Ollie Pope has challenged the perception England “weren’t fussed” during their troubled Ashes tour but accepts why it formed.

Ben Stokes’ tourists crashed to a 4-1 series defeat by Australia that is currently being reviewed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, with tour planning, preparation, individual performances and behaviour all under scrutiny.

Apart from being comprehensively outplayed on the field, concerns about the culture of the squad emerged during a break in Noosa, where there were reports of excessive drinking by players, followed by revelations over vice-captain Harry Brook’s altercation with a nightclub bouncer on the pre-Ashes visit to New Zealand.

Pope, however, insists England’s were intent on beating Australia and might have been more successful had they built on a competitive start to the first Test in Perth.

“Going into that series, there was a lot spoken about the preparation of it. As a team, the misconception might be that we weren’t as fussed as it came across,” the 28-year-old said at Surrey’s pre-season media day.

“The tough thing for everyone in that first game was the nature of it. Had we won that, and we’d done slightly better on day two, the idea is different.

“Of course we want to be a well-liked team, on and off the pitch, and unfortunately our performance didn’t allow that to happen in Australia.

“I can understand why people felt that way, but at the same time the perception that we weren’t fussed was probably the hard thing. All we wanted to do was go and win the Ashes.

“As individuals, everyone’s trying to manage with the pressures of an Ashes series and trying to get the best out of their performance and doing what they can.

“All anyone wanted to do was to win. And for us at times it was just trying to, in our minds, take the pressure off the actual Test match.”

Among the criticisms made of England was inadequate preparation for an Ashes that consisted of a three-day match against England Lions at Lilac Hill in Perth.

“As we’ve done over the previous years, we tried to treat it like a normal series to get the best out of ourselves. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite go to plan,” Pope said.

“It wasn’t ideal batting at Lilac Hill because then we go and play in Perth and it’s the opposite kind of conditions. But that’s the cards you’re dealt.

“And we did have experiences over previous years where that kind of preparation has worked for us in places like New Zealand, Pakistan and India.

“I know what I need to be as ready as I can be. From a personal point, I felt as ready as I could have been for that first Test.”

Pope was dropped after the third Test after averaging only 20.83 runs across the first three games but will fight to regain his England place, declaring: “I still feel like my best batting years are to come.”

The Surrey batsman was speaking after the ECB reversed plans to stop its Ashes players speaking to the media ahead of the new county season while it conducts its review.

Stephen Torpey has spoken out in an interview with external media after his appointment as Man Utd’s academy chief.

12:00, 17 Mar 2026Updated 12:09, 17 Mar 2026

When Sir Jim Ratcliffe singled out the Manchester United academy as having “slipped” with some of his customary direct feedback in October, he highlighted the appointment of Stephen Torpey as evidence of change.

Torpey is the latest Old Trafford recruit from the Manchester City blueprint Ratcliffe so admires, and that introduction from the United co-owner was pretty clear.

“The academy has really slipped at Manchester United,” Ratcliffe said. “You need the academy to be producing talent all the time. It helps you financially. That’s not a light switch. You don’t solve the academy problem overnight. It takes time.”

United’s first team will play just 40 games this season. An unusually sparse schedule at first team level has led to heightened interest in the club’s academy, as has the emergence of young talents like JJ Gabriel.

Torpey wants to develop some of the country’s best young players at Carrington. Gabriel, who has scored 23 goals in 25 appearances for the U18s this season, fits that billing.

The 15-year-old has starred in the youth set-up and has already trained with the first team on several occasions. Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada were involved in a meeting last summer to ensure Gabriel remained at Old Trafford.

“I’ve got to be careful that I don’t put unnecessary pressure on anyone from the academy,” Torpey said in response to a question about Gabriel. “I think it’s well documented with the number of players that are out there, and they’re performing really well, and they’re doing extremely well.

“I suppose when you look at those types of players, they give you these moments of magic and these bits that get you off your seat, and sometimes that’s a really good tackle, sometimes that’s a goal line clearance.

“The other times, it’s a great bit of skill on the edge of the box, like we saw last weekend when he wrapped it in the top corner. You see these things, but there’s a lot that can go on. We have some special talents right now in our groups, and JJ is one of those, for sure.”

Torpey wants United’s academy to be the best in the world and knows how crucial a clear plan will be. “There are things we can improve, they are areas where we can be better, but that’s evolution, that’s just common in every single organisation,” he said.

“We don’t want to be complacent. I don’t work like that. I’m always thinking about what’s next. It’s the same with some of the staff, really, when we do something good, it’s like great, what’s next?

