Today's sports news: What you need to know

Latest - Silver Ferns defender Jane Watson will return to the Tactix for next season's ANZ Premiership.

Watson, who gave birth to daughter Tia last month, returns to the defensive circle next year and will team up with Karin Burger and Kate Lloyd who are both back for another campaign with the Tactix.

Watson, the ANZ Premiership player of the year in 2017 and 2020, said she hadn't found it too hard sitting on the side-lines this year but felt ready to get back into the action and was "super-excited" about what lay ahead.

"Being pregnant quite early on, I accepted I wouldn't be playing so I actually enjoyed a change in focus and was able to watch the games as a spectator most the time," she said.

"Of course it was hard to not notice things and be analytical about what could be done at times.

"I feel like I've got a wee spark that's been ignited and I'm just really looking forward to getting back on court. I also can't wait to have Tia down on the court with me after games."

Watson, who has 52 Test Caps for the Silver Ferns and was a part of the World Championship-winning team in 2019, said she was looking forward to seeing what the new-look Tactix side could do.

England to continue 'fearless' approach against Black Caps

England test captain Ben Stokes has challenged his team to play without fear and put on a show against New Zealand at Headingley despite taking an unassailable 2-0 lead into the final match of the three-match series.

A new era for England in the longest format, spearheaded by the new skipper-coach duo of Stokes and Brendon McCullum, has got off to a flying start, with the hosts blasting to victory in the opening two tests.

"We've obviously won the series but there are World Test Championship points to play for. We want to carry on with the way we've played," Stokes told reporters on the eve of the third test.

"I was pretty simple and clear in the dressing room. Let's try and think like we're in the entertainment business rather than the sporting business... there's a reason why 20,000 people came out to watch us at Trent Bridge last week.

"So I set a challenge to the team to be even more fearless, positive and aggressive than last week."

James Anderson, England record's wicket-taker in test cricket, has been ruled out due to an ankle problem, with Jamie Overton set to make his debut following his impressive start to the domestic season with Surrey.

Stokes took over as captain after Joe Root's resignation in April, which came on the heels of a series loss in the Caribbean and a disastrous Ashes tour of Australia.

The 31-year-old said his team hadn't yet completed a turnaround and their character would truly be tested only after tasting defeat.

- Reuters

English sweep Dutch in ODI series

England completed a 3-0 drubbing of the Netherlands by winning the last match of their ODI series by eight wickets, despite the absence of injured captain Eoin Morgan.

The Dutch collapsed to 244 all out after an encouraging start to their innings and Jason Roy's unbeaten century helped England polish off their run chase with nearly 20 overs to spare.

Roy struck 15 fours in his 101 - his 10th ODI century - and Jos Buttler also tucked into the Dutch attack, ending the match with a huge six into the trees to finish on 86 not out.

Another enthusiastic crowd at the VRA Ground in Amstelveen had watched half centuries by Max O'Dowd (50), Bas de Leede (56) and Scott Edwards (64) help the Dutch reach 203-3.

But David Willey took three wickets to mop up the tail having also removed opener Vikram Singh.

Morgan, who scored ducks in the first two matches of the series, missed out with a groin problem, with Buttler captaining the side in his absence.

- Reuters

Kyrgios slams off-court coaching decision

Australian Nick Kyrgios slammed the ATP Tour's decision to trial off-court coaching, saying the beauty of the sport where players had to figure things out on their own was being taken away.

The ATP will trial off-court coaching in the second half of the year, with players set to receive instructions in qualifying and main draw matches in tournaments including the US Open and the ATP Finals.

Patrick Mouratoglou, who coached Serena Williams and now coaches Simona Halep, congratulated the ATP for "'legalizing' a practice that has been going on at almost every match for decades" but Kyrgios said he opposed the move.

"Completely disagree. Loses one of the only unique traits that no other sport had," Kyrgios said on Twitter.

"The player had to figure out things on his own. That was the beauty of it. What happens if a high profile player versus a low ranked player who doesn't have or (cannot) afford a coach?"

The trial commences from the week of July 11 and will run through to the season-ending ATP Finals in November.

- Reuters

Bayern Munich sign Liverpool star

Bayern Munich have completed the much-anticipated signing of Senegal forward Sadio Mane from Liverpool on a three-year contract.

The German champions have reportedly agreed on a transfer worth about 40 million euros (NZ$67 million), including add-ons, for the 30-year-old, who had a year left on his Liverpool contract.

Mane leaves Anfield after 269 appearances, having scored 120 goals in all competitions, a stellar return that helped the club to the Champions League title in 2018-19 and the Premier League crown a season later.

He was among Liverpool's stand-out performers last season, netting 23 times as Juergen Klopp's side secured the domestic cup double and narrowly missed out on the league title to Manchester City.

Mane won six trophies in all following his switch from Southampton in June 2016, forming a potent attacking trio with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

Klopp last month hailed Mane, his first major singing after taking over, as "world class" and likened him to a "machine" but the player, eager for a new challenge, declined a new contract.

- Reuters

Froome confirmed for TDF

Four-times champion Chris Froome is set to make his 10th appearance at the Tour de France next month after being named in the Israel Premier Tech squad for the event.

Froome, 37, had earlier expressed doubts about being selected for the race due to fitness struggles following a career-threatening crash three years ago.

"I've worked exceptionally hard this year and I'm looking forward to giving it my all," Froome said in a statement.

The Briton, who last won the Tour de France in 2017, will lead his team alongside veterans Michael Woods and Jakob Fuglsang.

Froome has looked a pale shadow of himself since suffering a broken femur and other injuries at the Criterium du Dauphine in 2019, finishing 133rd overall in last year's Tour, more than four hours behind winner Tadej Pogacar.

He finished 11th at the Classic Alpes-Maritimes earlier this month but withdrew from the Criterium du Dauphine with two stages to go due to illness.

- Reuters

NFL player dies suddenly

Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Jaylon Ferguson has died at the age of 26.

The team announced Ferguson's sudden death on Thursday (NZ time).

"We are profoundly saddened by the tragic passing of Jaylon Ferguson," the Ravens said.

"He was a kind, respectful young man with a big smile and infectious personality. We express our heartfelt condolences to Jaylon's family and friends as we mourn a life lost much too soon."

Police said officers responded to a home in north Baltimore late on Tuesday night (local time) and found Ferguson unresponsive and being treated by medics. He never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said there were no signs of trauma or foul play. The medical examiner's office will determine a cause of death.

Ferguson set an NCAA record with 45 career sacks at Louisiana Tech and was drafted in the third round by the Ravens in 2019. Known at Louisiana Tech as "Sack Daddy," Ferguson and his partner, Doni, had two children.

- Field Level Media