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Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Two American takes on Lord's Test: ‘One of favourite sporting occasions' and ‘Watching yeast rise while baking baguettes is more exciting'
The Lord's Test between England and India prompted comparisons to the 2005 Ashes-like vibe, but even as the country was soaking in the cricket summer that has gotten mighty exciting, an editorial in a newspaper drew out some passionate responses about what went down at the iconic stadium. The 15 July piece lauding the slow-burning drama of Lord's Test match, however started with the line, 'Never try to explain Test cricket to an American.' 'In sport, Americans value brevity, drama, a guaranteed resolution. Draws are anathema and ways must be found to avoid them. Two enterprising journalists once took Groucho Marx to an MCC game at Lord's and he pronounced it 'a wonderful cure for insomnia'' the Guardian wrote. There was further shade thrown when George Bernard Shaw was quoted in the editorial as saying: 'The English are not a very spiritual people, so they invented cricket to give them some idea of eternity.' However, letters to the editor, trickled in challenging the first line. One such, by Edward Collier of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, narrated how an American lady was completely taken in bybthe sport. 'I took an American guest – it was her first cricket match – to Lord's for the third day of the recent Test match between England and India. In terms of the kind of 'excitement' that is the hallmark of T20 and the ghastly Hundred (explosive batting, athletic fielding), the day was somewhat lacking. At times, play was slow, almost becalmed,' he wrote. 'However, at the end of the day she pronounced that it had been one of her favourite sporting occasions, and despite leaving England the next day, she practically begged me to consider taking her again as a guest next year,' he continued. 'It turns out that generalising about a country or its people isn't quite the slam dunk (to borrow a phrase from one of her favourite sports) that your editorial seems to think it is,' he chastised. The Guardian in its letters section balanced it a tad, by publishing David Farrelly of Newport, Oregon, originally from Lamcashire, who reserved the twist in the tale for the last few lines. 'I have an American wife and we live in Newport, Oregon. (As a too-early aside, one of the few places much rainier than the Rossendale Valley from where I hark.) Your opening sentence summed it up,' he wrote. 'My wife has become a fan of cricket and understands the rules better than I – to the point of knowing that it's a five-point penalty if a ball hits a helmet laid on the ground.' So far, so fine. 'Nevertheless,' Farrelly continued, 'she could not understand the fascination of the last couple of sessions at Lord's and departed to the kitchen where she was making baguettes, her comment being that watching yeast rise is more exciting (not that the yeast itself rises).' The gentleman himself, though, had stayed smitten and even wept watching Mohammed Siraj sink to the ground. 'By contrast, I was enthralled and on the point of tears when it was over, watching Mohammed Siraj being consoled. This was one for Wisden. David Farrelly Newport, Oregon,' he wrote.
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
The Guardian view on Test cricket: slow-burning intensity can deliver the finest sporting pleasures
Never try to explain Test cricket to an American. In sport, Americans value brevity, drama, a guaranteed resolution. Draws are anathema and ways must be found to avoid them. Two enterprising journalists once took Groucho Marx to an MCC game at Lord's and he pronounced it 'a wonderful cure for insomnia'. What Groucho would have made of the 'timeless' Test in Durban in March 1939 – it had been going on for 10 days before England, close to victory, decided that they had to catch the boat home – doesn't bear thinking about. George Bernard Shaw summed it up perfectly: 'The English are not a very spiritual people, so they invented cricket to give them some idea of eternity.' Yet, as the Lord's Test between England and India that concluded on Monday in dramatic fashion with a victory for the home team by 22 runs showed, Test cricket can also provide the most gripping sport of all – in large part because it unfolds over five days, slowly gathering in intensity. Twenty20, where each side bats for 20 overs and the game is done and dusted in less than three hours (the baseball model), may be taking over cricket globally, but there is nothing that matches the complexity and sustained excitement of a hard‑fought Test. Twenty20, though immensely skilful in its own way, is bubblegum pop. A Test such as the one we have just witnessed is Wagner's Ring Cycle. This match will be ranked with Headingley 1981 and Edgbaston 2005 in the pantheon of unforgettable Tests of the modern era. Lord's had everything: heroic performances – especially Ben Stokes, England's bearded Siegfried, looking as intense as Bob Willis at Headingley in '81; ill-feeling over the time-wasting tactics employed by both teams earlier in the match; a raucous crowd, with plenty of noisy but good-humoured support for both teams; and the bizarre denouement when the injured England novice spinner Shoaib Bashir bowled the feisty Mohammed Siraj to win the match. Siraj had middled the ball, but it spun back to hit the stumps, with Siraj, who could legally have kicked it away, seemingly transfixed. Bashir raced around the ground in ecstasy; Siraj was in tears; the earlier ill‑feeling was forgotten as England's fielders consoled the Indian No 11. Drama, pathos, humanity: Hollywood (or indeed Bollywood) could not have written a better script. Test cricket, as the Wisden editor Lawrence Booth told the Today programme on the morning after the match, is always in the middle of an existential crisis. As England were celebrating their mighty victory, the West Indies – in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s the best Test team in the world – were being bowled out ignominiously for 27 (the second-lowest Test total of all time) by Australia in front of empty stands in Jamaica. Test cricket may be buoyant in the UK, but it is in desperate trouble in other countries where money is short and Twenty20 is seen as a more viable option. If the greatest form of the game is to survive and flourish, the cricketing authorities need to address the inequalities at the heart of global cricket. Let Lord's 2025 be an inspiration, not an epitaph for a format that is sometimes seen as anachronistic in an age that demands instant gratification.
