Watson gets nod over bad boy Symonds May 20, 2009 AUSTRALIA all-rounder Shane Watson admits he is “really stoked” to be picked ahead of Andrew Symonds for this summer’s Ashes series. The 27-year-old has not bowled a ball since December due to a groin strain and remains a major injury doubt for the start of the five-Test series. But still he has been preferred to [...]
Young gun McIlroy turns his back on US Tour riches May 20, 2009 NORTHERN IRISH starlet Rory McIlroy has turned his back on America’s PGA Tour – to avoid golfing burnout. The 20-year-old has gatecrashed the top 20 in the world rankings, thus earning himself a lucrative membership to the US Tour. But McIlroy, the Dubai Desert Classic champion, has opted to concentrate on playing most of his [...]
Croft gets call-up as injuries hit Lions May 20, 2009 LEICESTER flanker Tom Croft was last night drafted into the British and Irish Lions squad for the tour of South Africa. England international Croft was called up after Ireland’s Alan Quinlan had his appeal against a 12-week suspension for eye-gouging rejected. The development came after Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery was ruled out of the tour [...]
DRUG SMUGGLER LEWIS GETS 13 YEARS May 20, 2009 FORMER England all-rounder Chris Lewis has been jailed for 13 years after being found guilty of smuggling cocaine with a street value of over £140,000 into Britain. Croydon Crown Court heard how the 41-year-old hid the drug in liquid form in tins of fruit and vegetable juice when arriving at Gatwick Airport from a trip [...]
Hamilton has hopes for Monaco May 20, 2009 FORMULA ONE: Lewis Hamilton is hoping his McLaren team can continue their proud tradition at Monaco this weekend. McLaren have been struggling to keep pace with F1 pacesetters Brawn GP so far this season, but Hamilton’s victory on the street circuit at Monte Carlo 12 months ago was the team’s sixth in 11 years and [...]
Cavendish takes his second stage May 20, 2009 CYCLING: Brit Mark Cavendish outsprinted his rivals to claim the 11th stage of the Giro d’Italia – his second of the race. The Team Columbia rider took the lead 100m out and just held on to take the stage in 4.51: 17, ahead of American Tyler Farrar and Alessandro Petacchi, of Italy, in third. Cavendish [...]
Rio in race to be fit for final May 20, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED defender Rio Ferdinand’s dream of making Champions League history hinges on this weekend’s trip to Hull City. Ferdinand could become the first player to captain a team to glory in the European final two years in a row – if he proves he is over a calf injury. And United manager Sir Alex [...]
Fergie will not be doing any favours May 20, 2009 WHEN Sir Alex Ferguson sits down to pick his team to visit Hull City for Sunday’s season finale, you can rest assured that the plight of Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough will not be entering his thought process. With the Champions League final against Barcelona just three days away, you can perfectly understand Fergie being deliberately [...]
O’Shea will face Barca, says Fergie May 20, 2009 UTILITY man John O’Shea has been assured of his place in Manchester United’s starting line-up for next week’s Champions League final against Barcelona. The Republic of Ireland international has filled in at right back for the injured Wes Brown and Gary Neville this season and has been described as “fantastic” by boss Sir Alex Ferguson. [...]
Ferrari: Cap will turn F1 into formula GP3 May 20, 2009 THE WAR raging between Ferrari and motorsport chiefs escalated yesterday after F1’s most famous team lost its legal bid to block plans for a budget cap. Governing body the FIA slammed Ferrari for attempting to win an injunction against the voluntary £40m cap, after a Paris court rejected the case yesterday. Ferrari, meanwhile, mocked the [...]