I back Cook to come good, insists Flower August 10, 2010 ENGLAND team boss Andy Flower is backing under-fire Alastair Cook to bat his way out of the firing line in next week’s third Test with Pakistan. Vice-captain Cook has averaged just 14 with the bat in four Tests this summer with a highest score of just 29. His form has been the only blip in [...]
Revitalised Woods plans not to fall back on Pavin wild card August 10, 2010 TIGER WOODS says he will play in the Ryder Cup – if he is offered a wild card by USA captain Corey Pavin. The world No1 questioned if he wanted to play on the American team at Celtic Manor in October after carding a career-worst 18 over par total at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akon [...]
Sprint star Bolt to sit out rest of the season with recurring back injury August 10, 2010 SPRINT superstar Usain Bolt has confirmed he will not race again this year after doctors advised him to rest up following an injury to his lower back. The Jamaican double world record holder was told tightness in his back was “restricting his ability to generate power in his stride” by a medical team in Germany. [...]
Hampshire deliver a right Royal snub to Pietersen August 10, 2010 HAMPSHIRE have delivered one last snub to Kevin Pietersen for the Twenty20 Finals Day. Pietersen, 30, has played just seven first-class matches in six years at Hampshire but has been made available by England to play in Saturday’s Rose Bowl showpiece. But after announcing he is to leave the county at the end of the [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF August 10, 2010 Simmonds leads British 1-2 SWIMMING: Lizzie Simmonds led Britain to a one-two finish in the 200m backstroke at the European Championships in Budapest yesterday. Gemma Spofforth took silver as Simmonds, the world No1 at 200m this year, sealed gold in a time of two minutes 7.04 seconds. Earlier in the day, Britain’s Liam Tancock battled [...]
Milner deal the final straw as O’Neill quits Villa helm August 9, 2010 FRUSTRATED Martin O’Neill finally lost patience with Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner yesterday and quit as manager just five days before the start of the new Premier League season. The Northern Irishman brought an abrupt end to his four-year tenure at Villa Park amid speculation the club were about to let midfielder James Milner join [...]
Capello denies England unrest after retirements August 9, 2010 FABIO CAPELLO yesterday refuted claims of a communication breakdown with his players despite the furore surrounding his latest squad selection. Since naming his 23-man party for tomorrow’s friendly with Hungary at Wembley, Capello has seen two of his included players, goalkeeper Paul Robinson and defender Wes Brown, announce their retirement from international football. And he [...]
Match-winner Strauss backs bad boy Broad August 9, 2010 CAPTAIN Andrew Strauss leapt to the defence of hot-headed Stuart Broad after leading England to a comfortable nine-wicket win over Pakistan in the second Test at Edgbaston. Seamer Broad was fined 50 per cent of his match fee (around £3,000) after petulantly throwing the ball at batsman Zulqarnain Haider and hitting him on the shoulder. [...]
Harbinger forced to quit August 9, 2010 HORSE RACING: Record-breaker Harbinger was officially retired to stud yesterday after suffering a crippling injury at the weekend. The colt, who rallied to an impressive 11-length win in the King George VI at last month, fractured his near-fore cannon bone at Newmarket on Saturday. He underwent successful surgery on Sunday but it wasn’t enough to [...]
Miley leads British charge August 9, 2010 SWIMMING: Britain’s Hannah Miley stormed to gold yesterday in the 400m individual medley at the European Championships in Budapest. The 21-year-old staged an impressive fightback to win by over three seconds after trailing Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu. The British women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team claimed a silver medal, finishing behind Germany, after edging out Sweden.