It may very well spin more in Visakhapatnam but it’s a chance for England to prove their credentials to be world No1 November 16, 2016 When England reached No1 in the Test world rankings in 2011 there were questions from subcontinent nations about whether we deserved that billing as we’d only really won in our own conditions and in Australia. The ultimate test of being the top team on the planet is to perform in any given circumstance as the [...]
Race to Dubai prize money 2016: Henrik Stenson in pole position for $1.25m earnings boost but Danny Willett and Rory McIlroy still in contention at the DP World Tour Championship November 16, 2016 Henrik Stenson is in pole position to win the lucrative Race to Dubai bonus ahead of the European Tour's climax at this week's DP World Tour Championship. The Swede is currently top of the European Tour rankings but can still be toppled by Danny Willett, fellow Swede Alex Noren and Rory McIlroy – ranked second, third and [...]
Interim manager Gareth Southgate’s fingerprints were all over a courageous England performance against Spain November 16, 2016 It may not have been Spain at their strongest but England fans will have been encouraged by their team’s display in that 2-2 draw and manager Gareth Southgate was entitled to call it a special performance. The hosts were great until the later stages and, particularly in the first half, which tends to be tighter [...]
England 2, Spain 2: Gareth Southgate talks up his pedigree for permanent role as Three Lions boss despite Spanish fightback in friendly November 15, 2016 England caretaker boss Gareth Southgate insists he has proven he possesses the necessary pedigree to take the Three Lions reins on a permanent basis despite being denied a winning climax to his four-game audition. Southgate appeared to be heading towards a glorious conclusion to his elongated job interview but was thwarted as a much-changed Spain retaliated [...]
England v Spain player ratings: How the Three Lions fared against the three-time European champions November 15, 2016 Joe Hart 5 A virtual bystander in the first half, no meaningful shot to save and bowed out at the break to give Heaton some game time Nathaniel Clyne 6 Not the omni-rampaging full-back as is the norm for Liverpool but barely put a foot wrong and had the beating of his direct opponents Danny [...]
Novak Djokovic keeps heat on Andy Murray with win over Milos Raonic at ATP World Tour Finals November 15, 2016 World No2 Novak Djokovic boosted his hopes of reclaiming top spot in the rankings from Andy Murray and booked his place in the semi-finals of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 last night. Djokovic, dethroned by Murray after more than two years at the apex of the men’s game earlier this month, battled [...]
England have shaken off the underdog tag and are ready to overpower India, insists spinner Zafar Ansari November 15, 2016 England spinner Zafar Ansari insists his side have shaken off the underdog tag as they plot their victory strategy for the second Test against India in Vizag, which starts on Thursday. The tourists turned the screw on the final day of the first Test in Rajkot and reduced India, who are currently ranked No1 in [...]
Rory McIlroy tips new $50m Rolex Series to tempt Europe’s leading players back from PGA Tour November 15, 2016 European Tour chiefs have unveiled a lucrative new $50m, seven-event series that Rory McIlroy believes will persuade top players to spend more time on this side of the Atlantic. The Rolex Series – comprising existing events the BMW PGA Championship, the Irish Open, the Scottish Open, the Italian Open, the Turkish Airlines Open, the Nedbank [...]
Denise Lewis interview: England should expect golden 2018 and best ever Commonwealth Games medal haul November 15, 2016 Headline-grabbing statements about sending the biggest and best prepared squad to the Gold Coast in 2018 rightfully bring the expectation of the nation’s finest ever medal haul, according to Commonwealth Games England president Denise Lewis. Buoyed by the award of £4m worth of National Lottery funding from Sport England, the country’s Commonwealth Games chiefs have [...]
Andy Murray marks quest to stay world No1 with thrashing of Marin Cilic at London’s O2 Arena November 14, 2016 Irrepressible Andy Murray revelled in his status as the conquering hero as he marked his first match on British soil since being crowned world No1 with a straights-set thrashing of Marin Cilic at the ATP World Tour finals. Following four back-to-back titles, Murray extended his winning streak to 20 matches by overpowering Croatia’s Cilic 6-3, [...]