Forbes
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Searching For Old Hollywood In The Heart Of Palm Springs
If you're a fan of cinema's Golden Era, there are a few spots well worth visiting in this wildly popular destination two hours east of Los Angeles. Let's check out some of the coolest Old School haunts. Its close proximity to Hollywood made Palm Springs a perennial favorite among stars of cinema's ... More Golden Era, including Groucho Marx and his wife on the left. Hollywood adjacent What made Palm Springs such a popular getaway during the early days of the film industry was its proximity to the city. Stars under contract to studios weren't allowed to venture far, but this desert hot spot was a do-able trip. It became a haven for stars of the big screen, some eventually settled in the area and are remembered with streets named in their honor. Yes, take a left on Bob Hope and a right on Frank Sinatra. That's not far from Dinah Shore. Casa Cody is a landmark hotel resort in Palm Springs, Calif., that welcomed Hollywood legends when ... More it opened in the 1920s. Checking into Casa Cody When it comes to hotels with a rich history, nothing tops this expansive property smack in the city center. Its terra cotta rooftops and charming cottages are an iconic sight for today's guests, many who gather around the two pretty pools to relax and drink in the impressive view of the San Jacinto Mountains. Order one of the signature cocktails from the all-day menu – the 'For Harriet' – and you'll get an entertaining history lesson. That refreshing gin, cucumber, lime, mint and sparkling water sipper is a tribute to the Casa's original owner, Harriet Cody, cousin of the legendary symbol of the Wild West, Buffalo Bill. When the city's first hotel first opened in the 1920s, it was a magnet for Hollywood magnates. Winter's House at Casa Cody in Palm Springs, Calif., offers the comforts of home including an ... More outdoor soaking tub, a full kitchen and a wood-burning fireplace. It opened in the 1920s. One of the first famous guests was silent movie superstar, Charlie Chaplin, who is said to have put on impromptu shows in the hotel's Adobe House. These days, Casa Cody has become a go-to venue for all sorts of celebrations, with buyouts of the entire property a common occurrence. That's why it's essential to book as far in advance as possible, especially during popular events such as the Palm Springs International Film Festival in early January. To experience the best kind of home-away-from-home vibes, book the Winter's House and it's likely you're never going to want to leave. Starring players in this luxe hideaway include an outdoor soaking tub, two large dining tables – one indoor, the other outside on the covered patio – and a cozy kitchen outfitted with vintage appliances. Bonus! Come during winter citrus season and help yourself to fruit from the orange and lemon trees. Guests at the historic Casa Cody in Palm Springs can help themselves to oranges grown on the ... More expansive property. Citrus season lands in the middle of winter, a popular time to visit. Not in the mood to cook? There are plenty of excellent dining options within a short walk including 4 Saints at the Kimpton Rowan and the buzzy Farm, famous for its knockout brunch. But in keeping with the Old Hollywood theme, book a table at Copley's. This sweet spot is located in what was once big screen legend Cary Grant's desert getaway, where the inventive menu is all over the map: Ahi tuna tacos, Chicken and Lemongrass potstickers, braised beef empanadas, grilled Colorado lamb T-bone, Mediterranean-style Branzino.
