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‘Bazball’ may not have won the Ashes but the future is bright

It may have been a typical British summer in terms of the weather but when it comes to cricket, it’s been uncharacteristically fun. Despite England not managing to win the Ashes, the all-out attacking style of ‘Bazball’ has made Test cricket enjoyable again and delivered one of the greatest series in recent history.

A thrilling final day in the fifth Test at The Oval saw a Stuart Broad inspired England win to level the series at 2-2. Australia ultimately retained the famous urn but it was important for Brendan McCullum that his side didn’t go down without a fight – and it could have been so different had the fourth Test not been ruined by the rain.

While it may not be traditional, there’s rarely a dull moment with ‘Bazball’. And as Ben Stokes and co. look forward to some time off following a full throttle few weeks, it’ll be fascinating to see where England’s Test side go from here.

Stuart Broad bowling at Old Trafford during the fourth Ashes Test Match 2023

Cricket Hospitality

‘Bazball’ has made Test cricket great again

Whether you love or hate ‘Bazball’, one thing is certain – English Test cricket is alive and kicking. Prior to McCullum taking charge, England had won just once in 17 matches. Something needed to change and it’s been non-stop fun since last May.

England’s new style is exciting, fresh and it’s seen interest in Test cricket reach the highest it’s been in years. It’s not perfect and it may not have delivered an Ashes win but like anything new, it’s a learning process.

‘Bazball’ certainly comes with risk but that’s what makes it exciting. The decision to declare early in the first Test at Edgbaston received criticism and in hindsight, it may have been a mistake. But it showed positive thinking and had it come off, McCullum and Stokes would have been labelled geniuses.

Playing it safe clearly hadn’t been working so it’s refreshing to see them try something new. And ultimately, it’s not early declarations or batting order selection that stopped England winning the Ashes. It’s individual errors, poor shot selection and dropped catches (not to mention the rain!), which can be ironed out and could so easily have gone the other way.

‘Bazball’ is not just a fun experiment – it’s only just getting started. There’s no reason to change it now and England now have six months to learn from their mistakes and conjure up a plan to take it to the next level.


Old Trafford Cricket Ground during the fourth Ashes Test Match 2023

Changing of the guard

‘Bazball’ isn’t the only dramatic change affecting England’s Test cricket side. Legendary bowler Broad has announced his retirement from the game – and he might not be the only one.

The 37-year-old has enjoyed almost 17 years representing England in all disciplines of cricket and there likely wasn’t a dry eye in the house as he walked out to bat one last time with old pal Jimmy Anderson on day four at The Oval.

Not one for going out quietly, Broad finished in style as he smashed Mitchell Starc for six in his final shot in Test cricket. And in his final innings with ball in hand, Broad finished his career with the ultimate fairytale ending, dismissing Todd Murphy and Alex Carey to claim 604 Test wickets and win England the match.

While Anderson is yet to announce where his future lies, there are grumblings that his retirement may not be too far away either. The Lancashire stalwart turned 41 on Saturday and having struggled with his fitness this year, he may choose to call it a day in the near future.

Despite some of England’s greats reaching the twilight of their careers, the future remains bright. This Ashes series has shown there are plenty of young prospects ready to step up and lead the next generation.

Harry Brook is just 24 and only made his Test debut last September. Yet at times against Australia, he looked like a seasoned pro and his 75 was pivotal in England winning the third Test at Headingley.

Similarly, Zak Crawley is only a year older than Brook and he’s established himself as a superb opening batsman. His stunning return of 189 at Old Trafford will go down in Ashes history, regardless of the match eventually being rained off.

The next time the Ashes takes place on these shores, the likes of Stokes, Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow may still be fit and hungry enough to play a part. But the latest series has shown that the conveyor belt of talent in this country is as fruitful as ever and the future is in good hands.

What’s next for England?

Some members of England’s Ashes team will have their eye on the World Cup, which gets underway in October. But for the Test side, there’s plenty of World Test Championship action to look forward to over the next couple of years.

The Ashes series against Australia was the first of England’s six scheduled fixtures in the competition, which involves nine nations in total. The two sides that finish top of the table will battle it out in a final at Lord’s in the summer of 2025.

Next up for England is a trip to India for a five-match series starting in January. Stokes will be hoping to be fit and raring to go by then. The England skipper is set to spend the next six months recovering from a knee injury that has given him constant issues throughout the Ashes.

Following the India fixture, England will be back on home soil for two Test matches next summer. First up they welcome the West Indies in July, with three matches taking place at Lord’s, Trent Bridge and Edgbaston.

The following month, McCullum’s side will start another three-match series against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford, Lord’s and The Oval. If you enjoyed the Ashes and fancy seeing ‘Bazball’ in person, you can watch these series from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages.

