Pietersen decision is Flower’s toughest yet September 13, 2012 THIS hasn’t been the easiest of summers for the England cricket team. A difficult Test series against South Africa resulting in the loss of the No1 ranking, the resignation and retirement of captain Andrew Strauss and the distraction of the Kevin Pietersen controversy. But one man to have emerged with great credit is Andy Flower. [...]
Sarries can win plaudits as well as trophies, says flanker Fraser September 13, 2012 SARACENS flanker Will Fraser insists they will prove their critics wrong this season, delighting and dominating in equal measure as they bid to reclaim the Aviva Premiership crown. Sarries, who face Leicester Tigers at Wembley tomorrow, reached the play-offs last season but came in for criticism for failing to excite – an accusation Flanker believes [...]
Heineken Cup successor will dazzle, say BT September 13, 2012 THE HEINEKEN Cup will be superseded by a “dazzling new European tournament” in two years’ time, says BT Vision chairman Marc Watson. English and French clubs’ breakaway plans gathered pace this week when BT Vision struck a £152m deal with Premiership Rugby that they say gives them the rights to show European games involving English [...]
Carroll comeback hopes hit September 13, 2012 WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce has played down suggestions that on-loan striker Andy Carroll could return from injury as soon as next week. Carroll was ruled out until mid-October after tearing his hamstring on debut two weeks ago, but Allardyce said yesterday: “We have got no time on it really. He is improving well.”
Derbyshire and Yorkshire go up September 13, 2012 CRICKET: Derbyshire clinched an historic first promotion and Yorkshire ensured an instant return to Division One after Division Two rivals Kent lost to Glamorgan yesterday. Derbyshire will go up as champions if they beat Hampshire, who finished day three 142-6, a lead of 139, but if they slip up today Yorkshire could take the title [...]
Motorsport mourns Watkins September 13, 2012 FORMULA ONE: Professor Sid Watkins, who was credited with overhauling F1’s safety protocol during more than 30 years in the sport, has died, aged 84. The Whitechapel Hospital neurosurgeon, as trackside doctor, played a key role in saving the lives of Rubens Barrichello and Mika Hakkinen after crashes in the mid-1990s. “It was Sid Watkins [...]
Peacock calls on Diamond League September 13, 2012 PARALYMPICS: British T44 100m gold medallist Jonnie Peacock has called for more disability events to be added to top athletics meetings. “Incorporating Paralympic sport into the Diamond League and giving it air-time, that’s the aim,” said Peacock, who beat Oscar Pistorius at London 2012. “You wouldn’t sell 80,000 tickets every single day for every single [...]
Sorry Spurs need to be opposed at the Madejski September 13, 2012 Reading Tottenham Sunday – 4.00pm ANDRE Villas-Boas had a nightmare introduction to the Premier League as Chelsea boss last season and that nightmare is showing no signs of stopping after the early rounds of this campaign. Tottenham had a tricky opening fixture at Newcastle and defeat to the Magpies was certainly no disgrace. However, since [...]
Sunderland Liverpool September 13, 2012 IT has been an incredibly emotional week for everyone involved with Liverpool Football Club and if ever a team is likely to be fired up for a game, it is the Reds against Sunderland in tomorrow’s early evening kick-off. Brendan Rodgers, similarly to Villas-Boas, will be very disappointed with the start his team has made [...]
Stoke Manchester City September 13, 2012 ROBERTO Mancini will not be relishing a trip to the Britannia Stadium tomorrow having endured a torrid time there in recent seasons. The defending champions have needed late equalisers to scrape two draws from their past two visits and were well beaten in the remaining three contests at the ground since Stoke’s return to the [...]