Female cricket fans are part of a Broad church | Letters

Kathy Dalwood complains of articles “that make use of male sporting analogies” (Letters, 18 January). I think most female Guardian readers, unlike her, will have heard of Stuart Broad – we tend to be well informed in general, not just about other women. I have been attending men’s cricket matches for at least 40 years; apart from in the rowdy “party” stands, there are usually almost as many women as men in the crowd.Jennifer GaleBideford, Devon I am a female Guardian reader who knows who Stuart Broad is and understood the analogy of someone choosing not to walk. Some of us quite like analogies, sporting or otherwise, and don’t consider them to be akin to “blokey, pub-style chat”

From Ashes hangover to subcontinental scars as England aim to rewrite history

Harry Brook’s side begin Sri Lanka ODI series in poor form but confidence is needed ahead of crucial winter periodA subcontinental World Cup to close an Ashes winter? History tells us this does not end well for England. In 2014 a whitewash in Australia was followed by a group-stage exit at the World T20 with a 45-run defeat to the Netherlands in Chattogram. In 2011 the 50-over side – largely made up of Test regulars – were brutalised by Kevin O’Brien in Bengaluru before exiting with a 10-wicket quarter-final loss to Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Vic Marks, writing for the Observer, wondered beforehand if England had “anything left to give” after so many months on the road.And so to the Premadasa again, 15 years on, this time without the goodwill of a recent series victory in Australia

Olympics chief admits she has not spoken to US president Trump about LA 2028 Games

The International Olympic Committee has yet to establish formal communications with the US president Donald Trump on preparations for the Los Angeles Games in 2028, the IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, has confirmed.Trump has been speaking in Davos in Switzerland after a turbulent start to 2026 during which he has suggested he will invade Greenland, threatened a trade war with Europe and ousted the Venezuela president Nicolás Maduro.Coventry confirmed that she had no plans to meet Trump amid rising global tensions before the 2028 Olympics, which are expected to bring together more than 10,000 athletes from over 200 nations, and said she did not want to get involved with geopolitics.“We are always aware of all the conversations that are happening and the geopolitics and political conversations happening,” Coventry said on Wednesday. “I want to make clear that it is not in our remit to comment on such matters

Storm brews over new F1 rules loopholes as Mercedes and Red Bull gain advantage | Giles Richards

Unveiling their new engine in Tokyo should have been a significant moment for Honda to celebrate, but behind the scenes the storied marque – as well as plenty of their Formula One rivals – are worried that a looming row over new engine regulations is threatening to overshadow the opening of the 2026 season.So significant is the concern that it will be the key topic of discussion at a meeting between the FIA and the engine manufacturers set for Thursday before the first day of pre-season testing at Barcelona.With a swathe of new engine and chassis rules coming into effect for the new season, how teams have adapted will be key to their performance, and perhaps allow some to steal a march that could render them uncatchable. Before a wheel has turned in anger, there are fears that Mercedes – who also provide engines to the defending champions McLaren, Williams and Alpine – and Red Bull have gained a vital advantage.The new generation of hybrid engines are likely to be the key to performance in 2026 and a dispute over how Mercedes, Red Bull, Honda – who are supplying Aston Martin – Ferrari and Audi have built their new units has been growing during the close season

Carlos Alcaraz marches on at Australian Open after golfing with Roger Federer

Carlos Alcaraz’s preparations for his second-round victory at the Australian Open included a round of golf in Melbourne with Roger Federer, whose abilities off the tee he praised following a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 win against Yannick Hanfmann.“It’s as beautiful as his tennis,” Alcaraz said of Federer’s golf swing. “I’m not surprised. It’s unbelievable. Everything he does, he does in style, really beautiful

Australian Open 2026: De Minaur, Zverev, Tiafoe and Andreeva win, Raducanu out – as it happened

Right, that’s all the matches done on day four and all from me on this blog. Thanks for reading, and here is some more for you if you are catching up. Bye!Jovic will play Paolini in the third round. What a tantalising match that is – the pair met at the US Open a few months ago with Paolini winning in straight sets. But Jovic was asked about that defeat and says she is “much improved” since August