England will finish their World Test Championship campaign with away trips to Pakistan and New Zealand at the end of next year, before (hopefully) heading to Lord’s for the final. Fingers crossed!

Will Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury ever happen?

Let’s get ready to rumble! Heavyweight boxing is set for a huge final few months of the year, with Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury both set to return to the ring. Sadly, they won’t be fighting each other – at least for now.

Talks between the pair broke down at the end of last year, so Fury fought Derek Chisora instead. And while we all want to see them finally go head-to-head, they’ve now both got confirmed fights coming up.

AJ is set for a long-awaited rematch against Dillian Whyte, while Fury is putting his reputation on the line against UFC fighter Francis Ngannou. With Oleksandr Usyk and Deontay Wilder both getting itchy feet for a big clash, we’re set for an interesting few months both in and out of the ring.

Has Joshua still got it?

With a Fury showdown looking as unlikely as ever, Joshua is set to face old foe Whyte in a rematch at the O2 on Saturday 12th August.

It’s Joshua’s first fight since 2015 with no belts on the line and he insists that Whyte is just a “body in the way” as he eyes a mega-money clash with Wilder in the Middle East later this year.

Having first fought as amateurs, Joshua and Whyte met almost eight years ago for the then-vacant British heavyweight title. AJ survived an early scare to come out on top and has hardly looked back since.

Since first fighting Whyte professionally, Joshua has twice gone on to become the unified heavyweight champion of the world, recording iconic wins over the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin along the way.

But the 33-year-old hasn’t enjoyed the best of times in recent years. He suffered his first defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 and despite beating him in the rematch, he’s since been defeated twice by Usyk to surrender his titles.

Whyte has come a long way since that defeat to Joshua and he’ll be no pushover. He lasted almost six rounds with Fury last April on the back of a devastating rematch victory over Povetkin.

Both fighters beat Jermaine Franklin in their most recent bouts and the outcome of their upcoming fight will have huge implications for the heavyweight division. Wilder is waiting to meet the winner and if Joshua loses, his stock will be at its lowest in years.

A highly-anticipated showdown with Fury would be a guaranteed money-spinner for both fighters – but it remains to be seen if either of them even want to do it.

Is Fury scared of Usyk?

After talks with Joshua broke down, it looked like Fury was set to take on Usyk. The Ukrainian has beaten AJ twice and currently holds the WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO and The Ring heavyweight titles.

He’s willing to put his belts on the line and prove he’s the world’s best by taking Fury’s WBC title. But boxing fans will have to wait if they want to see that match-up.

Fury has raised a few eyebrows by agreeing to take on former UFC star Ngannou, who has never boxed professionally in his career. The pair will meet on 28th October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen a fight like this take place. Floyd Mayweather was taken to the 10th round by Conor McGregor when they met back in 2017.

Fury remains unbeaten in his career and has won his last four fights by knockout. So for the self-proclaimed greatest heavyweight in the world to choose a mixed martial artist for his next opponent feels like something of a step down.

He beat Whyte last April before seeing off Chisora for a third time in December, so it seemed inevitable that Usyk would be next. Usyk, who is unbeaten himself, has ambitions of becoming a unified two-weight undisputed champion.

The 36-year-old is keeping himself in shape by taking on Daniel Dubois in Poland at the end of August and has accused Fury of being scared of him by suggesting that he’s only taken the Ngannou fight for money rather than to test himself.

Usyk had hoped to finish the year with a showdown against Fury, who he’s been chasing since his rematch win over Joshua a year ago. But with Fury now solely focussed on his meeting with Ngannou, we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds.

Will Joshua ever fight Fury?

For years Joshua vs Fury was the fight that everybody wanted to see. And while it would still be one of the most anticipated clashes in British boxing history, the clamour for it to happen doesn’t seem as strong as it once was.

Reports at the end of last year suggested it was closer than ever and an agreement was close to being found. But both parties accused the other of backing out so we may never truly know the reasons for it not happening.

As AJ no longer has any belts, there’s less incentive for Fury to make the fight happen. A lot depends on Fury’s mindset and how much love he still has for the sport following his clash with Ngannou.

In an ideal world, Fury eventually beats Usyk and puts all of the belts on the line against Joshua in the heavyweight clash of the century. But boxing is unpredictable so for now we’ll just have to cross our fingers and enjoy the fights that are actually happening.

Australia retain the Ashes as rain ruins England’s chances

Despite their best efforts in the limited playing time at Old Trafford, England’s hopes of winning the Ashes are over. A rain-delayed fourth Test ended in a draw, meaning the famous urn will be returning down under with Australia.

After losing the first two Tests, a win at Headingley had given England hope of a historic turnaround. The opening few days at Old Trafford threatened to turn this into one of the most exciting Ashes series in history.

