Much Ado About Nothing at the National Theatre, review: Pop Shakespeare at its finest July 19, 2022 Much Ado About Nothing is Shakespeare for people who don’t like Shakespeare. Alongside A Midsummer Night’s Dream, it’s one of the Bard’s funniest and least demanding offerings, which has given rise to a degree of snobbishness about it. Kenneth Branagh’s 90s version, in which he plays a brilliant Benedict, is a landmark modern edition of [...]
Why England have overtaken Spain as Women’s Euro 2022 favourites head of their quarter-final July 19, 2022 Just two weeks ago, on the eve of Women’s Euro 2022, Spain were widely regarded as the favourites and England had much to do to justify their pre-tournament hype. A fortnight later, as the two teams prepare to meet in the first quarter-final in Brighton on Wednesday evening, the tables have turned. While Spain have [...]
Premiership Rugby: Fixtures announced with Spurs hosting London derby July 19, 2022 London clubs Saracens and Harlequins will clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next March, it was revealed this morning as the 2022-23 Premiership Rugby fixtures were confirmed. It looks to be part of a solution that will see key derbies played outside of international windows – a criticism of last year’s schedule. The season will [...]
Stokes’ retirement highlights dilemma for English cricket’s bigwigs July 19, 2022 “Three formats are just unsustainable for me now.” The words of England Test captain Ben Stokes as he announced that today’s one-day international against South Africa would be his last. If that is what the 31-year-old World Cup winner stresses as he bows out of one of cricket’s three main formats, then domestic administrators must [...]
‘Cycling’s earnings can – and should – stretch beyond the Tour de France’ July 18, 2022 Cycling is a beautiful and complete sport. It is about individual performance as much as team strategy; has drama, proximity to the public and impressive scenery; and it’s a sport that billions of people can relate to. Yet cycling is suffering from a revenue problem. Currently, teams have to rely on sponsors to survive. Apart [...]
Marbella is modern glamour meets rustic charm July 18, 2022 THE WEEKEND: The British love affair with the Costa del Sol continues, but away from the big developments and noisy bars the pretty town of Marbella is the region’s shining star. With its sophisticated clubs, luxurious hotels and world class golf courses its vibe dates back to the 1950s, when European royalty and Hollywood stars [...]
Sam Torrance: Open champion Cameron Smith is a silent assassin blessed with natural talent July 18, 2022 The 150th Open Championship was a classic and Cameron Smith was magnificent in winning the Claret Jug with a record-equalling score, yet at times it was also tough to watch. Smith barely put a foot wrong in a final round of 64 that propelled him past joint overnight leader Rory McIlroy and into the lead [...]
Visit St Andrews if you’re mad about golf, but make time for Kate and Wills nostalgia too July 18, 2022 Adam Bloodworth visits St Andrews, checking into the newly-refurbished Rusacks, the hotel overlooking The Open’s 18th hole on the Old Course Imagine waking up in your hotel room, pulling a jaunty yawn-stretch, opening the curtains and revealing the finishing line of one of the most famous sporting tournaments in the world. There aren’t many hotels [...]
Open champion Cameron Smith fuels LIV Golf talk as Henrik Stenson tipped to join breakaway July 18, 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith has fuelled speculation that he could follow Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson and a host of big names to the breakaway LIV Golf circuit. Former European No1 Stenson is widely reported to have agreed to join the lucrative Saudi-backed series – a move set to see him stripped of the [...]
India deserved series winners as Buttler’s ODI tenure begins in defeat July 18, 2022 England one-day captain Jos Buttler’s tenure in charge of the current World Cup champions has not started in the way the previous era finished. Then, under Eoin Morgan, it was a 3-0 whitewash of the Netherlands – which included a record 50-over score of 498. Now, though, it’s a 2-1 loss against India on home [...]