United DHL contract to trigger copycat deals August 23, 2011 MANCHESTER UNITED’S groundbreaking £40m training kit sponsorship with logistics company DHL will spark a stampede among their rivals to secure copycat deals, experts predicted last night. But they warned most will struggle to rake in anything like the £10m a season attracted by United, who can boast truly global reach and have developed the “blueprint” [...]
Versatile Prior is unsung hero in England’s ascent to pinnacle August 23, 2011 A fine wicketkeeper and an adaptable batsman, he is final piece in the jigsaw HE MAY not get the five-fers, the double centuries or the big headlines but there is one man who has been instrumental yet often unsung in making this England team so complete – not to mention world No1 and destroyers of [...]
Simpson: I’ll take Tests in my stride August 23, 2011 UNCAPPED Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson insists his lack of international experience does not faze him as he prepares to play in his first World Cup. Simpson was the surprise inclusion in Martin Johnson’s 30-man squad yesterday and could make his debut in Saturday’s warm-up match against Ireland in Dublin. “I have been around the team [...]
Cavendish Worlds bid in doubt as he quits Vuelta August 23, 2011 TOUR DE FRANCE hero Mark Cavendish’s hopes of winning a first road race World Championship next month suffered a blow last night after he withdrew from the Vuelta a Espana. The Briton, who had yet to score any points, got off his bike 40km from the mountain-top finish to the fourth stage in Sierra Nevada, [...]
Mourinho rejects Real quit talk August 23, 2011 FOOTBALL: Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho insists he is not quitting Real Madrid despite Spanish chiefs vowing to investigate his conduct against Barcelona last week. Rumours about Mourinho’s future gathered pace after the probe was launched into an incident with Barca coach Tito Vilanova in which he appeared to put a finger in his opponent’s [...]
Morgan backed for captaincy August 23, 2011 CRICKET: Coach Andy Flower has hailed Eoin Morgan’s leadership qualities as the batsman prepares to captain England for the first time in tomorrow’s one-day match against Ireland. Irish-born Morgan stands in for the rested Alastair Cook and Flower said: “He’s a confident young man, he is confident in his ideas about the game, he chooses [...]
Serena US Open seeding blow August 23, 2011 TENNIS: Bookies’ favourite Serena Williams faces a tricky route at the US Open after tournament organisers seeded her 28th. Williams has won the grand slam three times and has just claimed back-to-back hard court tournaments, but seedings are based on world rankings, in which she is No29. World No1 Caroline Wozniacki is top seed at [...]
INVINCIBLE August 22, 2011 We expect to win now, says Strauss, after Swann stars in innings victory to cap series whitewash ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss attributed his side’s rise to No1 in the world to a collective feeling of invincibility after they completed a 4-0 series whitewash over India. Spinner Graeme Swann led the attack with four wickets yesterday [...]
Redknapp promises to keep Modric after United defeat August 22, 2011 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp insists unsettled midfielder Luka Modric will definitely not be sold after Spurs lost their opening Premier League fixture 3-0 to a youthful Manchester United. Modric was left out of the side amid interest from Chelsea as second-half goals from Danny Welbeck, Anderson and Wayne Rooney downed the north Londoners and swept [...]
Johnson’s pain at denying Riki homecoming August 22, 2011 ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson insists he wishes he could take Riki Flutey to the World Cup – but says the make-up of the squad proved more important than any individual. The New Zealand-born Wasps centre was the highest-profile casualty as Johnson confirmed his trimmed down 30-man squad last night. An injury to Danny Care means [...]