England draw with India and give spinner Kerrigan a second chance July 13, 2014 ENGLAND cricket captain Alastair Cook is ready to hand left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan another Test chance after resorting to bowling himself in a vain attempt to beat India in the first Test yesterday. Cook provided an unlikely highlight in the final session of a draw at Trent Bridge when he claimed his maiden Test wicket, [...]
Sport Comment: Fans shed crocodile tears over England’s World Cup woe July 13, 2014 SO THAT’S it then. Now we can get on with the real thing. The World Cup has been just an idle distraction. A catwalk of talent auditioning for parts in the main production which starts in just four weeks’ time. How many more players are Arsenal going to sign? Should Chelsea give a clearly burnt-out [...]
Gallopin strides to Tour lead as Martin bags win July 13, 2014 GERMANY’S triple time-trial world champion Tony Martin won the ninth stage of the Tour de France yesterday as Frenchman Tony Gallopin cheered the home crowds by taking over the yellow jersey. Omega Pharma Quick-Step rider Martin joined Alessandro di Marchi in an early breakaway and dropped the Italian almost 60km from the finish before streaking [...]
Rose nets successive titles and a Major boost at Scottish Open July 13, 2014 ENGLAND’S Justin Rose heads into this week’s Open Championship as the world’s most in-form golfer after he claimed his second title in as many events yesterday. Rose followed up his win at the National on the PGA Tour last month by winning the Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen by two strokes from Sweden’s Kristoffer Broberg. [...]
Brazil fans hate Argentina so much they’re lining up to buy Germany shirts ahead of World Cup final July 13, 2014 Rather than support their neighbour, Argentina, in tonight's 2014 World Cup final, Brazilian shoppers are now queueing up to buy replicas of the shirts worn by Germany's national side. Argentinian sports magazine, El Grafico, suggests that Brazilians are suffering "a kind of Stockholm syndrome" after the German side delivered a 7-1 hammering defeat to Brazil's [...]
Arsenal land Sanchez and eye Khedira July 10, 2014 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger hailed the “power, creativity and quality” of Chile forward Alexis Sanchez after he flexed the club’s renewed financial muscle to clinch a £30m transfer from Barcelona. Sanchez, 25, signed a four-year contract worth around £100,000 per week after the Gunners fended off interest from rival suitors Liverpool and Italian champions Juventus. [...]
Cook wilts again as India rack up batting records July 10, 2014 ENGLAND fast-bowler Stuart Broad attempted to defend Alastair Cook last night after the captain’s batting woes continued and India took a firm grip on the first Test at Trent Bridge. Cook – without a Test century for 14 months and on the losing side in six of the last seven matches – made just five [...]
Record breaker McIlroy tees up Open challenge July 10, 2014 FORMER world No1 Rory McIlroy declared himself delighted after warming up for next week’s Open Championship by setting a new course record on the first day of the Scottish Open yesterday. The Northern Irishman carded eight birdies and one bogey in a seven-under-par round of 64 at Royal Aberdeen to take a one-shot lead. It [...]
Greipel claims stage as chaotic Tour forces more withdrawals July 10, 2014 TEAM Sky saw another rider follow Chris Froome in quitting the Tour de France on a chaotic sixth stage yesterday, though Richie Porte stayed in yellow jersey contention for the British outfit. German Andre Greipel of Lotto darted for the line 200km from the finish in Reims to win the stage from Norwegian Alexander Kristoff [...]
Football Comment: Midfield fluidity and riches hold key to Germany World Cup hope July 10, 2014 DISCUSSING the World Cup with Liam Brady this week, he remarked that one of the notable things about the tournament had been a dearth of great central midfielders. Italy have Andrea Pirlo, but Brazil and England lacked playmakers, while Argentina pack their central area with stoppers. Germany, by contrast, have not just one but three [...]