Watershed series has transformed this England team December 17, 2012 TO PUT England’s long-awaited triumph in India yesterday in context: the last time they won there I was still playing. The length of time everyone in English cricket has waited for this moment says it all. It is a terrific achievement and, in recent memory, second only to winning the Ashes in 2005. Ashes victories [...]
Anderson was the key, says India skipper December 17, 2012 INDIA captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni singled out seamer James Anderson as the difference between the sides after England clinched a landmark series win yesterday. Anderson took 12 wickets over the four-match series – fewer than spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar – as the tourists fought back to beat the hosts 2-1. But Dhoni identified [...]
Walcott striker cameo caps off Cazorla treble December 17, 2012 READING 2 vs ARSENAL 5 ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger last night hinted he is ready to play Theo Walcott in his favoured central role more often after the experiment helped his beleaguered team rediscover devastating form. Midfielder Santi Cazorla scored a hat-trick while Lukas Podolski and Walcott netted the others as the Gunners tore through [...]
Tottenham don’t rely upon Bale to climb table, says Vertonghen December 17, 2012 TOTTENHAM defender Jan Vertonghen is adamant Spurs can succeed without injured winger Gareth Bale. The Welshman remains sidelined, having limped off during the 3-0 victory at Fulham a fortnight ago with a hamstring injury. Vertonghen, who scored his first Premier League goal for Tottenham during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Swansea, believes Clint Dempsey has proved [...]
Fellaini out until 2013 but spared long term ban for losing head December 17, 2012 REFEREE Mark Halsey has saved Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini from an extensive ban following his head-butt on Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross during the heated 1-1 draw on Saturday. Fellaini yesterday accepted a charge of violent conduct for the incident, which officials missed, and was banned retrospectively by the Football Association for three games. But the [...]
Deighton joins board for 2015 December 17, 2012 ENGLAND Rugby 2015, the board organising the 2015 World Cup, has recruited Locog’s Paul Deighton to try to replicate the success of the London 2012 Olympics. As chief executive officer of Locog, the organising committee for the London Games, Deighton was responsible for raising the £2bn budget from the private sector and for relations with [...]
Cycling reaps rewards of Wiggo as rugby and cricket funds fall December 17, 2012 SPORT England has announced large budget increases for cycling, triathlon and netball but cricket, tennis and rugby have suffered heavy cuts. The body will provide £493m to grassroots projects in 46 sports between 2013-17, with only 11 sports receiving less than in 2009-13. Cycling had a hugely successful year at London 2012 and most notably [...]
Brit Chilton steps up onto 2013 grid December 17, 2012 ■ FORMULA ONE: British racing driver Max Chilton is expected to drive for Marussia next season, having been promoted from reserve driver. The 21-year-old was their testing and reserve driver for the second half of the 2012 season. Chilton will become the fourth British driver on the grid for 2013 along with Jenson Button, Lewis [...]
Anelka in talks to quit Shanghai December 17, 2012 ■ FOOTBALL: Former Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has initiated talks to terminate his contract with the Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua. Anelka joined from Chelsea in January but has only scored three times during his short spell as Shanghai struggled to finish ninth in the Super League. Former Blues teammate Didier Drogba joined Anelka in China [...]
Warnock insists pressure on Blues December 17, 2012 ■ FOOTBALL: Leeds manager Neil Warnock is relishing taking on Chelsea in the Capital One Cup quarter-finals tomorrow. The Championship side have won four of their last five games, while Chelsea return from Japan after the 1-0 defeat to Corinthians in the Club World Cup on Sunday. “It promises to be fabulous with no pressure [...]