Kevin Pietersen calls England selectors pathetic and ridiculous after Ian Bell is dropped for tour of South Africa November 19, 2015 Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has blasted selectors and accused them of double standards after stalwart Ian Bell was axed from the Test squad for next month’s tour of South Africa. Pietersen called the decision to drop Bell, who is England’s eighth highest run-scorer of all time but has just two centuries from his last [...]
Premier League clubs to play La Marseillaise before this weekend’s games in tribute to victims of Paris terror attacks November 19, 2015 La Marseillaise is to be played before all of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures as a tribute to the 129 people killed in last week’s terrorist attacks on Paris. England football chiefs were praised for encouraging all 70,000 supporters to join in the French national anthem before Tuesday’s poignant friendly between England and Les Bleus [...]
Arsene Wenger considers dropping Laurent Koscielny from Arsenal team because France defender was “deeply affected” by Paris terror attacks November 19, 2015 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger fears that defender Laurent Koscielny has been so deeply affected by the Paris terrorist attacks that he may need time away from the team. Koscielny was in the France side whose friendly with Germany was targeted, largely unsuccessfully, by suicide bombers last Friday night, when 129 people were killed across the [...]
England’s seam options set to be stretched as Mark Wood and Steve Finn ruled out of winter tour of South Africa November 18, 2015 England's seam bowling reserves are set to be tested on their winter tour of South Africa after pace duo Mark Wood and Steve Finn were both ruled out yesterday through injury. Finn has failed to recover from the bone stress problem in his left foot that sidelined him for the Test series against Pakistan this autumn, [...]
New Zealand great Jonah Lomu changed the face of rugby union forever, according to England World Cup-winner Will Greenwood November 18, 2015 Marauding New Zealand powerhouse Jonah Lomu will always be remembered for changing the face of rugby union in the space of one match, says former England centre Will Greenwood. Lomu died in his home city of Auckland on Wednesday at the age of 40 after suffering with health problems since his retirement from international rugby [...]
Influence of canny head coach Trevor Bayliss becoming more apparent as England close in on one-day series win November 18, 2015 Should England avoid defeat in the final 50-over clash against Pakistan in Dubai tomorrow, it will be their first victory in a one-day series on foreign shores since Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace took the coaching reins in the summer. The influence of those two and head coach Bayliss, in particular, is becoming increasingly apparent. [...]
BBC Sport coverage set to shrink following £35m budget cut November 18, 2015 The BBC could lose rights to major live sports events after announcing a £35m cut to its budget. The public broadcaster admitted it anticipates the decision will "lead to the loss of some existing rights and events". BBC's sports live coverage had already been scaled back this year after it lost the rights to The Open [...]
Race to Dubai prize money: Rory McIlroy will take 2015 earnings to £7.8m with win at DP World Tour Championships November 18, 2015 If Rory McIlroy triumphs at the DP World Tour Championships in Dubai this weekend he will not only earn £980,000 in prize money but also an additional £1.2m bonus for winning the the Race to Dubai, the European Tour's order of merit. The world No3 is currently in pole position to top the Tour's money [...]
Fifa rejects Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter appeal against 90-day suspension November 18, 2015 Michel Platini's distant hopes of succeeding Sepp Blatter as Fifa president have been dealt another blow after the pair had appeals against their 90-day suspensions from football rejected. The Uefa boss was suspended along with Blatter while Fifa's Ethics Committee investigates a suspicious £1.3m payment the current Fifa chief made to Platini in 2011. Both [...]
Premier League economic impact: Competition contributed £3.4bn to UK GDP according to EY report November 18, 2015 Premier League football kicked £6.2bn into the UK economy in a single season, according to a new study from Ernst & Young (EY). In a study commissioned by the league, EY estimate that English football's top tier division contributed £3.4bn to UK GDP in the 2013/14 season, paid £2.4bn in taxes to the Exchequer and [...]