KP’s back to show who’s the Daddy! May 12, 2010 KEVIN PIETERSEN is ready to help fire England into the World Twenty20 final this afternoon after completing his dash back across the Atlantic. The key batsman arrived back in St Lucia yesterday afternoon after returning to London mid-tournament to be present at the birth of his baby son. Pietersen therefore missed England’s final net session [...]
Wenger targets new defender May 12, 2010 ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger intends to sign a top-class defender this summer after admitting his side’s performances at the back last season were “average”. The Gunners conceded 41 goals in the league last season compared to second-placed Manchester United’s 28 – a factor which Wenger believes went a long way to ensuring a fifth successive [...]
Yann hangs his head as Bluebirds swoop to final May 12, 2010 CARDIFF CITY (2) vs LEICESTER CITY (3) 3-3 aet, Cardiff win 4-3 on pens LEICESTER’S Yann Kermorgant chose the wrong time for showboating as Cardiff City won through to the Championship play-off final after a dramatic penalty shoot-out. The Frenchman tried a cheeky chip in a tense sudden death, but Cardiff keeper David Marshall stood [...]
‘O’Neill and I are as close as ever’ insists Villa chief Lerner May 12, 2010 ASTON VILLA owner Randy Lerner insisted his relationship with manager Martin O’Neill was “as close as ever” last night before revealing the Northern Irishman will remain as manager next season. O’Neill’s future at Villa Park has grown under increasing uncertainty following speculation that he had fallen out with the multi-millionaire American. But Lerner has moved [...]
All Black Marshall calls it a day May 12, 2010 VETERAN Saracens scrum-half Justin Marshall could be set to make a farewell appearance this weekend after deciding to call time on his illustrious 17-year career. With 81 caps to his name, the 36-year-old former New Zealand international is the third most capped player in All Blacks history, and the most capped scrum-half, featuring in both [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF May 12, 2010 Pacquiao targets one last fight BOXING: Five-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao has vowed to fight one last time before taking up his seat in the Philippine Congress. The 31-year-old was voted in by a huge margin and is now looking to bring the curtain down on an illustrious career – on the permission of his [...]
A fraught journey through exile, family and religion May 12, 2010 NOMAD BY AYAAN HIRSI ALI Simon & Schuster, £12.99 **** AYAAN Hirsi Ali is one of the political world’s most direct speakers – if not its most direct. Even the most controversial commentators balk at using her kind of polarising terminology and crystalline rhetoric. In part this is because 40-year old Ali, who works at [...]
VEXED IN THE CITY May 12, 2010 Can I ask my colleague about his home life? DEAR VEXED: There’s a colleague I work really closely with on a number of projects. We get along well, but our relationship is strictly professional. Recently I’ve noticed him being really distracted, and I overheard him having a bitter argument with his wife on the phone. [...]
A blooming good way to eat for springtime May 12, 2010 LOTS of us have aspirations of turning our gardens into allotments and impressing dinner party guests with all manner of home-grown delicacies. Since that requires time, effort, good soil, advantageous sunlight and – at the very least – a garden, not many of us actually manage it. But a form of garden produce requiring a [...]
OUT OF OFFICE May 12, 2010 MONTE CARLO OR BUST If you’re a deep pocketed Formula 1 fan but thought you’d missed the chance to get to Monaco for the Grand Prix this weekend, think again. Monte Carlo’s Metropole Hotel, including the Joel Robuchon restaurant with its perfectly-placed terrace for watching the race, still has availability. A three night package, leaving [...]