But in a cruel twist of fate, a dramatic comeback was taken out of England’s hands by the weather to turn the series into a (literal) damp squib. With just 30 overs bowled in the final two days, the fourth Test was rained off, leaving the score at 2-1 to Australia.

England can now only hope of levelling the scores in the final Test at The Oval, meaning holders Australia retain the Ashes. Yet despite the disappointing end result, England’s spirited performance at Old Trafford has given huge reasons to be optimistic going forward.

The Oval Test Match

Cricket Hospitality

Bazball makes its mark

With England needing a win and the weather forecast threatening us with a three-day Test, the country sat back and prepared to see ‘Bazball’ in its purest form.

A strong bowling performance limited Australia to just 317 in a first innings that included Stuart Broad’s 600th Test wicket and an incredible diving catch from the much-maligned Jonny Bairstow.

It was England’s turn to bat and Old Trafford feared the worst when Ben Duckett was caught behind by Alex Carey after just six balls. But they needn’t have worried as Zak Crawley took the game by the scruff of the neck.

The Kent batsman was in imperious form, smashing home an incredible 189 to record just his third Test century. Crawley built up a huge partnership with Joe Root, whose 84 boosted England’s tally.

There were some concerns prior to the match when it was revealed that Moeen Ali had been pushed up the order but his 54 was the highest score from a three in the whole series, before Marnus Labuschagne beat it in his second innings.

As England built up a lead, an early declaration was on their mind as they kept one eye on the weather forecast. Then it was time to have some fun. Harry Brook, Ben Stokes and Bairstow all got in on the act, scoring 50s.

It was the first time since the 1930s that six of England’s top seven had all scored 50 in the same innings, as well as being the fastest either team has ever reached 300 in an Ashes Test innings.

England were unstoppable as they finished on 592, giving them a 275-run lead over Australia. Their only job now? Bowl them out before the rain ruins the fun.

They tried their best, but ultimately nature spoiled the party. As the action ended on day four, England had taken five wickets and were 61 runs ahead. But sadly, there was nothing they could do. A constant flow of rain meant there was no play on day five, meaning Australia retained the Ashes by default.


England v Australia Day 2

Bairstow silences his critics

Bairstow received plenty of criticism for his performances in the first three Tests – some of it was harsh, some perhaps justified. In fact, his initial inclusion in the squad raised some eyebrows considering he’s spent much of the last year sidelined with a broken leg.

The wicket keeper has had a mixed series. He’s dropped several catches and there have been calls to bump him up the order and bring in Ben Foakes behind the stumps. But after a 78 in the opening innings at Edgbaston, Bairstow’s best return prior to Old Trafford was 20, so it was a stretch to suggest his batting was keeping him in the side.

Rightly or wrongly, Stokes has stuck by his man. And the England captain’s loyalty was rewarded as Bairstow looked reborn in the fourth Test. He made three catches during Australia’s first innings (and another three in their second), including a mind-blowing diving one-hander to dismiss Mitchell Marsh.

The 33-year-old’s safe hands gave him confidence as he returned to the crease. Bairstow smashed Australia around the park to earn an unbeaten 99, which would have been his 13th Test century had Jimmy Anderson’s lbw dismissal not signalled the end of England’s first innings.

England may have ultimately failed in their mission to reclaim the Ashes on home soil. However, Bairstow certainly played his part in running the Aussies close and his return to form following his now infamous run out at Lord’s has justified his continued selection.

Does Test cricket need a shake up?

The evolution of England’s style under Brendan McCullum and Stokes has made them exciting to watch again. The all-action nature of this summer’s Ashes series has reignited the country’s love for the game.

So, does Test cricket as a whole need to take a leaf out of the ‘Bazball’ playbook? It seems strange that such a thrilling match can be spoiled by something as trivial as the weather. Most of us can take losing a series when we’ve been outplayed by a better team. But when the rain takes over, it’s just underwhelming.

It’s right that cricket has been this way since its inception and traditions need to be respected to an extent. But the game has modernised in many ways, whether that’s through umpire technology, equipment or playing style.

So would it not make sense to have contingency plans in place to deal with adverse weather? Having a day or two in reserve in the event that matches are shortened would ensure that as much cricket as possible is played.

Earlier in the week when it was clear that days four and five were in jeopardy, playing later in the day or having a shortened lunch break to get extra overs played would have made logical sense.

Regardless of the outcome, it’s been a thrilling Ashes series and after their performance in the first two Tests, Australia have played their part in retaining the urn. However, it would have been so much more engrossing for everybody involved had there been something on the line going into the final Test at The Oval.

Rugby World Cup 2023: Who will win the tournament in France?

If you’re worried about an incredible summer of sport coming to an end, don’t worry – the Rugby World Cup means that autumn promises to be just as good.

