Strauss: No need for change despite being whitewashed February 6, 2012 WHITEWASHED and humiliated they might have been following yesterday’s 71-run defeat to Pakistan in Dubai, but England skipper Andrew Strauss has ruled out making wholesale changes to the side ahead of next month’s daunting tour of Sri Lanka. Set 324 to win, England started the fourth day on 36-0 but hopes of a successful run [...]
Djokovic eyes capital gains February 6, 2012 ALL-CONQUERING Novak Djokovic was named Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year last night in London – and then vowed to lift more silverware when he returns to the capital later this year. The tennis world No1, who won his fourth grand slam from five attempts at last month’s Australian Open, is desperate to defend his [...]
Contador gets doping ban February 6, 2012 THREE-TIME Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck looks set to be handed the 2010 title retrospectively after multiple winner Alberto Contador was yesterday banned for doping. Contador, also Tour winner in 2007 and 2009, was stripped of all results dating back to the 2010 race and banned until August this year after losing an 18-month [...]
Dickson has chance to face Italy February 6, 2012 RUGBY UNION: England are hopeful scrum-half Lee Dickson will have recovered from a broken a bone in his left hand in time to face Italy on Saturday. Dickson suffered the injury in last weekend’s Six Nations win over Scotland and was in line to be replaced by his brother Karl, who played his first match [...]
Frimpong out for the season February 6, 2012 FOOTBALL: Wolves midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong, on loan from Arsenal, has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Capello war with England chiefs over Terry snub February 5, 2012 ENGLAND head coach Fabio Capello last night declared war on his paymasters, the Football Association, over their decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy because of his ongoing trial for alleged racial abuse. In an extraordinary public outburst that reveals the divisions within the game’s powerbrokers over a highly sensitive issue, Capello said he [...]
AVB blasts referee after United stage comeback February 5, 2012 CHELSEA (3) vs MANCHESTER UNITED (3) CHELSEA manager Andre Villas-Boas admitted he was baffled by the performance of referee Howard Webb after two contentious penalty decisions helped Manchester United retrieve a three-goal deficit and keep their Premier League title hopes alive. The Blues led 3-0 just six minutes into the second half courtesy of a [...]
Salvage act not enough for Ferguson February 5, 2012 CHELSEA (3) vs MANCHESTER UNITED (3) MANCHESTER UNITED staged a trademark act of escapology, coming from 3-0 down to rescue a draw – but their manager Alex Ferguson insisted it still felt like two points dropped as his side failed to keep pace with rivals and Premier League leaders Manchester City. Unlucky to be trailing [...]
Hartley pride as Lancaster era starts on winning note February 5, 2012 ENGLAND hooker Dylan Hartley has hailed the discipline and character of an inexperienced side after they overcame pressure and a hostile environment to get the Six Nations – and the Stuart Lancaster era – off to a winning start. Captain Chris Robshaw, winning only his second cap, and debutants Owen Farrell, Brad Barritt and Phil [...]
Robshaw inspires encouraging start February 5, 2012 TEAM SPIRIT THE KEY It was never going to be pretty up at Murrayfield but Saturday’s 13-6 victory represented an encouraging step forward for what was a largely inexperienced England side. Head coach Stuart Lancaster spoke at length in the build-up to the match about team spirit being at the heart of his values. On [...]