“I want to help us be the greatest academy in the world and do it in a way that we can be proud of, which is with clear processes, a method about the way we do things, with the best people.”

Torpey continued: “I’m looking for players to do things that are above their year group. I’m not necessarily looking for consistency in youth, I think, because I need to see capability, and we also need to see mistakes, because they need to fail in order to be equipped upon arrival to the first team.

“So we are excited by a number of players, for sure, but I’m looking for those standout moments, and for the player you named [Gabriel], he’s showing those things, which is great.

“But we’ve also got to make sure he’s doing the responsible non-negotiable parts of the game as well, which is the other side of it. Is he tracking back? Is he working for the team? Is he making good decisions? He does make fantastic decisions a lot of the time.

“It’s not for us to create robots here, it’s for us to allow individuals to flourish the way they want to flourish and therefore express themselves in a way they want to express themselves.”

Torpey was reluctant to discuss individual players, but politely answered when asked whether he was excited about Gabriel. “We’re all excited. I think the whole club’s excited by the talent that we’re seeing right now, and we’ve got to handle it with care,” he said.

“It’s easier to spoil talent than it is to help it flourish.”

Torpey was born in Merseyside and came through Liverpool’s academy as a teenager. After retiring from playing, he pursued a coaching career and ended up at Manchester City, so he hasn’t taken an orthodox route to working for United.

Torpey “loves” his new job as head of United’s academy, though. “I’m really excited about coming into work every day. Being here is really inspiring for me. I feel really happy about it. I think that it’s the sort of pinnacle of youth football in terms of the role I’m currently holding, which is something I’ve worked a long, long time for.”

In June, the MEN were the first outlet to report that United were considering appointing Torpey to replace Nick Cox. A month earlier, United had announced that Cox was set to leave the academy after nine years of service to become Everton’s technical director, creating the vacancy at United.

Cox played a pivotal role in the United academy’s renaissance, securing top youth signings and overseeing an FA Youth Cup triumph in 2021/22, setting the bar for his successor.

Torpey joined from Brentford and officially started work in September. “The brief for me, so to speak, is just that we want to be the best, we want to be the greatest academy around, we want to be the greatest football club in the world. That’s not changed,” he explained.

“I think Manchester United can say over the years, certainly in the UK, that we’ve got the conveyor belt of talent, we’ve got the production line that would suggest we are up there with the greatest.

“And my remit is to make sure that we can all look in the mirror, hand on heart, and say that we feel we’re really challenging for that status. And my view really is that we’ve just got to think critically about what we do, we’ve got to innovate where we can, and we’ve got to do this with the best possible people.

“We’ve got some unbelievable people. You arrive to a real warm welcome with people who are good at what they do, experienced at what they do. But ultimately, there are things we can improve, there are areas where we can be better, but that’s evolution, that’s just common in every single organisation.”

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Torpey was asked about Ratcliffe’s comment on the academy, suggesting the co-owner was referring to the facilities rather than the academy itself. “Ultimately, I think that was based on things like facilities,” he said. “You’re sitting in this beautiful [first-team] building right now, and it’s like decorating your home for me.

“You do one room, and maybe you feel like one of the other rooms does not feel the same as the rest of the house. We’ve got to do the academy and there’s a plan in place now for us to refurbish and regenerate.

“We need to do a lot of work around the academy facilities as well. So I think those kinds of comments are based around that because I think it’s clear that you could say that the academy building isn’t as advanced as where the first team is right now, but there’s a phase into that.”

Torpey said improving the academy’s facilities was the natural next step for him as the new academy boss. United spent £50million to refurbish the first-team building, and the club is planning to bring academy facilities in line with the ‘leading standards’ they have for the main facility.

There will be upheaval when the academy building is redeveloped, meaning the Under-21s and Under-18s will use the modular building, a two-storey block behind the main building. The women’s team used the same set-up during the £10m redevelopment of their facilities at Carrington.

The modular building is already equipped to house an elite team and staff, but it will be further developed for specific academy needs to ensure minimal disruption for the U21s and U18s.

Cooling expectations around Gabriel will be another challenge for Torpey. The youngster has a huge following on social media, and Bryan Mbeumo described him as “something special” during an interview on a YouTube channel last week.

“That’s the modern era,” said Torpey of dealing with the spotlight on young players. “I think at most clubs now there’s some kind of media coverage of the youth players. There’s also the fact that the boys who play now in the U18s have never known a life without social media.

