England all-rounder showed such discipline in compiling his 176 at Old Trafford and that willingness to learn and improve should see him scale yet more heights for his country Many more innings like the one he scored here and there must be a peerage around the corner for Ben Stokes, though I’ve not yet ascertained where he stands on Brexit, which is obviously crucial. It is 13 years since we learned that Ian Botham was to be knighted and I recall being asked to cast aside my astonishment – and delight – for a moment to pen a swift profile for the Observer. This time no profile is required; not that much has changed for Sir Ian since 2007 but...
Jason Holder comes out on top in battle of the box-office captain all-rounders in a Test where the absence of a crowd did not diminish the excitementIt has been a remarkable and at times emotional week in the bubble, one that – after a four-month wait – has reminded us just how ruddy glorious Test cricket can be.A sporting boxset consumed over five days, like all good dramas it saved the best for the final episode as at 5.53pm West Indies fulfilled the sense of destiny they have carried with them all match in wrapping up a famous four-wicket victory.Jason Holder, non-striker when the injured John Campbell nudged a calm single into the leg side, let out a cathartic roar...
Against a backdrop of tight biosecurity and an empty stadium attention will centre on how the barnstorming all-rounder copes with being in charge against West IndiesAt last a Test match to preview. How do we go about that? It’s the clash of the great all-rounder captains, Jason Holder and Ben Stokes. Holder, ranked No 1 in the ICC all-rounder stats and about to embark on his 33rd Test as captain, is confronted by Stokes, ranked No 2 and leading England for the first time.The goal of Stokes and his team is to win back the Wisden Trophy, held by West Indies after their 2-1 victory in the Caribbean last year. Can West Indies win a series in England for the...
As Ben Stokes has shown, recognising perfection is impossible and not worrying about failure can be key to great successIn Ford v Ferrari – the Oscar-nominated film that tells the story of Le Mans 1966 – there’s a memorable scene where driver Ken Miles looks out over a racing circuit at dusk. “Out there is the perfect lap,” Miles tells his young son. “No mistakes, every gear change, every corner, perfect. Can you see it?” “I think so,” his son replies. “Most people can’t,” says Miles.During this sporting hiatus I’ve been pondering perfection, and the discipline it takes to achieve it, born of the sense that everyone around the world is using their Covid-enforced break more productively than me. I...
Purists are overcoming the pragmatists because with the world watching it’s not just what you do, it’s the way that you do itWhen the history comes to be written of this football season, there will be two stories that dominate. The first, barring some kind of bizarre catastrophe (which would in turn become the standout story), is Liverpool’s near faultless procession towards their first title in 30 years. The second – less impressive, perhaps, but no less commented upon – is the arrival of VAR.Everyone has had their say on the controversial video referee and the consensus of opinion is it has ruined football. I happen to disagree, as I think it just needs to be better thought-out. Junk the...