Category Archives: Sports

The County Championship marks the start of summer but cricket faces a growing divide

Surrey win the County Championship in 2023 (Getty Images for Surrey CCC) Few things epitomize the start of summer quite like the blooming of flowers on the trees, the birth of new ducklings or the start of a new cricket season. There is little in British sport that is as enduring as the County Championship,… Read More »

BBC’s cricket future at a crossroads

Jonathan Agnew is leaving his role as BBC cricket correspondent as the BBC’s rights to broadcast the national summer game come under increasing pressure Jonathan Agnew’s departure as BBC cricket correspondent may not even have been noticed by those listening to Test Match Special. He signed a new deal to stay in the coverage area… Read More »

Phil Foden’s stunning hat-trick against Aston Villa revives Manchester City’s title challenge

Phil Foden’s hat-trick gave Manchester City a crucial win over Aston Villa (AFP via Getty Images) If hat-tricks are Erling Haaland’s personal domain, a rival is emerging. The Norwegian may have the biggest collection of match balls at Manchester City but he followed closely behind Phil Foden as he scored his second treble of 2024… Read More »

Rory McIlroy calls on Butch Harmon to fix two-putt puzzle before Masters

Rory McIlroy goes to Butch Harmon for another opinion on his golf swing – Getty Images/Stuart Franklin Rory McIlroy has enlisted respected trainer Butch Harmon as he looks to fix his ‘two-putt’ conundrum in time for next week’s Masters. The world No. 2 is playing the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio as a preparation… Read More »

Mason Mount returns to Stamford Bridge to reveal the painful reality of the new Chelsea era

Boehlynomics’ poster boy will return to Stamford Bridge. Not Todd Boehly himself, and not just because he’s getting less attention these days after two seasons of arrogant failure. But Mason Mount was sold to Manchester United for £55 million in pure profit – in the Financial Fair Play lexicon that Boehly helped bring to a… Read More »

No need for fitness trainer and stronger players: Examining Man Utd’s injury crisis

Manchester United are entering a potentially decisive week in their increasingly desperate bid for Champions League qualification amid yet another injury crisis. Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof will be sidelined for at least a month with muscle problems and will miss Thursday’s trip to Chelsea and the visit of Premier League leaders Liverpool as well… Read More »

Meet the other Ollie Robinson who could play for England this summer

Robinson has been playing cricket for Chester-le-Street since 2022 – Getty Images/Stu Forster Durham’s Ollie Robinson was 12 or 13 and playing in the fourth division of the Kent League when it first became apparent that his seemingly insignificant name on the cricket field was anything but. “I was playing for Sidcup with my dad,”… Read More »

Why football clubs can live with regret over fans’ ticket prices

Exactly six hours before kick-off for Tottenham’s home game against Luton this weekend, I was on the pitch for a stadium tour and “SkyWalk” with my nephew. Even on a sleepy Saturday morning, the Spurs home looks like a money-making machine; turn left for the tour, right for the SkyWalk, straight ahead for the go-kart… Read More »