Marquees, team bonding and repetition: The secrets of a county cricket pre-season March 11, 2020 A month out from the start of the County Championship, players are beginning to ramp up their preparations behind the scenes. Pre-season has changed a lot since I began my career. In those days players were often on six-month contracts, meaning the off-season was left up to the individual. Players might go abroad to keep [...]
The Thick of It’s Chris Addison talks about the limits of satire, the trials of being a parent and his new show, Breeders March 11, 2020 He rose to fame as a stand-up comedian and became a household name playing The Thick of It’s hapless SpAd Ollie Reeder. Now, after a spell in Hollywood, Chris Addison is returning to British screens with his new sitcom Breeders, directed alongside Simon Blackwell and starring Martin Freeman. It’s a biting comedy about the sleepless [...]
Roddy Doyle: The beloved author opens up on growing older, Irish politics and why he’s still angry March 11, 2020 Roddy Doyle is one of the most well known and beloved contemporary Irish authors. His work includes the Two Pints series and The Commitments, as well as numerous children’s books. We caught up with him on the eve of a new speaking tour. Hi Roddy. Your speaking tour, Conversations with Roddy Doyle, begins soon. Why [...]
Japanese minister says coronavirus-threatened Tokyo Olympics will go ahead March 11, 2020 Japanese olympics minister Seiko Hashimoto said the planned international sporting festival in Tokyo this summer will go ahead despite the threat of coronavirus. Earlier a member of the organising committee for the event Haruyuki Takahashi had suggested that while a cancellation was unlikely, the games could be delayed if unable to be held as planned [...]
RB Leipzig 3-0 Tottenham: Meek Spurs dumped out of the Champions League as pressure mounts on Mourinho March 10, 2020 This time there was no comeback. Lucas Moura, the hat-trick hero of that famous night in Amsterdam 10 months ago, was on the pitch for Tottenham, but the magic of that Champions League semi-final second leg was nowhere to be seen in Leipzig tonight. That was to be expected. Even before kick-off in east Germany [...]
Lutalo Muhammad interview: Team GB taekwondo star set on Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 after his Rio 2016 heartbreak March 10, 2020 Few pieces of broadcast footage distil sport’s capacity for heartbreak better than the interview given by British athlete Lutalo Muhammad immediately after his desperately cruel defeat in the men’s taekwondo final at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Grimacing, whimpering and seemingly unable to process what has just unfolded, Muhammad sobs: “I was a half-second away [...]
Liverpool’s season is at a pivotal point but return of Jordan Henderson can tip balance in their favour against Atletico Madrid March 10, 2020 I never thought I’d be writing this but Jordan Henderson has been a huge loss to Liverpool during his recent spell on the sidelines and it’s a major boost that he’s fit to face Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. Henderson hasn’t just been missed for his play. He is the glue in this team, the [...]
RB Leipzig v Tottenham: Jose Mourinho is risking a repeat of palpable discord through his treatment of Spurs’ thin squad March 9, 2020 Statements from football clubs don’t tend to offer much more than the essential information they wish to convey, but on 17 December 2015 Chelsea’s technical director Michael Emenalo provided an exception to the rule. Chelsea, Emenalo said on the club website, were “in trouble” and “it was time to act”. Jose Mourinho, for the second [...]
Tyrrell Hatton should realise he is a world beater and give himself a break. Maybe his win at Bay Hill will do it March 9, 2020 Tyrrell Hatton first made a big impression on me when he won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, his maiden European Tour title, at St Andrews in 2016. Over the last six holes, under severe pressure, the 24-year-old Englishman was magnificent. I expected him to quickly to become a regular presence in the winner’s circle. He [...]
Coronavirus: Ireland’s Six Nations clash with France postponed March 9, 2020 Ireland’s upcoming Six Nations rugby game against France has been postponed, the French sports minister has confirmed. Roxana Marcineanu today said the final round clash, which was due to take place in Paris this weekend, has been pushed back indefinitely amid fears over the coronavirus outbreak. France has now recorded more than 1,000 confirmed cases [...]