Defiance of Clarke and North send England’s victory prospects south August 3, 2009 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss admitted his disappointment after a resolute stand between Michael Clarke and Marcus North denied the home side a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series. Fifth-wicket pair Clarke (103 not out) and North (96) put on 185 as Australia comfortably batted out the final day to secure a draw in the third [...]
Discharged Massa vows to make speedy return to track August 3, 2009 FELIPE MASSA says he is determined to return to racing as soon as possible after being discharged from his Budapest hospital bed following brain surgery. In his first interview since his horror crash in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, Massa admitted remembering nothing about the incident, which occurred when he was hit by a [...]
Williams make objection to Schumacher’s testing August 3, 2009 MICHAEL SCHUMACHER has been blocked in his bid to test Ferrari’s car – by a disapproving Williams team. Ferrari last week wrote to governing body the FIA and their nine rival teams, requesting special permission for Schumacher to familiarise himself with the current F60 model ahead of the European Grand Prix, where he is standing [...]
Arsenal told to pay 12m for Chamakh August 3, 2009 BORDEAUX have told Arsenal to double their £6m offer for Marouane Chamakh or forget about signing the Morocco striker. Chamakh, 25, is furious at his club’s hard-line stance and is threatening to leave for nothing next summer when his contract expires. But the French champions’ president Jean-Louis Triaud is determined that their prize asset will [...]
Benitez lines up Aquilani to replace Real-bound Alonso August 3, 2009 LIVERPOOL boss Rafael Benitez has wasted no time in replacing Xabi Alonso by closing in on the signing of Roma’s Alberto Aquilani. Reports in Europe suggest Benitez has already had a £15.2m bid for the midfielder accepted by the Italian club, while his representatives were thrashing out a deal with big-spending Real over the future [...]
RFU ban Bath trio but cut bans to nine months August 3, 2009 FORMER Bath trio Michael Lipman, Alex Crockett and Andrew Higgins were last night banned for nine months after being found guilty of failing to submit to drug tests. But the Rugby Football Union reduced their sentences from 15 months on the basis of good character and concerns over legal advice they were given. And the [...]
Woods savours 69th Tour win August 3, 2009 GOLF: Tiger Woods admitted his Buick Open victory in Michigan was extra special after recovering from a nightmare start. The world No1 shot a disappointing opening 71 before hitting back with rounds of 63, 65 and 69 to finish on 20-under-par and win by three shots. “This one feels good,” Woods said after a 69th [...]
Chelsea rubbish Cole rumours August 3, 2009 FOOTBALL: Chelsea have ruled out the sale of Joe Cole, following reports that Tottenham were planning a £10m bid for the England midfielder. “Chelsea is not, and will not be, considering any offers for Joe Cole,” said a club statement. “Our sole focus, as is Joe’s, is to complete his rehab and get him fit [...]
Victory is still in our hands, says Flintoff August 2, 2009 ALL-ROUNDER Andrew Flintoff believes England are still in the box seat ahead of a potentially thrilling final day of the third Ashes Test with Australia at Edgbaston today. Flintoff top scored with a fine 74 – his highest innings on home soil since the 2005 series – to hand the hosts a healthy 113-run first [...]
Strauss will have dreamt August 2, 2009 ANDREW STRAUSS will have sat in his hotel room last night with a notepad in one hand and a calculator in the other, working out just how to force a positive result against the Australians at Edgbaston today. Unfortunately, the deluge in Birmingham these past few days has ruined, potentially, a fantastic Test match, but [...]