WHAT’S HOT WHAT’S NOT
HOT EWEN MURRAY
THE standard of Sky’s golf coverage is higher than it’s ever been and Murray’s gentle intonation sets the pace. He also has a sense of humour. Discussing the reduced American presence at the top of the Players Championship leaderboard last Sunday, Murray said: ‘Not to worry. America did have a solid top-two finish in Paris last September.’
BEN MOREL
MOREL is the new chief executive of the Six Nations and the man behind the sensible decision to scrap Friday night fixtures. Friday nights are for the pub, the family or the sofa. Maybe all three. They are not for live sport. Let’s hope the FA and the Premier League are taking note.
TIM FLOWERS
SOLIHULL MOORS were almost relegated from the National League last season but under the management of the former Blackburn goalkeeper are now joint top with Leyton Orient, ahead of today’s game at Halifax. Clubs like Wrexham and Gary Neville’s Salford City have had more publicity but promotion to the Football League for a club that did not exist 12 years ago would be a remarkable thing indeed.
NOT SHAUN EDWARDS
THE former Wigan stand-off had already been unveiled as coach of his former club for next season but says he hasn’t actually been handed a contract and is open to other offers. Wigan have now sought clarification of his position but Edwards says he needs ‘time to think’. If Edwards no longer wants the job, he should just say so.
MO SALAH
THIS will not be a popular view, but buried beneath the Egyptian’s deep well of talent is an occasional inability to get his head up and find a team-mate. Salah’s assist for Sadio Mane in Munich recently was superb but he needs to do it more often. They say all great strikers are selfish but that doesn’t mean it’s always a virtue.
DURHAM CCC
THE county have named Cameron Bancroft as their captain for next season. The Australian batsman (right) was clearly manipulated by Steve Smith and David Warner in the great ball-tampering scandal of last year but he remains a proven cheat nevertheless. Bancroft also has extremely limited experience as a captain, which only makes an odd decision look even more misguided.