We’re less than two months away from the tournament kicking off in France and after reaching the final back in 2019, England will be desperate to go one step further this time around.

But with a new coach at the helm and plenty of strong competitors to be wary of, it won’t be an easy ride. Ahead of the World Cup commencing on 8th September, we’ve taken a look at England’s chances, as well as the likely contenders to reach the final on 28th October.


Can England win the Rugby World Cup?

The good news for England is that they’re on the kinder side of the draw and have a fairly easy looking pool that they should comfortably get out of. The bad news is they haven’t enjoyed the best few months under new coach Steve Borthwick.

The former lock replaced Eddie Jones back in December but could only guide the Red Rose to a fourth-place finish in the Six Nations, losing three of their matches. Borthwick is still finding his feet and with a mix of experience and exciting prospects in his squad, there’s hope that England can rediscover the form that guided them to the final last time out.

They’ll face Japan, Argentina, Samoa and Chile, with Wales or Jones’s Australia their likely quarter-final opponents should they win their pool. Yet while they’ll avoid all of the favourites until at least the semis, there’s a worry that the tournament will be deemed a failure if they fail to reach the final four.

Captain Owen Farrell was the second-highest points scorer back in 2019 and along with the likes of Manu Tuilagi, George Ford and Elliot Daly, England have a host of options in their backline. And they have a wealth of experience to call upon in the scrum in Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje and Joe Marler.

England are ranked sixth in the world and are undergoing a transitional period so the pressure on them is relatively low. But with the final in Japan still fresh in the memory, a few strong performances in their early games will have them dreaming of repeating their iconic 2003 World Cup triumph.


Who are the contenders?

France are the favourites and with the tournament taking place on home soil, it’s their best opportunity yet to win their first Rugby World Cup. Having lost three finals in their history, including in 2011, they’re looking to go one better this time around.

In Antoine Dupont they have one of world rugby’s best players in their ranks and he’ll be key to them continuing their impressive form. Their defeat to Ireland in this year’s Six Nations is their only loss in the last two years.

Elsewhere, Ireland are ranked number one in the world after sailing through the Six Nations by winning every match. Last summer they became the first touring side since 1994 to beat the All Blacks in New Zealand.

World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van der Flier will lead them from the front while Johnny Sexton will want to go out with a bang ahead of his retirement after the tournament. However, Ireland will be aware that they’ve never reached a World Cup semi-final.

Rugby World Cup France 2023

New Zealand will always be a contender and they’ll be looking to claim their fourth Rugby World Cup, having won it in 1987, 2011 and 2015. The All Blacks are not as formidable as they once were but they’re still a threat and they’ve won two of the last three Rugby Championships.

Three-time champions South Africa are defending their crown after beating England in the final in Japan. But they’ve not been at the races since and may not quite have enough. Meanwhile, Australia are on the favourable side of the draw. They’ll avoid most of the big boys until the semis and could face England if they win their pool.


Any dark horses?

Argentina are ranked eighth in the world and if they can shock England in their first game, just as they did at Twickenham last November, they’ll build momentum and could spring a surprise.

Few are predicting Scotland to get out of a pool that contains Ireland and South Africa. However, if they land a shock result and progress to the knockouts they’ll feel they can beat anyone.

Wales always show up and got to the semi-finals four years ago, beating Australia to win their pool. Likewise, Japan also topped their pool ahead of Ireland and Scotland when they were hosts so they may be in with a shout at reaching the latter stages.


Rugby World Cup warm-up games

Ahead of the tournament, England will play four warm-up games in order to get in the best shape possible. You can watch them prepare from the best seats in the house with our exclusive hospitality packages:

●    Wales v England – Saturday 5th August, 5:30pm

●    England v Wales – Saturday 12th August, 5:30pm

●    Ireland v England – Saturday 19th August, 5:30pm

●    England v Fiji – Saturday 26th August, 3:15pm

Carlos Alcaraz ends Novak Djokovic’s centre court dominance

Another thrilling two weeks at Wimbledon has come to an end and tennis has some new heroes to admire.


Carlos Alcaraz announced himself to English fans as he strolled to his first Wimbledon title, beating Novak Djokovic in an action-packed men’s final. Meanwhile, Marketa Vondrousova was the unlikeliest winner in the women’s final, defeating Ons Jabeur on Saturday.

Andy Murray continued his comeback from the injury but he couldn’t mastermind a fairytale title run as he crashed out to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round.

But there was some homegrown success as Henry Searle became the first Brit to win the boys’ singles since 1962. Neal Skupski claimed another win for the UK as he went all the way in the men’s doubles alongside Wesley Koolhof, while Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid claimed the wheelchair doubles title.


