“It’s the best Christmas present I could get”: England batsman Keaton Jennings struggling to absorb whirlwind ascent after hitting a century on his Test debut December 8, 2016 England debut star Keaton Jennings toasted an early Christmas present after his century helped the tourists make an encouraging start to the must-win fourth Test against India in Mumbai on Thursday. Jennings, who only joined up with the squad as injury cover this week, looked an old hand in an assured 112 that put England [...]
Sport England: Women playing sport in England hits all-time high, but people from poorer backgrounds missing out December 8, 2016 More women in England are playing sport than ever before, new research from Sport England shows. An all-time high of 7.21m women played sport regularly in the year to 30 September, nearly half of the total 15.97m — a 229,000 increase on last year and 1.88m more people than when London won the right to host [...]
Arsene Wenger says Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez not for sale but Arsenal boss offers “no assurances” over contract talks December 8, 2016 Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal will not sell star duo Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, but stopped short of promising fans the club would secure them to new contracts. Both players' contracts expire at the end of next season and the pair are believed to be holding out for a significant pay rise from the Gunners before agreeing to [...]
Anthony Joshua already eyeing up mega-fights in 2017 ahead of Eric Molina showdown December 8, 2016 World champion boxer Anthony Joshua is already preparing for tougher battles to come ahead of his second world title defence against American Eric Molina on Saturday. With Joshua odds-on to extend his career record to 18 knockout wins when he takes on the 34-year-old in Manchester, the unbeaten IBF heavyweight champion is looking ahead to future assaults to his title from a [...]
Southampton and Leeds United named best academies in English football for producing high earning players December 8, 2016 Southampton and Leeds United are the best breeding grounds in England for footballers on a super salary in excess of €100,000 (£85,000) per week. The two clubs are the only English academies to be able to boast of more than one player currently among the game's 112 highest earners, according to a new study from [...]
Tottenham Hotspur 3, CSKA Moscow 1: Harry Kane hails end of Wembley curse as Spurs ensure qualification for Europa League December 7, 2016 Tottenham Hotspur 3, CSKA Moscow 1 Tottenham centre-forward Harry Kane insists they have lifted the Wembley curse after beating CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night to prolong their European campaign into the second half of the season. Kane’s seventh strike in six games, a cool finish from Dele Alli and an own goal from goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev [...]
Porto 5, Leicester City 0: Much-changed Foxes suffer heaviest defeat of Claudio Ranieri’s reign December 7, 2016 Porto 5, Leicester City 0 Leicester suffered the heaviest defeat of manager Claudio Ranieri’s tenure on Wednesday night as a second-string side shipped five goals in their final Champions League group game at Porto. The Premier League title-holders paid a heavy price for making 10 changes to their starting line-up, having already ensured their place [...]
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho complains about Premier League and Uefa over Europa League arrangements December 7, 2016 Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has accused the Premier League of tiring his team out by never allocating them a Monday night game after a Europa League fixture. Ahead of United's final Europa League group stage game against Ukrainians Zorya Luhansk on Thursday noght, Mourinho suggested his side was being denied adequate time to recover from European [...]
It’s premature to talk about the end of Alastair Cook’s England captaincy – bowing out after revenge Down Under and reaching No1 Test ranking would be a more fitting farewell December 7, 2016 It would be fitting for Alastair Cook to continue as Test skipper, lead England to Australia next winter and right the wrongs of the previous tour Down Under, when we were mercilessly whitewashed. I have seen it argued that if England lose the fourth Test against India, which starts on Thursday, then Cook should relinquish [...]
British and Irish Lions: Warren Gatland and Andy Farrell say autumn internationals prove New Zealand can be toppled on 2017 tour December 7, 2016 Warren Gatland's British and Irish Lions coaching team for the 2017 New Zealand tour have been given renewed belief that the All Blacks can be toppled by the northern hemisphere teams' performances in the Autumn internationals. Gatland has reunited with interim Wales coach Rob Howley and Ireland defence coach Andy Farrell, veterans of the 2013 tour of Australia, and [...]