Sport

The Spin | In defence of the draw: why Ben Stokes and England should take note
Posted on Wednesday April 16, 2025

The Bazball win-or-bust mantra has proven successful but it is time for captain to embrace grey in black and white world“A tie is like kissing your sister,” Edward J Erdelatz said to the New York Times in 1954. Erdelatz was the United States Navy’s head football coach and his side had just drawn 0-0 against Duke University. “No one asked the mild spoken navy coach to explain,” the report adds. Well, quite. But sister or not, everyone knew what he meant.Erdelatz’s unique take on the merits or otherwise of not winning are ingrained in American sports where a Lombardian win-at-all-costs mentality prevails. Try explaining Test cricket to an American sports fan, they say, with a wry chuckle – the fact that two teams can battle it out for five full days and in the end, there is not necessarily a winner. Good luck, they smirk. Adelaide 1961? You may as well be describing the plot of Christopher Nolan’s Memento to a toddler. Old Trafford 2005? More chance of a cider-addled bee getting to grips with quantum theory. They do not get it, be gone with your quaint English ways, five days and no winner. That’s crazy, man. Continue reading...

Lois Boisson pokes fun at Harriet Dart ‘deodorant’ jibe on social media
Posted on Wednesday April 16, 2025

French tennis player suggests Dove ‘collab’ on InstagramDart apologises for telling umpire Boisson ‘smells bad’French tennis player Lois Boisson has responded to Harriet Dart’s on-court claim that “she smells really bad” with a social media post that pokes fun at the incident.During a change of ends in Tuesday’s match at the Rouen Open, Dart asked the umpire: “Can you tell her [Boisson] to wear deodorant because she smells really bad?” Her comments were picked up by a courtside microphone and quickly attracted attention and criticism on social media. Continue reading...

Villa thriller shows PSG remain an antidote to sterile systems football | David Hytner
Posted on Wednesday April 16, 2025

Creative licence which Luis Enrique has granted sets arguably the most watchable team in Europe apartLuis Enrique had one word to describe Gianluigi Donnarumma. “Sensationnel,” the Paris Saint-Germain manager said, briefly switching into French from his native Spanish; no translation required.Donnarumma was the difference for PSG against Aston Villa on Tuesday night, the goalkeeper making five saves in the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Villa Park, three of them, well, sensational, as his team just about got the job done, losing 3-2 on the night having been 2-0 up but advancing 5-4 on aggregate. Continue reading...

‘I love this man for saving my life’: Michael Watson’s unbreakable bond with Peter Hamlyn
Posted on Wednesday April 16, 2025

The neurosurgeon saved the boxer’s life in 1991 and since then the pair have become close friends“This man is my hero,” Michael Watson says simply as he turns to Peter Hamlyn, the neurosurgeon who saved his life and carried out seven operations on the stricken boxer’s brain in the aftermath of his fight against Chris Eubank in September 1991. “We are like family, me and Peter, and we have unusual banter. Peter says I’m a little bit dark to be family.”Watson chuckles at his friend’s quip but, having interviewed Watson multiple times before and after the fateful bout that pushed him close to death, and having spent the morning with Hamlyn, I sense an essential truth. The brain surgeon and the boxer share a deeply compassionate intent to help each other. Continue reading...

Hampshire’s Keith Barker cleared to return in July after failed drug test
Posted on Wednesday April 16, 2025

All-rounder tested positive due to ‘genuine error’Barker: ‘I feared for the loss of my career’Hampshire’s Keith Barker has said he “feared for the loss of my career” during a nine-month wait to learn his punishment for a failed drug test caused by what he described as “a genuine administrative error”.Barker has been cleared to return to professional cricket on 4 July, 12 months after he was told he had tested positive for the prohibited substance indapamide, which he had been prescribed to treat high blood pressure, and provisionally suspended. The length of his ban was decided last month and announced on Wednesday, one week short of 11 months after he took the out-of-competition test. Continue reading...

André Onana to start against Lyon but Ruben Amorim may eye new goalkeeper
Posted on Wednesday April 16, 2025

Manchester United goalkeeper back in goal on Thursday‘We need to improve every position. Keeper is the same’Ruben Amorim will reinstate André Onana for Manchester United’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon but admits a new goalkeeper may be signed in the summer because “every position” will be evaluated.Amorim rested Onana and selected Altay Bayindir for Sunday’s 4-1 defeat by Newcastle at St James’ Park after the Cameroonian was culpable for Lyon’s goals in last week’s 2-2 draw in the opening leg. However, the head coach will start Onana in Thursday’s return at Old Trafford as United seek to progress to a semi-final against Rangers or Athletic Bilbao. Continue reading...

Seven countries in running for hosting future Commonwealth Games
Posted on Wednesday April 16, 2025

Canada, India and Nigeria among those targeting 2030Event’s future under scrutiny after Victoria withdrawalSeven countries have expressed interest in hosting future Commonwealth Games. Five of those are focused on staging the centenary 2030 Games while two are looking at editions of the multi-sport event beyond that, Commonwealth Sport has announced.The expressions of interest come from Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, which mean Glasgow’s hosting of the 2026 Games may signal a break of well over a decade before the UK hosts again, with Britain having hosted two of the last three editions. Continue reading...

Emery challenges Aston Villa to return to Champions League quickly after exit
Posted on Tuesday April 15, 2025

Villa manager: ‘most important for us to get Europe again’Emery says permanent Rashford move ‘difficult to plan’Unai Emery said Aston Villa must use their agonising Champions League quarter-final defeat against Paris Saint-Germain as fuel to qualify for the competition again quickly.Villa stirred from 5-1 down on aggregate but a 3-2 win on the night was not enough to advance to the semi-finals, in which PSG will face either Arsenal or Real Madrid. Villa will return to the biggest European club competition next season if they finish in the top five of the Premier League. Emery expressed his pride at his team’s performance, with Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Ezri Konsa scoring on a memorable night. Continue reading...