England’s Trent Bridge euphoria must not mask concerns about Ben Stokes’ batting approach June 15, 2022 It may seem churlish to have any complaints in the warm glow of England’s second-Test win over New Zealand this week, but the result shouldn’t totally erase concerns that Ben Stokes is becoming a caricature of coach Brendon McCullum. The skipper has done extraordinary things across formats over the years, not least leading England to [...]
Yorkshire charged with bringing cricket into disrepute after racism investigation June 15, 2022 Yorkshire County Cricket Club and several unnamed individuals have been charged following an investigation into allegations of racism and their handling of the claims. The charges have been brought by the England and Wales Cricket board and relate to bringing the game into disrepute and breaching anti-discrimination rules. Governing body the ECB said it would [...]
England win was not just a victory but an ode to Test cricket June 15, 2022 If that was the definition of what Test cricket can be, why would you want to watch anything else? At a sun-drenched Trent Bridge yesterday, on the fifth day of the second Test against New Zealand, every result was on the table for England. A win for England would have cemented their first series win [...]
Apple makes biggest sports rights bet so far on 10-year, £2bn Major League Soccer deal June 15, 2022 Apple has agreed to pay $2.5bn (£2.1bn) for the global streaming rights to Major League Soccer for the next 10 years. The deal with the top division of men’s football in the US and Canada represents the tech giant’s biggest investment in sports rights so far. Apple, which bought a package of Major League Baseball [...]
Simon Shaw interview: ‘Addressing concussion is for the here and now’ June 15, 2022 It was a project hatched over a pre-arranged dinner, but the cogs that were left turning once the bill had been settled have spearheaded innovation into understanding concussion in and out of sport, and provoked questions as to why it continues to take so long to implement change. Simon Shaw is a former Wasps rugby [...]
Shahryar to cross Bridge to Ascot history for Japan June 14, 2022 SIR MICHAEL Stoute has won the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (3.40pm) four times in the past and looks to hold strong claims of making it five courtesy of Bay Bridge. Typical of a horse from Stoute’s Stonemason Lodge yard, this four-year-old has been steadily brought through the ranks and won on his seasonal return in [...]
Prize fighter Eldarov to give his rivals a royal beating in the Queen’s Vase June 14, 2022 Prize fighter Eldarov to give his rivals a royal beating in the Queen’s Vase STRADIVARIUS won the 2017 renewal of the Queen’s Vase (3.05pm) before going on to become one of the greatest stayers of all time. It is highly unlikely there is a horse of his calibre in today’s field, but it looks [...]
Unbeaten Branwell might become Queen Maria in opener June 14, 2022 WESLEY Ward has won the Queen Mary Stakes (2.30pm) three times in the last seven years, so the obvious starting point when analysing today’s opener is his Love Reigns. A daughter of U S Navy Flag, she won on debut at Keeneland over five and a half furlongs in April by almost 10 lengths. You [...]
Don’t leave King out of your Hunt Cup Quinellas June 14, 2022 THERE aren’t many more challenging puzzles to solve than today’s Royal Hunt Cup (5.00pm). 30 runners hurtling down Ascot’s straight mile, almost all of whom could easily be well ahead of their handicap marks, means that finding the winner is very difficult, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to give it a good go. ASTRO [...]
EP: 139 Royal Ascot – Thursday June 14, 2022 The Gold Cup, run over two and a half miles, takes centre stage at Royal Ascot on Thursday when Frankie Dettori teams up with his old favourite stayer Stradivarius, who looks to win the Group 1 prize for a fourth time. The Norfolk Stakes and Ribblesdale Stakes, both Group 2 contests, also take place on [...]