Wimbledon Court 4

Tennis Hospitality


New kid on the block

As Djokovic strolled to a comfortable 6-1 win in the first set, it seemed as though the occasion was too much for Alcaraz in his first Wimbledon final. But once the 20-year-old got in the groove, there was no stopping him.

Having won at Queen’s last month, Alcaraz continued his glittering form on grass and claimed his second Grand Slam title in one of the greatest Wimbledon finals in history.

A tie-break win in the second set followed by a 6-1 trouncing put him in the driving seat, before a Djokovic comeback set up a thrilling final set. And a supportive crowd fired Alcaraz to victory as he made his mark on Wimbledon, setting the tone for what could be years of dominance in the sport.

The world number one dropped just two sets prior to the final and he brushed Daniil Medvedev aside in straight sets in the semis. It was just the fourth grass tournament of Alcaraz’s career and if his showing in the final was anything to go by, there will be plenty more Wimbledon titles to come.


Djokovic has still got it

Despite being 36 years old and in the twilight of his career, Djokovic arguably played the best tennis of his career over the past fortnight. Prior to his five-set showdown with Alcaraz, the Serbian dropped just two sets on his way to the final.

Sunday’s final was the first time Djokovic had tasted defeat on Wimbledon’s centre court since his 2013 loss against Murray. It puts an end to his bid to win all four Grand Slams this year, having already claimed the Australian and French Opens.

Djokovic’s loss to Alcaraz did feel like a symbolic handing over of the torch. However, with 23 Grand Slams under his belt and likely one or two more to come, he isn’t done yet and has made it clear he has no intentions of retiring any time soon.


Wimbledon Women's Semi Final 2022

Vondrousova makes history

It wasn’t just Alcaraz making headlines at Wimbledon this weekend. Vondrousova stunned the tennis world as she became the first unseeded player ever to win the women’s singles title.

The Czech was taking part in her second Grand Slam final and she comfortably beat last year’s runner-up Jabeur in straight sets to put an injury-hit year behind her.

Vondrousova had never previously reached the fourth round at Wimbledon but she swept all before her at SW19, including triumph over fourth-ranked Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals.

Jabeur was bidding to go one better after losing in last year’s final to Elena Rybakina, who she dispatched in this year’s quarter-final. But the nerves seemed to get the better of the Tunisian, who has now lost all three of her major finals.

World No.1 Iga Świątek disappointingly bowed out in the quarter-finals to Elina Svitolina. Meanwhile, British hopes Katie Boulter and Jodie Anna Burrage lost in the early rounds.


End of an era

While Djokovic is showing no signs of slowing down, Alcaraz’s brilliance signalled that a changing of the guard is underway in world tennis. This year’s Wimbledon Championships was the first since 1997 that did not feature either Roger Federer or Serena Williams.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal’s plan to retire next year coupled with Murray’s injury setbacks leaves Djokovic as the only remaining member of the ‘big four’ still at the top of their game.

A few years ago, tennis fans would have been forgiven for harbouring concerns that the sport wouldn’t quite be as good without the likes of Federer and Djokovic battling it out for titles.

However, over the past few weeks, Alcaraz has shown that the future is bright and tennis is in good hands for the next generation.

Sports Personality of the Year: Who are the contenders?

We may only be halfway through the year but as we enjoy a wonderful summer of sport, all the stars we’re enjoying watching will already have one eye on December. Don’t worry, they’re not thinking about their Christmas Dinner – but they may be starting to dream of winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Our biggest star of 2023 will be crowned at the end of the year, joining the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Kelly Holmes and Mo Farah in sporting folklore. There’s still plenty of sport to be played between now and then so things could change very quickly. As we look ahead to the award, we’ve broken down who the contenders could be.

England’s cricketers

While an Ashes win is looking unlikely following a disastrous opening two Test matches from England, stranger things have happened. And if their new-look ‘Bazball’ inspired team is going to turn their fortunes around against Australia, you can guarantee that captain and 2019 SPOTY winner Ben Stokes will be involved.

With the T20 World Cup to come later in the year, it could be an iconic year for English cricket – or one to forget. Despite Ashes disappointment so far, the likes of Joe Root and Stuart Broad look as fresh as ever, so there’s every chance that one of England’s cricketers could make themselves a hero and claim the SPOTY crown.

England v Australia Day 3

The Lionesses

The England women’s football team has gone from strength to strength in recent years and they’ll be looking to follow up their incredible European Championships triumph with a World Cup win this summer.

Should they bring football home once again, a number of their stellar squad will be in the Sports Personality of the Year conversation. Beth Mead won the gong last year after winning the golden boot at the Euros but injury has ruled her out of the World Cup squad.

In her place, new Arsenal signing Alessia Russo will be looking to fill the void, aided by exciting young attackers Lauren James and Lauren Hemp. Meanwhile, stalwarts Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze will be keeping things ticking over at the back.

