38 h. ago England v West Indies: rain stops play in third women’s cricket ODI – live

Rain stops play early on in TauntonSign up to The Spin | And mail TanyaA smidgen of movement and Grimmond can’t resist. International cricket pricking any bubbles – cruel mistress that it is.Out come the players – as the raindrops freckle the camera lens. Continue reading...

Events

38 h. ago Saka ruled out of England qualifier, Ronaldo will not play at Club World Cup – matchday live

Latest news and updates before Saturday’s footballFixtures | Tables | Mail matchday.live@theguardian.comPaul is confident that Tottenham will succeed if they appoint Thomas Frank to replace Ange Postecoglou:“There’s probably been too much over thinking on this. I sent this message to my son last night. ”It’s the right decision. He can leave a hero and will always be welcomed back. £100m just for turning up in the CL is too much to gamble on him getting top four. I know Frank hasn’t managed at CL level and he may be out of his depth but, personally, I’ve been walking out of games during the tenure of the last 3 managers. That needs to stop and if Frank gets me to stay 90+ minutes every week, he’s a step up! It will be interesting whether Frank can attract top quality signings. I see Manor Solomon’s coming back. Not a good start to the window!!” Continue reading...

Society

68 h. ago Today's rugby news as Welsh players fear for their jobs amid dispute and Wales play England

The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world

Sport

3 d. ago Chilled Cole Palmer ready to play ‘wherever’ and win spot in England XI

Back in the groove for Chelsea, attacking midfielder will be competing with Bellingham and Foden for World Cup berthThings that Cole Palmer is not bothered about – part 89. Golf. Which is a pity as he is spending a warm-weather training week with England at the magnificent Camiral Golf & Wellness resort; the expected venue for the 2031 Ryder Cup.Formula One. Palmer attended the Barcelona grand prix on Sunday with Thomas Tuchel and the rest of the England squad, which he thought was good. “I went to the one in Abu Dhabi not long ago,” he says, presumably meaning the race in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia. Who knows, who cares? “But I fell asleep at that one.” Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago On the day transgender women football players face a ban in England, they play on

For soccer-loving transgender women in England, it’s been a tough day, as the ban on them playing in women’s teams came into force

Sport

7 d. ago On the day transgender women soccer players face a ban in England, they play on

For soccer-loving transgender women in England, it’s been a tough day, as the ban on them playing in women’s teams came into force, To show its solidarity with the community and against the decision by the governing body of English soccer, Goal Diggers Football Club, a London-based trans-inclusive women’s football team, held a tournament Sunday

Sport

1 week ago What is the furthest a footballer has been offside when scoring a goal? | The Knowledge

Plus: actual champions in finals, No 10s between the sticks and European silverware bagged amid league stinkersMail us with your questions and answers“Leyton Orient’s Charlie Kelman was four yards offside when he scored against Stockport in the League One playoff semi-finals,” begins Jessica Hibbert. “What’s the furthest a player has been indisputably offside before going on to score?”In the spirit of Annie Hall, let’s get Jeff Astle out the way so that we can relax and digest our offside goals better. His infamous tap-in at Elland Road in April 1971 isn’t relevant here because Jessica asked specifically about goal scorers who were offside. In that case the controversy – “And Leeds will go mad! And they’ve every right to go mad!” – was about the position of Colin Suggett and whether he was interfering with play.Roberto Baggio (Italy 2-1 England, 1990, although he probably should have had a penalty seconds earlier, and don’t get us started on Nicola Berti’s disallowed goal in the sam...

