England look value July 7, 2009 WHEN England were bowled out for 51 by the West Indies at Sabina Park in February, I never thought I’d be tipping them up to reclaim the urn at 2/1 with Boylesports less than five months later. However, since then, Andrew Strauss’s men have seen off the West Indies with an emphatic 2-0 Test series [...]
Now it’s my turn to slay the Aussies July 7, 2009 WHO could forget it? It was Sunday 7 August 2005, Australia needed just two runs to win the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston, England needed a solitary wicket. Steve Harmison thunders down to the crease, batsman Michael Kasprowicz gets the faintest of edges and Geraint Jones dives to his left to take the catch. The [...]
Onions must get the nod over struggling Panesar July 7, 2009 MUCH of the talk surrounding today’s first Test has centred around the condition of the Cardiff pitch and its effect on selection. While it seems the soft nature of the surface would suit the spinners come day four or five, I would urge England to consider going against the grain when selecting the XI to [...]
Zhirkov seals 18m switch to Chelsea July 7, 2009 CHELSEA’S newest recruit Yuri Zhirkov has admitted that accepting a switch to Stamford Bridge was an easy decision. The versatile Russia international, 25, who can play anywhere down the left flank, signed a three-year contract yesterday after sealing his £18m move from CSKA Moscow. Zhirkov said he could not have rejected the dream transfer, having [...]
Wilkinson in, Cipriani out July 7, 2009 ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson has recalled record points scorer Jonny Wilkinson to the 32-man elite player squad in favour of Wasps’ Danny Cipriani. Wilkinson, who left Newcastle for Toulon earlier this summer, and Brive’s Riki Flutey are the only France-based players in the party. Cipriani, 21, started last season as England’s first choice No10 but [...]
Armstrong back at front of Tour July 7, 2009 CYCLING: Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong moved level with overall Tour de France leader Fabian Cancellara after the American’s team Astana won yesterday’s time trial. Armstrong started the day 40 seconds behind Cancellara but Astana’s victory wiped out that deficit. Cancellara retained the yellow jersey, however, while pre-Tour favourite Alberto Contador moved up to third, 19 [...]
Karlsson closes door on Open July 7, 2009 GOLF: Last year’s European Order of Merit winner Robert Karlsson has been forced to pull out of next week’s Open Championship. The Swede, 39, is suffering from an eye injury that has sidelined him since the end of May. He said: “Light and dark shades of green started to float together and in the PGA [...]
Blades’ Kenny fails dope test July 7, 2009 FOOTBALL: Sheffield United have suspended goalkeeper Paddy Kenny after he tested positive for the banned stimulant ephedrine. Kenny, who returned the test after a play-off semi-final against Preston in May, faces a possible two-year ban.
Strauss: We must hit the ground running July 7, 2009 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss has stressed the importance of getting off to a winning start as his team prepare to do battle with Australia in this morning’s Ashes opener. Strauss’s men have won just one of their last 15 opening Tests, but he knows his men must hit the ground running in Cardiff this weekend [...]
Cook hungry for taste of 2005 success July 6, 2009 ENGLAND’S last Ashes triumph came too early for Alastair Cook – the opening batsman, then 20 years old, was still cutting his teeth with Essex and was yet to make his Test debut. County commitments meant he wasn’t even able to join the rest of the country in watching television coverage, as Michael Vaughan’s men [...]