Australia may have retained the urn but couldn't do enough to win the 2019 Ashes series as England clinched a 135-run fifth Test victory to level the scores.

England have set a minimum target of 425 points in their quest to reach the inaugural World Test Championship final at Lord's in 2021. Joe Root's team claimed 56 from the 2-2 draw in the Ashes.

Aberdeen will host the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2019 in December. The favourite to land the award is Ben Stokes after his remarkable heroics in the Cricket World Cup final.

Cricketer Nathan Lyon, 31, and his girlfriend Emma McCarthy couldn't take their eyes off each other as they touched down in Australia on Wednesday evening. 

Ms McCarthy travelled to England to support the off spin bowler as he represented Australia in the Cricket World Cup and Ashes between May and September.

It has been a long slog for David Beckham and the power brokers behind Inter Miami but next March, they will finally see their vision become a reality. 

The 1000-year-old Allerton Oak in Calderstones Park, Liverpool, will represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year contest which begins in February.

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Make no mistake: BJ Watling, who brought up his eighth Test hundred an hour into the evening session, played superbly.

From the bushfire crisis ravaging New South Wales and Queensland to the final climb of Uluru, Getty Images has reveals its most powerful photos from the past year.

The 37-year-old Lancashire seamer managed just four overs in the Ashes last summer due to a recurring calf injury but has proved his fitness on a pre-tour fitness camp.

Stokes' incredible performances in the World Cup, not least in the Lord's final, and his unforgettable match-winning century in the Ashes Test at Headingley saw him land the prestigious prize.

Mo Bobat says winning is more important than the strength of the teams defeated when England Lions begin their tour of Australia next week.

James Lattimer, 51, was accused of kissing the woman and allegedly 'grabbed her bum cheek' during the England v India test match on 9 August 2018.

Philip Ash, pictured, and his wife Elisabeth, failed to tell prospective buyers that their barn conversion in Oxfordshire would be situated near a busy diner developed by the founder of the Soho House empire.

The Riley Lynx is a pristine example of fourwheeled elegance from the early days of motoring. But only five years ago, this 1934 Riley Lynx sports car was a burnt-out shell in Yorkshire.

EXCLUSIVE BY LAWRENCE BOOTH: Stokes and Leach pulled off an incredible run chase at Headingley in 2019 by chasing more than they had ever managed to keep Ashes alive.

Ben Stokes is glued to the aftermath of his miracle at Headingley on television and, revealingly, finds his thoughts immediately turning to the opposition. 'I remember watching this in The Test,' says Stokes.

Connie Talbot has returned to Britain's Got Talent, 12 years after making the 2007 final with her angelic voice.

Mike Bushell and his wife Emily have hit back at trolls on Twitter who have slammed the BBC Breakfast presenter after he was saved on Strictly Come Dancing at the weekend.

The compère, who has also worked on X Factor, entered rehab last month after celebrities including Simon Cowell and Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly helped pay towards his treatment.

The Apprentice has come under fire this year for seemingly picking off those from an ethnic minority group when it comes to the boardroom firings - and this week has been no different.

US pop star Camila Cabello, 22, confessed how she stole the pencil during an interview with Radio One DJ Greg James this morning. While Kate reacted with an eye emoji.

Jacqueline Jossa is reportedly set to confront Chloe Ayling about her alleged threesome with her husband Dan Osborne and fellow CBB star Natalie Nunn - claims which he strongly denied.

A London tribunal upheld the dismissal of Maya Forstater (pictured). Duncan Bannatyne and Sharon Davies MBE revealed their support for her - but others voiced their opposition.

The amusing incident was shared on Twitter by Ed Cumming, of Hampshire, who posted a photo of the soggy mess today. He wrote: 'My friend bought 18 loo rolls and her kids put them all in the bath.'

The 27-year-old, who works as an orthopaedic clinical nurse specialist, revealed that she took the test after losing the ability to taste and smell, while a cough and fever are listed as the main symptoms.

The Love Island star took to Instagram on Wednesday as she discussed losing her sense of taste and smell, and revealed she's also experienced sleep disturbance.

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington saw his side's dreadful away record continue but lauded the performance of rookie Corry Evans.

Portugal may have been without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo but it was not less of a shock as they slumped to an embarrassing 1-0 defeat at home to Albania in their Euro 2016 qualifier. 

The scenes which surrounded Serbia's abandoned Euro 2016 qualifier with Albania caused much shock and amazement to all those watching.

Serbia and Albania can expect severe punishments after UEFA launched an investigation into a night of violence in Belgrade, described as ‘inexcusable’ by Michel Platini.

Albanian internationals Lorik Cana, Etrit Berisha and Thomas Strakosha share the same Lazio dressing room in harmony with Serbia's Filip Djordevic and Dusan Basta.

Antoine Griezmann came off the bench to salvage a draw for Euro 2016 hosts France with a late equaliser in Friday's friendly against Albania in Rennes.

Stefano Okaka scored a late goal on his debut to give Italy a 1-0 win over Albania in a friendly on Tuesday as they remained unbeaten in six games since the World Cup.

France national team boss Didier Deschamps has warned his players they are in for a tough ride ahead of their post-season international friendlies against Belgium and Albania.

An impressive display from minnows Albania earned their first ever victory against France. The Euro 2016 hosts fell to the shock defeat courtesy of a sublime free-kick from youngster Ergys Kace.

Albania have been awarded a victory over Serbia by the Court of Arbitration for Sport after a Euro 2016 qualifier was abandoned when a drone with a political banner flew into the stadium.

The Portugal squad flew to Albania on Saturday ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifier and Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma made sure they got the best seats... in the cockpit.

A stoppage time header by defender Miguel Veloso gave Portugal a 1-0 win in Albania and allowed them to extend their lead on top of Euro 2016 qualifying Group I on Monday.

Germany, Poland, Romania and Albania successfully reached Euro 2016 as the final round of qualifying matches continued on Sunday. Constantin Budescu struck twice for Romania.

JOE BERNSTEIN: There is no more unlikely qualifier for Euro 2016 than Albania whose footballers have shown there is more to the former Iron Curtain secret state than a fixation for Norman Wisdom.

The two sides have been paired together in Group A, and while Albania could field six Swiss-born players, Switzerland have more than half-a-dozen potential starters eligible for their opponents.

Some of them have been there, a few of them have done it - but do the managers who are guiding 24 national sides at Euro 2016 really know what their players are going through?

Albania leveled quickly after conceding an early goal, but gave away another goal at the start of the new half, and Ukraine, also going to Euro 2016, sealed the win with two minutes to go.

The wait is nearly over as the 24 teams who will take to the field at Euro 2016 are put the finishing touches on their preparations.

Figures – collated by the Association of Accounting Technicians using player values according to transfermarkt.com – value the German squad at £421.4million with England at £334.5m.

The biggest-ever Euros kick off this week with 24 teams, 51 matches and a month of top-class action throughout France. To keep track of events, grab yourself a copy of our superb wallchart.

JACK GAUGHAN: They are the minnows of Euro 2016. You would be hard pressed to find a supporter outside of the area au fait with their history. Albania do not conjure memories of football.

They are the stars that will light up Euro 2016, and they have been immortalised in glossy posters ahead of the start of the biggest tournament in this year's sporting calendar.

Size isn’t everything but the European Championship growing to 24 teams is only going to be good news for the big boys. Find out who we're backing, including a 14/1 shot and a 130/1 acca.