Pietersen suffers fresh Achilles setback August 11, 2009 ENGLAND batsman Kevin Pietersen’s place in the squad for next month’s ICC Champions Trophy is in doubt after he suffered a setback in his recovery from Achilles surgery. Pietersen, 29, has had hospital treatment after an infection developed in the stitching of his scar tissue, it emerged yesterday. The Hampshire player was ruled out of [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF August 11, 2009 Blades crash out of Carling CupFOOTBALL: League Two minnows Port Vale caused the shock of the night in the Carling Cup first round after beating Sheffield United 2-1 at Bramall Lane. A costly error from Blades keeper Ian Bennett allowed Marc Richards to notch a brace and hand Vale a famous victory against the Championship [...]
Trescothick: I’ll consider comeback if England ask August 11, 2009 SOMERSET batsman Marcus Trescothick, a veteran of England’s 2005 Ashes triumph, has hinted he could be ready to make a sensational return for the deciding Test of the current series. Trescothick retired from international duty in 2008 after suffering from a stress-related illness and has since resisted all attempts to coax him back to the [...]
JACK OF ALL TRADES August 11, 2009 ARSENAL’S teenage starlet Jack Wilshere made his England Under-21 debut in Groningen last night as Stuart Pearce’s side battled to a 0-0 draw in their friendly with Holland. Another debutant, West Ham’s Junior Stainslas, came close to scoring for the Three Lions but his shot, following neat interplay with Micah Richards, was well saved by [...]
Injury forces Schumacher to scrap plans for comeback August 11, 2009 SEVEN-TIME champion Michael Schumacher yesterday said he was “disappointed to the core” after being forced to abandon his hotly-anticipated comeback less than two weeks before his first race in three years. The German, 40, had been set to make a sensational return to the track at this month’s European Grand Prix as a short-term replacement [...]
Young given the nod to act as ‘clone’ for Gerrard August 11, 2009 ENGLAND coach Fabio Capello admitted he would like to “clone” injured midfielder Steven Gerrard after giving Ashley Young the nod to replace him for tonight’s friendly against Holland. Aston Villa winger Young will fill the left-wing berth due to be occupied by Gerrard, who withdrew from the squad yesterday after picking up a groin injury [...]
It’s Hart-ache for Foster as Joe gets call August 10, 2009 GOALKEEPER Joe Hart was last night handed an unexpected England reprieve after Ben Foster withdrew from the squad for tomorrow’s friendly with Holland through injury. The Manchester United starlet suffered a knock in the Community Shield match against Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday and misses out on the chance to earn a third international cap. [...]
Lampard: Shield row won’t hurt international relations August 10, 2009 CHELSEA’S Frank Lampard is adamant that bad blood between Blues and Manchester United players will not affect the England squad ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against Holland. United were incensed at Lampard’s goal in Sunday’s Community Shield, which Chelsea won on penalties after a 2-2 draw. The midfielder’s strike came while United defender Patrice Evra lay [...]
Wenger not expecting pre-season buys August 10, 2009 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he does not expect to strengthen his squad before Saturday’s league opener against Everton. Wenger’s game of brinkmanship with Bordeaux over a fee for Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh remains unresolved, while the Frenchman appears to have shelved plans to bring former captain Patrick Vieira back to the club. With [...]
England didn’t ‘over-react’ August 10, 2009 BADMINTON: Adrian Christy, chief executive of the sport’s governing body, Badminton England, has defended the team’s decision to pull out of the BWF World Championships in India. The England team decided to withdraw from the tournament in Hyderabad amid reports of a terror threat from Muslim extremist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The decision was met with criticism [...]