Nervy England prevail in Cook and Bell story May 21, 2012 CAPTAIN Andrew Strauss admitted his relief last night after England survived a scare to start their summer on a winning note with a five-wicket victory in the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s. A cool stand of 132 from opener Alastair Cook and Ian Bell ushered the hosts towards their second-innings target of 191, [...]
Colsaerts gives his Ryder Cup hopes a boost May 21, 2012 BELGIAN Nicolas Colsaerts enjoyed a fantastic win and put himself right into Ryder Cup contention at the World Match Play Championship in Spain on Sunday. Colsaerts started slowly in the group stage but once he had come through the play-off to reach the last eight he was brilliant, playing beautifully and showing real class. In [...]
Zara and Toytown to showcase Olympic flame at Cheltenham May 21, 2012 THE QUEEN’S granddaughter Zara Phillips is due to carry the Olympic torch on horseback tomorrow when the London 2012 flame arrives at Cheltenham Racecourse. Phillips and Toytown, who together won the Eventing World Championship in 2006, will ride Cheltenham’s finishing straight before lighting a cauldron. Her participation will mark the end of day five of [...]
Drog days are over: Blues star nears exit May 21, 2012 CHELSEA look to have lost their battle to keep Champions League hero Didier Drogba after the striker told team-mates he has decided to end his eight-year stint in west London. Ivory Coast star Drogba’s most likely destination is believed to be ambitious Shanghai Shenhua, who lured his former colleague Nicolas Anelka from Stamford Bridge during [...]
Nadal rewrites history in Rome May 21, 2012 TENNIS: World No2 Rafael Nadal claimed a record sixth Rome Masters title with a straight-sets win over Novak Djokovic. King of clay Nadal beat the planet’s top-ranked player 7-5, 6-3 in a final postponed from Sunday due to bad weather.
Adebayor keen to seal Spurs move May 21, 2012 FOOTBALL: Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor wants to make his loan switch to Tottenham permanent, despite Spurs missing out on Champions League qualification. Adebayor, who scored 18 goals in 37 games last season, wrote on Twitter: “Loved my spell at Tottenham. We are working hard with the chairman to make it permanent.”
Kearney crowned Europe’s best May 21, 2012 RUGBY UNION: Leinster and Ireland full-back Rob Kearney has been recognised for his Heineken Cup winning exploits by being named European player of the year. The 26-year-old saw off competition from team-mate Jonny Sexton, ex-England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson and Ulster pair Stephen Ferris and Ruan Pienaar.
Chelsea make job vow to Euro hero Di Matteo May 20, 2012 CHELSEA insist interim manager Roberto di Matteo is a serious candidate to be appointed to the role permanently after transforming the Blues from a team in terminal decline to Champions League winners. Saturday’s penalty shoot-out victory over Bayern Munich at the Germans’ own Allianz Arena earned the club a first ever European Cup and a [...]
England made to work for win by West Indies May 20, 2012 SPINNER Graeme Swann insists England still expect to take a 1-0 lead in the Test series with West Indies today despite a frustrating day in the field and the loss of captain Andrew Strauss for just one run. Shivnarine Chanderpaul again tormented the hosts at Lord’s, his painstaking 91 denying England an early conclusion and [...]
Fitting moment for London clubs to flex muscles May 20, 2012 EXACTLY three months ago Chelsea’s Champions League quest looked over for another year, a 3-1 defeat at Napoli the latest symptom of a rot that would end Andre Villas-Boas’ brief tenure. Today they are kings of Europe, following an improbable reversal of their fortunes and a stubborn refusal to let their season unravel typified by [...]