AFL star Noah Balta has walked free from court and instead been handed a night-time curfew and alcohol ban as part of his punishment for assaulting a man outside a regional venue. Richmond defender Balta was sentenced at Albury Local Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to repeatedly punching Thomas Washbrook, 27, outside the Mulwala … Read more
Wisden hits the shelves this week and, as well as unveiling its latest batch of award winners, it has trained its sights on the International Cricket Council. The World Test Championship, the book argues, is a “shambles masquerading as a showpiece”. The publication of the sport’s annual bible is timely, with the future of the … Read more
Sharon Lokedi broke the Boston Marathon course record, and fellow Kenyan John Korir joined his brother as a race champion on Monday. Lokedi outran two-time defending champion Hellen Obiri over the final mile a year after losing a sprint down Boylston Street to the same athlete in one of the closest finishes in race history. … Read more
As the old adage goes, never go back. Unless your opponents are Tottenham Hotspur and your name is Nuno Espírito Santo that is. On a night when Nottingham Forest desperately needed to get their Champions League challenge back on the rails, Ange Postecoglou’s side could hardly have been more obliging opponents until they finally mounted … Read more
There is no need to attempt to rewrite history by arguing that Tottenham Hotspur failed to see what they had in Nuno Espírito Santo. All that matters now is that this meticulous, softly spoken manager is the perfect fit for Nottingham Forest. They have provided Nuno with the perfect platform for his counterpunching tactics and, … Read more
The Burnley head coach, Scott Parker, described his third Premier League promotion as his best yet after taking Burnley up, while Daniel Farke said Leeds are “back where we belong” after securing a top-flight return. Parker has taken Fulham and Bournemouth to the Premier League in previous jobs and will have a third chance to challenge … Read more
In the aftermath of a superb drive at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen went on to give something of another masterclass, in putting across an opinion while ostensibly declining to say anything at all. It was an arch display of discontent and dissatisfaction, delivered with a disarming smile, and aimed at the FIA; … Read more
Emma Raducanu has revealed she intends to continue her coaching partnership with Mark Petchey on an ad hoc basis following her quarter-final run at the Miami Open last month. “We’re keeping things informal for now and it’s been working,” she said in a joint interview with the Guardian and the BBC before the Madrid Open. … Read more
When Burnley last escaped the Championship for the promised land of the Premier League, they blew a hole in the wall under Vincent Kompany. Scott Parker decided it was more sensible to chisel their way out, inch by inch, completing their route to freedom with a tense victory over Sheffield United. Amid the change of … Read more
Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature I’ll write these down, then we’ll get into what they’re about. Share Teams! Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Sarr, Bentancur, Kulusevski; Odobert, Richarlison, Tel. Subs: Kinsky, Davies, Danso, Gray, Bissouma, Bergvall, Maddison, Johnson, Solanke. Nottingham Forest … Read more