The Morning Brief: England opens Root's return with dominant win; off-field stories dominate

England's cricket team has begun Joe Root's second captaincy with an emphatic statement. Playing Pakistan at Headingley in the opening Test of a three-match series, England won by an innings and 103 runs inside three days. Pakistan managed 171 in the first innings and 135 in the second; England replied with 409. Harry Brook scored 91 and Root contributed 66. England's pace attack overwhelmed Pakistan's batting, with Muhammad Usman claiming five wickets for 95 runs in Pakistan's first innings. Root described his team as outstanding after the win. England now leads the series 1-0.

Beyond cricket's field, three significant stories reflect institutional accountability and capital movement in sports. A federal jury in Alabama awarded Kai Spears, a former Alabama basketball walk-on, approximately $9.25 million in damages after finding The New York Times liable for defamation and false light invasion of privacy. The verdict stems from a March 2023 article by Billy Witz that incorrectly identified Spears as the passenger in Brandon Miller's car at the time of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa in January 2023. The Times amended the article in June 2023, clarifying that the person at the scene was Cooper Lee, a student manager, not Spears. The Times stated it was disappointed the jury found it liable for an honest mistake and is reviewing its legal options. The verdict marks the Times' first defamation loss in more than 50 years on a U.S. article.

In basketball ownership, Marc Stad acquired controlling ownership of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx in a transaction valued at $4.5 billion combined, making it the fourth-largest NBA franchise sale on record. Stad took the controlling stake previously held by co-chairman Marc Lore. Alex Rodriguez, who co-invested with Lore in 2021, is increasing his investment and will assume expanded governance roles as co-chairman, Governor of the Lynx, and alternate Governor of the Timberwolves, pending NBA league approval. The franchises include four-time NBA All-Star Anthony Edwards.

Two media figures departed their posts over editorial disputes. Matt Calkins, a sports columnist at The Seattle Times for 11 years, announced his resignation on Thursday after the paper declined to publish a column he had written from the perspective of female student athletes opposed to competing against biological males. Calkins submitted the draft on July 31 titled "Agreeing with Sophie Cunningham's stance doesn't make you transphobic." The paper told him the column would not run because he had not informed editors in advance. Calkins said he did not believe that explanation. The sources do not carry The Seattle Times' full explanation beyond that stated reason, nor do they identify other pieces the paper declined to publish.

In soccer, Inter Milan completed the signing of Curtis Jones from Liverpool for €35m total (€30m upfront plus €5m in add-ons), with Jones signing through 2031. The deal concludes months of negotiation; Inter had proposed €25m in June, which Liverpool rejected. Jones made 228 appearances for Liverpool but struggled to secure regular starts under manager Arne Slot last season. In Major League Soccer, Lionel Messi was fined by the league after slapping Philadelphia Union player Quinn Sullivan during Inter Miami's 2-2 draw on Wednesday. The league did not disclose the fine amount. Messi said Sullivan had elbowed him following his play of the ball.