Centurion Root powers England rescue mission December 11, 2014 ENGLAND skipper Alastair Cook lauded the performance of Joe Root after his imperious hundred in yesterday’s fifth one-day international (ODI) against Sri Lanka in Pallekele resurrected his side’s chances of claiming an unlikely series win. Root finished unbeaten on 104 as the tourists reached their victory target of 240 with five wickets and five balls [...]
Alexander giving short shrift to Khan chances in Vegas audition December 11, 2014 HE MIGHT boast boxing’s most expensive shorts but there is little else special about Amir Khan, according to the Briton’s opponent this weekend, American Devon Alexander. Khan and Alexander clash in Las Vegas late tomorrow night in a welterweight showdown that is effectively an audition to face five-weight world champion and pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather. [...]
Immature Lewis provoked Alonso row, says Dennis December 11, 2014 MCLAREN chairman Ron Dennis aimed a swipe at former protege Lewis Hamilton yesterday after hailing Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso as the best racing line-up in Formula One. The pair were presented after the Woking team ended months of uncertainty by handing Button, 34, a new one-year deal and relegating Kevin Magnussen, 22, to reserve [...]
Tennis chiefs to cut funding December 11, 2014 UNDERACHIEVING British tennis players face having their funding withdrawn if they fail to meet strict new ranking-based targets drawn up by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). Under the policy, which is set to be implemented over the next year, aspiring stars are to have support provided in the form of access to LTA-contracted coaches rather [...]
Comment: Glimmers of promise for Cook and Co. December 11, 2014 NOT only does England’s victory yesterday maintain their interest in the tour, it shows they can stand up in the face of series-defining pressure. That is significant looking through the prism of the World Cup. Defeat would have seen Sri Lanka secure an unassailable lead in the tour but England at least have a pulse [...]
Europa League: Pochettino laments inability to score as Spurs denied top spot December 11, 2014 BESIKTAS 1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 0 DEFLATED Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino rued his side’s lack of killer instinct after a narrow defeat to Besiktas at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium last night denied Spurs top spot in Group C. Striker Cenk Tosun proved the match-winner with his first European goal shortly before the hour-mark, while the fixture [...]
Everton and Celtic defeated but through as Europa last 32 settled December 11, 2014 EVERTON crashed to defeat in their final Europa League pool clash against FK Krasnodar at Goodison Park last night but will enter the draw for the last 32 as a seeded team after already guaranteeing top spot in Group H. Colombian Ricardo Laborde took advantage of a mistake by keeper Joel Robles, one of 10 [...]
Tottenham fined £12,000 for pitch invasion drama December 11, 2014 TOTTENHAM have been fined almost £12,000 for the multiple pitch invasions that blighted their match against Partizan Belgrade and caused the Europa League fixture to be suspended. European governing body Uefa yesterday ordered Spurs to pay £11,870 for the disturbances, which saw last month’s 1-0 halted for around 10 minutes late in the first half. [...]
Name stadium after Wenger, says Pardew December 11, 2014 NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew believes counterpart Arsene Wenger deserves to have Arsenal’s stadium named in his honour rather than be the target of abuse by a section of the club’s supporters. A banner calling for Wenger’s resignation was unfurled during games against West Brom and Galatasaray while a group of fans harangued the 65-year-old Frenchman [...]
Sport Comment: Arsenal fans calling for Wenger’s head are focusing on wrong man December 11, 2014 ONE OF Fleet Street’s finest had a pop at Arsene Wenger the other day – form an orderly queue, why don’t you – suggesting his recent struggles will taint his considerable legacy when the time comes for him to move on. Well, I’ll go to the bottom of our stairs! Who’d have thought it? Struggling [...]