The Guardian

The story from the 2018 Test in South Africa will stay alive for years more, unless it is finally put to sleep with the truth of what happened Add it to the immeasurable list of things that you can blame Covid for. Without the pandemic, Australia’s Test team would have headed to South Africa in February 2021, less than three years after the 2018 sandpaper scandal saw them come home from Johannesb…

Messi nets PK and assists twice as Argentina cruises Match paused in 10th minute for round of applause Lionel Messi brought the curtain down on his 21-year international career on Tuesday, bidding farewell to adoring Argentina fans in an emotional final appearance for the former world champions in Buenos Aires. In a perfectly scripted finale, the 39-year-old widely regarded as the greatest footba…

A chippy and at times ugly friendly nonetheless gave Mauricio Pochettino’s side four wins out of four, with another young player making the difference. Before 1878, a referee trying to get players’ attention was left to waive a white handkerchief in the air. It was an imperfect practice, asking an infractor to be self-aware enough to look for a doffed doily after hard contact. The game forever ch…

American stopped rally after being distracted in match ‘You can dislike me or disagree … without being racist’ Coco Gauff said she received an “insane” amount of racist ­comments on social media ­following a ­controversial point in her China Open match against the home player Sun Xinran. Gauff stopped a rally after ­electronic advertising boards ­lining the court flickered during a point late in …

Australia all-rounder fails to overcome abdominal strain Cooper Connolly or Nic Maddinson in contention for No 5 spot Cameron Green is out of the first Test against South Africa and won’t bowl in the series after succumbing to an abdominal strain. Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald confirmed on Tuesday in Durban that Green had failed to overcome the injury, which he suffered in the final ODI last …

It was a night that belonged to Harry Kane. Yet another one. It began with him being shown a replay of his first England goal during a pre-match interview with ITV – the header against Lithuania in 2015, just 79 seconds after he came on as a substitute for his debut. It ended with him reflecting on two more in what was a supremely comfortable Nations League victory over Czechia. Some things never…

This now constitutes a rocky start for Sébastien Pocognoli as Scotland’s manager. The claiming of four points from three Nations League games was adequate until Slovenia inflicted this defeat. It was the abject nature of Scotland’s display this time that was so stark. Pocognoli’s team were comprehensively outplayed by a side who themselves are no better than functional. Continue reading...

Two-time All-Pro won two Super Bowls with Eagles Johnson says family priorities have changed 36-year-old started 171 games for Philadelphia Lane Johnson, the Philadelphia Eagles’ decorated right tackle and a cornerstone of the franchise for nearly a decade and a half, announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday after 14 seasons. The 36-year-old, a two-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro…

Forward says he will be available after punishment Ronaldo insists coach ‘had broken his word to me’ Cristiano Ronaldo has accused the Portugal head coach, Jorge Jesus, of twice breaking his word, saying a failed agreement to publicly explain ⁠his omission against Norway drove him out of the camp but insisting he remained available after any punishment. In a lengthy statement, the 41-year-old gav…

Nigeria filed complaint over ineligible players in playoff Fifa investigators aware of situation before tournament Fifa allowed the Democratic Republic of the Congo to compete at this summer’s World Cup despite reports suggesting an internal investigation found that the country had fielded an ineligible player in qualifying. The player in question, the goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, starred for his nat…

The Mohegan Tribe made the Sun the first Native American-owned franchise in pro sports. Fans say the team’s move to Houston echoes centuries of erasure and displacement When the Connecticut Sun played their final WNBA game last month, fans at Mohegan Sun Arena came together in an act of collective celebration and grief. The beloved franchise was leaving after 24 seasons, sold to a new ownership g…

Renée Slegers’ team have the technical ability, but doubts remain over the nastiness needed to rival Manchester City and Chelsea Arsenal, 10 points adrift of the Women’s Super League leaders, are poised to undertake a “big review” of their season during this international break to try to determine where things have gone so horribly wrong – again – in the early stages. After their 4-2 loss at Manc…

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning , Jonathan Wilson and Robyn Cowen as England thrash Croatia 7 (seven) nil Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts and join the conversation on email . On the podcast today: a brilliant performance from England. The front four of Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon and Jude Bellingham dominate an admittedly poor Croatia. It’s a statement win for Thomas …

The Broncos demolished the second tier, winning 26 of their 27 games, but promotion is not only decided on the pitch By No Helmets Required Two years ago this week, London Broncos were relegated from Super League, their ground had flooded and their owner had walked away after spending £24m of his private fortune. The club were soon asking supporters to save them. They did – and fans wearing last …

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! In his 1965 song Draft Dodger Rag, Phil Ochs detailed the occasionally ludicrous lengths some young American men went to avoid conscription to the military. While he listed ruptured spleens, poor eyesight and flat feet as more mundane ailments, mentions of bone spurs (Donald J Trump), conscientious objecting (Muhammad Ali) and 30-day hygiene pro…