Surrey’s Zafar Ansari boosts case for inclusion in England side for opening Test with Bangladesh October 16, 2016 Surrey all-rounder Zafar Ansari pressed his claims for a Test debut by leading England’s fightback during the opening day of their final warm-up clash against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI in Chittagong. England appeared to be toiling in the field until the left-arm spinner claimed three quick scalps to prompt a dramatic collapse which saw the [...]
Charlton v Coventry game stopped for five minutes by plastic pig protest as fans unite against owners leading clubs into “crisis” October 15, 2016 The League One match between Charlton and Coventry was suspended for five minutes after both sets of fans hurled plastic pigs onto the pitch in protest against their owners. Supporters of the Addicks and Sky Blues want new owners at their clubs and joined forces at The Valley to make their feelings known. Ahead of [...]
Adidas stand to profit as Manchester United’s Paul Pogba tops shirt bestseller list – but could Arsenal look for more from Puma? October 15, 2016 At first glance, Manchester United’s £75m-a-year kit deal with Adidas looked like a vast overpayment on the behalf of the German sportswear manufacturer. Back in 2014 when United’s commercial guru Ed Woodward secured the deal, United had just endured their worst season since the 1980s, the club had failed to attract some high profile transfer [...]
The Apprentice 2016: Here’s what happened in last night’s episode October 14, 2016 In last night’s show candidates undertook a Lord Sugar favourite – the advertising task. But the outcome was less Mad Men, and more men bickering over a bus shelter advert. As usual for this challenge, the teams were given a product and a random adjective to use when marketing it. This year, they had to flog a pair [...]
Tyson Fury backed to return to ring after having fight licence revoked October 14, 2016 Controversial British heavyweight Tyson Fury’s suspension from boxing could act as a blessing in disguise, according to his trainer and uncle Peter Fury. Fury, the self-styled Gypsy King, had his licence to fight revoked yesterday by the British Boxing Board of Control pending further investigations into anti-doping and medical issues. The move followed the 28-year-old’s [...]
Slaven Bilic refuses to blame London Stadium for West Ham’s early season woe October 13, 2016 West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has refused to lay the blame for his side’s turbulent start to the season at the door of their new home, the London Stadium. The Hammers are currently marooned in the relegation zone having accrued just four points from their opening seven fixtures, while crowd trouble has marred some [...]
Rowing for gold: Rio glory sees Phelan Hill go from Treasury to national treasure October 13, 2016 Even Olympic gold medallists are brought back down to earth sooner or later. Twenty-four hours after sipping one final Mojito on Ipanema beach, Great Britain’s premier coxswain – and former Treasury high-flyer – Phelan Hill was back in Putney changing his son’s dirty nappy. Most of the time that gold medal, the reward for excruciating [...]
Shopping and Fucking review: An explosively sensory play whose simple message is marred by the grotesque October 13, 2016 Sex and love are reduced to transactional commodities in the colourfully named Shopping and Fucking. In Mark Ravenhill’s controversial 90s play, some young folk have wilfully inducted themselves into a kind of sexual servitude. Rent boys leap out of cardboard packaging, and the stage is made to resemble the set of a gaudy shopping channel, [...]
Inferno review: Tom Hanks and his frantic legs investigate every tomb in the world in Dan Brown’s latest October 13, 2016 The latest in Dan Brown’s “what if your dad was Jason Bourne” series (following The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons) sees Tom Hanks being chased into roughly four thousand museums and churches by shady government cabals, each time escaping through secret catacombs and ancient tunnels that only he knows about. The twist in [...]
Mauricio Pochettino confirms when he expects Harry Kane to return to full training as key midfielder suffers injury setback October 13, 2016 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that prolific marksman Harry Kane is set to return to full training next week as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury. Kane damaged ankle ligaments during his side’s Premier League victory over Sunderland last month and it was initially feared the England forward would be sidelined for up to [...]