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 [...]
Keaton who? Alastair Cook admits Jennings – his 11th opening batting partner in four years – is a stranger to him December 7, 2016 England captain Alastair Cook admits that he and new opening partner Keaton Jennings will go into the decisive fourth Test against India in Mumbai on Thursday as virtual strangers. Debutant Jennings – drafted into the team in place of the injured Haseeb Hameed – is the 11th different player to open the batting with Cook [...]
MCC World Cricket committee agree on a series of law changes to adjust the balance of power in the game December 7, 2016 Cricketing authorities are set to clamp down on the dominance of batsmen over bowlers by limiting bat sizes for the first ever time. A raft of changes is set to be introduced next year following the MCC World Cricket committee meeting in Mumbai over the last two days. The committee concluded "the balance of the game has tilted [...]
Basingstoke Town FC listed for sale on eBay by former director – but club labels it “misguided publicity stunt” December 7, 2016 Looking for some inspiration in your Christmas shopping this year? How about a football club? Basingstoke Town are currently for sale and you won't even have to grapple with the crowds to buy them. The non-league club were listed for sale on eBay yesterday by fan and former director Simon Hood who believes more needs to [...]
Basel 1, Arsenal 4: Lucas Perez hat-trick fires Gunners to top spot in Champions League after Paris Saint-Germain slip December 7, 2016 Basel 1, Arsenal 4 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger savoured a clear conscience after his team gave themselves the best chance of avoiding another horror last-16 draw by snatching top spot in their Champions League group on Tuesday night. The Gunners’ comfortable victory over Basel in Switzerland, secured by a Lucas Perez hat-trick and Alex Iwobi’s [...]
Manchester City 1, Celtic 1: On-loan City winger Patrick Roberts embarrasses parent club but Sergio Aguero stand-in Kelechi Iheanacho spares hosts blushes December 6, 2016 Manchester City 1, Celtic 1 Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho showed that he is ready to fill the gap left by suspended top scorer Sergio Aguero by netting his fifth goal of the campaign on Tuesday night. The 20-year-old Nigeria hotshot equalised as City drew their final Champions League group fixture with Celtic, after the [...]
Thomas Bjorn and the Captain myth: How much influence do leaders in sport really have? December 6, 2016 Thomas Bjorn has been anointed as the new European Ryder Cup captain, a role that has grown from coat carrying irrelevance to the most lucrative unpaid job in world sport. "This is not just a job, it’s a f***ing metaphor," one prominent sports agent told me while I was researching my book, The Captain Myth. [...]
Fernando Alonso could reignite fierce rivalry with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, team chiefs confirm December 6, 2016 Mercedes could be set to reignite one of motorsport’s most combustible rivalries after team bosses admitted that McLaren’s Fernando Alonso is on their shortlist to replace departing world champion Nico Rosberg. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes’ other driver, and Alonso endured such a fraught relationship while team-mates at McLaren in 2007 that the Spaniard quit the Woking-based [...]
Mauricio Pochettino: Europa League games could help Tottenham get over Wembley hoodoo December 6, 2016 Mauricio Pochettino believes the Europa League could give his Tottenham team the chance to acclimatise to Wembley following their failed Champions League campaign. Spurs lost their first two games at Wembley before being dumped out of the Champions League last month, but they can salvage a spot in Uefa's secondary competition by avoiding defeat to CSKA Moscow under the [...]