Sport

England v Pakistan: first Test, day two start delayed by rain – live
Posted on Thursday August 20, 2026

Updates from Headingley; play starts 11am BST
Day one report | Sign up for the Spin | Mail Jim

In fact, that’s quite a decent, if soggy, rabbit hole to head down for an OBO discussion. The Butterfly Effect of rain delays. Which games and whose careers might have looked significantly different if the wet stuff hadn’t fallen at a particular time or other?

I’ll wrack my brains, right now I’m just thinking of Tim Henman v Goran Ivanišević in the 2001 Wimbledon Semi Final:

Premier League 2026-27 preview No 18: Nottingham Forest
Posted on Thursday August 20, 2026

After a chaotic season under four different coaches, Forest fans will be hoping Oliver Glasner can bring some stability

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 11th (NB: this is not necessarily Will Unwin’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)

Last season’s position: 16th

Surrey v Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire v Durham and more: county cricket – live
Posted on Thursday August 20, 2026

Updates as County Championship returns
Sign up for the Spin | Mail Tanya

No play at three grounds for now: Old Trafford, Edgbaston, and here at Derby where thunder has just rolled alluringly.

Arrive at Derby in teeming rain. Apparently Ben Stokes had a net at 8.30am but it all looks very soggy now.

Max Verstappen signs new Red Bull contract to stay in F1 until 2030
Posted on Thursday August 20, 2026

Dutch driver had been linked with Mercedes and McLaren
Verstappen: ‘The team is like a second family for me’

Max Verstappen has ended speculation about his future in Formula One by signing a new contract with Red Bull that will extend to the end of 2030.

The four-time champion had been linked with potential moves to Mercedes and McLaren and had also intimated that he might call time on his F1 career because he was so unhappy with the new regulations imposed this season and they way they have effected his enjoyment of racing.

Frugal or foolish? Manchester United may regret not backing Carrick
Posted on Thursday August 20, 2026

Another left-back has been a priority all summer, but there seems to be no sign of one coming to Old Trafford

After signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka in 2019, Manchester United’s PR machine boasted they had scouted 804 right-backs before landing on the Crystal Palace player. At the time it felt like an unnecessary brag, designed to convince fans and journalists the club were doing their due diligence when it came to scouting and data.

Now, as the search for a left-back to challenge Luke Shaw drags on with less than two weeks of the summer transfer window remaining, there seems to be a lack of credible targets.

Frank Lampard wants Coventry to play without fear in Premier League
Posted on Thursday August 20, 2026

Promoted club have targeted players 6ft and above
‘Physicality is a big part of what you need to compete’

Frank Lampard has urged his Coventry players to impose themselves on the Premier League, calling on his side to ensure they have no regrets after Friday’s curtain-raiser against Arsenal.

Coventry play their first top-flight game in 25 years at the home of the champions, four months after celebrating the Championship title. Lampard, who last managed in the Premier League with Chelsea three years ago, acknowledges there is a step up in class to navigate, but wants his players to embrace the challenge in front of them.

Opening half-hour of TNT Sports’ Premier League broadcasts to be shown on YouTube
Posted on Thursday August 20, 2026

Early Kick Off show on before Hull v Manchester United
Match previews available free-to-air for the first time

TNT Sports will make the first 30 minutes of their live Premier League broadcasts available on YouTube this season starting with Manchester United’s visit to Hull on Saturday.

The pre-Premier League show EKO – Early Kick Off – will be available free-to-air for the first time, as well as on TNT Sports and the streaming service HBO Max.