Strauss at ease as axe hovers over captaincy April 2, 2012 ENGLAND cricket captain Andrew Strauss insists he is not feeling under any extra pressure to win today’s second Test in Sri Lanka, despite a dire run and his own dreadful form raising doubts about his future. Last week’s 75-run defeat in Galle was England’s fourth consecutive Test loss and has heightened scrutiny of Strauss, who [...]
Woods, McIlroy and Westwood will light up Masters April 2, 2012 THIS week heralds probably the most eagerly anticipated Masters for 20 years. Tiger Woods looks like he is back to his best form, and the top players – including Britons Lee Westwood, Justin Rose and Luke Donald – are all playing great. For me, though, Woods is the man to beat. He was incredibly impressive [...]
London 2012 poster boy Smith’s secret weapon in gold mission April 2, 2012 TAKING risks comes as second nature to Louis Smith, a sportsman who aligns natural athleticism with brute strength to perform gravity defying routines in pursuit of glory, but the London 2012 poster boy is willing to gamble on four years’ worth of gruelling preparation to complete his medal collection this summer. At the last Olympic [...]
Van der Vaart’s Adebayor plea April 2, 2012 FOOTBALL: Tottenham’s Rafael van der Vaart admits on-loan striker Emmanuel Adebayor could price himself out of a permanent deal, but hopes to talk him into staying. “I think the problem is the wages,” Van der Vaart said of the Manchester City star. “I have tried to persuade him to stay. He is one of the [...]
Rangers hunt coin-throwing fan April 2, 2012 FOOTBALL: QPR chiefs have vowed to ban for life the fan who threw a coin at an assistant referee during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal. Rangers are reviewing CCTV footage and have asked anyone with information to come forward.
Youngs banned for knee incident April 2, 2012 RUGBY UNION: Leicester and England scrum-half Ben Youngs has been banned for one week for striking London Irish’s Jamie Gibson with his knee last month. The Rugby Football Union’s disciplinary panel backdated the punishment, meaning Youngs is free to play again from Thursday.
Redknapp eyes third spot after Adebayor brace rekindles Spurs April 1, 2012 TOTTENHAM (3) vs SWANSEA (1) TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp believes five wins from seven remaining Premier League games will secure a Champions League place, after striker Emmanuel Adebayor’s brace tightened their grip on a top four spot. Adebayor’s two second-half headers moved Spurs level on points with third-placed Arsenal, after Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson’s equaliser [...]
Carroll in dive row as Reds crisis deepens April 1, 2012 NEWCASTLE (2) vs LIVERPOOL (0) LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish leapt to the defence of Andy Carroll yesterday, after his £35m striker was accused of diving in a vain attempt to win a penalty during a nightmare return to Tyneside. Newcastle kept their faint Champions League hopes alive with a brace from Papiss Cisse – the [...]
Healey backs Ashton and Lancaster pairing April 1, 2012 FORMER England star Austin Healey has hailed new national team boss Stuart Lancaster as the ideal man for the job and backed 2007 World Cup coach Brian Ashton to be an “inspirational” addition to the set-up. Lancaster was handed the top job on a permanent basis last week, after revitalising a despondent squad and leading [...]
Trott: Strauss still has years left as captain April 1, 2012 ENGLAND’S Jonathan Trott threw his weight behind under-fire captain Andrew Strauss yesterday, insisting that his fellow batsman will lead the side into the 2013 Ashes series and beyond. Strauss has delivered England to the top of cricket’s world Test rankings yet faces growing criticism ahead of tomorrow’s second and final battle against Sri Lanka, with [...]