Cricket is like spam: The real reason batsmen are piling up higher scores July 21, 2015 The holiday season is getting into full swing, but a shadow has been cast by the abysmal failure of our boys to get anywhere near the enormous target of 509 which Australia’s cricketers set them to win in the second Test match. It may seem preposterous even to have thought they would. But a revolution [...]
Bairstow into firing line as Ballance axed July 21, 2015 RECALLED batsman Jonny Bairstow has been warned to expect a marked surge in the quality of opposition after replacing the axed Gary Ballance in England’s squad for next week’s third Investec Ashes Test against Australia. Selectors responded to a harrowing 405-run demise to Australia at Lord’s on Sunday, which levelled the series at 1-1, by [...]
England enjoy perfect start to Ashes defence July 21, 2015 ENGLAND skipper Charlotte Edwards revelled in an uncharacteristic fast start to the series after her side began the defence of the women’s Ashes with a four-wicket defeat of Australia at Taunton. Natalie Sciver top scored with a one-day international best of 66, while Lydia Greenway also stuck a half-century, as England chased down their victory [...]
Jordan Spieth eager to compensate for Open setback with more history July 21, 2015 WORLD No2 Jordan Spieth has trained his sights on winning the US PGA Championship next month after narrowly missing out on the third leg of a Major grand slam at the Open. Spieth, 21, finished just one shot adrift of Zach Johnson, who lifted the Claret Jug after a three-man play-off with 2010 winner Louis [...]
Chris Froome doubts Team Sky data release will stop doping claims July 21, 2015 BRITAIN’S Chris Froome does not expect Team Sky’s release of his performance data to silence accusations of doping but insists the furore will not derail his bid for a second Tour de France title. Froome’s dominant victory surge to a summit finish on stage 10 has been the subject of much scrutiny since his power [...]
Balotelli riles Reds as Sterling enjoys flying start for City July 21, 2015 ENGLAND’S most expensive player Raheem Sterling scored less than three minutes into his Manchester City debut yesterday, prompting former Liverpool team-mate Mario Balotelli to spark a Twitter row. Sterling slotted home just 137 seconds into City’s pre-season tour match against Roma in Melbourne, his first appearance since leaving Anfield under a cloud in a £49m [...]
Chelsea hand Patrick Bamford deal and loan move July 21, 2015 CHELSEA striker Patrick Bamford insists it was an easy decision to join Crystal Palace on loan next season. Bamford, who won the Championship Player of the Year award after netting 19 times during a spell at Middlesbrough last term, has also signed a new three-year contract at Stamford Bridge. “It was an easy decision in [...]
Whole of Europe wants Wladimir Klitschko beaten, says Tyson Fury July 21, 2015 BRITAIN’S Tyson Fury insists he will have the support of an entire continent when he bids to strip world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko of his WBA, IBF and WBO titles in October. Fury boasts a 24-0 career record and declared it his personal mission to rid boxing of such a “robotic” and “uncharismatic” competitor as [...]
Motorsport mourns Bianchi July 21, 2015 FORMULA One stars past and present gathered in Nice yesterday for the funeral of former Marussia driver Jules Bianchi. World champion Lewis Hamilton and fellow Englishman Jenson Button were joined by French great Alain Prost to mourn Bianchi, who died at the weekend, aged 25, nine months after suffering head injuries at the Japanese Grand [...]
£13m Aleksandar Mitrovic deal takes Newcastle summer transfer spend to highest level of Mike Ashley era July 21, 2015 Is Mike Ashley adopting a new approach to Newcastle United after years of mounting criticism? Read more: Newcastle to pay McClaren trophy bonus The club's much-maligned owner has already allowed £27m of its funds to be spent on new players this summer – more cash than he has ever released on transfers in an entire season [...]