“That’s not the world I grew up in when I was playing. We are currently looking at our comms strategy and what we should do, you know, to try to prevent certain things and also protect certain things. We’ve got young people who, because of society, are craving clicks and followers.

“We have to embrace that a little bit, it’s not necessarily something I’m comfortable with, but maybe we have to embrace that for the future, maybe create our own version of how we can give them that stimulus.”

Darren Fletcher returned to manage the U18s after serving as first-team caretaker, and Torpey has enjoyed working with him. “I’ve known Darren for years,” he explained. “I’ve known him through the family, working with the boys [Jack and Tyler Fletcher] previously.

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“He’s always come across as a really amazing guy, a really clever guy, studious in terms of football, obviously passionate about football and Manchester United in particular. So, to arrive at the club with Darren here is quite warm for me, it’s familiar in terms of seeing Darren.

“He’s a leader, that’s the one thing I would say, he leads by example. He’s a real leader here at the club. He knows what it means to be at Manchester United. I think the boys look up to him.”

Carrick has shown support for the academy by attending the majority of youth matches since his appointment. The 44-year-old even made a 300-mile round trip to watch the U18s against Oxford recently.

“That says everything about him as an individual, but I also think it’s what Manchester United people do,” Torpey said of the interim first-team head coach. “It’s what they know about, it’s what they feel. It’s gone down extremely well. It’s not been done for a gimmick, it’s done because it’s genuine.”

Last month, academy staff held a meeting and the department heads were asked to share success stories from their teams. “Michael turned up, and he took it upon himself to come,” Torpey said.

The academy is being transformed, but the likes of Carrick and Fletcher will do their best to help retain traditional values. Torpey seems on board as the academy drives into the future.

Brad Widdup holds two jockey options in reserve for Jedibeel ahead of this Saturday’s Group 1 The Galaxy, with the choice resting on the weight the quick horse receives.

Rosehill’s 1100-metre handicap weights for the feature appear Tuesday, prompting Widdup to finalize the rider post-announcement.

“Depending on the weight, we’ve got Tommy (Berry) booked, or Alysha (Collett), so we’ve got two bites at the cherry there with jockeys,” Widdup said.

“Hopefully he can draw a gate, and we’ll go from there.”

Jedibeel joins 25 nominations for the $1 million The Galaxy, up against rivals including star grey Briasa, Generosity the Challenge Stakes winner, Beadman and Grafterburners.

Running second-up in The Galaxy, Jedibeel was fourth last start from a wide gate in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 21.

He featured in entries for Rosehill’s Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) Saturday, but Widdup saved him for the flagship event.

“I ‘ummed and ahhed’ about running (in the Maurice McCarten), but I thought, we’re going to get into the Galaxy with an OK weight,” he said.

“I had a good think about it, and we don’t have to run him all the time. We just have to pick the right races.”

Jedibeel placed ninth to Private Harry in The Galaxy a year prior, hindered by an outer draw in a race suited to leaders.

Post that, his highlight became a photo-finish runner-up to Libertad in the Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm in May, backed by eight triumphs and proven ability at Rosehill’s 1100m.

Saturday brought Widdup victory at Rosehill courtesy of Audrey’s Lane dominating the Midway Handicap (1200m), positioning her for a Provincial-Midway Championships slot at Randwick in April pending the Wyong qualifier March 28.

Widdup pondered the March 14 Gosford heat for the half-sister to 2014 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun but selected Rosehill for her initial run.

“We’ll look at Wyong,” Widdup said.

“I had her in at Gosford, I just didn’t think it was the right track, but the way she went (at Rosehill), it might have been.

“But we’ll take this. She is a well-bred mare and it’s great to see her win.”

Visit betting sites to find the best racing betting markets for The Galaxy.

Berkeley Alvarado and Christine Lord aren’t princesses, but they are goddesses. More precisely, they are the resident Tequila Goddesses at La Hacienda, the state’s top-rated Mexican restaurant that just happens to be located inside the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.

Each year, these certified tequila experts and bar-side storytellers visit Mexico to continue their libation education and, more importantly, to taste and select an exclusive barrel from distillery El Tequileno that’s then brought back to La Hacienda.

“I cannot wait to share the wonderful memories I made,” Alvarado says. “Specifically the love and passion that goes on behind the scenes while making tequila.”

It’s a similar passion for quality you’ll find throughout Arizona’s largest and longest-running AAA Five Diamond hotel resort. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is a sprawling 65-acre retreat set against the scenic backdrop of the McDowell Mountains. The expansive grounds encourage guests to wander. Spanish Colonial architecture is complemented by lush gardens and thoughtfully constructed plazas. A total of 750 guest rooms include a selection of high-end suites and villas, many of which enjoy a panoramic view of the adjacent golf course, TPC Scottsdale’s Stadium course, host of the annual WM Phoenix Open. During tournament week, resort guests even enjoy complimentary access to the 5th fairway.

