Cook offers no excuse as England fail to halt brutal Indian assault August 27, 2014 DEFLATED England skipper Alastair Cook refused to pull any punches after his side wilted under a brutal onslaught from world champions India during a 133-run thrashing in the second one-day international at Cardiff yesterday. Indian batsman Suresh Raina smashed a blistering ton while sharing destructive partnerships with Rohit Sharma and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who [...]
Murray refuses to be distracted from his philosophy at US Open August 27, 2014 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray will be sticking to his game-plan irrespective of a first-round wobble when he returns to US Open action against German qualifier Matthias Bachinger today. The unheralded Bachinger had never won a grand slam match before a straight-sets win over Czech Radek Stepanek in round one and will face the former Wimbledon champion [...]
Capital One Cup: Van Gaal humbled as MK Dons ditch United August 26, 2014 MK DONS 4 MANCHESTER UNITED 0 TROUBLED Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has reiterated his stance there will be no instant remedy to the club’s woes after the Dutchman’s miserable start to life in the Old Trafford dugout continued with a Capital One Cup humiliation at MK Dons last night. United were taken to [...]
Penalty woe as Blades gain Tevez revenge August 26, 2014 OLD foes Sheffield United returned to haunt West Ham after Ecuador striker Enner Valencia’s missed spot-kick sent Nigel Clough’s side through to the Capital One Cup third round at Upton Park last night. There has been bad blood between the two clubs ever since the Carlos Tevez ownership saga of 2007, and Hammers defender Winston Reid [...]
Premier League: Mario signing risky, admits Rodgers after City claim win August 25, 2014 MANCHESTER CITY 3 LIVERPOOL 1 LIVERPOOL boss Brendan Rodgers admits the signing of Mario Balotelli represents a gamble after Manchester City delivered a statment of intent and issued an early hammer blow to their title rivals thanks to a double from Montenegro hitman Stevan Jovetic at the Etihad Stadium last night. The former Fiorentina frontman [...]
Skipper backs more rugby joy as England’s women turn pro August 25, 2014 WORLD Cup-winning captain Katy McLean is confident full-time contracts will keep English rugby at the top of the women’s game after the sport’s governing body confirmed top female players will be paid for the first time. England Women’s Sevens side will now operate on a professional basis and the Rugby Football Union has issued 20 [...]
United poised to push summer spending to £140m with Di Maria August 25, 2014 MANCHESTER UNITED were last night attempting to finalise the British record signing of Argentina winger Angel di Maria in a deal that would take the club’s summer spending close to the £140m mark. The Old Trafford side are believed to have agreed a fee of £59.7m with European champions Real Madrid, with United keen to [...]
Murray battles cramp to rescue US Open win August 25, 2014 GRITTY Andy Murray admits he was unsure whether the best strategy was to stick or twist after being engulfed by cramp, but powered through to beat Holland’s Robin Haase and avoid a shock first-round exit at the US Open at Flushing Meadows yesterday. The Briton is seeded eighth this year, which represents his lowest ranking [...]
Swann slams England’s World Cup chances August 25, 2014 FORMER spinner Graeme Swann is adamant England have no chance of lifting next year’s World Cup and insists there needs to be a cull of players scarred by the negativity of previous regimes. England’s one-day international against India at Bristol yesterday was washed out, with the second game in the five-match series taking place at [...]
Don’t write off my Test career yet, warns Prior August 21, 2014 FORGOTTEN man Matt Prior is refusing to bow out of the international picture and intends to fight for the billing of England’s No1 wicketkeeper with highly-rated newcomer Jos Buttler. The Sussex man faces surgery next month on an achilles injury which forced his withdrawal from the series with India after England’s 95-run defeat at Lord’s [...]
