Ben Stokes out of Chennai Super Kings IPL campaign following World Cup in India November 23, 2023 England Test captain Ben Stokes will not feature in the 2024 IPL for his side the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to manage his workload, the franchise have confirmed. Stokes was purchased by the Chennai Super Kings for £1.6m (INR 16.25 crore) ahead of last season’s IPL league in India but will not participate in the [...]
County Championship cricket games on weekends for eight consecutive rounds November 23, 2023 The County Championship will begin with eight consecutive rounds of games across weekends. The move is hoped to assist fans in being able to get to more days of the four-day format. Games across weekdays in the past have seen low attendances. “The County Championship will begin with eight consecutive rounds played from Friday-Monday each [...]
Why are Middlesex playing T20 Vitality matches at Essex Cricket ground? November 23, 2023 Middlesex have this morning confirmed that they will play two T20 Vitality Blast fixtures at the home of Essex Cricket. Lord’s will continue to be the home for the majority of the team’s fixtures but the club will no longer play at out-ground venues Radlett Cricket Club and Merchant Taylors’ School. Middlesex costs Read chief [...]
British & Irish Lions turned down Las Vegas match for 2025 November 23, 2023 The British & Irish Lions reportedly turned down a match in Las Vegas in what has been described as the “most expensive deal the Lions will ever get”. The plan, discussed on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, would have seen the touring team play either a USA Barbarians or the United States [...]
Challenge Cup in ‘advanced’ talks over sponsor, but not for this season November 22, 2023 This year’s European Challenge Cup will mark a decade of the competition without a sponsor despite rugby chiefs insisting they are in advanced talks with potential suitors. Europe’s second tier club competition has been without a sponsor since insurer Amlin had the title partnership in the 2013-14 season. Some have said a title sponsor would [...]
Farrell insists rugby is “booming” despite issues in Premiership November 22, 2023 England and Saracens captain Owen Farrell has insisted that rugby is “booming” across Europe despite the catalogue of issues the game faces at home. Three Premiership clubs – Worcester Warriors, Wasps and London Irish – went bust last season and Exeter Chiefs were forced to deny financial issues this week after a payroll error. The [...]
NIMBY Wimbledon plan cynics must not stop London from being leading sport city November 22, 2023 Listening to NIMBY councillor after NIMBY councillor cast doubts on the benefits of a Wimbledon expansion last night as Wandsworth Council refused to support the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s ambitious plans really makes you wonder whether London has lost all belief in itself as a sporting giant. The Wimbledon Championships are simply divine, a [...]
Two lasting legacies from England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph? Marginal gains and brain injuries November 22, 2023 At around 10:30 am UK time, 20 years ago today in 2003, England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson caught a pass from his No9 Matt Dawson, dropped it on his foot and dissected the uprights of Stadium Australia in Sydney to win his side the Rugby World Cup. It was the first, and remains the only, victory [...]
NIMBYs win as Wimbledon expansion plans handed major blow by local council November 21, 2023 Wimbledon expansion plans were on Tuesday night handed a major blow as Wandsworth Council’s planning committee voted against the move for 38 more courts. The All England Lawn Tennis Club needed Wandsworth Council’s vote having secured support from neighbouring Merton Council last month. The plans were rejected by 7 votes to 0. Only a small [...]
Exclusive: Top British swimmers back potential return of private equity November 21, 2023 Two leading British swimmers have said the defunct International Swimming League should be resurrected in the future, albeit with some changes. The league was backed initially by Ukrainian businessman Konstantin Grigorishin and saw team franchises based on locations compete across a series with elevated prize money. It was thought to have been the start of [...]