Frankie Dettori

We know what you’re thinking – how can an Italian be in with a shot at winning? Well, while we’re used to the award being won by Brits, anybody is eligible to win as long as the majority of their sport takes place on these shores.

Dettori has established himself as one of the greatest jockeys in history and he’ll certainly be in contention as he prepares to retire at the end of the season. He’s enjoyed another glittering campaign in the saddle and he recently claimed his ninth career Gold Cup win at Ascot aboard Courage Mon Ami.

Frankie Dettori

The England rugby team

The Rugby World Cup takes place in France later this year and while the hosts are among the favourites alongside New Zealand and Ireland, Steve Borthwick’s England side will fancy their chances at repeating their heroics from 2003.

England reached the final four years ago, where they ultimately fell at the final hurdle against South Africa, and they’ll be keen to make amends this time around. If they do go all the way, one of the members of their squad could add the SPOTY trophy to their collection.

Owen Farrell has been confirmed as captain for the tournament and the Saracens fly-half finished the 2019 tournament as the second-highest points scorer. Meanwhile, if Scotland or Wales win the competition, the award could end up with one of their heroes instead.

Rory Mcllroy

Rory Mcclroy could see himself with an outside shout for the gong, with plenty of golf still to be played this year. An unfortunate second place finish in the US Open was still a good result for the northern Irishman, after missing the cut in the Masters earlier in the year.

Success in the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, followed by helping team Europe to victory later in the year could help Mcllroy to become a main contender for the award.

Other Contenders

Following Manchester City’s historic treble win, there’s every chance one of their many stars could make a claim for the award. And following a resurgence over the last few seasons, few could deny that John Stones is deserving of recognition.

Elsewhere, the likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Lewis Hamilton could come into the thinking if they end the year strongly. Plus, with the Rugby World Cup set to take place later this year, a strong tournament from England as mentioned, or even Wales or Scotland may see a contender or two emerge from their squads.

Summer in Full Swing: British Golf Takes Centre Stage

Back to back weeks of golf on home soil in July


A mouth-watering summer of sport is well and truly underway and if you’re a fan of golf, you’re in for a treat over the next few weeks. That’s because we’ve got not one but two huge tournaments on British soil to look forward to.

First up, the Scottish Open returns to the Renaissance Club from 13th to 16th July, with eight of the world’s top 10 players signed up to take part. And if that’s not enough to get you excited, the fourth and final major of the year gets underway the following weekend as the 151st Open Championship takes place in Liverpool.

Rory McIlroy will be looking to continue his strong form as he targets his first Open title since 2014, which was the last time it was held at Royal Liverpool. But he’ll face stiff competition in both tournaments as he targets his first PGA Tour win of 2023.


The Open Championship


Who are the contenders?

With the majority of the world’s top 10 players set to appear at the Scottish Open, the standard will be incredibly high as the field look to get into the swing of things ahead of The Open the following weekend.

Xander Schauffele came out on top this time last year but he’ll be taken all the way by fellow American Scottie Scheffler, who currently sits top of the world rankings. Wyndham Clarke is also in good shape having won the US Open in June, as well as the Wells Fargo Championship.

Norwegian star Viktor Hovland tied for second with Scheffler in the PGA Championship before going on to win the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village. Elsewhere, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Jordan Spieth, who all sit in the top 10, will fancy their chances.

And with McIlroy expected to be among the frontrunners, a few other British golfers could make home advantage count. Matt Fitzpatrick won the RBC Heritage back in April, while Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose are all in line to play both tournaments.

Cameron Smith triumphed in The Open last year and while the Australian is expected to return again this year, he’s not scheduled to appear at the Scottish Open, as is the case with John Rahm.



Can Rory McIlroy win?

McIlroy has never won the Scottish Open so a maiden title north of the border will give him good momentum going into The Open a week later. The Northern Irishman remains one of the bookies’ favourites as he looks to improve on his third-place finish from last year.

Having come second to Clarke by just one shot in the US Open a few weeks ago, McIlroy is in strong form. He’s already triumphed in the Rolex Series this year, winning the Hero Dubai Desert Classic back in January, while he was also tied for second alongside Harris English in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

McIlroy is targeting his first major win since 2014, where he triumphed in the PGA Championship a month after his first win at The Open. And he’ll be keen to impress once again as he looks to cement a spot in Europe’s Ryder Cup team later this year.


Engage Hospitality

As the best golfers in the world jet to the UK for a blockbuster couple of weeks, you can enjoy the action in style with a range of hospitality experiences at the Scottish Open.

A week later, The Open Championship takes place from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd July. Experience the best hospitality golf has to offer, with on-course locations offering unique access to the players and a world-class range of food and drinks packages.