The Guardian
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Trump, Juventus and thinly veiled contempt
While Football Daily didn't get where it is today by performatively flip-flopping over various issues depending on which way the prevailing political wind is blowing, it would be fair to say Football Daily did get where it is today by performatively flip-flopping over various issues depending on which way the prevailing political wind is blowing. Like Groucho Marx, the world's most daily football email has its principles and if you don't like them … well, we have other ones. Those familiar with its work will be aware that Fifa is no different, but has still come as something of a surprise that having for so long publicly (if a little hollowly) purported to be against injustice of any kind, world football's governing body abandoned its planned campaigns against racism and discrimination across the opening three days of the Copa Gianni being staged in the USA USA USA. Following a backlash, some pithy slogans were rolled out on Wednesday, albeit seemingly on the proviso that this token gesture would be for one day of this month-long jamboree only. While the dimwits who think politics should have no place in football will view Fifa's non-stance as a victory, it is difficult to imagine what they made of Wednesday's delegation of Juventus representatives at the Oval Office, where assorted players, staff and suits were forced to stand behind Donald Trump as he briefed his favoured correspondents on a possible attack on Iran, a bizarre soliloquy regarding the bodycount in the American Civil War and how 'bigly' the crowd at Juve's Copa Gianni match against Al Ain would be a few hours later. With Gianni Infantino gazing adoringly from his basket in the corner, the 47th president of the United States of America also tried unsuccessfully to bait some or all of his visitors into making transphobic comments. Showing all the enthusiasm and joie de vivre of captives in a hostage video, a group of players including USA USA USA internationals Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah looked on with a mixture of thinly veiled contempt and … no, just thinly veiled contempt. Speaking after Juve's win over Al Ain later that evening, Weah stated that he and his teammates had been forced into participating in this tawdry photo op by their employers. 'It was all a surprise to me, honestly,' he sighed. 'They told us that we have to go and I had no choice but to go. I was caught by surprise, honestly. It was a bit weird. When he started talking about the politics with Iran and everything, it's kind of like … I just want to play football, man.' Previously an outspoken critic of Trump's disregard for black people among his myriad other shortcomings, McKennie stayed silent on this occasion but, if looks could kill, the midfielder would almost certainly have been bundled out of the office by the president's secret service detail. Elsewhere in Copa Gianni, Manchester City got their campaign off to a winning start against Wydad AC despite losing Rico Lewis to a late red card that simultaneously looked very harsh and entirely justified, while Merseyside's most famous Hispanophone made his eagerly awaited debut for his new side in their draw with Al-Hilal. 'It's an incredible day for me to make my Real Madrid debut,' cheered Trent Alexander-Arnold in his post-match interview, speaking in his native tongue on this occasion, presumably out of fear any Ice goons lurking nearby would be so impressed by his proficiency in Spanish that he might end in the back of a van being ferried to a detention centre. 'Many question why our national team is in this situation and why there is a lack of talent, one reason being the losses due to piracy. All the money that is lost every year is not invested in the youth teams and in the growth of our young players, a major issue that has led our national team to face many difficulties … We are already far behind the Premier League and La Liga. If we continue like this, we will finish behind the Germans and we will end up being at the bottom of the table [of Europe's top five leagues] together with the French' – Serie A chief suit Luigi De Siervo reckons pesky Italian fire sticks are the reason for the Azzurri's decline, along with sticking in a drive-by on Ligue 1. In other news, Gennaro Gattuso has been presented as the national team's latest manager. I struggle to see how Burnley could have been dealt a rough hand by the giant super-computer at Premier League HQ (yesterday's Football Daily). Admittedly I've not counted up every fixture next season, but I'm pretty sure they'll play the other teams twice just like everyone else' – Simon Riley. I'm a bit behind on reading Football Daily so I've only just seen the photo of Phil Parkes from Monday's Memory Lane (full email edition). It's quite the throwback to a simpler time – you'd never catch any club, let alone one as well-versed in C0ckney rhyming slang as West Ham, letting one of their players pose with a pony, in case anyone saw it as the perfect analogy for how they've been playing under Graham Potter' – Ed Taylor. Re: yesterday's Quote of the Day. Daniel Levy says: 'We've won a European trophy but it's not enough.' Turn his TV off. Few solid players left but it's not enough. Few leaders that'll really step but it's not enough. Say Spurs bigger than myself but it's not enough. Am I getting on Mr Levy's ... Yeah, somebody gotta do it' – Daniel Stauss. Please send your letters to Today's winner of our letter o' the day competition is … Daniel Stauss, who gets some Football Weekly merch. We'll be in touch. