This week in sport… Headingley saw cartwheels, Origin saw close calls and F1 saw designer suits where overalls should be.
England v India Test
Men’s Cricket
We may only be at the close of Day Three, but the Headingley Test has already packed enough brilliance to fill a five part series. England v India rarely disappoints and this one is no different.
When Ben Stokes won the toss on Friday and put India in, you could almost hear the spectators murmur, “bold move”. But with the wicket offering just enough and cloud cover lurking, it seemed fair logic. However, India had other plans.
Yashasvi Jaiswal got things moving with his usual flair and captain Shubman Gill looked every bit the composed leader.
When Rishabh Pant joined the party, the runs flowed. His hundred was audacious, his stroke play typical Pant, but it was his celebration that stole Saturday. A front handspring mid-pitch punctuated his ton and is being hailed as “one of the best celebrations”.
Despite the trio of centuries, India’s 471 felt slightly undercooked. Three ducks in the lineup and a few soft dismissals meant they left runs on the table and gave England a sniff.
Enter England. After Zak Crawley departed just six balls in, there was more than a hint of early tension. But Ben Duckett steadied the nerves with a fluent 62, laying the groundwork for what followed.
It was Ollie Pope who truly anchored the innings. Walking in at number three instead of rising star Jacob Bethell - a decision that raised a few eyebrows - Pope silenced the doubters with a masterclass, scoring 106 and guiding England through a tricky passage with real maturity.
Harry Brook very nearly stole the spotlight. Brook kept pressing forward even as wickets fell around him, only to be caught agonisingly one short of his ton. His fluent 99 was filled with clean striking and confidence.
The only man seemingly able to halt the English charge was Jasprit Bumrah, whose 5-wicket haul was vital. His dismissal of Joe Root for 28 was a crucial one and a dagger to the crowd’s heart.
Still, England finished just six runs short at 465. A remarkable effort and one that sets us up for a cracker. As it stands, India are 90/2 heading into Day Four. A lead of 96, two down and a game teetering delicately on the edge.
There is still plenty of cricket to be played and one gets the feeling Headingley has not had its final say just yet.
F1 hits the red carpet
F1
As the dust settled from Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris’ on track clash, Formula 1 drama simply shifted gears - this time, to the red carpet, for the global premiere of F1 The Movie in New York.
Cinema and motorsport collided in spectacular style as Brad Pitt, star and producer of the film, stepped out alongside girlfriend Ines de Ramon in a rare public appearance.
Pitt plays fictional ‘90s F1 star Sonny Hayes in the film, a once-great driver lured out of retirement to mentor a rising rookie played by Damson Idris.
Though the plot is pure fantasy, it is said to borrow heavily from real-life paddock drama and anyone who has spent time trackside will recognise more than a few familiar storylines.
With a week and a half break before the Austrian Grand Prix, drivers swapped carbon fibre for custom-tailored suits.
Lewis Hamilton, in his role as both co-producer and perennial style icon arrived in a pale pink Dior jacket and diamond brooch. George Russell, sans girlfriend Carmen Mundt, channeled a similar mood with a chocolate brown suit and open collared pink shirt.
The WAGs, who have become main characters in the F1 ecosystem (and the internet’s favourite side plot), did not miss a beat. Alexandra Saint Mleux kept things classic in a black slip, Flavy Barla followed suit, while Muni He turned up in a scarlet gown with gold accessories.
Fashion and F1 have been rubbing shoulders for a while now, but Louis Vuitton’s recent 10-year deal with the sport made it official. This premiere only cemented that bond.
Glitz and glamour aside, the real story lies in what the drivers themselves thought of the movie:
Lando Norris: “I was brilliant in it and that was the main thing.”
Oliver Bearman: “I thought it was fantastic. It really depicts what we go through, [but] in a bit of a Hollywood way, as you would expect.”
“It is going to make people want to watch F1, which is really the goal of it. The onboard shots and the work that they did was actually quite incredible - it was impressive to see the technology that they can use.“
Carlos Sainz: “For the hardcore fan and for journalists we will see things that might be a bit too American or a bit too Hollywood. But honestly I enjoyed the whole film.”
Fernando Alonso: “I liked the movie. I think it represents Formula 1 quite well, which is never a guarantee in these kind of movies.”
Read more: Racing Meets Runway
The State of Origin strikes again
Rugby League
State of Origin returned to Perth on Wednesday night, and with the series on a knife’s edge after New South Wales (NSW) claimed Game One, the stakes could not have been higher.
The Queensland (QLD) Maroons arrived needing a win to stay alive and delivered in typically dramatic Origin fashion.
NSW struck first, slicing through QLD’s defence with a slick converted try in the 8th minute. The early lead had Blues fans in full voice, but the Maroons were not rattled, they responded with cold precision and a try just four minutes later.
Then followed five unanswered tries and QLD led 26-6 by the break. A first-half blitz.
The second half saw the Blues dig in. NSW struck back with tries in the 46th, 58th, and 65th minutes. Suddenly it was 26-18. When the Blues crossed again in the 72nd and slotted the conversion to make it 26-24, the game was alive.
Queensland held firm. Just. They repelled every last push and clung to the lead as the siren rang, claiming a 26-24 win to square the series 1-1.
As a Brit who has only recently been introduced to the Origin game, I could not help but ask myself in the lead-up and now after: Surely Queensland had to win this one? A Blues win would have wrapped up the series before the final game, draining the drama from what has become one of sport’s most charged rivalries.
It got me thinking: Does Game Two often equal the series?
Between 2017 and 2024, five of the eight Origin series have ended in a 1-1 deadlock after Game Two. That is 62.5% - not exactly conspiracy territory, but enough to raise a curious eyebrow. The kind of ratio that seems just tidy enough to keep fans glued and broadcasters beaming.
Of course the chaos writes itself. But, there is something uncanny about how often it goes the distance. Maybe that is just the Origin magic: a perfect blend of brutal footy, big moments, and just enough unpredictability to feel inevitable.
All eyes now turn to game three in Sydney on Wednesday, July 9th, where everything will be decided.
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