Lampard: Capello will get it right September 7, 2009 ENGLAND midfielder Frank Lampard is convinced manager Fabio Capello will make the correct decision when naming Wayne Rooney’s strike partner for tomorrow night’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Croatia. With England needing a win to confirm their place in next summer’s finals, boss Capello has a welcome selection headache on his hands as Jermain Defoe [...]
Ponting puts Ashes revenge ahead of Twenty20 career September 7, 2009 AUSTRALIA captain Ricky Ponting yesterday announced his retirement from Twenty20 cricket in order to prolong his glittering career. The 34-year-old will remain as Australian Test and one-day skipper but has decided to step aside from the shorter form of the game in order to enhance his chances of returning to England to break his Ashes [...]
RUGBY UNION IN BRIEF September 7, 2009 Bath trio fail in ban appealsFORMER Bath co-captains Michael Lipman and Alex Crockett yesterday failed in their attempt to have their nine-month bans for missed drugs tests overturned. The pair were suspended for failing to undertake tests when Bath launched an investigation into allegations of misconduct by a number of players. Both have since resigned [...]
City sweating on Tevez and Robinho for Arsenal clash September 7, 2009 MANCHESTER CITY could be without big-money buys Robinho and Carlos Tevez for Saturday’s crunch clash with Arsenal. Eastlands boss Mark Hughes had already resigned himself to losing winger Robinho, who picked up a thigh injury in Brazil’s World Cup qualifying victory with Argentina on Saturday night. But Hughes was then dealt a double blow when [...]
Kenny handed nine-month ban for failed drugs test September 7, 2009 REPUBLIC of Ireland international goalkeeper Paddy Kenny has been handed a nine-month ban from all football after failing a drugs test. The Sheffield United shot-stopper was found to have traces of banned substance ephedrine present in his urine following a routine test after the match with Preston in May. Kenny, 31, was suspended by the [...]
Strauss hits out as sloppy England toil September 6, 2009 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss lamented his side’s poor batting display as Australia opened up a 2-0 lead in the second one-dayer of the seven-match series at Lord’s. Chasing 250 to win, England looked comfortable at 74-0, only for four top order wickets to fall for just 23 runs. Paul Collingwood tried his best to recover [...]
Redpath hails Robinson as Gloucester claim derby win September 6, 2009 GLOUCESTER chief Bryan Redpath hailed debutant Nicky Robinson after he put Bath to the sword in the west country derby at Kingsholm. Wales fly-half Robinson contributed 14 points in a convincing 24-5 victory as Redpath’s men made an impressive start to their Guinness Premiership campaign. “Nicky has got a reputation for being a calm and [...]
Richards’ bloodgate ban was savage, says lawyer September 6, 2009 THE LAWYER representing shamed Dean Richards has broken the silence on the former Harlequins’ rugby director’s three-year ban, describing the punishment as “savage” and “excessive”. Richards was banned from any form of coaching by Heineken Cup organisers, the European Rugby Cup, for his part in the now infamous ‘bloodgate’ scandal which has cast a shadow [...]
Castleford ease to play-offs September 6, 2009 RUGBY LEAGUE: Joe Westerman scored a hat-trick of tries as Castleford secured a Super League play-off place with a 48-0 thrashing of Harlequins at The Stoop. Quins have now lost 10 of their last 11 matches but can still qualify if they win their final game at Warrington and both Bradford and Catalans lose. Bradford [...]
England reach Euro final September 6, 2009 WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: Jill Scott’s header in the second half of extra time helped England to a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands and sent them through to the European Championship final in Finland. Kelly Smith earlier opened the scoring for England before the Dutch hit back three minutes later.Germany and Norway play each other tonight for [...]