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Lord’s security tightened as Australia return a year after volcanic ‘cheat’ row

  • Pavilion arrangements changed following Ashes drama
  • Tourists lead ODI series 2-1 before Friday’s match

Alex Carey and his Australia teammates will walk through the Long Room at Lord’s on Friday, a year on from the volcanic day of Ashes cricket on which they drew the scorn of the ground’s members. A repeat of those scenes feels unlikely, it must be said, although Marylebone Cricket Club is not taking any chances.

In the wake of the angry eruption triggered by Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow in the second Ashes Test, the pavilion arrangements have been tightened up.

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Wimbledon expansion plans: what’s at stake as decision day arrives in long-running battle

The All England Club is expected to be granted planning permission at City Hall on Friday to build 39 new courts at Wimbledon Park despite local opposition

Few contests in the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s 147-year history have been as prolonged or fractious. But at City Hall on Friday the battle over plans to build 39 new courts at Wimbledon will reach a potentially decisive point.

On one side of the net stands the AELTC, which will say that the expansion is needed to ensure Wimbledon remains the world’s pre-eminent tournament. However, that is disputed by local residents’ groups and MPs, who question why Wimbledon needs to almost triple in size from 41 to 115 acres and the legality of building on metropolitan open land.

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Football Daily | José Mourinho is definitely not running scared or in one of his sulks

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Football Daily didn’t get where it is today by abdicating its responsibilities. If we say we’ll slither apologetically into your inbox or spam folder five days a week (Bank Holidays excluded), then that’s what we’ll do, even though there’s a good chance nobody would notice or even care if we skipped the odd appointment. It seems the same can’t be said for José Mourinho, who has been fined for failing to materialise at his post-match press conference in the wake of Fenerbahce’s defeat at the hands of Galatasaray in last Saturday’s Intercontinental Derby, an absence he was only happy to explain yesterday.

We are delighted to be heading to Melbourne for a post-season fixture against Newcastle United. Being able to take our team overseas is always a huge honour. We have amazing global support and to have the opportunity to connect with those fans who may be based thousands of miles away but are fanatical about the club is truly special.

I’ve spoken already about the fact that I think we’re getting to a real dangerous level with what our expectations are around players. Instead of focusing on one or two tournaments, it’s about the calendar, that’s more of an issue. Players don’t get a break between seasons any more like they used to, there are more tournaments both at international and club level, continental level. It’s going to get to a point where we’re not going to have the best players out there playing and probably even worse is them breaking down for various reasons. It’s definitely something that needs to be addressed.

This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.

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