Records, revenge and rollercoasters: three tales from Adelaide Oval’s rich history

As England’s team approach the third Ashes Test, it’s tempting to link their tour so far with the Adelaide rollercoaster launched in 1888. Then you realise it’s not accurate because a rollercoaster has to offer some ups as well as downs. Still, perhaps the players can find inspiration in some of the stories of the past that took place at this very ground.These days walking through the pleasant gardens or across the curving footbridge on the way to Adelaide Oval, it’s difficult to picture a 140-metre carnival ride spanning the whole width of the ground on one side. Known as a switchback railway at the time, the first in the world had opened at Coney Island, New York, only five years earlier

Epsom reveals £6m, five-year plan to revive flagging fortunes of the Derby

Epsom racecourse has announced a £6m five-year plan to revive the flagging fortunes of the Derby, the world’s most famous Flat race, which includes a boost to the Classic’s prize fund to £2m, free admission to the main enclosure for under-18s, free parking and the installation of a bank of “bleacher” seats along the inside rail to give racegoers a “bird’s eye” view of the final three furlongs.The Coronation Cup, for older horses over the Derby course and distance, will also be moved from the first day of the meeting to join the Derby on Saturday’s card.The ultimate aim is to attract a six-figure crowd across the two-day meeting in 2030, after an official total of just 22,787 spectators attended the 2025 running of the Derby with an aggregate crowd over the two days of 37,599.It has always been difficult to put an exact figure on the total attendance at the Derby as the race is staged on public land and admission is traditionally free to watch from “the Hill” in the middle of the course.For much of its 245-year existence, though, the premier Classic is generally accepted to have drawn crowds well into six figures, and contemporary estimates suggest that up to half a million spectators were at Epsom for the 1913 running, during which the suffragette protester Emily Davison suffered a fatal injury after walking in front of King George V’s runner, Anmer

Lindsey Vonn continues remarkable comeback with World Cup ski victory at 41

Lindsey Vonn’s extraordinary ­comeback from retirement and ­serious knee surgery gathered pace on Friday when she became the oldest skier to win a World Cup race at the age of 41.The American, who had not raced for five years until she returned to the ­circuit last year, destroyed the ­women’s downhill field in San Moritz to win by nearly a second.It was Vonn’s first downhill victory for nearly eight years, and the first in her comeback with titanium implants in her right knee. The win ­establishes her as one of the ­favourites for the downhill in February’s Winter ­Olympics in Milan-Cortina, the event she won her only gold medal in, back in Vancouver in 2010.“It was an amazing day, I couldn’t be happier, pretty emotional,” Vonn said

NFL playoff race: Patriots and Bills battle in AFC East as Rivers runs it back

There is some serious debate that could run over this week’s top-shelf matchup. The Rams, the NFC’s current No 1 seeds, are welcoming the Lions, who claimed top seed in the conference last season. The Denver Broncos, the AFC leaders, host the Green Bay Packers who still have a shot at a first-round bye in the NFC. Either way you go you won’t be disappointed. Only there is a third way: Buffalo v New England

A Hollywood ending? Inside the final days of LeBron James in Los Angeles

In a book about LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s only fitting that one memorable scene involves a Hollywood star: Will Smith.Yaron Weitzman’s latest book is titled A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers. Suffice to say the plot thickens when Smith goes to the Lakers’ film room to speak to the team in 2022.Six months had passed since Smith had slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars. Now Smith was participating in a series of celebrity talks to the Lakers, an innovation brought in by general manager Rob Pelinka

Even Bazball’s implosion can’t shake Barmy Army’s crew of Ashes veterans | Emma John

Courage, soldier. Ben Stokes’s England team may be heading into the third Ashes Test already 2-0 down, but not everyone in English cricket is fazed. There is one group tailor-made for this scenario, a crack(pot) unit who can lay claim to be the ultimate doomsday preppers. Have your dreams been shattered? Are you crushed beneath the weight of unmet expectation? Then it’s time to join the Barmy Army, son.Already their advance guard are moving in on Adelaide, the city where they officially formed 30 years ago