New Year Honours: England women cricketers & Sam Warburton recognised

Heather Knight (left) and Sam Warburton both had memorable years in their respective sports

England women's World Cup-winning cricketers and British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton have been recognised in the New Year Honours.

Skipper Heather Knight is appointed OBE having led England's fightback against India in July's final.

Bowler Anya Shrubsole and Kent's Tammy Beaumont are appointed MBE, and there is an OBE for coach Mark Robinson.

Warburton, who led the Lions during the drawn Test series in New Zealand,is appointed OBE.

"It's pretty surreal - it's not something I ever thought would happen at any point since I started playing cricket," Shrubsole told the BBC.

"I got a letter in the post telling me I'd received an MBE and my mum had accidentally opened it, so she knew a day before me."

The 29-year-old Cardiff Blues flanker, who has won 74 international caps for Wales, was also the squad's youngest skipper at 24 before the 2-1 victory over the Wallabies in 2013.Also in rugby union, former Scotland captain Ian McLauchlan is appointed OBE, as is Ed Morrison, who was England's first full-time professional rugby union referee. Scotland and Lions team doctor James Robson is appointed MBE.

In Paralympic sport, Stef Reid, who won Olympic silver in the F44 long jump in London and Rio, is appointed MBE.

Former Manchester United youth team coach Eric Harrison is appointed MBE. The 79-year-old helped nurture the 'Class of 92' including the likes of Paul Scholes, the Neville brothers, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham.

England and Wales Cricket Board director of women's cricket Clare Connorbecomes a CBE, and Welsh cycling coach Alan Davis, who helped Olympic team pursuit gold medallists Owain Doull andElinor Barker as youngsters and rode with Geraint Thomas, is appointed MBE.

International Ski Federation secretary general Sarah Lewis is appointed OBE for services to sport.

And four-time jump racing champion trainer Nicky Henderson has been made a Royal Victorian Order Lieutenant (LVO).

New Year Honours list for sport

Commanders of the order of the British Empire (CBE):

Clare Connor, OBE, England and Wales Cricket Board director of women's cricket, for services to cricket.

Joyce Cook, OBE, for services to sport and accessibility.

Officers of the order of the British Empire (OBE):

Heather Knight, England women's cricket team captain, for services to cricket.

Sarah Lewis, International Ski Federation secretary general, for services to sport.

Ian McLauchlan, former Scotland and Lions prop, for services to rugby and charity.

Jonathan Morgan, former Disability Sport Wales chief executive, for services to disability sport in Wales.

Ed Morrison, former referee, for services to rugby union.

Mark Robinson, England women's cricket team head coach, for services to cricket.

Sam Warburton, Lions captain and former Wales captain, for services to rugby union.

Members of the order of the British Empire (MBE):

Sue Anstiss for services to grassroots and women's sport.

Tammy Beaumont, England women's cricket team, for services to cricket.

Christine Bower, British Olympic Association athletes services co-ordinator, for services to British Olympic sport.

Craig Carscadden for services to athletes with disabilities and to the Paralympics.

Alan Davis, head coach of Maindy Flyers youth cycling club in Cardiff, for services to youth cycling and diversity inclusion in south Wales.

Craig Graham, The Spartans Community Football Academy chairman, for services to football and the community in Edinburgh.

Eric Harrison, former Manchester United youth team coach, for services to football.

Robert Ian Paterson for services to Paralympic sport.

Helen Phillips, for services to Welsh gymnastics and the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales.

Patricia Reid, Dunfermline Tennis Club secretary, for services to tennis and lacrosse in Scotland.

Stef Reid, Great Britain medallist at Beijing, London and Rio Paralympic Games, for services to Paralympic sport.

James Robson, Scotland rugby team doctor, for services to rugby.

Leslie Roy, for services to athletics in Scotland.

Keith Sears, former Sports Ground Safety Authority inspector, for services to sport.

Anya Shrubsole, England women's cricket team, for services to cricket.

John Voss, for services to rugby.

William John Allen Watson, for services to cycling.

Royal Victorian Order Lieutenant (LVO):

Nicky Henderson, trainer of the Queen's racehorses.

