How England Women came back from brink to bag Cricket World Cup semi March 30, 2022 Less than three weeks ago England, the reigning Women’s Cricket World Cup champions, looked to be down and out after losing their third consecutive group match to South Africa in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. In the early hours of Thursday morning, however, Heather Knight’s team have a shot at redemption against the Proteas as their [...]
Why sport is taking over terrestrial TV airwaves again February 21, 2022 If you’ve turned on your subscription-free, Nadine Dorries-unfriendly, terrestrial TV recently you may have been transported back to a time when moustachioed behemoths like Dickie Davies and Des Lynam ruled the afternoon airwaves – for we again live in an era of live, free-to-air sport. Of course, you may not have noticed. Sky and BT [...]
As thousands of tennis fans arrive at Wimbledon, here are the top talking points ahead of the 2022 championships June 27, 2022 Thousands of tennis fans have begun pouring through the gates at Wimbledon as it returns at full capacity for the first time in three years. The Met Office has warned the expected 42,000 supporters to brace for rain showers over SW19 in the early afternoon – just as the first Centre Court games are set [...]
Cheltenham on the hunt for 2025 Festival principal partner March 10, 2024 WE ARE now just 24 hours away from the greatest four days of jump racing anywhere in the world. Early tomorrow morning thousands of Londoners will pack themselves onto trains heading west from Paddington to enjoy the drama and delights of the Cheltenham Festival. With 28 races over the four days, the very best horses [...]
David Haggerty interview: ITF president on revamping Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup Finals, anti-vaxxers, Osaka, domestic abuse and Raducanu November 1, 2021 Eighteen months later and in a different location than planned, the first Billie Jean King Cup Finals finally begins today. The tournament formerly known as the Fed Cup has been rebranded in tribute to the trailblazing former world No1 and reformatted to create a climactic week-long finale that mirrors the new-look Davis Cup, itself taking [...]
Ollie Phillips: A good culture can give a side that extra one per cent October 14, 2022 “Rugby values” aren’t always renowned by those who look at the sport from the outside, but few could deny that the development of culture within a squad can be paramount to positivity on and off the field. We have seen in recent days and weeks how Worcester Warriors and Wasps have been smothered with wellwishers [...]
I’m glad sport has moved on from distasteful ‘Plastic Brit’ debate – Ed Warner March 9, 2023 Dazzled by Great Britain’s three golden moments at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Istanbul last weekend, you’ll likely have missed the home nation’s unexpected victory in the women’s triple jump. Reeling from last month’s earthquake devastation, Turkey will have drawn some comfort from Tugba Danismaz’s winning leap. And she was only ranked ninth in [...]
Australian Open preview: Will Barty, Osaka or an outsider be victorious? January 14, 2022 The first round proper of the Australian Open hasn’t even taken place yet and already the tournament is on everybody’s lips. But amid the Novak Djokovic visa row and Andy Murray’s return, the women’s singles competition should not be overlooked. Women’s tennis has become a hotbed of exciting matches and young stars – notably British [...]
Is chess a sport? It soon may be chasing the Olympic Holy Grail August 10, 2023 Columnist Ed Warner discusses chess, funding fringe sports and what makes a solid sporting body chief executive. Where do you draw the line between games and sports? Mine is at the door of the pub, so ruling dominos, bar billiards, space invaders and darts out of the sporting firmament. I realise of course that this [...]
Champions League-chasing Chelsea – and women’s football more generally – on the cusp of something extraordinary May 13, 2021 As the strangest football season on record hurtles to a climax, blue is most certainly the colour. While the sky blues of Manchester City contemplate a treble almost on par with their neighbours’ efforts in 1999, Chelsea can claim a double of their own if they beat City in the Champions League final and defeat [...]