'I've stumbled deep into alien territory': our sportswriters and arts critics swap jobs

Yesterday at 12:00 AM

What would happen if our arts critics and sports writers swapped roles for a day? How does the English National Opera compare to the Premier League … or the NFL to a West End musical? Our experts found out last week

Plenty unites the Guardian's sports reporters and cultural critics. Both make a living observing the apex of physicality. They have to make sense of what they've seen at lightning speed to meet deadlines. So why not swap gigs for the day? The sports team were delighted to be working in warm venues; the critics unabashed about their disregard for the rules of the game. But more importantly, genuinely striking insights ensued, whether about Elton John's appearance at Dua Lipa's gig being the equivalent of Aston Villa making a Hail Mary sub of Jhon Durán, or the rugby ball being like a black hole sucking the players into its orbit. Perhaps we need to open transfer season between desks more often. Laura Snapes