Pitches laid at Russia 2018 stadiums

• Work continues on seven of the tournament’s 12 venues
• The grass is growing at Rostov Arena and Nizhny Novgorod Stadium
• Check out photos from the stadiums’ construction sites 

Seven stadiums are still undergoing construction ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ and are nearing completion, with the playing surface having already been laid on several. The remaining venues – the four that hosted the FIFA Confederations Cup, plus the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow – are ready to welcome fans for top-level matches.

The pitch is being laid at the Ekaterinburg Arena, while thanks to the warm weather the grass is already flourishing at the Rostov Arena and the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. The specialists at the Kaliningrad Stadium expect to plant the seeds of the football pitch there next week, as all the preparations have been done. The metal framework, which weighs over 15,000 tonnes, of the westernmost venue at next year’s World Cup has been completed as well.

The head of the construction company in Ekaterinburg has confirmed that work has finished on the stadium’s canopy.

Workers at the Volgograd Arena construction site have lifted the roof’s tensile cable structure to its highest point: 49.5 metres. Now the roof’s membrane covering, which measures 77,000 squared metres in total, is being erected at the venue, where four World Cup matches will be played. 

Things are progressing quickly in Saransk, where the internal and external utility networks of the Mordovia Arena are being built. The football pitch’s technological equipment is also being installed at the stadium, along with the lifts. In total, 1,496 people have been employed at the site. 

The main framework of the Samara Arena is nearly finished: 95 of the 96 blocks making up the dome structure have been put in place. Preparations have started for the renovation of the area surrounding the facility, as the old radio centre has been demolished and the spaces earmarked for new construction have been levelled.

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What is the National Game of India?

A recent RTI has revealed that India has no national game. Earlier, field hockey (a sport India won eight Olympic gold medals) enjoyed the special status. But, how can we, a country of more than a billion people, stay without a national game.

After the sudden disclosure, Indian sports have lost a bit of identity as a national sport is considered to be an intrinsic part of the culture of a nation. The reason for the 'no national game' status can be attributed to the downslide of Indian hockey in the last three decades. The abysmal status of management of hockey affairs strengthens the relegation of the game from the coveted status.

If we have a quick look at the current performance of India in some sports and the future ahead we can surely find some strong contenders for the national game status. Let us check some options:

Cricket: It is easily the most popular sport. In fact cricket can easily be termed as a religion in India. Backed by some very recent glories, cricket deserves to be the national sport of India on merit. The future too looks bright as the game is managed by some skilful administrators, and backed by the richest cricket board in the world.

Kabaddi: India has been the undisputed king of indigenous game Kabaddi. The game is not only rooted here, it is also the most popular game in rural areas across India.

Wrestling: We call it kusti or malla-yuddha. Wrestling has been an indigenous sport since mythological days. With past glory and recent good show at the world stage, the game deserves more respect and admiration.

Tennis: It is one rising sport in the country. With Indian tennis achieving new heights in the last couple of decades, and rapid development of the budding talents, the game is all set to flourish in the next few years. However, the recent selection fiasco ahead of the London Olympics and the subsequent events show the darker side of tennis management in India.

Boxing: After enthralling the country with medals at two consecutive Olympics, Boxing looks quite a fruitful sport for India. The country's new-found love for the game makes it one of the most popular sports. It is a popular sport even in the rural belt.

Badminton: It is said that Badminton originated in India. However, the game has captured the imagination of one and all only after Saina Nehwal's Olympic bronze medal winning feat. With the present and future looking bright, Indian badminton has the promise of more glory ahead.

Now tell us what you think. Which of these sports should be the national game of India. Write in your comments along with your choice.

Paul Clement: Swansea sack manager after less than a year in charge

Paul Clement was nominated for manager of the season in 2016-17 after keeping Swansea in the Premier League

Swansea City have sacked manager Paul Clement with the club bottom of the Premier League, having won just three league games this season.

Clement, 45, took charge in January with Swansea in the relegation zone and guided them to a 15th-place finish.

Chairman Huw Jenkins said that changing the manager halfway through a season "was the last thing we wanted to do".

He said: "We felt we couldn't leave it any longer and needed to make a change to give the best chance of an uplift."

Swansea announced that assistant managers Nigel Gibbs and Karl Halabi have also left the club.

The Welsh club says it will give a further update on replacement coaching staff "within the next 24 hours".

Before joining Swansea, Clement had worked as Carlo Ancelotti's assistant manager at Chelsea, Paris St-Germain and Real Madrid.

