Sidebottom blow sparks England crisis March 4, 2010 ENGLAND are facing a bowling injury crisis ahead of the Test series in Bangladesh after seamer Ryan Sidebottom was ruled out of the rest of the tour. Left-arm paceman Sidebottom has failed to recover from a thigh injury suffered in the first one-day international and is due to fly home tomorrow. Coach Andy Flower has [...]
Cricket returns to ITV after 30 years March 4, 2010 ITV is to screen live cricket for the first time in more than 30 years after securing the rights to show the 2010 Indian Premier League. The deal will see freeview channel ITV4 broadcast live coverage of all 59 Twenty20 matches over a 45-day period, starting with a spectacular opening ceremony in Mumbai next Friday. [...]
England foray helped Ryan, claims Pulis March 4, 2010 STOKE manager Tony Pulis believes Ryan Shawcross’ involvement with England this week has helped him recover from the trauma of Aaron Ramsey’s horror injury. Defender Shawcross saw red last Saturday after a strong but fair challenge on Ramsey left the Arsenal teenager with a broken leg. Shawcross exited the field in tears after seeing the [...]
Wright blast at City over Shaun talks March 4, 2010 ENGLAND legend Ian Wright has accused Manchester City of “mugging off” his son Shaun Wright-Phillips and treating him like a youth-team player over talks over a new contract. Wright-Phillips, 28, signed an £80,000-a-week deal with the Eastlands club in the summer of 2008, before the club was taken over by mega-rich owner Sheik Mansour. But [...]
Trio poised as season hits home straight March 4, 2010 THE expression “squeaky-bum time” may not be familiar to Carlo Ancelotti, but the Chelsea manager would be advised to get used to the sensation. Sir Alex Ferguson famously coined the phrase in reference to the nervous, edge-of-the-seat fidgeting provoked by a tense title run-in. And this season’s Premier League climax is shaping up to be [...]
Chairmen show red card to Champions League play-off March 4, 2010 TOP-FLIGHT clubs have voted to shelve controversial plans to introduce a play-off for the final Champions League place. Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool – the clubs who traditionally occupy the top four spots – are thought to have led objections to the proposal. Premier League chairmen decided against examining its feasibility any further at [...]
Crouch earns Capello praise March 4, 2010 ENGLAND head coach Fabio Capello has dropped his biggest hint yet that Peter Crouch could start the World Cup in attack alongside Wayne Rooney. Capello sent on Crouch for Tottenham team-mate Jermain Defoe when England came in at half-time 1-0 down in Wednesday’s friendly against Egypt. And the lofty frontman responded with two clinical finishes [...]
Twelve parties interested in buying Portsmouth, claims administrator March 4, 2010 PORTSMOUTH administrator Andrew Andronikou claims there are as many as 12 parties interested in buying the debt-ridden club. Pompey became the first Premier League club to slip into administration last Friday after amounting debts in the region of £78m. But although the club were docked nine points and lie rooted to the bottom of the [...]
Battlecry can answer Twiston’s call for another Saturday to remember March 4, 2010 WITH less than two weeks to go until the start of the Cheltenham Festival, there is a distinct lack of quality racing on offer this weekend. The Raymond Mould Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury (3.10pm) is the feature race, but it has only attracted a field of nine runners. David Pipe’s Our Vic heads [...]
the INSIDER March 4, 2010 With no all-weather tomorrow and only one poor betting race declared over the jumps, I will be backing just the one horse over the next couple of days. FREDDIE’S GIRL runs in Lingfield’s 4.10pm this afternoon and this More Than Ready (USA) filly has got plenty of pace and should have enough to hold on [...]