Hart flattered to be candidate for captaincy February 28, 2012 GOALKEEPER Joe Hart admits captaining England would be “amazing” but insists it is still “a long way off” for the Manchester City No1. Hart (inset) has been touted as a possible skipper for tonight’s friendly against Holland, a notion lent credibility by his nomination for media duties on the eve of the match. But he [...]
Murray struggles in Dubai February 28, 2012 TENNIS: Britain’s Andy Murray overcame rustiness to beat Germany’s Michael Berrer in his first match since last month’s Australian Open. World No4 Murray won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 at the Dubai Championships to set up a second round match with Swiss qualifier Marco Chiudinelli.
Wasps duo in contract boost February 28, 2012 RUGBY UNION: Wasps pair Tim Payne and Hugo Southwell have signed contract extensions with the Premiership outfit. England prop Payne, 32, will bring up a decade at the club next season, while Scotland full-back Southwell has been ever-present since his summer arrival.
England death star Dernbach seals dramatic series victory February 27, 2012 ENGLAND Twenty20 skipper Stuart Broad insists his side are on course to defend their world crown later this year after a masterful display of death bowling from Jade Dernbach ensured a nerve-jangling five-run series clinching victory over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. Kevin Pietersen continued his recent rehabilitation with the bat, striking an unbeaten 62 from [...]
Morgan left to sweat on place for tour of Sri Lanka February 27, 2012 AFTER salvaging some pride in the abbreviated formats of the game in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in recent weeks England will turn their attentions back to Test cricket when the squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka is named today. Struggling batsman Eoin Morgan failed to enhance his hopes of maintaining a place in [...]
McIlroy ready to take over February 27, 2012 RORY MCILROY may have missed out on an opportunity to top the world rankings after his defeat in the final of the Accenture Match Play Champions but his victory over Lee Westwood in the semis had a real changing of the guard feel about it. Westwood has been a bastion of Europe’s Ryder Cup team, [...]
Stumbling Spurs give rivals hope in top four dash February 27, 2012 THE MANNER of Tottenham’s emphatic defeat to an unusually committed Arsenal in Sunday’s north London derby might have been startling, but the loss itself was in fact a continuation of a stalling of their momentum. Spurs enjoyed an astonishing purple patch throughout the autumn which brought them 10 wins from 11 Premier League games and [...]
Wenger has spare cash, say Arsenal February 27, 2012 ARSENAL chief executive Ivan Gazidis insists manager Arsene Wenger does have money to spend, after confirming a £49.5m pre-tax profit for the six months ending 30 November. Wenger did not buy in January, despite a summer profit of £63m on sales of stars such as Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, and a small increase in [...]
BOA unveil scarf in bid to raise funds for Team GB February 27, 2012 A RED, white and blue scarf was last night unveiled by British Olympic chiefs as this summer’s must-have item for fans wanting to show their support for Team GB athletes. The scarf (right), described as “an iconic momento of the London Games”, has been launched with a view to generating around £5m to fund the [...]
Fulham set to complete shock Diarra swoop February 27, 2012 FULHAM manager Martin Jol is poised to complete a surprise swoop for former Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra who has agreed a contract with the west London club until the end of the season. The combative 30-year-old, who cost the Spanish giants £22m when he signed from Lyon in 2006, will join the mid-table Premier [...]