He had one, short-lived managerial stint at Derby County which ended in 2016 and he was then reunited with Ancelotti at Bayern Munich.

Clement joined Swansea on a two-and-a-half-year deal in January, becoming the club's third boss of the 2016-17 season following the departures of Bob Bradley and Francesco Guidolin.

Everton pair Ashley Williams (left) and Gylfi Sigurdsson (second from right) are two of the international players sold by Swansea in recent seasons

"We had three different manager last season and as a result we all wanted to give Paul as much time as possible to turn things around," Jenkins added.

"Paul has been at the club for 12 months and what he achieved in the second half of last season to keep us in the top flight was a tremendous feat.

"For that, and his effort and commitment this season, it goes without saying that the club thanks him for his work, together with Nigel and Karl."

The Swans were bottom of the table when Clement took charge but he oversaw a remarkable escape from relegation after a strong end to the campaign.

However, a summer of poor dealings in the transfer market sowed the seeds for a dreadful start to the current term.

Last season's leading scorer Fernando Llorente and player of the year Gylfi Sigurdsson were sold but not adequately replaced.

Steve Kaplan (centre) and Jason Levien (right) kept Huw Jenkins (front left) as chairman when they bought a controlling stake in Swansea City

'Swansea's crisis runs deep'

Analysis by BBC Sport Wales football correspondent Rob Phillips

Paul Clement's departure is a damning indictment of those who run Swansea City.

If you include club legend Alan Curtis' spells at the helm, the Swans have gone through six bosses in just two years.

Curtis has taken caretaker-charge of his beloved Swans for the last two Decembers.

As head coach, Clement must take some of the blame, just as he deservedly received plenty of praise for steering the club away from relegation last season.

But the problems run far deeper than the coach. Poor recruitment for the last few years has resulted in a squad which is inadequate by Premier League standards.

Swansea made a stand over Gylfi Sigurdsson's fee to Everton in August, but that led to a month of transfer inactivity during the protracted negotiations. Was there no spare cash at hand?

Clement was promised money in January, but did not survive to spend it.

The so-called 'Swansea Way' - which disappeared when Michael Laudrup was shown the door - used to be about an attractive and successful brand of passing and movement.

Now the 'Swansea Way' is to announce a departure in December to make way for a New Year miracle worker.

The revival could happen again, just as it has done following managerial changes elsewhere.

But the crisis runs so deep - characterised by a disconnect between fans and those in charge, chairman Huw Jenkins and American owners Steven Kaplan and Jason Levien - it is difficult to see any other outcome but relegation.

The Swans have dodged this bullet for the last two seasons - this time their luck may have run out.

BRISTOL CITY 2-1 MANCHESTER UNITED

Korey Smith struck as Bristol City reached the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1989

Korey Smith scored an injury-time winner as Championship side Bristol City stunned holders Manchester United to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Smith's turn and strike in the final minute of time added on booked a semi-final against Premier League leaders Manchester City.

After an even first hour, Joe Bryan's rasping left-foot strike across goal into the top corner gave the Robins a shock lead at a packed Ashton Gate.

Their advantage lasted just eight minutes, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic marking his first start since 20 April with a low free-kick past Luke Steele, before Smith struck.

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There were jubilant scenes at the final whistle, with much of the sell-out crowd rushing on to the pitch in celebration and taking selfies with some of the City players.

Despite fielding a side showing 10 changes, United manager Jose Mourinho had recalled Paul Pogba after a three-match ban and picked a forward line of Ibrahimovic, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

The visitors did carve out numerous opportunities from open play, with Ibrahimovic and Rashford both striking the woodwork before half-time.

But, despite clearly tiring towards the end, City continued to throw numbers forward and were rewarded with Smith's dramatic winner - making United the fourth Premier League side they have knocked out this season, after Watford, Stoke and Crystal Palace.

How did Bristol City do it?

Lights, camera, action - it was all mobile phones and selfies after the final whistle

Head coach Lee Johnson has overseen a remarkable - bordering on unprecedented - turnaround during the past nine months.

Having endured a run of 15 defeats in 19 games, including a club record eight successive losses, the 36-year-old's job looked under serious threat - as did City's Championship status.

But, backed by owner Steve Lansdown, Johnson has since transformed the Robins into genuine promotion contenders, currently third in the table and now having won nine of their past 11 matches in all competitions.

