The Guardian

Brisbane start: 2pm local/3pm AEDT/4am GMT Ashes top 100 | Get the Spin newsletter | Email Martin We might have to wait to find out the Australia XI until either Pat Cummins or Steve Smith walk on to the Gabba alongside England captain Ben Stokes for the toss. But Geoff Lemon has already dived into what that call will mean for the hosts and the second Test. Cummins, it seems, is now feeling good …

The Northern Irishman’s appeal was clear at the Australian Open with queues forming at the crack of dawn to catch a glimpse of the golf star Organisers didn’t have to wait long to feel the full impact of Rory McIlroy’s appearance at the Australian Open on Thursday. Two thousand fans were waiting outside at Royal Melbourne at 6.30am, eager to get to the 10th tee for the Northern Irishman’s first s…

Sport and Rights Alliance has made seven requests for action Amnesty International USA worried by US government’s role Fifa risks becoming “a public relations tool of an increasingly authoritarian US government”, human rights organisations have warned as they call on football’s international governing body to do more to protect the rights of residents and supporters at the World Cup next summer. …

Liverpool’s big name, big money summer signings owed Arne Slot following poor starts to life at Anfield and, right on cue, Florian Wirtz delivered. A deflected shot from the potential £116m recruit spared the Premier League champions the ignominy of a 10th defeat in 14 games with a late equaliser against Sunderland, who will count this as an opportunity missed. Chemsdine Talbi had set the in-form…

A night on from the chaos of Manchester City beating Fulham 5-4 , Arsenal seized the opportunity to prove that they are a sturdier proposition than Pep Guardiola’s side. They kept their eighth clean sheet of the season despite losing another centre-back to injury and restored their five-point advantage at the top of the Premier League by seeing off Brentford thanks to an early header from Mikel M…

Leeds produced arguably their performance of the Premier League season so far to inflict a rare defeat on Chelsea and perhaps alleviate some of the pressure engulfing Daniel Farke. A run of four wins in succession had left speculation rife that Farke was entering a pivotal period if he wanted to keep his job at Elland Road, having guided the Whites to promotion last season. He and his team respon…

There’s something about Unai Emery and comebacks. The Aston Villa manager believes that he became a better coach after witnessing his Paris Saint-Germain side surrender a four-goal deficit against Barcelona in 2017 in the Champions League game that became known as La Remontada. This time, however, it was the Spaniard who had the last laugh as Villa hit back with two goals for Ollie Watkins on his…

Los Angeles have turned a feelgood reunion into a late-career humiliation for one of their greatest players – and exposed a franchise stumbling into a darker new era Pull out your Los Angeles Clippers bingo cards. Anyone have the square marked “owner and star player accused of skirting the salary cap through improper means”? Go ahead and stamp that one. How about “losing 14 of 16 after a hopeful …

O’Neill has been in interim charge since Rodgers’ exit Celtic two points behind Hearts with a game in hand Celtic have appointed Wilfried Nancy, coach of Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, as their new permanent manager to replace Brendan Rodgers, who was dismissed in October . He has signed a two-and-a-half year contract. The Glasgow club are two points behind the Scottish Premiership leaders…

England ‘welcome whatever comes’ says bullish captain Wales’ Tandy ‘unbelievably excited’ by England clash Maro Itoje has set his sights on Rugby World Cup glory in Australia in 2027 after England were handed a favourable potential path through the tournament when the draw was made in Sydney on Wednesday. Steve Borthwick’s side, who have risen to third in the world rankings after an 11-match winn…

To cut costs at the event hosted across the US, Canada and Mexico, smaller games may be covered from Manchester The BBC has repeatedly faced denunciations over the hordes of staff it takes to major events, from the Glastonbury festival to the Olympics . However, the broadcaster is now facing criticism over a plan to cover some games at next summer’s World Cup remotely to keep down costs. The 2026…

John Ridgeon believes I was downbeat about state of his sport. He may have a point … so we thrashed out our differences It really is quite the scene. Midnight in Tokyo, Usain Bolt is DJing and the launch party for the World Athletics Ultimate Championships is in full swing. And then the World Athletics chief executive, Jon Ridgeon, walks up to me and says: “I read your recent Guardian column , an…

In the past, moments like Chelsea’s shorthanded goal might have sent Arsenal reeling. No longer Sign up for Soccer with Jonathan Wilson here The gap at the top is five points . Arsenal have now played two of their three toughest away games of the season. They’ve come through a potentially extremely tricky week with reputation enhanced, despite being without one of their starting centre-backs for …

Bloodgate, the ‘Hand of Back’ and a drop goal off ‘someone’s arse’ are among the tournament’s delightful eccentricities On the eve of a new Champions Cup season it is worth remembering when and where it all began. The answer is 30 years ago on the shores of the Black Sea where Farul Constanta of Romania hosted France’s mighty Toulouse in the opening pool game of the old Heineken Cup on 31 October…

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! While the bulk of Fulham’s support is comprised of working-class folk who like a pie and a pint of foaming shaft as much as the next match-goer, the club’s Thames-adjacent postcode of Craven Cottage means fans have never been able to shake their undeserved reputation for being a bunch of well-heeled, upper class popinjays with more of a predilec…