Cook rubbishes ball-tampering claims October 3, 2011 ENGLAND one-day skipper Alastair Cook has denied his pacemen James Anderson and Stuart Broad have ever indulged in the dark arts of ball-tampering following accusations from Pakistan’s Umar Gul. Swing specialist Gul, a mainstay of his country’s one-day side, was quoted as saying Anderson altered the ball during Pakistan’s 2010 tour of England and that [...]
Track stays no matter what, says Robertson October 3, 2011 SPORTS Minister Hugh Robertson has confirmed the government has made a “cast-iron guarantee” that the Olympic Stadium’s running track will remain in place regardless of ongoing legal wrangling. The pledge was made to an International Athletics Federation (IAAF) delegation which yesterday completed a short visit to evaluate London’s bid to host the 2017 World Championship. [...]
THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS October 3, 2011 GUSCOTT SLAMS ENGLAND FORMER England centre Jeremy Guscott has accused members of Martin Johnson’s squad of showing a lack of respect following accusations relating to their off-field antics. “Martin Johnson’s got a few kids that aren’t acting as though they’re playing for England, or at a World Cup,” said Guscott, who played alongside Johnson at [...]
Bemused Cueto slams ‘horrendous’ coverage October 3, 2011 ENGLAND wing Mark Cueto has branded coverage of his team’s off-field escapades “horrendous” and has denied their World Cup campaign has been irrevocably tainted by the lurid accusations that have marred their progress to the quarter-finals. Members of the squad, including vice-captain Mike Tindall were heavily criticised for embarking on a night out in Queenstown [...]
Spurs and Arsenal unite to condemn sick chants October 3, 2011 NORTH London rivals Spurs and Arsenal will join forces in attempts to identify those fans who were guilty of abusive chanting during Sunday’s derby at White Hart Lane. A section of Tottenham’s fans taunted Arsene Wenger and stricken full-back Bacary Sagna, who left the field on a stretcher with a fractured right leg. The away fans, [...]
Capello plans to attack in Montenegro qualifier October 3, 2011 ENGLAND manager Fabio Capello has claimed it would be a mistake for England to play for a draw in Montenegro on Friday. The Three Lions only need a point to seal their place at next summer’s European Championships following Montenegro’s defeat in Wales last month. Capello has picked a squad packed with attacking options, Wayne Rooney [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF October 3, 2011 Ancelotti wants England return FOOTBALL: Former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has stated his eagerness to manage a Premier League club almost five months after he was sacked by the west London club. “I have a strong will to remain in England,” he said. “For a coach, this is the ideal country. But I would only consider [...]
Chants sicken Redknapp as Spurs claim derby spoils October 2, 2011 TOTTENHAM (2) vs ARSENAL (1) TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp branded the Arsenal fans who subjected Emmanuel Adebayor to a torrent of abuse throughout a heated north London derby as “disgusting”. Kyle Walker’s 25-yard blast secured three points for Spurs, affording the Togo striker the last laugh and the opportunity to laud it over the supporters [...]
Johnson fury as controversy sours England win October 2, 2011 MANAGER Martin Johnson has revealed his anger after England’s progress to the World Cup quarter-finals were overshadowed by fresh allegations about the behaviour of his players. Johnson confirmed that wing Chris Ashton, flanker James Haskell and hooker Dylan Hartley were made to apologise to a Dunedin hotel employee over comments they made to her. The [...]
Lampard at the treble in Chelsea romp October 2, 2011 BOLTON (1) vs CHELSEA (5) CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas insists he will not allow a player’s age to influence his team selection after Frank Lampard rolled back the years with a clinical hat-trick. Lampard followed up his midweek strike at Valencia with a vintage treble, while striker Daniel Sturridge grabbed the other two as the [...]