The Ashes, a century-old rivalry between England and Australia, is the most venerable showcase for a version of cricket that is losing ground to faster,…

Stunning franchise fees and a seven-figure media deal for a new competition represent one of the biggest investments ever in a women’s sport.

Billion-dollar investment funds and N.F.L. ownership groups are among those angling for a foothold in the Indian Premier League. The returns, not the sport, are…