Laura Muir interview: Scottish star on her route into athletics, veterinary career and competing at London’s Anniversary Games July 16, 2019 Laura Muir is not your average sportsperson. Despite being one of Britain’s best athletes, the softly spoken Scot’s feet remains planted firmly on the ground ahead of a big summer on the track. At 26 she’s already accomplished so much, with a historic double-double over 1500m and 3000m at the European Indoor Championships in March [...]
I’d love to see Rory McIlroy win The Open at Royal Portrush but Jon Rahm is my top pick for the year’s last golf Major July 16, 2019 It’s a slightly strange scenario to be playing the last Major of the year in mid-July, owing to golf’s new, reshuffled calendar, but there is enormous anticipation surrounding the 148th Open Championship, which starts on Thursday. Royal Portrush is an extremely good golf course which is in mint condition and certainly deserves to be hosting [...]
England cricket chiefs must build on the foundations laid by remarkable World Cup win July 15, 2019 In January the England and Wales Cricket Board released a 35-page document entitled Inspiring Generations, which set out the governing body’s five-year plan to drive youth participation and diversify cricket’s fan base. One of the six priorities outlined was to “inspire through elite teams”. Sunday’s remarkable events at Lord’s have handed the ECB an opportunity [...]
Wimbledon 2019: Novak Djokovic outlasts Roger Federer in titanic final and closes in on his tally of grand slam titles July 14, 2019 They came in their thousands to watch the man likely to hold the record for the most grand slam titles for years to come add another to his tally – and they did, although perhaps not the man they had in mind. By outlasting Roger Federer in a colossal, almost five-hour final – the longest [...]
England beat New Zealand by the skin of their teeth in dramatic finale to win the Cricket World Cup July 14, 2019 There’s a cliche in sport which says you couldn’t write it. Generally that’s a fallacy: over thousands of games most situations have seen airtime. But the fashion in which England won the Cricket World Cup was something unique. It would be stretching the mind to conjure up the events which somehow came to pass in [...]
England put their aggressive mantra into practice to thrash Australia and reach the World Cup final July 11, 2019 It’s one thing to talk about positive intent, batting mantras and aggressive game-plans. It’s another to put them into practice on the biggest stage. Today England faced Australia, the most successful World Cup team in cricket history, who had never lost a semi-final in seven attempts – and they smashed them off the park to [...]
Peter Gynt at the Olivier is a toe-curling, overlong adaptation of Ibsen’s mad epic July 11, 2019 Before the curtain rose for this reimagining of Ibsen’s allegorical play Peer Gynt, audience members were surreptitiously snapping pictures of the set, presumably to impress their Instagram followers. “I’m at the theatre! #culture”. How appropriate for a play (originally a poem but adapted soon after) that asks if a life can be fulfilled simply by winning the [...]
A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is an unbridled summer joy July 11, 2019 Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre is one of three London companies presenting the Bard’s most mischievous and magical comedy this summer. How, then, does director Dominic Hill make his Dream stand out? From the outset, it’s a fresh, fun interpretation. It opens to a Riot Club-esque dinner party, with flashing lights and blaring music. The [...]
Chris Tremlett: England have what it takes to deal with the pressure and end this week with a World Cup July 10, 2019 New Zealand’s semi-final win over India today showed just how fine the margins are in knockout cricket. At the halfway stage not many would have backed them, but Kane Williamson and his side played the situation perfectly to reach Sunday’s final at Lord’s. Now all the attention turns to Edgbaston, where England face Australia tomorrow [...]
Australia v England: Semi-final balanced as World Cup knockout specialists face confident hosts playing at Fortress Edgbaston July 10, 2019 If they aren’t already, England and Australia are going to become very familiar with each other this summer. Having played twice already, and with the small matter of the Ashes edging ever closer, the two sides meet tomorrow in a Cricket World Cup semi-final. The match is an intriguing one, framed by two potentially decisive [...]