HOT OR NOT: Mohamed Sbihi could leave lasting legacy after carrying the Union flag in Tokyo... while Holland are going backwards by lining up Louis van Gaal as coach again

The Hundred might yet fall on its face but at least it had a running start
Sbihi was among around 30 Team GB athletes at Friday's opening ceremony
Rugby League World Cup organisers have a rather big decision to make

Published: 22:31 BST, 23 July 2021 | Updated: 22:31 BST, 23 July 2021

e-mail

It's Hot or Not time as Sportsmail's DANIEL MATTHEWS tells us what's been making him feel warm and what's left him feeling cold this week...

The ECB could hardly have asked for a better start to their expensive gamble with the Hundred

HOT

THE HUNDRED

Forget the graphics for one minute. Forget that it all looked rather like that thing they call Twenty20. And remember who are the target market.

Do that and it becomes clear the ECB could hardly have asked for a better start to this expensive gamble. This whole venture might yet fall on its face.

But at least it had a running start.

Rower Mohamed Sbihi became the first Muslim to carry the Union flag at an Olympic Games

MOHAMED SBIHI

Only around 30 Team GB athletes turned up for Friday’s opening ceremony in Toyko. But it matters that rower Sbihi was there to lead them out. Who knows the legacy that he — the first Muslim to carry the Union flag at an Olympic Games — could leave over generations to come?

TRACEY CROUCH

Is it naive to think we might be edging closer to a more equitable, sustainable future within English football? Perhaps. But there is cause for hope after former sports minister Tracey Crouch recommended independent regulation following her ‘fan-led’ review into the sport’s governance.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) poses with the Rugby League World Cup trophy last week

NOT

RUGBY LEAGUE

It didn’t take long for the mud-slinging to start.

‘Selfish, parochial and cowardly’ was the Rugby Football League’s verdict after Australia and New Zealand pulled out of this autumn’s World Cup on these shores.

It is a right old mess: neither of the world’s top two sides; no holders there to defend their title. The organisers have a rather big decision to make.

DUTCH FA

If reports in Holland are to be believed, Louis van Gaal is in line to take over as national team manager.

This would be the 69-year-old’s third stint since the turn of the century.

Since 1992, Van Gaal (two), Guus Hiddink (two) and Dick Advocaat (three) have all had multiple bites at the cherry. Why go back to the future again?

WORLD RUGBY

Lions boss Warren Gatland is right to kick up a fuss.

If Rassie Erasmus’ mid-career switch to pitchside waterboy sits in the greyest of areas, World Rugby’s decision to have a South African TMO for this first Test shows an unforgivable lack of foresight.