Ben Stokes’s batters must realise the aggressive option doesn’t always mean attacking Australia’s bowlers, and if they don’t, it could be all over in Brisbane It’s not over yet. There is still hope. Before the Ashes started I had plenty of it, because of England’s fantastic array of fast bowlers...
Cool Blues: Chelsea determined to stay grounded despite Barcelona demolition
Enzo Maresca’s young side face league leaders Arsenal on Sunday on a high but have moved on from the emotional swings of old The worst way for Chelsea to respond to their demolition of Barcelona would be to believe the hype. The problem is that emotions in football swing from...
Manchester United’s academy reeling from staff churn and Ratcliffe’s brickbats
Troubled times at Carrington as the club proud of producing the next generation of stars is in flux under fresh leadership The standards of Manchester United’s academy have “really slipped” in recent years, according to Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The club is renowned as one of the world’s best schools for...
Rugby union’s breakaway competition R360 delays launch by two years
Competition will not now begin until 2028 ‘Decision to shift our launch is strategic’ R360 has delayed the launch of its global franchise league by two years until 2028 amid doubts over its ability to recruit players and the viability of its commercial model. The rebel league, which was scheduled...
Lando Norris calm in the maelstrom as three-way title race enters final straight
British driver with world championship within his grasp is showing no sign of nerves despite Verstappen mind games and pressure from Piastri Standing outside the McLaren motorhome in the paddock for the Qatar Grand Prix as a warm desert breeze stirs the air, Lando Norris cuts a figure entirely at...
If we are witnessing the death spiral of the cult of Bazball, let’s savour what it created | Barney Ronay
There have been many good points – challenging orthodoxies and Ben Stokes talking openly about male emotions – and even when it was bad, it was unignorable The Life Cycle of a Cult1. The Big Idea. A charismatic leader or leaders propose a new and transcendent idea that promises a...
Manchester City look to bounce back in Premier League, Lionesses in action – matchday live
News and discussion as we build up to the day’s action Premier League things | Get in touch Hello, football. A jam packed day awaits. Readers, any football plans for the day? What ground are you heading off to? How optimistic are you that your team will get the win...
Transfer strategy and Arne Slot reduce Liverpool to ‘Brendan bad’ levels | Andy Hunter
Not since 2014 have Liverpool struggled so much, with questions aimed at directors and players such as Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz “Would you say this is Roy bad or Brendan bad?” was one of the more repeatable questions asked in the Anfield press box in between PSV Eindhoven’s third...
Imran Sherwani, Great Britain Olympic hockey hero, dies aged 63
He scored twice in 1988 final against West Germany Olympic star was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2019 Imran Sherwani, who starred in the Great Britain hockey team that won Olympic gold in 1988, has died at the age of 63, his family have announced. Sherwani revealed in 2021 that had...
Cricket nerds love precedent so maybe England can channel spirit of Lord’s 2005
The parallels are imperfect but, as with Michael Vaughan’s Ashes winners, hyper-aggressive cricket with a tweaked approach in the second Test is the 2025 cohort’s only chance of winning Twenty years on, a montage of the 2005 Ashes still tingles the spine. Close your eyes and you can probably make...