The Princess offers six unique pool complexes, with options for lap swimming, zero-depth entry, a soft white sand beach, a splash pad and a pair of 200-foot waterslides. The resort’s 44,000-square-foot Well & Being spa houses a rooftop adults-only option. And while you won’t want to swim in the resort’s lagoon, you can drop a line to catch and release an assortment of bluegill, catfish, tilapia and bass.

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Now let’s talk dining. The Princess boasts a total of five restaurants, three of which are anchored by renowned chefs; Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina and two Latin American options by Richard Sandoval: Toro, located in TPC Scottsdale’s clubhouse, and the aforementioned La Hacienda, where you’ll enjoy guacamole prepared tableside, house specialties like carnitas and fresh ceviche, along with a selection of 250-plus tequila and agave spirits. But it’s that exclusive barrel you’ll want a pour from.

“Amazing flavors of caramel, honey and vanilla give it just the right amount of sweetness but still allow the cooked agave to continue to shine through,” says Lord. “It is such a high-quality bottle — perfect for new tequila drinkers or tequila connoisseurs. We are so proud and cannot wait for everyone to try it.”

You heard the goddess, get out to the Princess and sip for yourself.

Mohammad Rizwan in action© AFP

The escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has begun to significantly affect the global sporting landscape. Major sporting events across the Middle East have been cancelled or postponed, while travel disruptions at key transit hubs have also impacted athletes and teams travelling for competitions around the world.

Formula One and MotoGP events rescheduled

Formula One confirmed that the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, both scheduled for April, will not take place as originally planned due to safety concerns linked to the regional conflict.

MotoGP has also been affected. The Qatar Grand Prix, which was set to be held next month, has been postponed and will now take place in November. The change has also forced adjustments to the MotoGP calendar, including revised dates for the Portuguese Grand Prix and the season-ending race in Valencia.

Spain vs Argentina ‘Finalissima’ Called Off

Trump Questions Iran’s Presence at the World Cup

U.S. President Donald Trump commented on Iran’s participation in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, stating that although the Iranian national team is technically welcome, it might not be appropriate for them to compete given the current circumstances.

Paralympic Travel Plans Disrupted

Travel disruptions across Middle Eastern airports have affected athletes heading to the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympic Games. Several participants were unable to reach the host cities due to flight cancellations and logistical challenges.

Additionally, the International Paralympic Committee confirmed that Iran will not take part in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympics.

Tennis Events in UAE Halted

Security concerns also forced the cancellation of the ATP Challenger tournament in Fujairah earlier this month after a safety alert interrupted matches. Tournament organisers later arranged charter flights to assist stranded players.

Top Russian players Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, who had recently competed in the Dubai Tennis Championships, were among those affected by travel difficulties before heading to the Indian Wells Open in the United States.

PV Sindhu Withdraws from All England Open

Indian badminton star PV Sindhu withdrew from the prestigious All England Open after being stranded for several days at Dubai International Airport due to widespread flight disruptions. She eventually returned to India on March 3.

U.S. Hockey Team pulls out of World Cup qualifier

The United States men’s hockey team withdrew from a 2026 Hockey World Cup qualifier scheduled in Ismailia, Egypt. The decision followed an advisory from the U.S. State Department urging American citizens to leave countries located in or near the conflict zone.

Asian Champions League fixtures delayed

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has postponed several matches involving Middle Eastern clubs. Round-of-16 fixtures in the Asian Champions League Elite scheduled during early March have been pushed back.

Additionally, quarter-final matches in both the Asian Champions League Two and the Asian Challenge League featuring teams from the region have also been delayed.

Iranian Women footballers seek asylum

Five Iranian women footballers were granted humanitarian visas by Australia after seeking asylum, citing fears of persecution if they returned home. The players had earlier refused to sing the Iranian national anthem during an Asian Cup match.

Australian authorities later assisted two more members of the Iranian delegation in applying for asylum, although one ultimately chose to return to Iran. Concerns about the players’ safety intensified after Iranian state television labelled them “wartime traitors.”

Iraq Coach calls for playoff delay

Iraq national team coach Graham Arnold has urged FIFA to postpone the team’s upcoming inter-confederation World Cup playoff scheduled to take place in Mexico later this month.

