Series victory would offer chance to experiment in fifth Test but Stokes and McCullum are trying to be here now at Old Trafford The last time India were in Manchester for a Test was in 2021 and it was a pretty bleak affair. An outbreak of Covid‑19 among their backroom...
Raducanu’s US Open buildup gathers pace with Washington win over Kostyuk
Briton pulls through gruelling encounter to advance Norrie reaches men’s last 16 after seeing off Musetti Emma Raducanu began her buildup towards next month’s US Open with an impressive straight-sets win over seventh seed Marta Kostyuk at the DC Open in Washington. Playing her first singles match since stretching world...
Tour de France: Pogacar resists Vingegaard on Ventoux as Paret-Peintre claims stage 16
Home rider denies Ben Healy in lung-busting sprint finish Tadej Pogacar repels a ‘motivated’ Jonas Vingegaard The Tour de France debutant Valentin Paret-Peintre banished the bitter memories of Julian Alaphilippe’s misplaced celebrations in Carcassonne on Sunday by becoming the fifth French rider to win at the summit of Mont Ventoux....
Open victor Scheffler is latest sporting star to explore space beyond wins and losses | Cath Bishop
American made headlines in highlighting that the winning feeling is temporary and shallow – but others feel the same way The world’s top athletes can seem a confused bunch. Scottie Scheffler described in a press conference before the Open how he keeps asking himself why he wants to win golf...
Manchester City’s record £1bn deal with Puma and the value beyond bottom line
The 10-year contract is worth £1bn but it has also opened the door to increase the club’s global profile with other lucrative partnerships Manchester City had a billion reasons to celebrate the new kit deal with Puma announced last week, yet beyond the bottom line the value of the contract...
Wimbledon tennis site expansion can go ahead, high court rules
Judge upholds decision to allow club to build 39 new courts, after campaigners called for it to be overturned A proposed expansion of the Wimbledon tennis site will go ahead after the high court ruled in favour of an original decision to allow a further 39 courts, including an 8,000-seat...
Racing’s response to tax ‘harmonisation’ bombshell risks disturbing endgame | Greg Wood
An effective end to the decades-old distinction between betting and gaming feels increasingly imminent The 12-week consultation on a Treasury proposal to “harmonise” the rate of duty levied on online betting – on racing and other sports – and casino gaming – for example, roulette and online slot machines –...
The Breakdown | If Lions complete Australia rout, clamour for tour of France will grow
It may open the Lions to accusations of parochialism, but there is a compelling case for staying in Europe It may be too early to start asking existential questions about the British & Irish Lions but, sitting in Melbourne’s Southbank, slap bang in the middle of Aussie rules territory, where...
Fiery rivalry turned Lord’s Test into brilliant box office – I can’t wait for the sequel | Mark Ramprakash
England proved their mettle by coming back to beat India, and bringing in the experienced Liam Dawson makes them stronger The third Test at Lord’s was an outstanding game and a brilliant win for England, particularly after the hammering they received at Edgbaston. To come back and show the mettle...
Terrifying Mont Ventoux ready to create the unexpected again in Tour de France
From Simpson’s sad death to Froome’s bizarre run, the ‘Bald Mountain’ has always been the place where stuff happens The decades pass, generations of Tour de France cyclists come and go, but some gruesome things never change. On Tuesday, the survivors of one of the craziest, fastest Tours ever, a...