Elson denied first win by Grace January 15, 2012 England’s Jamie Elson narrowly failed to claim his maiden European Tour victory after South Africa’s Branden Grace hung on to win the Johannesburg Open by a single shot. Elson carded a nine-under-par 63 to give him the clubhouse lead all afternoon, but Grace kept his nerve on the back nine to card a steady final [...]
Hughes ‘is right man for QPR’ January 12, 2012 EXCLUSIVE: Former England star Southgate believes Fernandes takeover made Warnock a dead man walking QPR have picked the right manager to steer them clear of the drop in Mark Hughes, but the writing was on the wall for Neil Warnock from the moment Tony Fernandes took over the club in the summer. That is the [...]
ECB offer approach amnesty to eradicate threat of spot-fixing January 12, 2012 ENGLAND cricket chiefs last night took the unprecedented step of opening an amnesty window for players to report any historic approaches from match fixers in response to the landmark case of former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield, who yesterday admitted he was guilty of a spot-fixing offence. Westfield faces a maximum of seven years in prison [...]
CRICKET COMMENT January 12, 2012 SPOT-FIXING can no longer be considered a potential threat to the county game following the landmark case of Mervyn Westfield, but while the integrity of the sport has undoubtedly been tarnished, I’m sure this will prove to be an isolated instance of wrongdoing. The temptation to indulge in the murky world of illegal gambling has [...]
Panesar stakes his claim with five-star show January 12, 2012 ENGLAND spinner Monty Panesar may have forced head coach Andy Flower into a re-think ahead of next week’s first Test against Pakistan after he staked an unlikely case for selection by taking five wickets against a PCB XI yesterday. Panesar’s chances of adding to his 39 caps next week remain remote,however, especially after Graeme Swann, [...]
QPR told to up offer for Blues Alex January 12, 2012 CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas admits unsettled defender Alex could be on his way to west London rivals QPR – but only at the right price. The Brazilian is transfer listed and Villas-Boas confirmed a top-flight side had lodged a bid, with new Rangers boss Mark Hughes understood to want to make the 29-year-old his first [...]
Revitalised Brown itching to prove England worth January 12, 2012 HARLEQUINS full-back Mike Brown insists he is ready to carry his scintillating club form onto the international stage after successfully reinventing his game. Brown, a driving force behind the south Londoners’ rise to the Premiership summit and European charge, has been rewarded with a place in England’s Six Nations squad more than three years after [...]
Super surfer Slater in running to equal Federer’s record January 12, 2012 THE COUNTDOWN is on to this year’s Laureus World Sports Awards, which are being held at Central Hall, Westminster, on Monday 6 February. These are the most prestigious sports awards in the world because the winners are chosen by the 47 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, which includes UK sports stars of the [...]
Gerrard pens new Liverpool deal January 12, 2012 FOOTBALL: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has signed a new long-term contract that effectively means he will finish his career with his boyhood club. The 31-year-old, who has made 566 appearances since making his debut in November 1998, said: “I’m very happy. It’s a very proud day for myself and my family. It comes on the [...]
IRB support Wales in Shingler row January 12, 2012 RUGBY UNION: The International Rugby Board has backed Wales in the row with Scotland over the eligibility of London Irish star Steve Shingler. The 20-year-old centre was called up by Scotland head coach Andy Robinson ahead of next month’s Six Nations, but the IRB has ruled that Shingler is not eligible to represent them as [...]