Ronaldo starts with a ban

Former Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been banned for two matches and fined $96,000 for hitting a phone out of a young fan’s hand at Everton after an English Premier League game last season. The ban will be transferred when Ronaldo joins a new club in any country. It does not apply to the World Cup. The 37-year-old Portugal star, who is now a free agent following his release from Manchester United this week, had the altercation after a 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park on April 9, for which Ronaldo received a police caution from Merseyside Police. England’s Football Association charged him with improper conduct and an independent panel has handed down a suspension and fine.

With the Ashes less than seven months away England quick bowler Jofra Archer has made his long-awaited return to action. The pacer delivered nine overs, and was sharp enough to crack England opener Zak Crawley on the helmet, as he played in a warmup match between England’s test team and its development side, the England Lions. England have a battery of pace bowlers, but many have been afflicted by injury in recent years, including the two genuinely fast ones, Archer and Mark Wood. Archer has not played competitively for 18 months due to longstanding elbow problems and a stress fracture of the lower back. England have a two-test tour to New Zealand in February, but that may be too soon for his test return.