and Smith impress at Lord's
Stokes two wickets at Lord's saw him claim his 200th Test wicket. In doing so, he became just the 3rd player to score 6,000 runs and take 200+ wickets in men's test history, after Jacques Kallis & Sir Garry Sobers.
With the bat, Smith's score of 70 is the 5th best on Test debut for an England men's wicketkeeper. Only Matt Prior - 126* v West Indies (Lord's 2007), Ben Foakes - 107 v Sri Lanka (Galle 2018) Jack Russell - 94 v Sri Lanka (Lord's 1988) Jos Buttler - 85 v India (Southampton 2014) have scored more.
And while doing the damage with the ball in hand, Anderson was kept quiet with the bat. It was the seventh time that he has batted in a test innings but not faced a delivery, the first time since 2019.
The West Indies are on the brink of a quick defeat at stumps on day two of the first of three Tests against England at Lord’s.
The tourists ended Thursday 79-6 off 34.5 overs, needing a further 171 runs to force England to bat again.
Similar to the first innings, the West Indian top order failed to impress as Kraigg Brathwaite (4), Kirk McKenzie (0), Mikyle Louis (14) and Kavem Hodge (4) all fell within the first 20 overs of the innings with the West Indies teetering at just 37.
Alick Athanaze was next to go after battling hard for 22 to leave the West Indies 55-5 in the 29th over before Jason Holder and Joshua Da Silva looked set to see out the English bowling for the rest of the day.
This proved not to be the case as Holder became Gus Atkinson’s ninth wicket of his magical debut in the day’s last over for 20 to leave the West Indies 79-6 off 34.5 overs at stumps.
Joshua Da Silva was 8* at the close of play.
James Anderson, Atkinson and skipper Ben Stokes have taken two wickets, each, so far.
Earlier, the hosts progressed to 371 all out off 90 overs after beginning day two 189-3.
Both overnight batsmen, Joe Root and Harry Brook, went on to bring up their fifties.
Root eventually fell for a 114-ball 68 including seven fours while Brook made an even 50 off 64 balls including five fours and a six.
The top scorer on the day, however, was debutant Jamie Smith who hit eight fours and two sixes on his way to a 119-ball 70.
On his return to the Test arena, Jayden Seales was the pick of the West Indian bowlers with 4-77 from 20 overs.
Gudakesh Motie and Jason Holder provided good support for Seales with 2-41 off 16 overs and 2-58 off 18 overs, respectively.
Full Scores:
West Indies 121 all out off 41.4 overs (Mikyle Louis 27, Gus Atkinson 7-45) & 79-6 off 34.5 overs (Alick Athanaze 22, James Anderson 2-11, Ben Stokes 2-25, Gus Atkinson 2-27)
England 371 all out off 90 overs (Zak Crawley 76, Jamie Smith 70, Joe Root 68, Ollie Pope 57, Harry Brook 50, Jayden Seales 4-77, Gudakesh Motie 2-41, Jason Holder 2-58)
Manchester United have confirmed the arrivals of Rene Hake and Ruud van Nistelrooy as assistant managers to Erik ten Hag.
The pair join the Red Devils ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League season, replacing the departing Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy.
Van Nistlerooy returns to the club he spent five years with as a player, scoring 95 times in 150 Premier League appearances.
The Dutchman previously managed PSV Eindhoven in the Eredivisie, leading them to the KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff shield during the 2022-23 season.
Hake also brings a wealth of managerial experience, having previously managed Go Ahead Eagles and Utrecht, leading the former to a ninth place finish in the Dutch top flight - the club's best finish for more than 15 years.
“Together with Erik, we are working to strengthen all areas of our men’s first-team operations, and refreshing the coaching staff is an important part of that," new sporting director Dan Ashworth told the club's official website.
“It’s a particular pleasure to welcome Ruud back to the club where he enjoyed so much success as a player, and I know that he and Rene will help reinforce the winning mentality and high standards we are aiming for.”
Manchester United kickstart their pre-season preparations against Norwegian side Rosenborg next Monday at the Lerkendal Stadion.
Ten Hag's first competitive game of the new season takes place on August 10 against rivals Manchester City in the Community Shield, a repeat fixture of their FA Cup triumph in May.
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