England v Afghanistan: Used Old Trafford pitch and Rashid Khan’s magic the key for visitors June 17, 2019 On the face of it England’s World Cup game against Afghanistan tomorrow comes at an opportune moment. With opener Jason Roy sidelined by a torn hamstring for a few games at least and captain Eoin Morgan recovering from a back spasm, it appears the perfect time to play the side bottom of the group table and without [...]
Bret Easton Ellis interview: an audience with the most hated writer in America June 17, 2019 Bret Easton Ellis is concerned about the noise. We’re sitting in the lounge of a fancy hotel, and he’s worried my tape recorder won’t pick him up. “We can find another if you’d like. Tell me what you want to do.” It’s hard to reconcile his graciousness with his reputation as the one-time enfant terrible [...]
Sport debate: Is Frank Lampard the right man to replace Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea? June 17, 2019 Chelsea are expected to choose Frank Lampard as their next manager following the departure of Maurizio Sarri. But is the club’s all-time record goalscorer the right man to replace the Italian? Two of our writers wade into the debate. YES: Frank Dalleres Talk of Chelsea calling on Frank Lampard to return as manager just one [...]
Late bloomer Gary Woodland finds his winning formula with authoritative US Open victory June 17, 2019 It took Gary Woodland a while to make his mark at the highest level, winning just twice in his first nine years on the PGA Tour and failing to make the top 10 in 27 Major appearances. But his fortunes have improved in the last 18 months. Last year’s Phoenix Open ended a five-year spell [...]
Cameron Norrie interview: British No2 on his form, Olympic dream and Queen’s and Wimbledon hopes June 16, 2019 Andy Murray may have been kept out of picture by injury but recent months have been a pretty positive time for British men’s tennis. Kyle Edmund, Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans have been flying the flag high in Murray’s absence, with all three currently on the up and inside the top 70 of the world [...]
Football’s coming home to the City for the Square Mile’s unofficial club, the Honourable Artillery Company FC June 16, 2019 You could be forgiven for not realising it, but the City of London has its own football club which dates back to the 1800s and is among the leading lights of the amateur game. One reason you might have missed it is because red tape has seen them exiled from the Square Mile for two [...]
Eddie Jones to stay on as England head coach until 2021 as RFU backtrack on succession plans June 13, 2019 Since taking over in May, the Rugby Football Union’s new chief executive, Bill Sweeney, has been busy. With a World Cup just four months away, he has also had to contend with proposals for the Six Nations, a potential World Rugby Nations Championship, and the future of England’s coaching team. Here are five key insights [...]
Ollie Phillips: Warren Gatland should groom Andy Farrell as his British and Irish Lions successor June 13, 2019 Warren Gatland’s unveiling as the British and Irish Lions coach on Wednesday was hardly surprising, but it was an appointment which makes a great deal of sense. Gatland is one of the best coaches in the world and has plenty of motivation on what will be his third Lions tour, to South Africa in 2021. [...]
Sir Garfield Sobers interview: West Indies legend on short-pitch bowling, Chris Gayle and the current team’s World Cup chances June 13, 2019 The sport may have evolved since he retired 45 years ago and he may have only played a single one-day international, but Sir Garfield Sobers still knows a thing or two about cricket. The West Indies legend, who played 93 Test matches between 1954 and 1974, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and [...]
European Under-21s Championship: How England are lagging behind their continental competitors June 13, 2019 English football has enjoyed a bumper last 12 months. The Three Lions’ run to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the all-English Champions League and Europa League finals that followed would suggest the domestic system that produced the players is in rude health. That is the picture at senior level. But look beyond [...]