we talked a bit to andrew strauss about that recently.s from universities based on their predicted grades. this system has been in existence since the 1980s but is it up to scratch? the labour party thinks not, because today it's calling for "radical action", saying the party would scrap university offers based on predicted grades and implement a new "fairer" system. but universities and schools say that these proposals are not straightforward and could mean additional pressure for students. if they haven't got parental support and are making rash decisions in the summer, that isn't fair to them and might disadvantage those very people that we want to help. so it will require some really big change from secondary schools, from awarding bodies, and from higher education institutions. not insurmountable but those practical considerations need to be thought through. so could it mean an overhaul of the whole system? joining us now from westminster is shadow education secretary angela rayner. thank you for coming on and discussing this with us

andrew strauss and glenn mcgrath they're talking about the loss of their wives.is your wednesday sport briefing. djoko doing what he does best, but it's curtains for bertens at the cincinnati open. novak djokovic is the defending champion and he battled past american sam querrey to reach the third round in ohio. despite a slow start, he recovered to win in straight sets, 7—6, 6—1, picking up where he left off in his first match since winning the wimbledon title. but it wasn't such good news for the defending champion in the women's draw. the number 5 seed was beaten in three sets by venus williams who's currently ranked 65 in the world. bertens going down 3—6, 6—3, 6—7. al—hilal from saudi arabia and al sadd of qatar are both through to the quarterfinals of the asian champions league. abdelkarim hassan scored with this pile driver of a free kick, what one might characterise as a net buster, as al sadd beat qatari rivals al—duhail 3—1 in the second leg of their last 16 tie. that's a 11—2 aggregate win for the side now coached by barcelona legend xavi. england trai

the guest of honour was andrew strauss with his two sons. parts of the ground were turned red and this is in honourand ground were turned red and this is in honour and support of ruth strauss, andrew's wife, who died from a rare form of lung cancer and the foundation in her name is trying to do research and raise money. i'm sure what andrew would have wa nted i'm sure what andrew would have wanted today is a full day of proper ashes cricket, engrossing stuff, and i think that's what we got. brave decision from the australian captain to bowl first this morning and it paid off, hazelwood, brought into the team, and he took two early wickets, including jason roy, whose test match education continued with a duck today. these things happen! england would have been relieved and pleased at least to bairstow fine form, he made a half—century, as did rory burns, who picked up where he left off in birmingham to an extent. fantastic catch by bancroft so close to the bat to get rid of him, best bit of cricket for the day. 258 from england didn't seem li

andrew strauss took the applause here countless times as a player.fe of their mum. ruth strauss died of a rare form of lung cancer. to turn lords read was to make it her day. this was about gaining awareness for the ruth strauss foundation to help people with rare forms of lung cancer and support those with terminal diagnoses. i'm hoping for very competitive day's cricket today, but also some moments when all 22 players come together and go cricket is big, but it's, there are bigger things in life as well. strauss knows opening the batting is test cricket's toughest job. knows opening the batting is test cricket's toughestjob. australia's decision to bowl first had paid off immediately and jason roy's test career had continued with zero. australia had picked josh hazlewood for this match, another good decision. he struck again, lbw and joe root was out. england needed rory burns. he needed some luck. as man khawaja obliged. australia's field may never quite know why or how but he dropped the catch. now burns, recompose and take advantage. well, it is

yeah, absolutely this was a day to a large degree about andrew strauss and his family but also aboutcularfor a form of lung cancer with took his —— which took his life's why. —— his wife's life. his boys were here to ring the ceremonial boat which hails the start of play at lord's everyone. the red was taken on fairly well. some spectators came in right, various bits of advertising, logos, other bits and pieces of day and out test match turned red. this was on the back with gwen mcgraw what his foundation have done in australia for several years. it meant a lot to him today. and i grabbed a quick word with him about itjust before play started this morning. i am hoping for a very competitive day's cricket today, but also some moments where all the players come together and go, cricket is big but there are bigger things in life as well. i have done quite a few things since ruth passed away, trying to increase awareness about the foundation, and it is emotional but hopefully i will stay in control to some degree. there will be some special moments, my boys will be ringing the bell this

the guest of honour was andrew strauss with his two sons. uss, his wife who died of a rare form of lung cancer and the foundation in her name is now trying to do research and raise money. i'm sure andrew would have wanted today is a full day of proper ashes cricket, engrossing stuff, and that is what we got. brave decision from the streller is my captain to bowl first and it paid off. josh hazlewood brought in to australia's team and it was him who took two early wickets including jason roy, whose test match education continued with a duck today. these things happen. england would have been relieved and pleased to seejonny bairstow find some form, he made a half—century, as did rory burns, who picked up where you left off in birmingham, to an extent. fantastic catch by cameron bancroft, so close to the bat to get rid of him. outstanding. 258 from england didn't seem like much but, then, as the day turned into evening, as the floodlights we re into evening, as the floodlights were switched on, australia found themselves batting in tricky condi

