WHAT’S HOT WHAT’S NOT

HOT JIMMY ANDERSON

CHASING his 500th Test wicket against West Indies on Thursday, Anderson saw Alastair Cook put down an easy catch and watched Ben Stokes take six wickets in a world-class spell while he lingered on 499. Yet he toiled away, diving to catch Kemar Roach, bamboozling Devendra Bishoo and even giving Stokes a wry smile and hug at the end, before he finally hit the 500 mark in style by bowling Kraigg Brathwaite yesterday afternoon. Class.

BRENDAN FOSTER

THE North East’s finest will set 57,000 runners, joggers and walkers on their way in the Great North Run for the first time on Sunday after retiring from his BBC commentary duties after 37 years. ‘At least I’ll have a proper job on the day now,’ he said in typically unassuming fashion. Good luck to all those taking part.

BEN WOODBURN

A GOAL on his Wales debut against Austria on Saturday and then an assist for their opener in Moldova on Tuesday. It was quite a week for the 17-year-old. All the talk has been about keeping him grounded, but let’s celebrate an exciting talent who’s seized his chance. Not sure he will appreciate his Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp calling him the ‘Prince of Wales’, mind.

NOT NEW ZEALAND RUGBY

IT TURNS out the nation that gives us the All Blacks, lauded as sporting super heroes because their players deign to sweep the dressing room and load their own kit into trucks, has a problem with alcohol abuse, sexism and a sense of entitlement among some of its rugby stars. This brings a whole new meaning to New Zealand’s much-vaunted ‘no d***heads’ policy.

MARIA SHARAPOVA

IN HER new autobiography, Sharapova has the sheer gall to reference Serena Williams’ ‘thick arms and thick legs’ and says their rivalry stemmed from the Russian being ‘the skinny kid’ who beat Williams in the 2004 Wimbledon final and then heard her crying in the locker room. Sharapova has beaten Serena twice in 21 meetings. She might have thought of a better title for her book than Unstoppable.

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

WOMEN’S football is engulfed in a storm. Striker Eni Aluko (right) said she was bullied by Mark Sampson, which the England boss denies, and sections of a sport that often pleads for more media coverage finds itself in the ridiculous position of doing its utmost to limit what is said and written about it. You can’t have it both ways.