WHAT’S HOT WHAT’S NOT

HOT CHRIS SILVERWOOD

UNDER Trevor Bayliss, England’s white ballrevolution culminated in World Cup glory. But the drawn Ashes series highlighted how Joe Root’s side had abandoned two foundations of Test cricket. ‘We want to bat long periods of time and... create a bowling attack that is absolutely relentless,’ the new head coach said this week. The first step in solving a problem is to admit you have one. Or two.

SERGIO PARISSE

THE Italy hero deserved better than to have his World Cup farewell ended by Typhoon Hagibis. So he went out swinging, channelling his passion and patriotism to make a point about the treatment of rugby’s lesser nations.

ANDY MURRAY

HE may have lost his Shanghai Masters clash with Fabio Fognini but in the three-hour marathon, Murray again showed he is rediscovering form and fitness. It was good to see the fire burning, too. There was something strangely nostalgic about watching him tell Fognini to ‘shut up’ during their furious bust up.

NOT NBA

ON Thursday the LA Lakers and Brooklyn Nets met for one of two pre-season games in Shanghai. But China’s state-run channel CCTV refused to show the game after Houston Rockets chief Daryl Morey tweeted support for protestors in Hong Kong. To make matters worse, the NBA are in hot water back home after being accused of pandering to China.

ED WOODWARD

IN recent seasons, Manchester United’s mixed performances on the pitch under CEO Woodward have been offset by success off it. Until this week, at least. Shirt sponsors Chevrolet are unlikely to renew their deal while the team flounder on the field.

NIKE

THE news Nike have shut down the Oregon Project after controversial coach Alberto Salazar was banned for doping offences won’t erase what came before. They publicly stood by Salazar and acted only after a backlash. That they described the current situation as a ‘distraction’ for athletes speaks volumes.