Borthwick and Stevens will gatecrash England World Cup squad, says Venter August 31, 2010 SARACENS boss Brendan Venter is convinced Steve Borthwick and Matt Stevens will force their way back into the England squad for next year’s World Cup. Injury-hit Borthwick has gone from skipper to wilderness in the space of six months, while Stevens, owing to a drug ban, is not even permitted to play again until January. [...]
Weary Djokovic survives five-set US Open thriller August 31, 2010 THIRD seed Novak Djokovic survived a huge scare last night to limp into the second round of the US Open at Flushing Meadows. The 2007 finalist was forced to come back from two sets to one down and a break down to eventually beat fellow Serb Viktor Troicki 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 in over [...]
Unsettled Robinho seals £22m AC Milan switch August 31, 2010 ROBINHO yesterday spoke of his delight after ending his unsettled spell at Manchester City with a £22m move to AC Milan. The Brazilian striker joined the Eastlands club in a British record £32.5m move from Real Madrid exactly two years ago today, but never lived up to the club’s lofty expectations, despite 14 goals in [...]
Villa’s MacDonald unfazed by top-flight job pressure August 31, 2010 ASTON VILLA caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald insists he has not taken lightly the decision to put himself forward for the job on a permanent basis. MacDonald reached his decision after bouncing back from a demoralising 6-0 defeat at Newcastle with Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Everton. “I know that managers, from week to week, if they [...]
Omitting Casey was a big call but I can see Monty’s logic August 30, 2010 WITH the number of top-class players he had at his disposal, there was always going to be controversy and the odd surprise in Colin Montgomerie’s three wildcard picks for the Ryder Cup. Indeed, the fact that the new world No8, Paul Casey, couldn’t force his way into Monty’s thoughts for Celtic Manor just goes to [...]
WINNERS & LOSERS August 30, 2010 WINNER LEWIS HAMILTON The McLaren ace roared back to the top of the drivers’ championship by three clear points after leading home title rival Mark Webber in a pulsating Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. STUART BROAD Irrespective of the allegations, the fourth Test won’t be an occasion this young man will forget in a hurry. [...]
Murray says he’s too hot to handle in stifling New York August 30, 2010 ANDY MURRAY insists the soaring New York heat will not stand in the way of his bid to break his Grand Slam duck at the US?Open. The British No1 kicks off his Flushing Meadows campaign against Slovakian Lukas Lacko in a match which has now been put back until tomorrow. Temperatures in New York are [...]
Open joy for Britain as Baltacha exacts revenge August 30, 2010 ELENA BALTACHA gave British tennis much-needed encouragement after storming into the second round of the US Open last night. The British No1 powered to a convincing 6-2, 6-2 victory over Petra Martic – reversing her first-round defeat to the Croatian at Wimbledon. “I stayed really positive and I just kept putting her under pressure. I [...]
Wenger may swoop after Robin blow August 30, 2010 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger admits he could be tempted to make a last-ditch dip into the transfer market after Robin van Persie’s injury jinx struck again. The 27-year-old, who missed five months of last season after damaging ankle ligaments, is likely to be sidelined for “at least a few weeks” according to the Dutch Football [...]
Pakistan quartet warned: You won’t get away with it August 30, 2010 THE International Cricket Council last night warned the Pakistan cricketers locked in the centre of match-fixing allegations to expect “prompt and decisive” action if found guilty. As yet, the four players in question – captain Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Kamran Akmal – have not been suspended amid an ICC probe and could [...]