Troubled Indians summon Shastri August 19, 2014 TROUBLESHOOTER Ravi Shastri has been drafted in to oversee India’s one-day series with England, which starts at Bristol on Monday, as the tourists bid to halt a dismal run of form. Indian cricket chiefs have said the former national team captain, who played 80 Tests and 150 one-day internationals between 1981 and 1992, will be [...]
Teen unfazed by F1 debut chance August 19, 2014 TRAILBLAZER Max Verstappen believes he has already navigated the harshest transition of his career as he prepares to become the youngest Formula One driver in history when he debuts during next year’s championship. The Dutchman, who does not turn 17 until next month, has been signed to drive for Toro Rosso and is poised to [...]
Wonderkid, 15, in Norway call August 19, 2014 NORWEGIAN footballing prodigy Martin Odegaard has received his first senior international call-up at the age of just 15. The Stromsgodset midfielder, who is said to be wanted by Europe’s major clubs including Real Madrid and Manchester United, is set to become the youngest man to play for Norway when they face the United Arab Emirates [...]
Kell Brook’s next fight: Amir Khan or Floyd Mayweather? Weighing up the possible contenders August 19, 2014 What next for Kell "Special K" Brook after his impressive victory over Shaun Porter in California on Saturday night? In one announcement of the judges' scorecard (Brook won on a majority decision) the Sheffield-born fighter was catapulted to the top table of the welterweight division and into a genuine contender to step into the ring [...]
Premier League: Chelsea new boys show their quality August 18, 2014 BURNLEY 1 CHELSEA 3 CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho is confident new recruits Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas will prove the missing pieces of his jigsaw as the title favourites lived up to their billing by cruising to victory over top-flight new boys Burnley at Turf Moor last night. Both debutants played a starring role with [...]
Premier League fine Palace over team info leak August 18, 2014 CRYSTAL PALACE’S turbulent start to the new season continued yesterday after the club were fined by the Premier League following the leaking of team information prior to the vital relegation battle with Cardiff City in April. Top-flight chiefs upheld a complaint from the Welsh club, who argued Palace officials were in possession of their line-up [...]
Prestige not finances important for Wenger August 18, 2014 CHAMPIONS League qualification may be worth around £35m per season to Arsenal, but boss Arsene Wenger insists a financial windfall will not be on his mind when the Gunners face Besiktas in tonight’s group stage play-off. Wenger says the result of the two-legged tie, which concludes in London next week, will not affect his plans [...]
Golf Comment: Heat is on as Ryder Cup deadline looms August 18, 2014 THE RYDER Cup is less than six weeks away and, more importantly for a handful of European players, there are just two more weeks of competition in which to secure guaranteed qualification. At least two of the nine automatic places, based on European and world points lists, are still up for grabs and there could [...]
Door still open on World Cup places, says England selector August 18, 2014 ENGLAND cricket chiefs insist the door remains wide open for players to stake a claim for a place in their World Cup plans after the squad for the one-day international series and T20 clash against India was announced yesterday. Nottinghamshire batsman Alex Hales, who averages 37.85 from 32 Twenty20 appearances but is yet to play [...]
Nadal pulls out of US Open after failing to shake off wrist injury August 18, 2014 REIGNING US Open champion Rafael Nadal has his sights firmly fixed on a successful return to the court after failing to recover from a hand injury and announcing his withdrawal from Flushing Meadows, which gets underway on Monday. The world No2 had hoped to defend his title despite missing the two hard-court warm-up tournaments in [...]