England’s women retain Ashes July 13, 2009 CRICKET: England’s women celebrated retaining the Ashes for the third time in succession after drawing the one-off Ashes Test against Australia at Worcester. Set an unlikely victory target of 273, England struggled to 39-3 before rain came to their aid, reducing the innings to 53 overs. But Charlotte Edwards’ 53 not out saw them to [...]
Fresh injury scare for Flintoff hands in-form Harmison an England recall July 13, 2009 ENGLAND last night played down injury concerns surrounding Andrew Flintoff, insisting they are hopeful the all-rounder will be fit for the second Ashes Test at Lord’s which starts on Thursday. The 31-year-old underwent a precautionary scan on the same knee he was operated on earlier this year after complaining of soreness and stiffness during a [...]
It’s time to turn to Harmy July 13, 2009 AS regular readers of this column will have probably noted, I’m not Steve Harmison’s biggest fan. All too often he seems to lose interest or focus, and is not the kind of bowler you would put your last shilling on producing a good, consistent spell. That said, when you catch him at just the right [...]
Webber delighted to make up for mate Ponting’s failure July 13, 2009 GERMAN Grand Prix winner Mark Webber admits he was delighted to succeed where close friend Ricky Ponting failed, and give Australia something to cheer. Webber claimed his maiden race victory after more than eight years in Formula One at the Nurburgring on Sunday, as he and Sebastian Vettel recorded another Red Bull one-two. Aussie cricket [...]
Hauritz backs England in Cardiff time-wasting row July 13, 2009 AUSTRALIAN spinner Nathan Hauritz has played down reports of a rift with England in the wake of the time-wasting row in the first Ashes Test. Hauritz’s captain Ricky Ponting was unhappy after England twice sent 12th man Bilal Shafayat and physio Steve McCaig onto the field as final pair James Anderson and Monty Panesar batted [...]
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 [...]