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. Welcome back to hell, and listen to Emma Powell read Rob Smyth's Forgotten Story of Manchester United v Galatasaray in 1993. Sheffield United without Chris Wilder? Even when he was managing Middlesbrough or Watford, and Paul Heckingbottom was in charge, the club still felt like Wilder's. His second spell, including a relegation battle fought in vain, and May's Championship playoff final lost so narrowly to Sunderland, was not as successful as the first, but the 100% Blade departs as club legend, a manager on the level of a Neil Warnock, a Dave Bassett, a Harry Haslam. One of the final straws came when the club's new, Stateside consortium owners asked Wilder to use AI scouting methods. That was always unlikely to fly. The end soon came. 'Leading this team over 300 times will remain an incredible part of my life,' sobbed Wilder. The new man? Rubén Sellés, who you may remember as the manager of crisis clubs Southampton, Reading and Hull. 'We need to embrace data and new technologies, but the most important thing is not to forget the football essence,' he roared. Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé has been admitted to hospital with acute gastroenteritis, where the club say he will 'undergo a series of tests and follow the appropriate course of treatment'. The Tripoli derby between Al-Ahly and Al-Ittihad in the Libyan Premier League has had to be suspended after fans stormed the pitch, with the referee and other supporters being injured. Al-Ittihad's bus was set on fire, the club said in a statement, while Al-Ahly blamed what it called a 'provocative act' by one of Al-Ittihad players for the trouble. The presence of banned performance-enhancing substance meldonium, found in Mykhailo Mudryk's system, and confirmed by a B sample, could lead to a four-year ban. 'As this is an ongoing case, we are not in a position to comment further at this time,' tooted an FA statement. England's brave boys are through to the quarter-finals of the European U-21 Championship, despite losing 2-1 to Germany. Slovenia's defeat to the Czech Republic means Lee Carsley's kids limped through to face Spain on Saturday. Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson has revealed her 23-strong lineup for Euro 2025 on top of Yr Wyddfa in Snowdonia, and it includes Sophie Ingle after she recovered in time from ACL-knack. Hernán Crespo is back in the game, baby, as São Paulo coach for a second time. Gerhard Struber is back in the game, baby, as Bristol City head coach. New Chelsea striker Liam Delap and Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly lead the list for the PFA young player of the year award. Bournemouth full-back Milos Kerkez, former Cherries defender Dean Huijsen, Arsenal winger Ethan Nwaneri and Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers complete the six, with Phil Foden and James Milner cruelly overlooked for this year's gong. New Spurs boss Thomas Frank intends to build on Ange Postecoglou's Bigger Vase triumph and turn them into 'serial winners'. And to the Fun and Games in South America Dept, where Brazilian Série D outfit Humaitá have set a new club record after just seven paying fans turned up for their 2-2 draw against Manauara. There's a treat for you in the latest edition of our sister email, a big interview with Netherlands midfielder Jill Roord courtesy of Tom Garry. Get it launched! Football Daily's campaign for real football is happening. Get it in the mixer, feed off the knock-downs? Sadly not. We're going to see longer passing mostly, writes Ali Tweedale, because teams have worked out that playing out from the back gives opponents more chances. A proper plan is needed for those left behind as Copa Gianni gifts its riches, writes Nick Ames. How the USMNT values diversity, even in the Trump era. By Sanjay Sujanthakumar. And the Rumour Mill picks over the latest gossip, including chatter relating to the future of Viktor Gyökeres. Gabriel Batistuta skips clear of a sliding Lizardo Garrido during Argentina's final-round stalemate with Chile during the Copa América in July 1991. The rain poured and poured in Santiago, where Argentina returned two days later to beat Colombia 2-1 and top the standings, sealing glory.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Patrick Spencer: Suspended Tory MP denies sexually assaulting two women at private members' club
An MP has denied two counts of sexual assault allegedly carried out at a private members' club in central London. Patrick Spencer, who represents Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is accused of cupping the breasts of two women over their clothes at the Groucho Club in August 2023. The 37-year-old confirmed his full name and date of birth before pleading not guilty to the offences at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Politics Hub: He is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July. Spencer was suspended from the Conservative Party and had the whip withdrawn after the charges were brought. Read more from Sky News: The politician was first elected to parliament last year with a majority of 4,290. Lawyers acting for the MP have previously said he "categorically denies the charges" and would defend against the allegations "robustly in court". The Groucho Club, on Dean Street, opened in 1985 and became a renowned meeting place for A-list celebrities and others, including actors, comedians and media executives. The club was named after the comedian and actor Groucho Marx, who reportedly once said he would refuse to join any club that would have him as a member.
