The Guardian

The England men’s cricket MD offered a postmortem that didn’t address the nuts and bolts of the system he manages “It’s such a fine line between stupid and clever.” David St Hubbins, lead vocalist Spinal Tap. “There’s a real difference between aggressive and dumb.” Rob Key, managing director, England cricket. Continue reading...

Coach insists his methods are not about scoring rates Paying off McCullum’s contract would cost seven figures Brendon McCullum has stressed his desire to stay on as England head coach but acknowledged this is now a question for those higher up. Australia winning a much-anticipated Ashes series at the earliest opportunity has thrust McCullum’s role into the spotlight but with a multi-format contra…

With just one top-flight Boxing Day fixture this year, our cartoonist takes a look at how players, coaches and officials might spend their time David’s favourite cartoons of 2025 | Buy one here And his latest book, Chaos in the Box: get it now Continue reading...

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Lars Sivertsen and Philippe Auclair to wrap up the big stories from around Europe as their winter breaks begin. Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts , Soundcloud , Audioboom , Mixcloud , Acast and Stitcher , and join the conversation on email . On the podcast today: Raúl Jiménez extended his perfect penalty record to secure all three points at Craven C…

Former Uruguay prop has praise for new World Cup format but wants more help for developing nations How did Pablo Lemoine, Chile’s head coach, react when they were drawn with Australia and New Zealand for the 2027 Rugby World Cup? The answer is perceptive and somewhat surprising. “When countries like Chile play in a World Cup you need a general vision,” Lemoine says. “Thinking only of sport it’s f…

Rowett leaves after a year with club two points from safety Oxford have one win from their past 10 matches Oxford have sacked Gary Rowett with the club 22nd in the Championship, two points from safety. The former Birmingham, Derby, Stoke and Millwall manager was appointed on 20 December 2024 and kept the club in the second tier last season. Oxford’s chairman, Grant Ferguson, told the club’s websi…

A new documentary film shows elite referees are dedicated, passionate and desperate to get decisions right By No Helmets Required Fifteen teams are currently grinding their way through pre-season training before the new Super League season. No, the Rugby Football League has not suddenly decided to promote London to the big time. The people who will make the decisions on the pitch without touching…

By representing its region’s distinct culture and players, the Canadian Premier League team aims to boost the province’s undoubted soccer potential Boulevard Saint-Laurent is one of Montréal’s great arteries, a throughway for gourmands coveting smoked meat sandwiches or proper pizza at one of a dozen different joints in Little Italy. It’s also home to Evangelista Sports, a shop that has doubled a…

Liverpool head coach claims tackle risked serious injury Record signing Isak out ‘for a couple of months’, Slot says Arne Slot has criticised Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven for the “reckless” challenge that left Alexander Isak with a fractured leg . Liverpool will be without their record £125m signing “for a couple of months”, Slot confirmed on Tuesday, after he was injured while scoring in …

Head coach and forward clash during huddle Pair have won four NBA championships together Warriors forward Draymond Green had a heated exchange with his head coach, Steve Kerr, in a third-quarter huddle during Monday night’s win over the Orlando Magic before leaving the court and heading to the locker room to calm down. “We got into it obviously and I took the timeout just because I thought we los…

Purdy throws career-high five TD passes McCaffrey stars again in versatile role Rivers’ return can’t halt Colts’ slide Brock Purdy threw a career-high five touchdown passes and Dee Winters returned an interception of Philip Rivers’ final pass 74 yards for a score to lead the San Francisco 49ers to a 48-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night. Purdy was 25 of 34 for 295 yards with o…

For many of the performers in the 12-month circus, the tour can be soul-destroying and lonely with only the promise of untold wealth to keep them chasing the dream “It’s a lonely place,” Stephen Bunting reflected as he sat quietly in Alexandra Palace on Saturday night, the tears welling in his eyes. “If things don’t go right, you can look at your family, your management, you can look at your spon…

The Croatia legend on his return to Dinamo Zagreb, his fall out with Uefa and the ‘shameful’ actions of Gianni Infantino An afternoon mist is descending over Maksimir Stadion, enhancing the severity of its dramatic, precipitous angles. In a building across the way, Zvonimir Boban is explaining what brought him back. We are eating squid ink risotto in one corner of a room now configured as Dinamo …

Political backbiting has led to accusations Fifa is running the show as calendar is squeezed ever tighter It was a decision that took many by surprise, although not those who have been watching closely since February 2020. Members of the Confederation of African Football’s (Caf) executive committee, along with various other dignitaries including George Weah, the former Ballon d’Or winner and pres…

Nathan Lyon faces surgery; Pat Cummins rested for match at MCG Jhye Richardson drafted into 15-man squad with Ashes already retained Australian selectors have recalled Victorian off-spinner Todd Murphy to replace the injured Nathan Lyon in the squad for the fourth Ashes Test beginning in Melbourne on Boxing Day. Captain Pat Cummins has been rested as he manages his return from a back injury, whil…