England vs India 5th Test live: score, updates from day 2
The big news is that Chris Woakes is out of the rest of this Test match as it stands, having landed awkwardly on his left shoulder yesterday evening. It's a big blow for England, leaving them a seamer light in an already inexperienced attack.
India staged a late fightback yesterday and the general consensus is they've actually got to a half decent score given the pitch is seaming and swinging.
Today, everyone at the Oval is remembering Graham Thorpe, people have been encouraged to wear headbands as a celebration of his life. Money is being raised for the mental health charity MIND.
Join me throughout the day for all the action on and off the pitch.
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The Guardian
25 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Ray French obituary
Although Ray French was a dual rugby international, winning four caps for England at rugby union and then, after signing professional terms to play rugby league, appearing four times for Great Britain, it was as the BBC's rugby league commentator that he came to national prominence. French, who has died aged 85 after living with dementia, succeeded Eddie Waring as the BBC's voice of the sport in 1981, spending 27 years in the role. Waring had established a public profile, beyond his verbally eccentric rugby commentaries, via frequent appearances in light entertainment shows and knockabout comedy routines. And, like Waring before him, French too became a somewhat divisive figure among a cohort of rugby league supporters who believed he entrenched a stereotypical perception of their sport. With his distinctive Lancashire enunciation, catchphrases and characteristic lexicon, his critics accused the national broadcaster of choosing a figurehead designed to 'keep the sport in its place': an idiosyncratic pastime of northern England. However, to focus solely on his presentational style would be to mask the depth of knowledge French had for both codes of rugby, especially league. His command of the history of the two codes and his personal experiences of the prejudices constantly marring their relationship were leitmotifs running through his spoken and written work, imbuing his delivery with authenticity. He also called some of the most celebrated matches during his BBC tenure, including the 1985 Challenge Cup final between Wigan and Hull, oft-regarded as the greatest final of all, and 12-man Great Britain's against-the-odds victory over Australia at Wembley in 1994 when fellow cross-coder Jonathan Davies scored one of the finest tries seen at the stadium. 'Davies, he's got some space. He's going for the corner, he's got his head back. And the Welshman is in for a magnificent try' are words longstanding supporters can recite verbatim. Despite such highlights, French always said his most professional achievement at the BBC was during the second half of a commentary when, stuck high on a gantry, he was so desperate to relieve himself that, while still speaking, he was forced to use a bucket held by his match summariser. Meanwhile, his books – which include My Kind of Rugby: Union and League (1979) and Ray French … and Rugby (2010) – explore the complex socioeconomic and political relationships between the two rugby codes. And despite the longstanding animosity between them, often based on class and misplaced prejudice, he did much to break down barriers he considered absurd. Indeed, French was an advocate of a single rugby code, noting that 'the strength of rugby union is along the M4 corridor from London into Wales, while the strength of rugby league is along the M62 corridor in northern England. If rugby stopped dividing its resources, we'd have a game to challenge football.' Raymond James French was born on 23 December 1939 in St Helens. His father, Richard, worked in the local glass industry and his mother, Ellen, was a homemaker. Although raised in a rugby league-supporting family, in 1955 a scholarship took him from Rivington Road school to Cowley Grammar in nearby Windle where he first encountered rugby union. There his prowess as a robust back-row forward attracted the interest of the St Helens rugby union club. He quickly won Lancashire county honours and the attention of the England selectors. He won four international caps, playing second-row in England's Five Nations matches in 1961. Despite England's disappointing campaign, French prospered amid a mediocre pack and looked set for further call-ups. However, St Helens, his hometown professional rugby league club, had been monitoring his progress and in late 1961 offered him a £5,000 contract which initially he turned down. But the opportunity to play his favoured code eventually proved irresistible. He became part of the club's formidable forward pack, playing an integral role in Saints' double-winning season of 1965-66 as they won the Championship and Challenge Cup. However, although he had become club captain, St Helens sold French to local rivals Widnes in 1967. He wasn't especially pleased, describing it as 'feeling like a piece of meat on a supermarket shelf' but it would be at Widnes where he earned his rugby league international honours, travelling to Australia and New Zealand with Great Britain's 1968 World Cup squad. Unfortunately, the team's lacklustre performances meant many squad members, including French, would not be selected again. Meanwhile, while still playing professionally at St Helens, French studied for a degree in English, Latin and Russian at Leeds university. He graduated in 1962 and applied for teacher training at Loughborough university, only to be turned down because he was a rugby league professional. He eventually qualified back at Leeds and taught English at his alma mater Cowley, where he stayed until retirement. It was during his time at Cowley that French began commentating on rugby league for local radio, eventually progressing to the BBC. He was awarded the MBE in 2011 for services to rugby league. The man-of-the-match award in the 1895 Cup Final for lower-division teams is named after him, reflecting his love of, and involvement in, grassroots rugby. He married Helen (nee Bromilow) in 1963. She survives his, as does son Gary and daughter Susan. Raymond James French, rugby league player, journalist and sports commentator, born 23 December 1939, died 26 July 2025
Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Willie Isa, rugby league star who made Chelsea world champions: Inside his role as 'cultural architect', crucial duties on matchdays and with new signings... and the scary moment he had to be the players' bodyguard
Wigan Warriors head coach Matt Peet had an idea. He arranged a team culture meeting prior to training at Robin Park Arena and asked each of the 25 players present to reveal one kindness that a team-mate had performed for him which no one else knew. Willie Isa's name featured more than anyone else's. In fact, over half of the answers related to the 36-year-old, who retired as a rugby league player in January before being appointed 'cultural architect' with Chelsea Football Club the next month.
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
Ex-Worcester cricketer in charity walk after anorexia battle
A former Worcestershire county cricketer who had to give up the sport due to anorexia has nearly completed an epic walking challenge from Land's End to John O' Robinson, who grew up in Worcester, is visiting more than 70 cricket clubs along the way to raise money for charity Chance to said her cricket journey began in the city before she became unwell and made attempts on her walk, which she started on 5 June, was about raising money for the charity but also a "personal pilgrimage" to "once and for all say goodbye to all of that trauma". Ms Robinson, who now lives in Australia, said she hoped to raise £20,000 for the charity which helps young people through cricket, and to finish the challenge in 18 to BBC Hereford and Worcester from the side of a loch in the Scottish Highlands she said she was on day 61 and has allowed herself one rest day a month - one in Worcester in June, then Leeds and her last one was in said she had fond memories of Worcester."Of course, I played all my cricket there which is where this whole journey started, through cricket and living and growing up in Worcester," she said. 'Best shape of my life' She said went thought a district and county cricket set up in Worcester before she became unwell."Unfortunately, I became really unwell with anorexia and attempts on my life," she said."I was poorly for about a decade, understandably lost my spot on the team."It was really hard to dig deep for about a decade, to find a reason to stay alive, but getting back to cricket and being part of the community, being part of a team, a feeling of elation when you win... that was my main incentive."Once she was healthy enough to get back on the cricket pitch, she said she "let go" of the illness and moved on."I'm very glad to say I still play cricket and I'm in the absolute best, healthiest mental and physical shape of my life - except probably not right now as I'm absolutely exhausted from walking 61 days," she said."I just love the game of cricket and that's what this walk is about."Visiting all the cricket clubs had been "incredible" she said, having reached more than 50 so added that her full-time job is a mural artist in Australia and she has also being drawing a cricket ball with a smiley face on in a secret place at every club she has visited on her travels. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
