Chris Tremlett: England’s mastery of conditions give them the edge but expect tight Ashes series July 31, 2019 Both England and Australia come into the Ashes on the back of a summer packed full of one-day internationals and far from ideal warm-up games. England’s World Cup win was followed by the shock of the crazy Test against Ireland which highlighted their inconsistencies, while Australia played out a wicket-filled warm-up game among themselves. Read [...]
Ashes preview: England’s top order woes can be exploited by Australia, says Glenn McGrath July 31, 2019 The more things change, the more they stay the same. England start another Ashes series against Australia at Edgbaston on tomorrow with different names at the top of the batting order, but names who are grappling with the age-old problem of scoring runs. Since Andrew Strauss retired in August 2012 England have used 18 different [...]
QPR season preview: Youth is key as R’s rebuild from financial chaos July 30, 2019 Five years is a long time in football, particularly for Queens Park Rangers. And five years on from their last promotion to the Premier League, the club are still suffering from a failed shot at the big time during five manic seasons that saw them go up and down twice. QPR took the promotion gamble [...]
Millwall season preview: Lions sticking to their own path in bid to avoid costly Championship drop July 29, 2019 Millwall are playing a different game to the majority of their competitors in the Championship. Financially restricted and strategically conservative, the Lions are the antithesis of those former Premier League clubs spending big, desperate to make it back to the promised land. While others have shown little patience, chopping and changing managers, Millwall have stuck [...]
Unflappable Brooks Koepka shows why he’s world No1 and tees up intriguing FedEx Cup battle with Rory McIlroy July 29, 2019 Major wins may have been behind Brooks Koepka’s rise to world No1 but he was always going to start becoming more prolific across the board – he is just too good not to. The American underlined that fact in magnificent style on Sunday, winning only his third PGA Tour event outside of the Majors at [...]
Shane Williams interview: ‘This is the strongest Wales squad I’ve ever seen. They need this World Cup.’ July 29, 2019 Shane Williams has seen plenty of great Wales teams. In recent history he has been a crucial part of most of them, winning two Grand Slams and a world player of the year award in a glittering career in a red shirt. But none of those sides, according to the former winger, are as good [...]
Championship favourites Fulham ‘cautiously optimistic’ of bouncing back to Premier League July 28, 2019 A year ago Fulham were about to embark on a keenly anticipated return to the Premier League with the full weight of billionaire owner Shahid Khan behind them. They had been promoted via the play-offs, but a 23-match unbeaten run, football that Pep Guardiola would have been proud of and an injection of cash for [...]
Unlikely hero Jack Leach bails England out after yet another collapse against Ireland July 25, 2019 At the start of day two of England’s one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s, Jack Leach’s efforts with the bat as nightwatchman were merely good fun; an unsubstantial and inconsequential starter ahead of the awaiting main course. As he progressed, playing accomplished shots to get the hosts off to a steady start, his innings ticked [...]
The Bowyer effect: Charlton boss has restored belief and can steer his side clear of the drop July 25, 2019 With the dawn of another season brings a renewed sense of optimism for many football fans, despite the tribulations they may have endured over the course of the preceding months and years. Down at The Valley things are no different. Charlton may have endured a turbulent time in the last half decade under unpopular owner [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: Ocean’s odds of turning the tide on Enable are tempting July 25, 2019 EVEN though the scorching temperatures of the last few days are set to give way to rain tomorrow, it may not be enough to cool the hottest jockey on the planet at the moment. Frankie Dettori’s victory aboard Star Catcher in last weekend’s Irish Oaks was his eighth Group One winner in less than two [...]