Cup draw like chocolate box, says Hodgson December 2, 2013 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson has vowed to approach Friday’s World Cup draw in the same way the lead character in Oscar-winning film Forrest Gump treated life: “like a box of chocolates”. The draw to determine the make-up of the group stages at next summer’s finals is set to be held in Rio on Friday, with [...]
Cricket Comment: Clarke’s Ashes sledging row highlights silence surrounding the Spirit of Cricket December 2, 2013 Former batsman and son of England great Colin Cowdrey calls for change BACK in 1998 I attended the inaugural match of the Indian Premier League in Bangalore. My brother Jeremy had put together a plan to get Lalit Modi, the commissioner of the IPL, to embrace the Spirit of Cricket. I had dinner with cricketer [...]
Root tipped to fill Trott’s shoes at No3 December 2, 2013 ENGLAND batting coach Graham Gooch has hinted Joe Root is the prime candidate to replace Jonathan Trott as No3 batsman for the second Ashes Test, starting tomorrow. Gooch said: “Root is an opener. We didn’t foresee this situation with Trott, but players have to adapt.” Meanwhile, bowler Tim Bresnan is set to return after a [...]
England outline All Blacks plans December 2, 2013 RUGBY UNION: England have confirmed their schedule for next year’s three Test tour of New Zealand. Stuart Lancaster’s side will begin in Auckland on 7 June, before travelling to Dunedin the following weekend. England then face a midweek match against Crusaders in Christchurch on 17 June, before concluding the tour with the third Test against [...]
Jedinak pens new Palace deal December 2, 2013 FOOTBALL: Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak has signed a new three-and-a-half year contract. The Australia midfielder has made 92 appearances for the Premier League strugglers since signing from Antalyaspor in July 2011. New Palace boss Tony Pulis said: “He’s really impressed me in the last week or so as he’s a real soldier and the [...]
South to coach after retirement December 2, 2013 TENNIS: Former British No2 Melanie South, 27, has retired in order to pursue a coaching career. South reached the Wimbledon mixed doubles quarter-finals in 2007 alongside Alex Bogdanovic and broke into the top 100 of the world rankings in 2009. She said: “I am now looking forward to using all my own experiences to help [...]
Fulham’s new boss denies betraying Jol over sacking December 1, 2013 NEW FULHAM boss Rene Meulensteen last night denied that his recent arrival at Craven Cottage had triggered the departure of Martin Jol, insisting that he was shocked to hear of his fellow Dutchman’s sacking. Meulensteen only joined Fulham as head coach less than three weeks ago, prompting suggestions he was being lined up as Jol’s [...]
Premier League: Chelsea must always be in the title race, Mourinho tells team December 1, 2013 AT STAMFORD BRIDGE CHELSEA 3 vs SOUTHAMPTON 1 CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho has reminded his players that anything less than challenging for the title should be considered a failure, having narrowed the gap at the top of the Premier League to four points. The Blues suffered a disastrous start to yesterday’s game with Jay Rodriguez [...]
Premier League: Villas-Boas rails at critics as Rooney frustrates Spurs December 1, 2013 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 vs MANCHESTER UNITED 2 TOTTENHAM manager Andre Villas-Boas last night blasted his critics, including former Spurs chairman Lord Sugar, for a perceived lack of respect after his side were denied a first Premier League win since October. Spurs twice led, through full-back Kyle Walker’s free-kick and midfielder Sandro’s thunderbolt, but on both [...]
Sport Comment: Hail Frank McKeown, football’s true hero December 1, 2013 ON A weekend when Aaron Ramsey made headlines, the outstanding contribution to the sport was surely made by a player who probably no-one reading this article had ever heard of before this weekend. Frank McKeown is the captain of Stranraer in the Scottish third tier. On Saturday he played in a 1-1 draw against Clyde [...]