An 11-year-old table tennis star, India v Pakistan in the hockey and the Serena of squash are some of the potential highlightsCaster Semenya is a multiple world and Olympic champion, the South African flag bearer and one of the Games’s biggest stars. She also competes under a cloud, with the IAAF threatening to reinstate a ban relating to testosterone levels that the Court of Arbitration for Sport labelled ‘unscientific’ back in 2015. Indian sprinter Dutee Chand won her battle to compete but has failed to qualify, leaving Semenya to deal with an unwelcome distraction alone. Related: Investigation launched into alleged indecent assault at Commonwealth Games Related: Adam Peaty determined to increase his performance and bank balance Continue reading...
How what seemed a routine case of ball tampering quickly escalated into a national scandal that swept away Steve Smith, David Warner and Darren LehmannIt all ended in tears. Quite often it does in cricket. If nothing else, this week has been a reminder of the unique hold the game has on its players and, in the case of Australia, an entire nation. Add Steve Smith, David Warner and Darren Lehmann to a list of cricketers making tearful departures that includes Michael Vaughan, Kim Hughes, Hansie Cronje and more surprisingly – and privately – Brian Close when he was sensationally sacked by Yorkshire in 1970. Related: Australia's ball-tampering scandal delivers bout of soul-searching Related: Why did Smith and Bancroft have...
It is not clear who benefited from all the weeping in the fall-out of the Australia ball-tampering scandal but not the playersFive days deep into the scandal the Australia team finally hit bottom. Their coach has quit, their two openers are banned and their captain and best batsman since Don Bradman is a broken man.Thursday was a wretched day. It began with Cameron Bancroft’s press conference in Perth, his words catching in his throat as he spoke, continued with Steve Smith’s in Sydney, when he seemed almost overcome with suffering, and finished with Darren Lehmann’s sudden announcement that, despite everything he had said, he was going to resign after all. Lehmann said he changed his mind when he saw Smith...
Only weeks after saying in an interview how he was maturing as a leader and person, Australia’s former vice-captain descended into new darknessA few weeks ago this paper ran an interview with David Warner. I wrote it. He agreed to it cheerfully despite having just arrived in South Africa from New Zealand via a brain-bending series of flights. He was keen and spoke in extended and considered fashion: about family, playing a character villain, the realities of an underprivileged upbringing and his desire to help people from similar backgrounds. He spoke about change and maturing as a person. He was impressive. Related: David Warner says punching Joe Root was turning point off and on pitch Related: David Warner steps down from...
Cricket Australia has come down hard on Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft but ‘tampergate’ will not end hereThe harder you step in mess, the more it spreads. Last Saturday Cricket Australia found a flaming bag of the stuff on its doorstep and, just like the headteacher in the high school movie, decided the best way to put it out was to stamp right down on it. CA has banned Steve Smith and David Warner from all state and international cricket for a year, Cameron Bancroft for nine months, and ordered all three to do 100 hours of community service. Smith will not be eligible for any kind of leadership role in the Australian team for another two years,...