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The Ashes assessed

Now that the dust has settled after such an exciting contest and Stuart Broad is leaving Test cricket with a six and a wicket, we can more coolly assess the Ashes. Though not much pointed out at the end by the commentators, Australia retained the Ashes and levelled the series. They are world [...]

August 1, 2023 // 0 Comments

Stuart Broad

One of the many joys of writing for The Rust is you can express opinion of a contrarian nature. Although watching live at Trent Bridge eight years ago Stuart Broad taking 8-15 was one of my great memories, I was relieved that he has now chosen to retire. Quite simply it has opened up a more [...]

July 31, 2023 // 0 Comments

Seven Days in North Africa

About a month ago – after a frenetic period of activity and incoming commitments, several of them originally unplanned and/or ‘imposed’ at very short notice by third parties both family and otherwise – She Who Must Be Obeyed and your author decided that we were desirous of “stepping [...]

July 31, 2023 // 0 Comments

All Blacks triumphant

Having watched a distinctly dull performance by the Aussies in the Test match on Friday, I decided a change of sport was in order yesterday so I watched the Bledisloe Cup between Australia and New Zealand which the All Blacks won comfortably 38-7. Like an outstanding boxer they could absorb [...]

July 30, 2023 // 0 Comments

Thunderclap & The Man who made Vermeers

Thunderclap by Observer Art Critic Laura Cumming is the story of the life and death of Dutch 17th century artist Carel Fabritius. In fact much more is known about his death in 1654 when his house collapsed after a gunpowder  depot explosion in Delft. As for his life, he was born in the village of [...]

July 25, 2023 // 0 Comments

The Open

Much of the build up to the 151st Open at Hoylake focussed on Rory McIlroy who has now gone 13 years without winning a Major. His defenders – of whom there are many – argue that he consistently hits the top ten and wins other tourneys and loads of moolah. Others argue that he has been [...]

July 22, 2023 // 0 Comments

Vingegaard‘s yellow jersey

Le Tour is both a team and individual event. Team because the team leader is dependent on his ‘domestiques’. The Sky team under Dave Brailford – now Ineos Grenadiers – had initially Bradley Wiggins supported by Chris Froome. Froome took over as team leader, winning the yellow jersey [...]

July 20, 2023 // 0 Comments

University Challenge’s New Quizmaster

In its 70 year history University Challenge has only had 3 quizmasters: Bamber Gascoigne, Jeremy Paxman and now the BBC’s media editor Amol Rajan. He made his debut last night in a contest between Trinity College and the University of Manchester which ended in a tie with 175 points respectively. [...]

July 18, 2023 // 0 Comments

Summer of sport excels

It’s been bloody awful weather but no one can criticise the quality of summer sport. Over the weekend Carlos Alcaraz – the young pretender – claimed the title from serial major winner Novak Djokovic and Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogecar continued their fascinating Tour de France duel [...]

July 17, 2023 // 0 Comments

The Ladies Final

There were too many unforced errors and pressures on Ons Jabeur to make the final enthralling but it was nonetheless an exciting encounter. Jabeur was carrying the torch for Arab women and the first African to win a ladies title. There was no such constraint on Marketa Vondrousova, the unseeded [...]

July 16, 2023 // 0 Comments

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