Pearce stokes Walcott row May 27, 2009 ENGLAND Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce has risked the wrath of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger by naming Theo Walcott in a strong squad for next month’s European Championships. The tournament comes just days after the senior team’s World Cup qualifying double-header with Kazakhstan and Andorra, and Wenger fears the striker faces burn out for the start [...]
Murray beats a wobble to mash Potito May 27, 2009 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray admitted his relief after battling back from the brink of an upset to reach the third round of the French Open. Having swept to the first set against world No104 Potito Starace, Murray won just three of the following 14 games, losing the second set and going 5-1 in the third. [...]
Rashid replaces Flintoff for T20 May 27, 2009 CRICKET: Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid has been drafted into England’s World Twenty20 squad as a late replacement for the injured Andrew Flintoff. Flintoff is recovering well following knee surgery but the tournament, to be held in England starting on 5 June, will come too soon for him. ECB Chief Medical Officer Nick Peirce said: “Andrew [...]
Williams suspended by FOTA May 27, 2009 FORMULA ONE: Williams were yesterday suspended by teams’ alliance FOTA after breaking ranks and confirming their entry into next year’s championship. The deadline for entries is tomorrow, with FOTA still at loggerheads with governing body the FIA over proposed sweeping changes, including a voluntary £40m budget cap. Ferrari are one of several teams threatening to [...]
Halfpenny poised to rejoin Lions May 27, 2009 RUGBY UNION: Injured Wales wing Leigh Halfpenny could rejoin the British and Irish Lions squad as early as this weekend. Halfpenny, sent back to Cardiff Blues to recover, is almost over his thigh problem and poised to fly to South Africa to join the squad in the next few days. Blues physio Tim Atter said: [...]
Windies win is a warning, says Strauss May 26, 2009 CAPTAIN Andrew Strauss believes his England side are an “outside bet” to win the World Twenty20 next month after completing their one-day demolition of West Indies at Edgbaston. Wicketkeeper Matt Prior top scored with a career-best 87 as England racked up 328-7 – their sixth highest ODI total – to set up a 58-run victory [...]
Brit Murray ‘good enough to challenge Nadal and Federer’ May 26, 2009 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray is heading all the way to the top, according to the man standing in his way today at the French Open. Italy’s Potito Starace, who faces Murray in round two, believes the world No3 has the potential to surpass the two men ranked higher than him: Spanish powerhouse Rafael Nadal and [...]
Brilliant Button set to land new deal May 26, 2009 JENSON BUTTON is to be rewarded for his storming start to the Formula One season with the offer of a new contract. The British ace swept to his fifth win in six races in Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix and now leads the overall standings by 16 points. Button is only serving a cut-price one-year contract [...]
‘Let’s get physcial’, says Gatland May 26, 2009 RUGBY UNION: British and Irish Lions forwards coach Warren Gatland has warned his side they face a punishing physical battle when they lock horns with world champions South Africa this summer. The Lions begin their 10-match tour with a match against Royal XV on Saturday and Gatland, who led Wales to Grand Slam success in [...]
Aussie make extra player request May 26, 2009 CRICKET: Australia have asked England permission to use 12 players in their Ashes warm-up matches against Sussex and an England Lions XI. The Aussies want to use a substitute system, with 11 players batting and fielding, in order to help ease seamers Brett Lee and Stuart Clark back to fitness from long-term injuries.