SPORT IN BRIEF August 20, 2009 Zhirkov plays down surgery fearCHELSEA winger Yuri Zhirkov has denied reports he needs an operation to cure the knee problem that has prevented him making his Premier League bow. Zhirkov is not expected to return before the Blues face Burnley on Saturday week, but the Russian summer signing said suggestions of surgery “don’t correspond to [...]
Bolt seals sprint double and another new record August 20, 2009 JAMAICAN sprint sensation Usain Bolt smashed another world record to claim 200m gold at the World Championships – and then claimed he hadn’t run a good race. Bolt, who earlier this week in Berlin obliterated his own best time to set a new benchmark in the 100m, again left the field trailing in his wake [...]
Champion Murray and Federer into Masters last eight August 20, 2009 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray made smooth progress into the last eight of the Cincinnati Masters with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Radek Stepanek. The new world No2 let an early lead slip before taking the opening set, and then went on to cruise through the second against the 16th-seeded Czech.Defending champion Murray will face unseeded Frenchman [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF August 20, 2009 Dar Re Mi stuns Sariska at YorkRACING: Jimmy Fortune led 11-2 shot Dar Re Mi to a huge shock in the Yorkshire Oaks, beating red-hot favourite Sariska. Victories in the Epsom Oaks and Irish equivalent helped send off Sariska as 4-11 favourite at York, but Michael Bell’s filly, ridden by Jamie Spencer, had no answer [...]
Australia to upset Freddie’s farewell fling at the Oval August 19, 2009 ENGLAND vs AUSTRALIA TODAY 11AM – SKY SPORTS 1 HAVINGcrammed 4,542 runs, 1,211 overs and five balls, 13 innings and four Tests into just six weeks, nothing separates England and Australia heading into the fifth and final match of this fascinating Ashes series. With the outcome teetering on the sharpest knife edge the last chapter [...]
In-running trading hints August 19, 2009 ANDREW Strauss’s side may be encouraged by the Oval being Australia’s worst ground of those employed for this series in terms of win ratio, with just six victories in 34 visits. However, Australia have the momentum of the Jamaican 4x100m relay squad following their crushing defeat of the Three Lions in Leeds and England’s quest [...]
Potters get a smashing as Reds hit back August 19, 2009 LIVERPOOL (4) vs STOKE (0) LIVERPOOL took full advantage of Manchester United’s shock defeat at Burnley by crushing Stoke to catch up with their Premier League title rivals.The Reds suffered an early blow on Saturday when they lost their opening fixture at Tottenham, but they proved a point last night with a goal avalanche at [...]
Hero’s return just not enough August 19, 2009 WOULDN’T it be fantastic if Andrew Flintoff, in his last ever Test, summoned a match-winning performance and reclaimed the Ashes for England? It’s the stuff dreams are made of. Freddie would bow out in the best possible manner; one of the heroes of the 2005 series inspiring another triumph on home soil. The problem is, [...]
SPORT IN BRIEF August 19, 2009 Murray progresses in CincinnatiTENNIS: Britain’s Andy Murray began his defence of the Cincinnati Masters with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 win over Nicolas Almagro. New world No2 Murray was made to work in the first set but thereafter soon wrapped up victory to book a third-round clash with Radek Stepanek. McFadden gives Pompey bluesFOOTBALL: Birmingham striker [...]
Flintoff fit to play his part in England’s perfect storm August 19, 2009 FIT-AGAIN Andrew Flintoff will return to the England side for today’s deciding Ashes Test, and captain Andrew Strauss is backing the iconic all-rounder to inspire them to a famous victory and reclaim the urn. Flintoff, who was forced to sit out the fourth Test drubbing at Headingley, has convinced medics his chronic knee injury will [...]