The Iraqi federation fears travel disruptions caused by the conflict could prevent players and staff from reaching Monterrey in time for their match against either Bolivia or Suriname.

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka white-ball series postponed

The Afghanistan Cricket Board announced that the planned limited-overs series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, which was scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates this month, has been postponed due to the regional crisis.

World Endurance Championship Delays Qatar Opener

The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has pushed back its season-opening race in Qatar. The event, initially planned for March 28 at the Lusail International Circuit, will now be held between October 22 and 24.

Domestic Sports Suspended in Iran

All sporting activities in Iran have been halted indefinitely, including matches in the country’s top-tier Persian Gulf Pro League. The Bahrain Football Association has also suspended all domestic competitions as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, football has resumed in Qatar after a temporary nationwide suspension, with the Qatar Stars League restarting on March 12.

Football manager Mancini unable to return to Qatar

Former Italy coach Roberto Mancini, currently managing Al Sadd, was unable to return to Doha due to the travel disruptions. As a result, he missed his team’s Qatar Stars League match against Umm Salal.

The ongoing conflict continues to cast uncertainty over sporting schedules in the region, with organisers and governing bodies closely monitoring the situation while prioritising the safety of athletes, teams, and fans.

Two-time undisputed heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk is being heralded as one of the greats of the division, but some argue that he has lacked fierce competition. When asked how Usyk would have fared in his era, Lennox Lewis answered confidently.

Usyk’s undisputed runs at both cruiserweight and heavyweight have been nothing short of legendary, winning all four belts at 200lbs with three victories on away soil before moving up to heavyweight and making history – all whilst maintaining an undefeated record – against Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois.

While there is no question on the great Ukrainian’s skillset, some fans continue to debate whether or not the era that Usyk has conquered could be considered as a weak one.

Meanwhile, Lewis, the last man to claim the coveted undisputed heavyweight throne before Usyk, had to jostle for the belts with stars such as Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe.

In an interview with Boxing News, Lewis was quizzed on whether the 39-year-old southpaw could have held his own in that star-studded period, and ‘The Lion’ explained why he believes Holyfield’s success is proof that he would have.

“He would have got on good [in my era]. Just look at how Evander Holyfield got on, Oleksandr is the same size and just as good. I think he would have done just as well.”

Holyfield and Usyk remain the only two fighters in boxing history to have held the undisputed title at both cruiserweight and heavyweight – with David Haye being the only other man to have held a world title in both divisions.

However, a fourth man may soon enter that elite club, with Murat Gassiev in with a chance of being elevated to full WBA heavyweight world champion in the near future should Usyk vacate or be stripped.

Devon Conway of New Zealand (Getty Images)

Devon Conway struck a composed half-century before a clinical bowling display powered New Zealand to a dominant 68-run win over South Africa in the second T20I at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on Tuesday, levelling the five-match series 1-1.After being sent in to bat, New Zealand posted a competitive 175/6, anchored by Conway’s 60 off 49 balls. The left-hander, who had a quiet T20 World Cup campaign, made the most of his opportunity with a controlled knock featuring five fours and two sixes. “It’s been a very quiet couple of months… it’s nice to come back and contribute,” Conway said after the match.Scorecard: New Zealand vs South Africa, 2nd T20INew Zealand got off to a brisk start, reaching 43 without loss in the powerplay, with Conway and Tom Latham setting the tone. However, the hosts found it difficult to accelerate in the middle overs as the pitch slowed down and became two-paced. Contributions from Nick Kelly (21) and Mitchell Santner (20) kept the scoreboard ticking, before a late flourish from Josh Clarkson, who smashed 26 off just nine balls, lifted the total.South Africa struggle in chaseIn response, South Africa never got going and were bowled out for just 107 in 15.3 overs. The chase unraveled early at 31/3, and despite a brief counter from George Linde, who top-scored with a quickfire 33, the visitors collapsed under sustained pressure.Pace duo Ben Sears (3/14) and Lockie Ferguson (3/16) were outstanding, exploiting the variable bounce and pace on offer. All 10 South African wickets fell to catches, underlining the effectiveness of New Zealand’s disciplined bowling.South Africa captain Keshav Maharaj admitted his side misread the conditions. “We thought the dew would play a factor, but the wicket got worse. New Zealand bowled really well and stifled us early,” he said.The result comes after South Africa’s seven-wicket win in the series opener and keeps the contest finely poised. With both sides fielding relatively inexperienced squads following the T20 World Cup, the series has offered opportunities for emerging players to step up.The third T20I will be played in Auckland on Friday.