England cricket chiefs must build on the foundations laid by remarkable World Cup win July 15, 2019 In January the England and Wales Cricket Board released a 35-page document entitled Inspiring Generations, which set out the governing body’s five-year plan to drive youth participation and diversify cricket’s fan base. One of the six priorities outlined was to “inspire through elite teams”. Sunday’s remarkable events at Lord’s have handed the ECB an opportunity [...]
Wimbledon 2019: Novak Djokovic outlasts Roger Federer in titanic final and closes in on his tally of grand slam titles July 14, 2019 They came in their thousands to watch the man likely to hold the record for the most grand slam titles for years to come add another to his tally – and they did, although perhaps not the man they had in mind. By outlasting Roger Federer in a colossal, almost five-hour final – the longest [...]
England beat New Zealand by the skin of their teeth in dramatic finale to win the Cricket World Cup July 14, 2019 There’s a cliche in sport which says you couldn’t write it. Generally that’s a fallacy: over thousands of games most situations have seen airtime. But the fashion in which England won the Cricket World Cup was something unique. It would be stretching the mind to conjure up the events which somehow came to pass in [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: Take Fairyland and So Beloved to re-write the record books July 12, 2019 ARMCHAIR racing fans are in for a real treat tomorrow with ITV cameras showing 10 races from Newmarket, York and Ascot. The pick of the action comes from Headquarters with the Group One Darley July Cup (4.40pm) taking centre stage. You cannot keep that man Frankie Dettori out of the headlines and he holds leading [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: Gosden set for another Marvellous day with Stylehunter July 12, 2019 AS I mentioned, racing fans are spoilt this weekend with racing at Newmarket complemented by competitive-looking cards at both Ascot and York. At Ascot, my eyes are drawn to TIS MARVELLOUS in the Betfred Heritage Handicap (1.45pm). Though the five-year-old gelding hasn’t got his head in front since August last year, there are a number [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: Frankie can Besh his rivals again to notch yet another Group One July 12, 2019 GLORIOUS is the only word that can be used to describe Frankie Dettori’s summer so far. Anapurna’s win in the Investec Oaks kicked off an incredible run of seven Group One victories in less than six weeks, capped off by Too Darn Hot’s success in the Prix Jean Prat on Sunday. The 48-year-old is enjoying [...]
England put their aggressive mantra into practice to thrash Australia and reach the World Cup final July 11, 2019 It’s one thing to talk about positive intent, batting mantras and aggressive game-plans. It’s another to put them into practice on the biggest stage. Today England faced Australia, the most successful World Cup team in cricket history, who had never lost a semi-final in seven attempts – and they smashed them off the park to [...]
Chris Tremlett: England have what it takes to deal with the pressure and end this week with a World Cup July 10, 2019 New Zealand’s semi-final win over India today showed just how fine the margins are in knockout cricket. At the halfway stage not many would have backed them, but Kane Williamson and his side played the situation perfectly to reach Sunday’s final at Lord’s. Now all the attention turns to Edgbaston, where England face Australia tomorrow [...]
Australia v England: Semi-final balanced as World Cup knockout specialists face confident hosts playing at Fortress Edgbaston July 10, 2019 If they aren’t already, England and Australia are going to become very familiar with each other this summer. Having played twice already, and with the small matter of the Ashes edging ever closer, the two sides meet tomorrow in a Cricket World Cup semi-final. The match is an intriguing one, framed by two potentially decisive [...]
Day in the Life: Ironman world champion Ruth Purbrook on juggling training with a job in the City July 10, 2019 I first got into triathlon in 2013 when I was doing a graduate placement in Lloyds’s charity team. At the time I was training for the Berlin Marathon and was slightly bored of just running, so I jumped at the opportunity of a charity place in the London Triathlon. It all spiralled from there. I [...]