Pietersen future nears resolution January 9, 2014 CRICKET: Batsman Kevin Pietersen’s England future could become clearer today when Indian Premier League teams announce which players they have retained. If Pietersen renews his contract with Delhi Daredevils it could strain relations with England chiefs at a time when his place in the team is believed to be under serious threat following the 5-0 [...]
Murray to start against Soeda January 9, 2014 TENNIS: World No4 Andy Murray has been drawn to play Japan’s Go Soeda in the first round of the Australian Open, which begins on Monday. The Scot has been placed in the same half of the draw as world No1 Rafael Nadal and 17-time grand slam winner Roger Federer. Meanwhile, British No1 Laura Robson will [...]
Clarke among leaders in Durban January 9, 2014 GOLF: Former Open champion Darren Clarke shot a three-under-par 69 to finish two shots off then lead at the first European Tour event of 2014 yesterday. Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin set the pace at the Volvo Golf Champions in Durban, South Africa, with native star Louis Oosthuizen a shot behind and Northern Irishman Clarke, who has [...]
City’s killer instinct to prove too much for Newcastle January 9, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON AND BILL ESDAILE WITH THE WEEKEND’S BEST FOOTBALL AND RACING BETS BOOKIES believe it is Manchester City’s title to throw away this year and the 2012 champions are doing their bit to repay the layers’ faith at the moment. Manuel Pellegrini’s men are the top flight’s form side, having taken 25 points from [...]
Rebecca Curtis set for big day on classy card up at Warwick January 9, 2014 THERE’S a tremendous card packed with quality at Warwick tomorrow and I’m forecasting a big day for Rebecca Curtis as the Welsh-based handler is set to send a number of intriguing contenders up the M5. The Grade Three Betfred Classic Chase (3.35pm) is set to be a real battle of attrition over 3m 5f on [...]
Brutal slavery epic is destined for awards January 9, 2014 FILM 12 YEARS A SLAVE Cert 15 | By Simon Thomson Five Stars STEVE McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave is a brilliant film, but its brutality makes for difficult viewing. That might be the point. Based on a memoir of the same name, the book’s subtitle offers a succinct, albeit bloodless, summary of the film: [...]
Capital One Cup: Fans turn on Allardyce as West Ham are hit for six by slick City January 8, 2014 MANCHESTER CITY 6 vs WEST HAM UNITED 0 BELEAGUERED West Ham boss Sam Allardyce believed there was no disgrace in seeing his makeshift team become the fourth side this season to ship at least six goals at the Etihad Stadium. A hat-trick from £16m summer signing Alvaro Negredo, plus a brace from strike partner Edin [...]
Moyes facing more misery as FA probes blast at ref Marriner January 8, 2014 MANCHESTER United boss David Moyes could face a Football Association charge after the governing body launched a probe into his latest criticism of referees. Moyes, who saw his team suffer a third consecutive defeat on Tuesday at Sunderland, said of official Andre Marriner and his assistants: “We’re having to play them as well as the [...]
Fifa in Qatar 2022 U-turn January 8, 2014 WORLD governing body Fifa insisted yesterday that the 2022 football World Cup in Qatar would not definitely be staged in the winter, just hours after secretary general Jerome Valcke had declared it would switch from its regular summer slot. Concerns over high temperatures teams would be forced to compete in during the Qatari summer prompted [...]
Premier League star comes out January 8, 2014 FORMER Aston Villa and Germany footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger says he hopes to spark a change in sporting culture after he yesterday became the first Premier League footballer to come out as gay. The midfielder, who won 52 international caps and also played for West Ham, Everton, Lazio, Stuttgart and Wolfsburg, retired in September due to [...]