England set for hectic winter June 29, 2011 CRICKET: England have announced their winter tour schedule, which includes Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates for the first time. The tour begins on 4 October, with five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international in India. England then face Pakistan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where they have played at “home” for security reasons, [...]
Murray follows Rory’s recipe June 28, 2011 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray will look to take inspiration from Rory McIlroy’s recent US Open victory as he continues his Wimbledon campaign against Spain’s Feliciano Lopez this afternoon. McIlroy (right), golf’s hottest property after he dismantled a world class field at Congressional earlier this month, secured his first Major having blown a sizable lead at [...]
Chelsea enter five-way fight for Neymar June 28, 2011 CHELSEA are among a quintet of European heavyweights to have entered the race for Brazilian sensation Neymar. The 19-year-old Santos forward’s £40m release clause is believed to have has been met by Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Manchester City, Spanish giants Real Madrid and ambitious oil rich Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala. Neymar inspired Santos to victory [...]
Haye continues to irk Klitschko June 28, 2011 BRITAIN’S David Haye has fanned the flames ahead of Saturday’s big fight by claiming Wladimir Klitschko’s coach Emanuel Steward had told him he would “love” to help him beat his own fighter’s brother, Vitali. WBA heavyweight champion Haye claims Steward has so little faith in Wladimir he is already planning ahead and claimed the American [...]
Sharapova sails through to last four June 28, 2011 FORMER champion Maria Sharapova reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon for the first time since 2006 and admitted she had encountered a lot of “dead ends” on her route back to the big time. The 24-year-old was Wimbledon champion as a teenager in 2004 and also has US and Australian Open successes on her resume. But [...]
Anderson and Kieswetter get captain Cook’s reign off to best possible start June 28, 2011 NEW ENGLAND one-day captain Alastair Cook put personal disappointment him to hail his side’s crushing 110-run win over against Sri Lanka at the KIA Oval as the perfect performance. Torrential rain and thunderstorms saw the match reduced to 32 a-side overs and England set about their task as if it were a Twenty20 fixture and ended their innings [...]
Arsenal board come under heavy fire June 28, 2011 FORMER Arsenal director Lady Bracewell-Smith feels the current Gunners board needs to be more “pro-active”. Bracewell-Smith, whose family have a long association with Arsenal, left the north London club in December 2008 and in April sold her 15.9 per cent holding to Stan Kroenke, which paved the way for the American to launch a full-blown [...]
McDowell determined to bring a Major back home June 28, 2011 RYDER CUP star Graeme McDowell has declared it his dream to play the Open Championship in his hometown of Portrush as he vowed to help bring major golf back to Northern Ireland. After receiving an honorary degree from the University of Ulster in recognition of his triumphs on the course, the man Rory McIlroy succeeded as US [...]
Silverstone podium would provide real lift for Button June 28, 2011 FORMER world champion Jenson Button would love nothing more than to land his first ever podium finish at the British Grand Prix next month. The McLaren driver has been unable to finish in the top three in 11 previous attempts at Silverstone but he has narrowly missed out on a number of occasions. He has finished [...]
Sunderland medical for Wickham June 28, 2011 FOOTBALL: England Under-21 international Connor Wickham is expected to undergo a medical with Sunderland within the next 24 hours. The Black Cats have moved swiftly after submitting a formal offer in excess of £8m to Ipswich for the 18-year-old.