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English cricket – the winners & losers

After the report into the Ashes debacle the winners and losers have emerged. The clearest winner is skipper Joe Root. There seems no viable alternative. He is by some distance our most effective batter and is popular in the group. So he stays with if anything his position strengthened. His weakness [...]

February 10, 2022 // 0 Comments

The Tanner Report: Fulham 3 Millwall 0

Millwall, with their raucous fans and often uncompromising style on the pitch, are never easy opponents but Fulham beat them without reaching top gear. Alex Mitrovic scored his 29th and 30th goals of the season and Ivan Toney of Brentford’s record of 31 Championship goals is firmly within his [...]

February 9, 2022 // 0 Comments

The parlous state of world sport

Increasingly – it occurs to me – the modern world’s obsession with “wokedom” generally (encompassing gender equality, the whole range of transgender issues, politics in sport including the “cancellation” of non-PC speakers and alleged “rooting out” of any historical figure who [...]

February 9, 2022 // 0 Comments

7 Days in Venice/Gianmaria Dona dalle Rose

I have now finished Gianmaria Dona’s guide to Venice. Although it is just 133 pages this is something of a feat as it is written in Italian – an English translation is in course of being published. Gianmaria is well-qualified to write such a guide as he is Venetian and his family one of [...]

February 8, 2022 // 0 Comments

Harlequins lose (again)

Harlequins lost comprehensively to Sale Sharks (14-36). They now have two more tricky games without their England stars against Saracens next Sunday – which I’m going to – and Wasps. At least yesterday they had Luke Northmore back from England duty, but they are paying the price for [...]

February 7, 2022 // 0 Comments

Eddie Jones in the dock

The fall-out ramifications from England’s loss to Scotland in the Calcutta Cup match on Saturday evening continue to dominate the sporting media and – justifiably, many fans and pundits believe – Eddie Jones continues to cop most of the flak for England’s spectacular slide from [...]

February 7, 2022 // 0 Comments

Religious partying

Religious observation, ritual and practice and I separated irrevocably many years ago. Like so many negative decisions, I did not wake up one morning to renounce my faith but rather a slow and gradual distancing from religion. Most of my friends do not share my or possess any faith. However my [...]

February 7, 2022 // 0 Comments

Thoughts on the Six Nations

I sent an email to a rugby enthusiast with my prediction that Ireland would win the Six Nations but was not confident of England’s chances. Aside from the injuries, a back row that did not inspire and Joe Marchant on the wing, I have serious doubts about Eddie Jones’ game management. My friend [...]

February 6, 2022 // 0 Comments

Scotland hold on for a famous victory

Writing as a Scot now residing in the English home counties, yesterday’s 20-17 rugby union victory over England at Murrayfield comfortably qualified as a welcome not to say exhilarating opening to the annual Six Nations campaign. Statistically, it is very rare that a team losing its opening game [...]

February 6, 2022 // 0 Comments

Sir Edward Elgar

I would lay a penny to the Pargiter tenner that if anyone had to cite the quintessential English composer it would be Edward Elgar. He composed five versions of Pomp and Circumstance and Land of Hope and Glory – written at a low point in the Boer War – is the most stirring of anthems. [...]

February 5, 2022 // 0 Comments

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