Sport

1 week ago Roland Butcher: ‘West Indies are struggling – we’ve not hit rock bottom yet’

The Barbados-born former England player on being jettisoned as a West Indies selector, the risks of their new cricket structure and his thwarted football dreamsAfter West Indies secured a one-day series draw against Ireland on Sunday their captain, Shai Hope, was asked about the team’s imminent visit to England. “We played them at the end of last year and we won that series so we know they’re going to be coming at us even harder this time,” he said. “We’re looking forward to it. We know they’re going to be a tough, tough opponent but we’re always ready to play anyone.”Roland Butcher, child of Barbados, once of England and more recently a West Indies selector, has a less optimistic outlook: “We’re struggling, and the struggle is not over. We haven’t hit rock bottom yet.” The concentration of power across all three formats in the hands of one coach and selector – Daren Sammy – is what Butcher fears “is going to finally push us to the bottom”. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Thomas Tuchel explains Ivan Toney's England recall despite not seeing striker play

Ivan Toney was a surprise inclusion in the England squad for the June international break, with the striker now currently playing in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Ahli

Events

2 w. ago England: Thomas Tuchel confirms why Ben White was not selected and why he will be in the future

The defender wants to play for England again since Gareth Southgate’s exit

Events

2 w. ago England v Zimbabwe: first men’s cricket Test, day one – live

Day one of the series at Trent Bridge, play from 11am BSTDunkley sparks new era for England | Sign up for the SpinAfter years of being ignored because England were also-rans being overshadowed by the World Test Championship, the rankings are back!This four-day Test is the first meeting between the sides since 2003, when England won both Tests by an innings. Interesting team they had, a mix of generations with a couple of bolters.Marcus TrescothickMichael VaughanMark ButcherNasser Hussain (c)Robert KeyAlec Stewart (wk)Anthony McGrath Ashley GilesMatthew Hoggard (Richard Johnson in second Test)Steve HarmisonJames Anderson Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago 'I've got to be mindful': Ben Stokes to play injury comeback safe ahead of England Test vs Zimbabwe

The Three Lions kick off their summer Test series in Nottingham on Thursday

Events

2 w. ago England suffer another Jofra Archer blow as Ben Stokes makes new ambition clear

Archer’s return to action has been carefully managed and he was pencilled in to play for England Lions against India next month - he last played in an England Test in February 2021

Politics

2 w. ago Bring back that Bazball feeling: McCullum wants England to reconnect with fans

Head coach asks for ‘humility’ as huge Test year beginsEssex seamer Sam Cook to make debut against ZimbabweBrendon McCullum has called on England’s cricketers to reconnect with their fans after a period when some of their public comments, as well as their performances, may have given the impression that they are “out of touch with the general population”.This week’s four-day Test against Zimbabwe marks the start of a defining few months in which England play a five-game series at home to India before travelling to Australia in search of an elusive away Ashes win. McCullum said he had spent the “idle time” before the start of the international summer “looking at where we’ve come from, what we’ve achieved, opportunities we’ve let slip, and also looking at what we’ve done for the people that this team represents”. Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago England expect most players will choose country over IPL for West Indies ODIs

League playoffs clash with international assignmentButtler, Bethell, Jacks could have allegiances testedEngland expect most of the five IPL players picked for their one-day international series against West Indies to report for international duty rather than complete the rescheduled tournament.The IPL’s league phase will now conclude on 27 May, two days before England play their opening game against West Indies at Edgbaston, meaning that Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton, whose teams have already been eliminated from playoff contention, will certainly be free to play for their country. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Provision of child play spaces should be duty in English planning law, MPs say

Parliamentary group launched alongside campaign for ‘play sufficiency duty’ that matches those in Wales and ScotlandUK politics live – latest updatesA duty to provide space for children to play on new developments should be embedded in planning law, MPs and campaigners have said.The first ever all-party parliamentary group on play was launched on Tuesday alongside a campaign to bring in a “play sufficiency duty” in England to match those in Wales and Scotland. Continue reading...

Society

3 w. ago Space for children to play should be a requirement in planning law, say MPs

Parliamentary group launched alongside campaign for ‘play sufficiency duty’ that matches those in Wales and ScotlandUK politics live – latest updatesA duty to provide space for children to play on new developments should be embedded in planning law, MPs and campaigners have said.The first ever all-party parliamentary group on play was launched on Tuesday alongside a campaign to bring in a “play sufficiency duty” in England to match those in Wales and Scotland. Continue reading...

Society