Skipper Alastair Cook fears Ben Stokes KO as England demolish Pakistan to level series July 25, 2016 Concerned England skipper Alastair Cook admits the prospect of Ben Stokes taking the field against Pakistan in next week’s pivotal third Test at Edgbaston looks bleak after the all-rounder sustained a calf injury. The potential loss of Stokes was the sole blot on an otherwise barnstorming fourth day at Old Trafford as England put the tourists [...]
Chris Froome dampens Tour de France frenzy and switches focus to securing Olympic gold July 25, 2016 Britain's Chris Froome attempted to douse the flames of expectation as the furore surrounding his third Tour de France win continued to sizzle. The 31-year-old was crowned Tour champion in Paris on Sunday to become only the eighth rider in history, and the first Briton, to seal victory in the race three times. Team [...]
Seven Russian swimmers barred from Olympic Games in Russia by sport’s governing body July 25, 2016 Seven Russian swimmers have been banned from competing at next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro by the International Swimming Federation (Fina), the sport’s governing body. Reigning world 100m breaststroke champion Yulia Efimova is one of four swimmers withdrawn by the Russian Olympic Committee. Three others appeared in the World Anti-Doping Agency-commissioned McLaren Report, [...]
Managerial CV proves my suitability for England job and I’m tough enough for the challenge, says newly-unveiled Three Lions boss Sam Allardyce July 25, 2016 New England manager Sam Allardyce offered a robust defence of his suitability for the role and declared himself tough enough to overcome the demands of the job during his official unveiling. Allardyce is the man chosen to guide England from the ashes of a humiliating Euro 2016 exit at the hands of minnows Iceland in [...]
Short gap between Majors could play into hands of in-form Henrik Stenson at US PGA Championship July 25, 2016 This week’s US PGA Championships is going to have go some to match the Open, which was by any measurement the best golf we have ever seen at a Major tournament. The two tournaments wouldn’t normally be so close in the calendar, but golf’s return to the Olympic Games means that the gap between the [...]
Briton Chris Froome seals historic third Tour de France title and targets the haul of five-time winners Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Eddy Merckx and Miguel Indurain July 24, 2016 Euphoric Briton Chris Froome vowed to make further headway on the overall list of Tour de France race winners after his coronation as a three-time winner was confirmed in Paris. The 31-year-old crossed the finish line on the Champs-Elysees shortly behind the peloton, arm-in-arm with his team-mates, to secure victory by four minutes and five [...]
Alastair Cook right to ignore calls for follow-on, insists assistant coach Paul Farbrace July 24, 2016 England assistant coach Paul Farbrace has defended skipper Alastair Cook’s decision to bat again and not enforce the follow-on as his side turned the screw on Pakistan during day three of the second Investec Test at Old Trafford. Resuming on 57-4, the tourists offered precious little resistance and were dismissed for just 198, a first [...]
America’s Cup intent signalled as Sir Ben Ainslie’s Land Rover BAR secure victory in Portsmouth July 24, 2016 Team principal Sir Ben Ainslie hailed the progress of his Land Rover BAR side after they claimed a narrow victory on the final day of the World Series event in Portsmouth. Land Rover BAR and defending America's Cup champions Oracle Team USA won the first two races of the day respectively before a second-placed finish in [...]
Backlash for Olympic chiefs after Russia dodges blanket ban for Rio Olympics July 24, 2016 The International Olympic Committee [IOC] has been accused of a dereliction of duty after deciding not to impose a blanket ban on all Russian competitors at the Rio Games next month. The IOC on Sunday instead ruled that the governing bodies of each sport represented at the Olympics must judge whether to accept or exclude athletes [...]
Tensions rise between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg as Briton hits title summit with record-breaking victory at Hungarian Grand Prix July 24, 2016 Tensions sizzled between rivals Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg after the Briton claimed a record-breaking fifth victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix to hit the summit of the drivers’ championship for the first time this season. Reigning champion Hamilton is now six points clear of Mercedes team-mate Rosberg at the top of the standings, having overtaken [...]