England’s Jos Buttler: Final Ashes Test will not be a dead-rubber as history beckons August 13, 2015 England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler insists the opportunity to make history will remove the threat of next week’s fifth Investec Ashes Test at the Kia Oval turning into a dead-rubber. Victory over an abject Australia at Trent Bridge last week ensured that Alastair Cook’s England have regained the Ashes after surging into an unassailable 3-1 series [...]
Reprimanded Nick Kyrgios apologises for lewd girlfriend remark to Stan Wawrinka August 13, 2015 Australia's Nick Kyrgios has apologised after being fined for making an insulting and lewd remark to US Open champion Stan Wawrinka about his girlfriend during the duo’s Rogers Cup tussle in Montreal earlier this week. On-court microphones recorded Kyrgios walking to the net and telling his opponent: “Kokkianakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you [...]
Tottenham set to cut transfer losses on Roberto Soldado after goal-shy spell August 13, 2015 Tottenham are set to cut their losses on goal-shy forward Roberto Soldado as the Spaniard moved closer to finalising a move to La Liga outfit Villarreal. Soldado has failed to live up to his billing since Spurs paid Valencia £26m for his services in August 2013. The 30-year-old has netted just seven Premier League goals [...]
Film review: Trainwreck August 13, 2015 Cert 15 Four Stars It would be easy to dismiss Trainwreck as another adult comedy about a party animal who needs to grow up, but writer-star Amy Schumer is no Vince Vaughn. Her character’s foul mouthed partying belies an underlying fragility, and her fraught negotiation of life-altering events – most notably, falling for a sensible [...]
Film review: Mistress America August 13, 2015 Cert 15 Three Stars “Don’t let me hear you say life’s taking you nowhere,” croons David Bowie in Golden Years, the song that bookends Noah Baumbach’s last film While We’re Young. We could well take this as a maxim aimed at Baumbach’s characters – at least in his cautiously optimistic later films, which all follow [...]
Opera review: Carmen August 13, 2015 Soho Theatre Four Stars This pioneering OperaUpClose production of Carmen is raw and unpolished, and that’s why it works. The DIY set, inventive costume design and earthy, enthusiastic performances conspire to revivify this staple of the operatic repertoire. Carmen is the tale of a sexually liberated woman killed by a culture of machismo. OperaUpClose has [...]
Film review: Paper towns August 13, 2015 Cert 12a Two Stars There was a time in the not-too-distant past when teenage films were a mindless cluster of fart jokes, jock posturing and boobs. But now there’s a new kind of teen film on the block – ushered in by novelists like Nicholas Sparks and John Green – that’s all about feelings. Gushing [...]
Perfect Saturday August 13, 2015 BRUNCH OF CHAMPIONS PROVIDORES You’ve heard of Continental and full English, but Kiwi? New Zealand restaurant Providores in Marylebone offers one of the best brunch menus in London. Forget bubble and squeak and margarine on toast, go for the grilled chorizo with sweet potato and miso hash. A luxurious start to the weekend. Visit theprovidores.co.uk [...]
Warren Gatland offers lifeline after axing Lions Hibbard, Phillips and Hook August 13, 2015 Wales head coach Warren Gatland insists the Rugby World Cup dream remains alive for Richard Hibbard, Mike Phillips and James Hook, despite axing the three British and Irish Lions stars from his squad. Hooker Hibbard, scrum-half Phillips and fly-half Hook were among eight players released to their regions yesterday as Gatland pruned his training party [...]
England v France: Who’s in and who’s out of Stuart Lancaster’s Rugby World Cup squad? August 13, 2015 “There will be World Cup places up for grabs, everything on the line. If you don’t play well, you’re going home,” said stand-in captain Tom Wood ahead of England’s Rugby World Cup warm-up match against France this Saturday. Read more: Lancaster calls on convert Sam Burgess to seize Rugby World Cup chance Such are [...]