England salvage Ashes draw July 12, 2009 ENGLAND mustered a final-day batting performance of supreme defiance to rescue the unlikeliest of draws from the first Ashes Test in Cardiff yesterday. After the home side had lost three quick wickets in a disastrous start to the day all-rounder Paul Collingwood frustrated Australia with a heroic 245-ball stint that lasted almost six hours. And [...]
Strauss pays tribute to hero Colly’s rescue job July 12, 2009 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss heaped praise on Paul Collingwood after the all-rounder’s marathon stint at the crease helped earn a draw in the opening Ashes Test. Collingwood faced down 245 deliveries in 343 minutes to stabilise the home side’s second innings following the loss of three key wickets before lunch. And his knock proved the [...]
Fuming Barrichello berates own team for ruining his chances at German GP July 12, 2009 FURIOUS Brawn GP driver Rubens Barrichello accused his own team of destroying his chances at yesterday’s German Grand Prix. Barrichello took the lead at the first corner but had to settle for sixth place after being hampered by Brawn’s three-stop strategy and a pit-lane cock-up. The Brazilian’s failure helped Mark Webber lead home team-mate Sebastian [...]
Webber tastes glory at last as Red Bull outmuscle Brawn July 12, 2009 RED BULL’S Mark Webber overcame a drive-through penalty to record a maiden grand prix win at the 130th attempt yesterday in Germany. Webber was punished for causing a collision with Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello at the Nurburgring’s first turn but still led home team-mate Sebastian Vettel in a Red Bull one-two. Ferrari’s Felipe Massa took [...]
Ex-Sunderland director wants to buy Newcastle July 12, 2009 FORMER Sunderland director Charlie Chawke admitted yesterday that he is plotting to buy bitter local rivals Newcastle. Chawke, part of the Drumaville consortium that bought Sunderland in 2006, said he had opened talks about buying the Magpies from sportswear tycoon Mike Ashley. The Irish publican faces competition from several other groups, with Malaysian and American [...]
Wiggins keeps yellow jersey in his Tour sights July 12, 2009 BRITAIN’S Bradley Wiggins remains hot on the heels of the overall leaders after yesterday’s ninth stage of the Tour de France. Garmin rider Wiggins lies fifth, 46 seconds behind yellow jersey-holder Rinaldo Nocenti of the AG2R team, after all the leading contenders finished in the main pack. Pierrick Fedrigo, of Bbox-Bouygues, out-sprinted Liquigas rider Franco [...]
Chelsea will buy again in our own time, says Cech July 12, 2009 CHELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech expects the club to do further business before the start of the season – but insists there is no hurry. The Blues have made just three signings this summer, with £18m Russia international Yuri Zhirkov the only major arrival. But Cech says new manager Carlo Ancelotti, who only took over on [...]
No World Cup for 2012 stadium July 12, 2009 OLYMPICS: London’s 2012 Olympic Stadium will not be used for football if England host the 2018 World Cup, the Government said yesterday. Mayor Boris Johnson had said it would be “foolish” to rule out retaining its 80,000 capacity for possible football use, but Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said it would be reduced to 25,000 and [...]
Kaymer seals back-to-back wins July 12, 2009 GOLF: Germany’s Martin Kaymer will go into this week’s Open Championship on the back of successive European Tour wins after claiming the Scottish Open yesterday. Kaymer, fresh from his French Open victory last week, fired a two-under-par final round to finish on 15 under, two shots clear of his nearest challengers. Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and [...]
Schumacher cool on Brawn talk July 12, 2009 FORMULA ONE: Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher has played down suggestions he could join Brawn GP in a technical role. Schumacher, who still tests for former team Ferrari, is rumoured to be linking up with ex-boss Ross Brawn next season. But the German said: “If I’d wanted to work, I had the options, and may even [...]