Cook denies Hales demotion for Moeen reveals World Cup clues November 20, 2014 ENGLAND skipper Alastair Cook insists the decision to drop power-hitting opener Alex Hales from today’s clash against Sri Lanka A does not end the expansive batsman’s hopes of featuring in next year’s World Cup. Hales made his one-day international debut alongside Cook at the top of the order against India in the summer but is [...]
Frankel’s filly breaks record November 20, 2014 A FILLY of legendary racehorse Frankel has been sold for €1.8m (£801,001) at the Goffs sales, which represents a record for a foal at public auction in Ireland. The horse, a daughter of 2007 1,000 Guineas winner Finsceal Beo, was bought by bloodstock agent Dermot Farrington on behalf of an unnamed Irish client. The European [...]
21 November on this day… November 20, 2014 2000: Captain Martin Johnson announces that England’s rugby players were going on strike after rejecting the RFU’s new pay offer of £70,000 a year. The players wanted a bigger match fee and smaller win bonus. “The amount of effort put in had we lost on Saturday [England beat Australia 22-19] would have been no different,” insisted Johnson. It was [...]
Sport Comment: ATP Finals was a damp squib but London needs it November 20, 2014 AS CHATTY Man Alan Carr himself is wont to say: “What a week it’s been!” Well, what a week it has been for Andy Murray and everyone connected to the Barclays ATP Tour Finals at the O2. A week to forget. Murray’s year had been an unspectacular slog after last winter’s back surgery but qualification [...]
Barry Geraghty in line for Haydock payday November 20, 2014 Bill Esdaile’s tips for the Betfair Chase and the rest of tomorrow’s racing at Haydock LAST year’s first three home in the Betfair Chase (3.50pm Haydock) are set to line up tomorrow in this season’s renewal and bookmakers are struggling to separate them. Cue Card, who took Haydock’s biggest jumping prize 12 months ago, heads [...]
Highball: Cheshire sign giant Sturgess November 20, 2014 THE world’s tallest basketball player Paul ‘Tiny’ Sturgess has signed for British Basketball League side Cheshire Phoenix. The 26-year-old centre stands at 7ft 7ins and made his name during a two-year spell with the Harlem Globetrotters exhibition team. Famous for his “No Jump Dunk”, Sturgess – who wears size 20 boots – has also played [...]
Toiling Arsenal to find it tough against United November 20, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS THE ARSENAL V MANCHESTER UNITED CLASH AND HARRY MADLEY LOOKS AT THE ACTION AT TWICKENHAM THE INTERNATIONAL break couldn’t come soon enough for Arsenal after a disastrous week in which they twice let leads slip. Cruising 3-0 up against Anderlecht at home, their defence crumbled, allowing the Belgians to level the game [...]
England to reverse recent record with comfortable victory over Samoans November 20, 2014 ENGLAND fell to their fifth straight loss when South Africa continued their recent dominance over them, winning 31-28 at Twickenham last Saturday. The Springboks had been thrashed by Ireland seven days before, so it was frustrating that England couldn’t end a 12 game winless run against these opponents. Although both Autumn International defeats have been [...]
Golden boot spread betting November 20, 2014 THE GOLDEN Boot Index is just one of the long-term markets offered by Sporting Index. It awards points on the following basis: Winner: 60pts, Runner-up: 40pts, Third: 30pts, Fourth: 25pts, Fifth: 20pts Sixth: 15pts, Seventh: 10pts, Eighth: 5pts. With 12 goals already, Sergio Aguero heads the market, trading at 43-46. Buyers at 46 would make [...]
Super Rugby goes global: Argentinian and Japanese franchises to join from 2016 November 20, 2014 The most prestigious club competition in southern hemisphere rugby will have franchises from Japan and Argentina added to its ranks from 2016. Super Rugby currently features 15 franchises from established rugby union heavyweights New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. The competition will be stretched to 18 teams after the participation of teams based [...]