Cook sticking to trusted recipe despite England’s half-baked batting failures July 3, 2011 ENGLAND captain Alastair Cook has ordered his batsmen to improve in Wednesday’s must-win fourth one-day international after Sri Lanka took a 2-1 lead in the series at Lord’s yesterday. Cook smashed 119 but received scant assistance from his top order colleagues as England reached 246-7 – a total the tourists surpassed with six wickets and [...]
Hammers and Tottenham at war after fresh claims fire Olympic Stadium row July 3, 2011 WEST HAM have vowed to take legal action against London rivals Tottenham following a fresh bout of controversy over the future of the Olympic Stadium. The Hammers yesterday mounted a vigorous defence of their successful bid for the Stratford venue after it emerged that a director of the OPLC, the public body that voted for [...]
Kvitova: I didn’t think I’d make it July 3, 2011 NEWLY-CROWNED Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova admits she did not believe she would carve out a career in tennis. The 21-year-old from the Czech Republic claimed her maiden grand slam with a convincing 6-3, 6-4 victory over 2004 winner Maria Sharapova on Saturday. That landmark triumph has elevated her to the A-list of the women’s game [...]
Haskell on way back to Wasps July 3, 2011 England flanker James Haskell will return to Wasps next year, three years after leaving the club for Stade Francais. Haskell, 26, is first planning a stint with Ricoh Black Rams in Japan following the World Cup later this year. He said: “I believe I come back to Wasps both a better player and a more [...]
Hushovd takes yellow jersey July 3, 2011 Norwegian Thor Hushovd took the race leader’s yellow jersey after Garmin-Cervelo won the second stage of the Tour de France, the team time trial. Scotland’s David Millar, Hushovd’s colleague, lies second overall while Australian Cadel Evans is close behind after his team, BMC Racing, finished runners-up yesterday.
THE GAME OF HIS LIFE June 30, 2011 Murray knows he’ll have to go through the pain barrier to beat Nadal and reach the final BRITISH No1 Andy Murray is confident he can produce the performance of a lifetime to dethrone world No1 Rafael Nadal and end a 73-year wait for a home Wimbledon finalist. Nadal, who has beaten the Scot on their [...]
Sharapova delighted by final return June 30, 2011 FORMER champion Maria Sharapova recovered from a dreadful start to beat Sabine Lisicki and reach her first Wimbledon final since she won the title in 2004. The fifth-seeded Russian will play Petra Kvitova tomorrow after winning 6-4 6-3 in an hour and 26 minutes. “It’s amazing to be back in the final, it’s been a [...]
City close in on Clichy June 30, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY look set to begin their traditional summer spending spree with the £7m purchase of Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy. The France international is entering the final year of his contract and is ready to end his eight-year association with the north London club. But he is unlikely to be joined at Eastlands by Samir [...]
Lennox fears Haye faces an uphill battle June 30, 2011 FORMER undisputed heavyweight champion of the world Lennox Lewis believes Wladimir Klitschko’s size advantage will prove crucial when he finally locks horns with David Haye in tomorrow’s eagerly anticipated unification grudge match. Klitschko will enjoy a major size and weight advantage and Lewis also feels Wladimir will benefit from the expert advice offered by his [...]
MINE’S A DOUBLE: CONTADOR AFTER RARE FEAT June 30, 2011 SPAIN’S Alberto Contador will begin his challenge to become the first man for 13 years to complete the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France double as he defends his title, starting in Passage du Gois in the Vendee region of western France, tomorrow. “As time goes by, I feel more and more rested [after the Giro] [...]