The last two weeks have been busy - partly due to my holiday to Melbourne and partly because I have landed a new job (all very exciting). If you were waiting on last week’s issue, my apologies. This edition is a wrap-up of the past fortnight in sport, with a separate Melbourne dispatch to follow, because that trip deserves its own innings. The last 14 days have been packed with major annual sporting events (especially in the UK) and it has been a field day for those lucky enough to watch.
The less said the better.
Cricket - England v India Test
The less said about the second Test, the better - though, of course, we must say something.
After such a promising start to the series, where England’s batting finally looked less like a crisis, the second Test felt like someone had hit rewind and not in a comforting way.
India were utterly dominant, winning by a frankly brutal 336 runs. Shubman Gill was imperious, compiling 269 in the first innings and following it up with 161 in the second.
England did have bright spots. Harry Brook and Jamie Smith both dug in for big hundreds in the first innings but it all unravelled in the chase, as familiar frailties re-emerged.
A flat note in what had promised to be a summer symphony.
Now, at the close of day three, the third Test is perfectly poised. Both sides have posted 387 making the match all square, with six sessions to play.
England won the toss on day one and, quite sensibly, chose to bat first on a surface that looked gentle.
But the real story of the day, and one that has rightly stolen the headlines, was the return of Jofra Archer. After nearly four and a half years, he is back. And within three balls, he had Yashasvi Jaiswal nicking off. A wicket-maiden to start. Lord’s rose in celebration.
Archer finished with figures of 1-22 from 10 overs. Smooth, lethal, and very much still Jofra.
As for England’s first innings, it was not a disaster, but it rarely inspired.
Scratchy, at times unsure, saved somewhat by a few Indian drops and a moment of shared madness between Joe Root and Ben Stokes that really should have ended in tears if the throw had been an inch straighter. Lucky does not quite cover it.
Root ended the day on 99 not out, and added just five more the next morning before trudging off shaking his head - a curious sight, considering it was his 37th Test hundred.
All of us were expecting more, least of all him. I am sure after a night’s sleep he was expecting a masterpiece, not merely a milestone.
Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse each chipped in with half-centuries, but neither could quite convert. England’s total looked decent, maybe even good, but not beyond question.
India matched the total. After ending day two on 145/3, they too were all out for 387. A perfect deadlock at the halfway mark.
The big moment was Chris Woakes removing Shubman Gill, who has been treating England’s bowlers like a backyard net session in recent weeks. That wicket felt important.
KL Rahul compiled a sharp 100 before edging to Harry Brook in the cordon. Rishabh Pant put on 74 and Ravindra Jadeja contributed a patient 72.
Then came a couple of late wickets in quick succession and England were through the tail.
Seesaw series.
Cricket (women) - England v India T20I
England signed off the T20I series in style, narrowly beating India in the final ball of the game, with a record women’s run chase at Edgbaston of 168.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge, on her 300th international appearance, marked the milestone with a fluent 56 off 37, her 21st T20I fifty.
Opening partner, Sophia Dunkley hit 46 off 30 to gift England the early boost, while Sophie Ecclestone held her nerve to score the winning run off the very last ball.
The win meant England took the final match, though India claimed the series 3-2 after earlier victories at Trent Bridge, Bristol, and Old Trafford.
England’s other win came at The Oval, by just five runs. A seesaw series, capped off with a classic.
An underdog win.
Rugby - State of Origin
Queensland reclaimed the Shield with a 2-1 series win, sealing it in emphatic fashion with back-to-back, shock, victories in Game Two and Game Three.
The decider in Sydney was not so much a contest as it was a statement: Maroons 24, Blues 12 and frankly, it flattered New South Wales.
From the opening whistle, Queensland looked like a side with a plan and absolutely no interest in letting the moment slip. They completed 21 sets, scored three first-half tries, and headed into the sheds with a commanding 20-0 lead.
New South Wales turned up eventually. Two late tries from Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o gave the scoreboard a touch of balance, but not the game.
Tom Dearden was handed player of the series, earning the Wally Lewis Medal after scoring two tries, with one late on to seal it.
A cut nose.
F1 - Silverstone, British Grand Prix
At long last, Lando Norris has his home win.
The British Grand Prix belongs to him - a near-flawless drive, capped off with a Lego trophy and a minor injury.
In what might be the most on-brand post race incident of the season, Norris picked up a nick on the bridge of his nose while parading the custom built Lego trophy through the paddock. A small cut, no serious damage done.
The wet-dry rollercoaster favoured McLaren smartly.
Teammate Oscar Piastri looked set for victory until a 10-second penalty for erratic braking behind the safety car handed Norris the lead he had long craved.
Behind him, it was a day of firsts. Nico Hülkenberg, after 239 attempts, finally stood on the F1 podium, equal parts joy and relief as he brought the Haas home in third.
Add in the chaos, slick tyre calls, Verstappen spinning, safety cars aplenty and you have got a race worthy of the Silverstone legend.
Norris’s cut from the Lego trophy may have stung, but nothing will dull the memory of this one.
In other news.
Iga Świątek needed just 57 minutes to dispatch Amanda Anisimova and claim the Wimbledon women’s singles title - her first at the All England Club and sixth grand slam overall.
The gentlemen’s singles final is set for 16:00 GMT, with Jannik Sinner taking on Carlos Alcaraz.
Chris Gotterup and Rory McIlroy share the lead at the Scottish Open, both sitting at 11-under par heading into the final round at The Renaissance Club. With one day to play and the leaderboard tightly packed, the title and the $9 million purse are well and truly up for grabs.
Christian Horner has been sacked as Red Bull’s F1 team principal, ending a dominant era with immediate and dramatic effect.
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Great article, as ever.
Over rates have been pathetic at Lord's. End of Day 3 and theres been 32 overs unbowled, more than a full session. As ever, it's fans that end up being short changed. That's got to change.