The 76-year-old, who coached the brilliant Australia team of 1984, will pit his old-style attacking wits against the current Wallabies team on SaturdayRare is the coach who not only wins but talks a world-class game, too. Eddie Jones is the modern prototype but three decades ago there was another Australian guru named Jones with an even sharper tongue. Alan Jones was in charge of the 1984 grand slam-winning Wallabies, one of the finest teams to tour these islands, and makes today’s front men sound like quiet suburban accountants.Not so long ago Jones suggested the best thing Australia’s then coach, Robbie Deans, could do to assist the national side was to shut up and stay at home in bed. He has...
Using your sporting ability and showing mutual respect while defeating an opponent shows up those who prefer crass trash-talkHow badly do you want it? That’s a question to be directed at an opponent in the form of a challenge, stated or implied. Does that challenge have an acceptable limit? In their different ways, and with very different responses, the Australian cricketer David Warner and the English footballer Troy Deeney both asked the question this week. Related: Australia’s David Warner promises ‘hatred’ and ‘war’ with England in Ashes Continue reading...
Fresh from winning the World Cup in thrilling fashion, Mark Robinson’s side have prepared meticulously to regain the Ashes in AustraliaWhile one England cricket team worry about a continuing police investigation before making their way to Australia, another side have been preparing for theirs in situ and at ease. Next Sunday, England Women will begin their Ashes campaign, looking to reclaim a trophy ripped from them in 2015, fuelled as much by revenge as building on World Cup success.The team arrived in Brisbane more than a week ago, earlier than planned and at the behest of the head coach, Mark Robinson, who wanted to ensure the controllables – jet-lag, the weather, match-sharpness – were kept in check. For all England’s...
England put their trust in a group who know each other but they are light on openers and must also hope their talisman’s right hand heals in timeWhen the selection of Ben Stokes for the Ashes tour becomes headline news, something’s up. At the moment we are assuming – no more than that – Stokes will be available for the start of it. Sadly that depends on the investigations of the Avon and Somerset police and the state of his right hand. Related: Ben Stokes named in Ashes squad despite broken finger and arrest Related: England chase 357 to beat West Indies: fourth ODI – live! Continue reading...
The New Zealander believes Joshua will be easier to beat than the awkward Mancunian proved to be and is decamping to the UK to make the fight happenHughie Fury will not be getting a quick rematch against Joseph Parker – unless the Mancunian heavyweight’s promoter, Mick Hennessy, can deliver on his optimistic promise of having his points loss overturned, and the odds must be slim.After winning over 12 close rounds at the Manchester Arena on Saturday night – and benefiting from outrageous 118-110 scores on two cards – to retain the WBO world title he inherited from Hughie’s cousin, Tyson, Parker said the British heavyweight he is way more interested in fighting is Anthony Joshua. Related: Hughie Fury’s defeat by...