ICON Legends – Frankie Dettori – Horse Racing Hero

As we kick off our ICON Legend series, what better place to start than with Frankie Dettori, one of British sport’s most iconic figures.

The Italian jockey is hanging up his whip at the end of the racing season following a glittering 36-year career. Dettori burst onto the scene in 1987 and hasn’t looked back on his way to becoming one of the most successful jockeys in history.

It’s a talent that runs in the family. Dettori’s father was a top jockey in Italy and won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket twice in a row back in the ‘70s. And it’s safe to say Dettori has surpassed his dad’s achievements.

He’s won just about everything on offer in British flat racing and he’s dominated overseas, winning countless races in Italy and Ireland to name a few, as well as claiming six victories in France’s famous Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Frankie Dettori

Dettori’s early years

With racing in his blood, Dettori wasted no time in getting involved. He moved to England in 1985 aged just 14 and started working in the Newmarket stables with trainer Lucas Cumani.

Two years later he became an apprentice jockey and he claimed his first winner at Goodwood. It was clear Dettori had something about him from the start and he really caught the eye when he won his first Gold Cup at Ascot with Drum Taps in 1992, a feat he repeated the following year.

And it was in 1994 that he joined forces with Godolphin Racing, enjoying success with their best horses for the next 18 years. If he wasn’t on every racing fan’s radar yet, he soon would be. He was crowned British flat racing champion jockey in both 1994 and 1995, before claiming the title again in 2004.

Frankie Dettori Early years

Magnificent Seven

When you’ve enjoyed a career as long and successful as Dettori’s, it’s hard to narrow down one crowning achievement. But according to the great man himself, his greatest honour in the sport came at Ascot in 1995.

On British Festival of Racing Day, Dettori dominated the track and famously rode all seven winners. The incredible achievement had odds of 25,091/1 and is believed to have cost the bookies around £40 million.

Gold Cup dominance

Some things in sport just go hand in hand.

Usain Bolt and gold medals. Real Madrid and the Champions League. Roger Federer and Wimbledon. And Frankie Dettori and the Ascot Gold Cup belong in that category as well.

He’s won it a remarkable nine times, just two behind record-holder Lester Piggott. Dettori famously rode Stradivarius to a hat-trick of consecutive wins in the race between 2018 and 2020.

And he went out with a bang in his final royal meeting this summer, striding home to secure another Gold Cup aboard the imperious Courage Mon Ami.

The one that got away

Frankie Dettori has ridden a whopping 287 winners in Group 1 races, with 23 of those in British Classics. That total includes seven victories in the Epsom Oaks, with the most recent coming last month.

But there’s one race that has always evaded him. Dettori has won every single Group 1 race on offer in Britain apart from the July Cup at Newmarket. And in a cruel twist of fate, he’s set to miss out on taking part this year after receiving a ban for overuse of the whip at Ascot.

Is the prospect of winning it next year enough to convince the legendary jockey to postpone his retirement for another 12 months?

If he does have his heart set on bowing out at the end of the season, you’ve still got plenty of chances to see him race. Check out our hospitality options at the Ebor Festival at York in August and you can say a final farewell to one of horse racing’s all-time greats.

Can Max Verstappen be stopped at the British Grand Prix?

The Formula One season is in full swing and with nine races already chalked off, the standings are starting to take shape. Max Verstappen only won the championship for the first time in 2021 but he seems to have picked up where he left off last time and has started 2023 in fine form.

But there’s a long way to go and with the British Grand Prix taking place this weekend, Lewis Hamilton will be hoping his fortunes turn around on familiar territory. Ahead of the showpiece event at Silverstone, we’ve delved deeper into how the Formula One season has unfolded.


The story so far

We’re not even halfway through the season but if form has anything to do with it, Verstappen already looks to have one hand on the trophy. The reigning champion has come racing out of the blocks in 2023, winning six of the first eight races and coming second in the other two.

Verstappen has dominated the track so far and was particularly comfortable in Monaco and Spain, winning both races by more than 24 seconds. The 25-year-old is way out in front on 229 points, with Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez in second after winning in both Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan.

Hamilton’s former team-mate Fernando Alonso, who is now with Aston Martin, sits in third having finished on the podium six times so far. Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Esteban Ocon and George Russell are the only other three drivers to have finished in the top three.

Despite Verstappen’s explosive start to the season, there are still 13 races left so a lot can change. But it’s looking like his year at the moment as he targets a third consecutive Formula One title.


Formula 1 Hospitality


How is Lewis Hamilton doing?

Hamilton is yet to win a race this year but he’s going steady at fourth in the rankings. The seven-time champion finished second to Verstappen in Australia in a chaotic race that was dominated by red flags, crashes and safety cars.

Hamilton also finished runner-up in Spain and finds himself 123 points off top, just below Alonso in third. The 38-year-old hasn’t won the championship since 2020 but prior to this season he vowed that he wouldn’t retire until he’s claimed his eighth title.