it's part of an initiative set up by former england captain andrew strauss, who lost his wife to lungondent jonathan agnew has been speaking to both men for test match special. going as well as can be expected. i mean, it's been a tough seven months since ruth died and probably an even tougher 12 months leading up to her death. but, you know, i think one thing you realise when you've got young kids is that life doesn't stand still — it always moves forward. they're busy, they're at school and there's plenty ofjobs to do in and around the house. so i've been very much on duty and just navigating our way through it one day at a time, really. it's definitely got a bit easier, but at the same time that sort of grief doesn't leave you, and you just have days where you remember, and that's part of the process, i suppose. yeah, hence why you've focused on bereavement counselling and preparation for the trust. yeah, well, you know, i think what ruth and i were both most petrified about was the effect this was going to have on the kids. and so for us, in particular, going to our counsellor, je

andrew strauss took the applause here countless times as a player. today it meant something more.s for their mum. ruth strauss died of a rare form of lung cancer. to turn lords red was to make it her day. this is about gaining awareness for the ruth strauss foundation work that is going to help people with rare forms of lung cancer, and to support those with terminal diagnoses. i am hoping for a very competitive day's cricket today but also some moments where all 22 players come together and go, cricket is big, but there are bigger things in life as well. strauss knows opening the batting in test matches is tough. jason roy is just discovering, gone for none. australia chose to bowl. chosejosh hazlewood, inspired. now he gotjoe root lbw‘d. rory burns applied his unique focus. some good shots and fortune on his way to 53. to get him out, cameron bancroft held a catch that made you catch your breath. the fielder had to react the instant the ball left the bat and then stretch and then cling. got it. as wickets fell, jofra archer was in there. test match debut, welcome to the ashes. h

read in various ways around the ground, at one stage both teams walked out with red caps, and andrew straussn very young, very healthy, didn't smoke, and yet died ofa very healthy, didn't smoke, and yet died of a rare form of lung cancer. i got the chance to speak to andrew before play began. lam hoping i am hoping for very competitive day plasma cricket today but also some moments where all the players come together and go, cricket is big but there are bigger things in life as well. i have done quite a few things since ruth passed away, trying to increase awareness about the foundation, and it is emotional but hopefully i will stay in control to some degree. there will be some special moments, my boys will be ringing the bell this morning which they are very excited about, and receiving caps from the players, so there are some really nice, touching moments there and hopefully it is emotional without descending into a massive cry fest. and as he was saying, one of the key things about occasions like this as it put sporting its rightful context, it doesn't mean the rivalry is less intense bec

there is also a picture of former england cricketer, andrew strauss, and his sons at the second ashest of the ruth strauss foundation. a lovely pic. his late wife, of course. the liberal democrats are under increasing pressure to back mr corbyn as a caretaker prime minister, claims the guardian. the paper also carries a picture of students in manchester on a—level results day. looking rather joyous. holly, you had a look through some of the back pages? you would imagine the ashes dominates but this story stood out, came out on twitter yesterday, tammy abra ham stood out, came out on twitter yesterday, tammy abraham after liverpool's victory over chelsea on wednesday night in the super cup. u nfortu nately wednesday night in the super cup. unfortunately tammy abra ham wednesday night in the super cup. unfortunately tammy abraham this penalty that led liverpool to win and since then he's received a lot of racist abuse. he's a chelsea player. he hit back and said it won't stop him from taking penalties 01’ cause won't stop him from taking penalties or cause him any issues, but yet again

it's part of an initiative, set up by former england captain andrew strauss, who lost his wife to lungc‘s cricket correspondent, jonathan agnew, has been speaking to both men for test match special. going as well as can be expected. i mean, it's been a tough seven months since ruth died and probably an even tougher 12 months leading up to her death. but, you know, i think one thing you realise when you've got young kids is that life doesn't stand still — it always moves forward. they're busy, they're at school and there's plenty ofjobs to do in and around the house. so, i've been very much on duty and just navigating our way through it, one day at a time, really. it's definitely got a bit easier, but at the same time, that sort of grief doesn't leave you, and you just have days where you remember, and that's part of the process, i suppose. yeah, hence why you've focused on bereavement counselling and preparation for the trust. yeah, well, you know, i think what ruth and i were both most petrified about was the effect this was going to have on the kids. and so, for us, in particular, go

this is the day, to mark and honour the wife of former england captain andrew strauss.hich states "athletes who finish in a contrived tie situation, where no effort to separate theirfinish times has been made — will be disqualified". learmonth and taylor—brown crossed the line hand in hand in first place. although learmonth was initially given the win, both were later disqualified under a rule that says you can‘t intentionally cross the line together. it meant bermuda‘s flora duffy was given first place, and great britain‘s vicky holland was upgraded to third. it‘s really disappointing and i feel for them because they both raced exceptionally well today and, as far as i‘m concerned, they smashed it and they deserve that first and second place. but the rules are the rules, u nfortu nately. yeah, itjust shows that even with those two disqualified, we still end up with someone on the podium and other people coming in in the top ten, so real strength and depth in ourteam. three weeks into the new english football league season and we have news of the first managerial depart