I’ll be ready for Wallabies clash, claims Wilkinson June 2, 2010 ENGLAND fly-half Jonny Wilkinson has dismissed fears overs his fitness, insisting he will be fit and ready for the first Test against Australia a week on Saturday. The 31-year-old record points scorer is yet to resume contact training after bruising his ribs during Toulon’s Amlin Challenge Cup final defeat to Cardiff last weekend. It had [...]
Boss Grant all set for Hammers role June 2, 2010 AVRAM GRANT is set to be unveiled as West Ham manager today. The Israeli, who quit as Portsmouth boss a fortnight ago, returned from a family holiday yesterday to conclude discussions with Hammers co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold. “After an hour, we knew we could work with this manager. We are very optimistic,” Gold [...]
Shahzad insists he’s raring to go for Test debut June 2, 2010 AJMAL SHAHZAD says he is fit and raring to go should he be handed a Test debut at Old Trafford tomorrow. The Yorkshire seamer, 24, was 12th man for the first Test with Bangladesh at Lord’s last week, and is jostling with recalled Ryan Sidebottom to replace the injured Tim Bresnan for the second and [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF June 2, 2010 Hearn gets the players’ vote SNOOKER: Barry Hearn won the Battle of the Baize and took control of World Snooker yesterday after coming through 35-29 in a vote of the world’s top 64 players. The sports guru edged out businessman and former Olympic shooter John Davison to take a 51 per cent share in the [...]
WORLD CUP NEWS | IN BRIEF June 2, 2010 Johnson targets Euro 2012 ADAM JOHNSON has his sights set on making England’s 2012 European Championship squad after missing out on the World Cup. The Manchester City winger was one of seven players axed when Fabio Capello named his 23-man squad. “I am going to have a rest now and then get ready to try [...]
Ouch! Walcott shock victim of Capello’s England cull June 1, 2010 ARSENAL winger Theo Walcott’s international career lies in tatters this morning after Fabio Capello ruthlessly axed him from England’s World Cup squad. Walcott, 21, was the shock name among seven victims as manager Capello whittled down his party to the final 23 yesterday. Everton defender Leighton Baines was also culled, as were Sunderland striker Darren [...]
Has Fabio missed a trick with Johnson? June 1, 2010 ON PAPER, Fabio Capello’s squad looks well-rounded, but I just can’t help thinking he’s missed a trick with young Adam Johnson. If you’re picking players on form, there’s no-one quite in the mould of the Manchester City winger right now and I just think that blend of confidence, raw pace and a ‘no fear’ element [...]
Soderling claims top scalp again and ends Federer run June 1, 2010 ROGER FEDERER’S astonishing run of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals was brought to an abrupt end last night when the world No1 crashed out of the French Open to giant-killer Robin Soderling. Defending champion Federer looked on course to progress from the quarter-finals when he breezed through the opening set, but came unstuck amid rain [...]
Tim’s setback hands Sidey Test chance June 1, 2010 SEAMER Ryan Sidebottom has been handed the chance to resurrect his Test career after being called up for Friday’s second contest with Bangladesh at Old Trafford. The 32-year-old left-armer has been drafted in as a replacement for all-rounder Tim Bresnan, who picked up a stress fracture in his left foot in the eight-wicket win at [...]
Barry inclusion is key, insists Green June 1, 2010 ROBERT GREEN believes the inclusion of Gareth Barry is a massive boost to England’s World Cup hopes. Barry was named in Fabio Capello’s squad for South Africa yesterday after he was cleared to play following an ankle injury. And West Ham goalkeeper Green insists the Manchester City midfielder has a big role to play for [...]