The Times - UK (2021-12-22)

Times Crossword 28,167 across down Yesterday’s solution 28,166

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FICHUEXCI TABLE

O H N O L I A M

RA INDANCE GALOP

E T E S R R A T

CASTRO SERIALLY

O A T S S A

UPPERVOLTA GIVE

R E M T O P K Y

TUCK SHORELEAVE

U S E Y U B

HILLTOPS AMEL I A

E A E O L A O L

RATEL INAUGURAL

O E A N I E R E

DISSENTERDRYAD

1 Men turned against officers,

absurdly over-decorated (6)

4 Herb such as sage, mostly one

appearing in meadow (7)

9 In addition to pennies, I felt

something in pocket (5)

10 University near High, but with no

affiliation (9)

11 Old women graduates containing

wild country spirit (9)

12 Character no longer granted a

service (5)

13 Valladolid miss some half-dozen

international backs (4)

14 Timely preparation for retreat into

immorality (10)

18 Superior toy, it hit you, not quite

made as required (5-5)

20 Each thing critic can have? (1,3)

23 Taking part of the bloke’s remains

(5)

24 Post aperitif, initially produce eggs

and a rice dish (9)

25 One of fifteen left in race — then

one of five (9)

26 Cool, running water, for mud-lover

(5)

27 Last words to sailor recalled? It’s

not ringing a bell (3-1-3)

28 Radio broadcast’s ending with what

Gracie Mansion resident did? (6)

1 Pickle bottles tavern put out again

(9)

2 About to find out what’s for afters?

(7)

3 Salmon on the way for party

organiser (not sole) (6)

4 Primates coming from aristocracy,

duke being one (5)

5 Fairly rich source in need of

attention (4-2-2)

6 One interrupting phone system

with personal protest (3-4)

7 Extra publicity academic (3-2)

8 Kids play this at first, once our back

is turned (8)

15 Volunteers six fur wraps in

compound to control bleeding? (7,1)

16 To repay with one kiss somehow is

this? (9)

17 Military command point indeed

abandoned (4,4)

19 Popular woman’s appeal to succeed

(7)

21 What dramatist’s done to swap

parts that children can be in? (7)

22 Ring for help in the kitchen? (6)

23 Hate crime: case for officer (5)

24 Council promotes area for outing

(5)

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Mike Atherton, Elizabeth Ammon

Jofra Archer has undergone a second
operation on his right elbow and will
not play any cricket until next summer
at the earliest.
The right-arm fast bowler has not
played for England since February and
has been troubled by the elbow injury
for the past two years. He tweeted last
night: “Life really isn’t fair.”
The 26-year-old’s absence from the
Ashes tour has been cited as a factor in
England’s dismal failures in the first two
Tests and his latest setback raises

questions over whether he can reason-

ably be expected to play a key role

across all three formats on his return.

Archer’s operation was disclosed by

England as the misery of their tour

deepened, with players understood to

be dismayed by the increased Covid

restrictions as they prepare for the

Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Players are not confined to their

hotels but are banned from seeing

people from outside the team environ-

ment and cannot eat or drink inside res-

taurants or bars. They have also been

told they cannot go to gyms or hair-

dressers or interact with supporters by

signing autographs or posing for selfies.

The England players have com-

plained to team managers that the

measures, brought in because of the

risk posed by a rise in cases, are tougher

than those proposed when they agreed

to tour. Should restrictions become

even more severe, there may even be a

question over whether some players

would ask to cut short the tour, which

moves to Sydney then Hobart, Tasma-

nia after Melbourne.

Chris Silverwood, the under-fire

England head coach, said that Joe Root

2GM Wednesday December 22 2021 | the times

Sp ort

Rachael Blackmore on her big

breakthrough for female riders

Interview, pages 62-63

National treasure

MATT IMPEY/SHUTTERSTOCK

Nketiah hits

hat-trick

for Arsenal

Eddie Nketiah, right, helped

Arsenal into the Carabao Cup

semi-finals with three goals

at the Emirates last night, the

star turn in a 5-1 win over

League One Sunderland.

Pages 64-65

All games live

if grounds shut

Martyn Ziegler Chief Sports Reporter

Klopp given

Tierney again

Paul Joyce

A return to empty stadiums would

almost certainly lead to all Premier

League matches being televised and

kick-off times being staggered, as was

the case last season.

Although future restrictions on

crowds at sporting events in England

remain unclear, Scotland and Wales

have announced reduced capacities or

empty stadiums from Boxing Day amid

an increase in Covid cases.

All sporting events in Wales will be

held without crowds, while Scotland’s

first minister, Nicola Sturgeon,

announced that a maximum of 500

spectators could attend sporting fix-

tures from Sunday.

If similar restrictions are introduced

in England — and it now seems as

though that would take place only after

the festive fixtures — then a Premier

Continued on page 66

Paul Tierney, the referee who incensed

Jürgen Klopp with three controversial

decisions in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw

against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday,

has been appointed as the video assist-

ant referee for the Merseyside club’s trip

to Chelsea on January 2.

Klopp avoided an FA misconduct

charge yesterday after his criticism of

Tierney following Sunday’s match at

the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The

FA said that after a review of the Liver-

pool manager’s post-match comments

it would not take any further action.

Tierney issued Harry Kane, the

Tottenham striker, with a yellow card

for a studs-up lunge at Andrew Robert-

son and did not study VAR footage of

the incident, rejected Liverpool’s claims

for a penalty when Emerson Royal

Continued on page 66

New injury blow for Archer

had subjected his team to a post-match

rebuke over their performance in the

275-run defeat in the second Test.

Root, 30, is under scrutiny as

England lurch towards a third Ashes

failure under his captaincy, while Sil-

verwood, who fills a dual role as coach

and selector, may lose his job if England

do not produce an unprecedented

comeback in the final three Tests.

The world’s No 1-ranked Test bats-

man criticised his bowlers on Monday

for not following his instructions in

Adelaide, which prompted Ricky

Continued on page 69

Root’s squad complain about Covid restrictions

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Lloyd quits Sky after 22 years

in wake of Rafiq racism row

Page 67

‘Bumble’ is out

*