World Athletics Championships 2015 preview: Five Brits to follow in Beijing this week August 20, 2015 Amid bitter conflict over a slew of doping allegations and frantic politicking for the presidency of troubled world governing body the IAAF, it has been easy to forget the World Athletics Championships. Focus returns to matters on the track on Saturday, however, when competition at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing begins – perhaps much [...]
There’s plenty to keep Ashes fires burning in final Test of series August 20, 2015 The final Investec Test of the summer against Australia may have no bearing on who wins the Ashes but there is plenty of motivation for England at the Kia Oval. Firstly, it provides a real opportunity to drive home their supremacy. England have never beaten Australia four times in a home series before so a [...]
Supreme queen muffles horn in juddmonte August 20, 2015 CHAMPION Jockey-elect Silvestre de Sousa engineered a huge upset aboard 50-1 shot Arabian Queen in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York’s Ebor Festival yesterday. A much-anticipated duel between 2,000 Guineas winner Gleneagles and unbeaten Golden Horn never materialised as the former was declared a non-runner due to soft ground, and the latter was beaten into [...]
West Ham set to take transfer gamble on Alex Song August 20, 2015 West Ham co-owner David Sullivan admits that re-signing Alex Song represents a gamble after confirming a deal is in place for the Barcelona midfielder, subject to him passing a medical. The Hammers have thrashed out a permanent three-year contract for the Cameroon international, who spent last season on loan at Upton Park. Song, who joined [...]
Pedro chooses Chelsea in £21m transfer as United turn attention to Southampton’s Mane August 19, 2015 Chelsea chiefs have reacted swiftly to lift the gloom surrounding the Premier League champions by landing £21m Barcelona winger Pedro Rodriguez despite rival interest from Manchester United. The Blues, who have taken just one point from their first two matches of the season, are expected to complete the transfer on Thursday after the 28-year-old flew [...]
Alastair Cook: Ashes-winning summer has convinced me to stay on as England captain August 19, 2015 England skipper Alastair Cook admits that success against Australia this summer has convinced him to stay on as captain after the Ashes series. Cook has now chalked up two Ashes series victories in his three-year tenure in charge of England, although such high points have been perforated with less fond memories, such as the whitewash [...]
Paula Radcliffe backs Wada stance on blood data August 19, 2015 Britain’s Paula Radcliffe has backed the stance of anti-doping agencies in recommending athletes do not release their blood data into the public domain as it is impossible for competitors to prove they are clean. Double Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah and European 10,000m champion Jo Pavey have both chosen to publish their blood test data, [...]
Oscar Pistorius: Paralympic star’s release from prison on house arrest halted August 19, 2015 Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius is set to remain in prison after all following a dramatic U-turn by South African officials less than 48 hours before his planned release. Justice ministers said Pistorius had been considered for a move to house arrest prematurely, before the required 10-month point of his five-year sentence. The 28-year-old, who was [...]
Lord Coe may keep Nike role despite IAAF presidency success stoking conflict of interest row August 19, 2015 Britain's Lord Coe has refused to rule out retaining a long-standing advisory role with Nike despite being elected president of athletics’ world governing body the IAAF on Tuesday. Coe, 58, beat Ukrainian pole vault great Sergei Bubka by 115 votes to 92 in today's vote and is poised to replace incumbent Lamine Diack at the end of [...]
Oval wicket should aid Michael Clarke’s Australia in Ashes finale August 19, 2015 England still have a long way to go to reach No1 in the Test rankings but I believe there is enough talent in this young team to take them there. Ben Stokes needs to keep improving, keep taking wickets and scoring runs. He’s a really talented cricketer and he knows what he has to [...]