The Ashes already lost in rapid time. The beleaguered head coach conspicuous by his Covid-enforced absence. Senior players giving throw-downs at net sessions because there was nobody else about to help out.
The captain being readied for the metaphorical guillotine by all and sundry. And even the managing director of the England team has been calling for root and branch reforms.
All things considered, it probably made sense England would enjoy their most promising day of a miserable Ashes to date after such a harrowed build up.
After reaching rock bottom, there was finally some cheer amid the showers on the opening day of the fourth Test at Sydney Cricket Ground.
Sure, there is only pride to play for with the series already 3-0 and just the matches in Sydney and Hobart remaining.
But England showed they at least still have a little bit of that left as they limited the home side to 126-3 from the 46.5 overs they managed on Day 1 at the SCG.
The fact it was Stuart Broad who led the way felt appropriate. The veteran of 150 Tests and 526 wickets has had a bit part in this series, and some have forecast he could be about to be pensioned off.
All of which has been much to his chagrin – and the surprise of the opposition, too. In the lead up to the Sydney Test, Australian batter Steve Smith pointed out: “We have been surprised, there has probably been two wickets [in Brisbane and Melbourne] that would have suited him well.”
By opting against selecting him, England threw out the chance of Broad revisiting the dominance he enjoyed over opener David Warner in England’s most recent home Ashes series.
Graham Thorpe, the coach who has taken charge of England for this game in the absence of the isolating Chris Silverwood, termed Broad a “caged tiger” on the eve of the game.
He took the first wicket. Predictably, it was Warner who perished, edging to Zak Crawley at second slip.
Warner’s departure brought the world’s No 1 Test batsman, Marnus Labuschagne, to the crease, but was also followed quickly by one of the number of rain breaks that were endured over the course of the day.
When play resumed, Labuschagne and Marcus Harris set about chipping away at England’s fragile spirit again, as they put on 60 for the second wicket.
With the score on 111, though, they were prised apart when James Anderson had Harris caught by captain Joe Root at first slip.
The reward that brought the tourists was dubious. It pitted together Labuschagne and Smith, his forebear as the game’s premiere Test batsman and England’s Ashes tormentor-in-chief.
And yet their alliance lasted a mere seven balls and six runs as Labuschagne was undone by Mark Wood for 28.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
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Race results:
1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min
2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec
3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec
Results:
Men's 100m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 15 sec; 2. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 15.40; 3. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 15.75. Men's 400m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 50.56; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 50.94; 3. Henry Manni (FIN) 52.24.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
The five pillars of Islam
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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In Praise of Zayed
A thousand grains of Sand whirl in the sky
To mark the journey of one passer-by
If then a Cavalcade disturbs the scene,
Shall such grains sing before they start to fly?
What man of Honour, and to Honour bred
Will fear to go wherever Truth has led?
For though a Thousand urge him to retreat
He'll laugh, until such counsellors have fled.
Stands always One, defiant and alone
Against the Many, when all Hope has flown.
Then comes the Test; and only then the time
Of reckoning what each can call his own.
History will not forget: that one small Seed
Sufficed to tip the Scales in time of need.
More than a debt, the Emirates owe to Zayed
Their very Souls, from outside influence freed.
No praise from Roderic can increase his Fame.
Steadfastness was the Essence of his name.
The changing years grow Gardens in the Sand
And build new Roads to Sand which stays the same.
But Hearts are not rebuilt, nor Seed resown.
What was, remains, essentially Alone.
Until the Golden Messenger, all-wise,
Calls out: "Come now, my Friend!" - and All is known
- Roderic Fenwick Owen
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
