A helter-skelter ride: Brilliant, charismatic Stokes is one of Englan…

Despite disappointments we remain indebted to an all-round talent for transforming the way in which Test cricket is played sos-zagle.org.pl

Last year I completed a book on England’s cricket captains since Mike Brearley and the final chapter was devoted to Ben Stokes. It began with the observation: “There is jeopardy here”; it ended with the conclusion: “I would be hard pressed to name anyone in the last few decades who has done more than Ben Stokes to keep a format [Test cricket], still beloved by so many, alive.”

Jeopardy and Stokes have often been frequent bedfellows, on the field and off it. My jeopardy came in having to assess Stokes the captain before last winter’s Ashes series given that there is a long tradition of deciding the merit of England captains based upon their results against Australia. We know now it did not go so well; we also have an idea of how much torment it brought him. Yet I’m still content with those pre-Ashes observations. Of course there is always jeopardy with Stokes. We have never known what he would do next (which now includes his sudden decision to retire from international cricket). Moreover despite the recent disappointments, I think he remains one of the best captains England have had – to the amazement of most of us.

F1 TV analyst Alex Brundle has called Racing Bulls the "best of the rest" after the team collected a double points finish at the Red Bull Ring. In the Austrian Grand Prix, Liam Lawson finished ninth and Arvid Lindblad tenth, giving the Faenza outfit three championship points.

FIFA referee Jesús Valenzuela (42) will officiate Norway’s 16th‑round World Cup clash against Ivory Coast. He has already managed two group‑stage matches – Australia 2-0 Turkey and Bosnia‑Herzegovina 3-1 Qatar – and averages 3.11 yellow cards and 0.11 penalties per game.

On the sidelines he will be joined by fellow linesmen Jorge Urrego and Tulo Moreno, with Paraguay’s Juan Gabriel Benitez as the fourth official and Eduardo Gardozo as reserve. Valenzuela has been a FIFA referee since 2013, handling matches in club world cups, Copa America and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.