Stand-in South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis free to play third Test with Australia despite being found guilty of ball-tampering November 22, 2016 South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has escaped a suspension despite being found guilty of ball-tampering during his side’s hammering of Australia in the second Test in Hobart last week. The 32-year-old, who has confirmed his intention to appeal the verdict, was charged by the International Cricket Council with applying saliva to the ball, while [...]
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud’s exemplary attitude should earn him a rare start against Paris Saint-Germain November 22, 2016 It's clear that Olivier Giroud, with just one solitary start to his name so far this season, is not Arsene Wenger’s No1 choice to play centre-forward for Arsenal any more. Wenger believes that his team are best with a fast, fluid front line and I think he’s right; the most effective way to play in [...]
Mauricio Pochettino may send Tottenham into Champions League battle without key trio November 21, 2016 Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino admits he is not prepared to risk the long-term fitness of key trio Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Mousa Dembele despite his side’s Champions League hopes dangling by a perilous thread. Two defeats at their adopted Wembley home have left Tottenham in a precarious position; failure to beat Monaco at Stade [...]
Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin insists he wasn’t tempted by Barcelona or Manchester City after signing new £100,000-a-week, six-year contract November 21, 2016 Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin insists he did not even consider a return to Barcelona or joining Manchester City before agreeing a lengthy new contract with the Gunners, which was confirmed today. Barca and City are both thought to have shown interest in luring Bellerin but the 21-year-old has indicated he is staying in north London [...]
Supporting a Pacific Islands Super Rugby franchise – not simply handouts – is a better way of thanking Fiji November 21, 2016 Much has been made of the disparity in earnings between the England players’ £22,000 match fee and the £400 with which the Fijians were remunerated following their meeting at Twickenham on Saturday, which the hosts won 58-15. The Rugby Football Union will be making a £75,000 token payment to the Islanders and should not feel [...]
Alastair Cook defends England and urges heads to be held high despite India thrashing, although insists changes will be considered November 21, 2016 England skipper Alastair Cook has leapt to the defence of his side after they suffered a 246-run pummelling at the hands of a rampant India in the second Test in Visakhapatnam. The tourists began the day on 87-2 needing to bat three sessions to avoid a 1-0 deficit in the five-match series but had lost [...]
Henrik Stenson’s unforgettable Open triumph makes his vintage 2016 even better than his 2013 double double November 21, 2016 In Sun City the previous week a weary Henrik Stenson threatened to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge but fell short, and the Swede showed his class without quite firing on all cylinders again in Dubai at the weekend. A share of ninth place at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship was sufficient, however, to hold [...]
Leicester City’s Premier League title win delivered £140m to the local economy – and this year it will be even more November 21, 2016 Leicester’s Premier League title triumph contributed £140m to the local economy during 2015-16, according to a new study, and that figure is expected to rise again this season. The Foxes’ historic 5000-1 success delivered a total economic output of £193m, generated taxes of £78m and supported 2,500 jobs, the report by EY for the club [...]
Eddie Jones insists England fly-half George Ford can be better than New Zealand’s world player of the year Beauden Barrett November 20, 2016 England head coach Eddie Jones has tipped fly-half George Ford to prove himself a classier operator than newly-crowned world player of the year Beauden Barrett, while at the same time issuing a withering put down to the New Zealand No10. Ford was an inspirational presence for England as they inflicted a nine-try demolition on Pacific [...]
Middlesbrough 0, Chelsea 1: Antonio Conte refuses to entertain notion of his side being title favourites November 20, 2016 Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is refusing to recognise his side as title favourites despite witnessing the Blues surge to the Premier League summit with victory over resurgent Middlesbrough. Sealed with an opportunistic Diego Costa strike shortly before half time, Chelsea have now won their last six top-flight matches, since a harrowing 3-0 reverse against Arsenal [...]