He’s currently level in the record books with Michael Schumacher and finishing top would make him the most successful driver in Formula One history.


 The British Grand Prix


The season continues this weekend at Silverstone and there are plenty of exciting races to look forward to, including Japan, Las Vegas and the final race of the year in Abu Dhabi.

But as the British Grand Prix edges closer, all eyes will soon be on Silverstone. The pinnacle of the British Formula One calendar takes place on Sunday 9th July, with Hamilton, Verstappen and co. looking to emulate Carlos Sainz Jr’s win in 2022.

Hamilton managed to finish third on home soil last year, recording the fastest lap in the process. He’ll be keen to add to his record eight titles at Silverstone, with his most recent coming in 2021.

The British Grand Prix will take us to near the halfway point of the season and you can watch the action unfold with one of our hospitality experiences. With our ICON facility, private suites and trackside viewpoints, there’s something for everyone, with food and drink packages on offer for groups of all sizes.

And if you fancy seeing if you can cut the mustard on the track, you can step into the shoes of your racing heroes in one of our state-of-the-art F1 racing simulators.

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British Grand Prix

A Memorable Royal Ascot 2023 Meeting

Frankie Dettori once again steals flat racing headlines!

We’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news is that Royal Ascot is done and dusted for another year. But the good news is you can relive all the highlights in our comprehensive round up of all the key races!

The royal meeting didn’t disappoint, with legendary jockey Frankie Dettori going out in style in his final Royal Ascot before he retires at the end of the season. If you missed any of the action, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.


Royal Ascot 2023 Round Up


Day 1

The meeting started with the Queen Anne Stakes and Dettori almost immediately stole the show with Inspiral. The four-year-old finished well but ultimately lost out to 33/1 winner Triple Time by a neck.

Another outsider upset the odds in the King’s Stand Stakes as Bradsell pipped favourite Highfield Princess by a length. And in the St James’s Palace Stakes, Ryan Moore claimed his second of three day one winners with Paddington.

Dettori rode the king’s horse Saga in the Wolferton Stakes but he received a suspension for careless riding that could see him miss the Eclipse at Sandown next month.

The ban will only last for nine days so he’ll be able to ride in the July Cup at Newmarket, the only Group 1 race he is yet to win, and he’ll also be back in time for the Ebor Festival at York in August.


Day 2

The American dream was alive and well in the Queen Mary Stakes as U.S horse Crimson Advocate pipped Relief Rally to glory by a nose.

But the rest of the second day belonged to Irish horses as Daniel Tudhope and Rogue Millenium edged the Duke of Cambridge Stakes before Jim Crowley guided Mostahdaf home in the Prince of Wales Stakes.


Day 3

The script writers were in fine form on Ladies Day, with Dettori winning the Gold Cup for a ninth time. The Italian was on board Courage Mon Ami this time around and he said goodbye to the prestigious race in style, beating favourite Coltrane by a length.

The Italian is now just two Gold Cup wins behind Lester Piggott’s 11. Can he be tempted to postpone his retirement and hunt down the record?

Elsewhere, King Charles III had his first winner since taking the throne as Desert Hero claimed the George V Stakes. Yet despite Dettori and the king’s successes, day three’s headlines belonged to Rossa Ryan, who somehow won the Norfolk Stakes with 150/1 shot Valiant Force.


Day 4

Still riding high on his Gold Cup triumph, Dettori continued his winning streak on Friday with Porta Fortuna in the Albany Stakes and Coppice in the Sandringham Stakes. Having missed out on winning the Derby earlier this month, King of Steel took the King Edward VII Stakes ahead of Epsom rival Auguste Rodin.

Meanwhile, there was plenty of Group 1 action on offer as well. Shaquille raced to victory in the Commonwealth Cup while favourite Tahirya comfortably took the Coronation Stakes.


Day 5

Saturday saw the memorable meeting draw to a close in style, with even more shocks coming in the form of winners at huge odds. Namely, Khaadem and Jamie Spencer winning the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes at odds of 80/1 but after the week of racing we had witnessed, many may have thought that it was no longer a surprise!

It was very fitting that the week came to a close with Ryan Moore getting a win on favourite Dawn Rising in the Queen Alexandra Stakes, finishing up the great form he had been having all week.


The Lawn club Ascot


Upcoming Horse Racing

Thankfully, there is still more to come in terms of flat racing over the summer. The next big meeting that we offer packages for here at Engage is the Ebor Festival at York racecourse towards the end of August, a prestigious race where Royal Ascot for historically holds up well!

So if it is some exciting flat racing or some of 2024’s biggest meetings that interest you, make sure to get in contact with us at Engage!


Ascot Guests ICON
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