As well as the upturn in results, the former midfielder has also produced a team now well recognised for their eye-catching brand of high-pressing, high-energy football - attributes they demonstrated in abundance against United.

With diminutive pairing Bobby Reid and Jamie Paterson up front, City were forced to play through the lines rather than going direct and, although United were generally comfortable keeping the Robins at arms' length, Smith had already got clear in the first half only to be denied by a superb last-ditch tackle by Daley Blind.

Academy product Bryan, previously linked with a move to the top flight, was another important outlet and the home side's best player on the night, scoring a fine goal to put the hosts in front.

City maintained their confidence despite Ibrahimovic's equaliser and with extra-time looming, they got their rewards as Smith kept his cool by stroking home a famous winner.

A historic night for the Robins

Bristol City, without a major trophy in their history, have only four times reached the semi-final stage of the FA Cup or EFL Cup previously.

Since dropping out of the top flight in 1980 and nearly going out of business two years later, the club have spent much of their time in the second and third tiers of the pyramid.

But there is now a feeling in south Bristol that this exciting young head coach, and his team, could achieve something special.

Owner Lansdown has funded the redevelopment of Ashton Gate, now an impressive 27,000-capacity venue, as well as backing Johnson in the transfer market, although £5.3m summer signing Famara Diedhiou did not feature on Wednesday because of a knee injury.

In the build-up, defender Aden Flint had described the Manchester United fixture as their "least important game of the month" and, though a two-legged last-four tie awaits, City's attention will now turn towards continuing their push for Premier League.

'Total euphoria'

Lee Johnson's side have won five games in a row and have lost once in 11 matches in all competitions

Johnson celebrated Smith's late winner by picking up a ballboy and hugging and swinging him around on the touchline as Ashton Gate experienced disbelief.

With Championship matches against QPR, Reading and leaders Wolves to come before the end of the year, Johnson wants this famous result to bring more fans in to fuel their promotion hopes.

"To beat Manchester United at home is a historic occasion," he said.

"That Korey Smith goal at the end will live in the memory for many generations. Total euphoria.

"I didn't know what to do! I wanted to run and celebrate with the lads. He [the ball boy] was the only one there.

"Hopefully it will attract more supporters in because we want more nights like that.

"You don't beat Manchester United if you're Bristol City unless every man is doing a man-and-a-half's job."

What went wrong for United?

Contrasting emotions - it was a night to forget for Jose Mourinho but it was all smiles for Johnson at the end

Mourinho, the most successful manager in the history of the competition, will rue a number of missed chances, even though the two sides were well-matched.

The visitors hit the woodwork twice before half-time, while Bristol City goalkeeper Steele produced two brilliant saves to deny Romelu Lukaku - brought on with half an hour to go - a fourth goal in five games.

Rashford and Martial curled further efforts wide of the post either side of the break, while twice late on United failed to make the most of clear openings on the counter-attack.

But they were never able to take full control of the tie as they would have hoped. They were harassed and harried in possession and, be it through tenacious defending or sloppy play, were subsequently unable to sustain long periods of pressure.

United, 11 points adrift of leaders Manchester City in the Premier League, will now likely look at the FA Cup and Champions League as their best hopes of silverware in 2017-18 - with this tie surely considered a missed opportunity.

Mourinho lower league woe - the stats

• Manchester United have been knocked out in four of their past seven League Cup ties against sides from a lower league.
• Bristol City are only the second side from a lower division to eliminate four top-flight teams in one League Cup campaign - after Sheffield Wednesday in 1990-91.
• The Robins have now scored 16 goals in this EFL Cup campaign - more than any other side in the competition.
• Bristol City became only the second lower division side to knock United out of the League Cup as holders, after Southend United in 2006-07.
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his first goal for the Red Devils since April against Sunderland, 255 days ago.
• Joe Bryan's opener means he's scored three goals in his past four games in all competitions for Bristol City - as many as he had in his previous 105 for the Robins.
• Bristol City are only the second lower league side Jose Mourinho has lost to as a manager in England, after Bradford came from 2-0 down to beat his Chelsea side 4-2 in the 2014-15 FA Cup.

What's next?

The busy Christmas period, that's what. Bristol City are back in action when the play QPR at Loftus Road in a Championship fixture on Saturday, kick-off 15:00 GMT. United have a few more hours to recover - they play at Leicester in the Premier League at 19:45 GMT.