WHAT is the difference between Wayne Rooney and Eduardo? “It will be a big difference tomorrow in the newspapers,” Arsène Wenger sniffed.
Regarding the “Scottish conspiracy” he perceives as victimising his football club, perhaps Wenger will add Sir Alex Ferguson to the plotters’ list.
While Arsenal’s manager can play persecuted, it was hard not to feel sorry for him at Old Trafford. His team’s wonderful start to the season evaporated in acrimony and controversy during 90 minutes in which key refereeing decisions appeared to favour Wenger’s old tartan nemesis. Although Manchester United deserved a draw for the way, spurred by Ryan Giggs, that they increased the tempo when behind in the second half, three points seemed a generous reward, if not quite, as Wenger argued, “beyond belief”.
Rooney and Eduardo? Here, a striker went through, a goalkeeper dived at his feet, the striker launched himself enthusiastically, a penalty was given. Wenger, certainly, saw the parallels between how Rooney won the spot-kick from which he equalised in the 59th minute and the award given to Eduardo against Celtic on Wednesday in a Champions League tie.
Yet there were differences. When Rooney raced on to a clever pass from Giggs and Manuel Almunia came to meet him, the keeper was heedless with his challenge and, throwing his arms out, made them a barrier to Rooney over which, upon contact, he went horizontal immediately and with drama.
Eduardo was hardly touched by Artur Boruc when he tumbled over the Celtic keeper but to Wenger the only difference between the two strikers’ actions was one of degrees. A true cynic might say that, according to the mores of modern football, Eduardo’s crime was not to dive, merely not to dive well enough.
The Arsenal striker, introduced as a substitute yesterday to home supporters chanting “cheat”, faces a European ban after the Scottish FA complained on Celtic’s behalf and Uefa, whose chief executive is a Scot, charged the striker using video evidence. Wenger is appealing, although it won’t stop him attending a Uefa coaches’ conference this week, at which he will be reunited with Ferguson.
The two differed over yesterday’s incident. “It was a clear penalty kick,” Ferguson said. “Old Trafford-ish” was Wenger’s wry view of referee Mike Dean’s award.
Rooney did not ponder it. He got up and accepted the responsibilty of trying to beat Almunia from 12 yards, to the relief of Michael Carrick, who missed the last spot-kick United were awarded. After a few meditative moment in which he took deep breaths and stared at the ground, Rooney smashed the ball home to Almunia’s left and gave United parity at a time when it seemed Arsenal, leading thanks to a gorgeous strike by Andrey Arshavin, might close out the game.
Five minutes after Almunia’s rush of blood, composure also deserted Abou Diaby, who scored a crazy own goal to give United a 2-1 lead. Nani and Dimitar Berbatov both missed embarrassingly when given chances to assure their side of victory and there was a twist when, in the sixth minute of stoppage time, Robin van Persie turned the ball home, seemingly for 2-2. William Gallas, correctly, was judged to have been offside during an earlier phase of the attack and Wenger demonstrated his anger by booting a water bottle, earning himself a sending-off.
Nine players were booked by Dean — six from Arsenal — though it did not seem a dirty game. United were gleeful in victory. Their performance was light on inspiration, heavy on perspiration, reflected by Ferguson suggesting Rooney should have handed the man-of-the-match award given by television to Darren Fletcher.
Fletcher was at his feisty, dilligent best. He was involved in his own controversy when, with half-time near, he cleaned out Arshavin in his own box. Dean declined to award a penalty, presumably because Fletcher’s initial contact was with the ball. Yet the rules suggest that when a player loses control of his body in a challenge and it results in him taking the man, then, irrespective of ball contact, it is a foul.
Arshavin’s riposte was, 30 seconds later, to collect possession and clump a shot past Ben Foster from 25 yards. It was a wicked strike, resulting in the ball dipping and moving, but at a height where Foster might have been expected to save it. “Ben should be dealing with that, it was a bad goal to lose. It shows that even though he’s had a run of two or three games he needs more experience,” Ferguson said.
Foster redeemed himself early in the second half when, quite brilliantly, he used his feet to block Van Persie’s shot from close range. With both sides overloading the midfield with players, the game had needed Arshavin’s strike to enliven it. Arsenal, at that stage, seemed superior, with United — apart from set-pieces — posing few threats. Arshavin had hit a clever half-volley that skimmed Foster’s post. At 1-1 Van Persie struck the bar with a free kick.
Deepening the visitors’ angst was that, until United’s goals, the defending from both teams had been so sound. Thomas Vermaelen, marshalling Wenger’s backline, was mobile, robust, switched-on; a real find. Fletcher (on Diaby) and Alex Song (on Giggs) made terrific tackles and in this context Arsenal’s sudden outbreak of defensive Tourette’s was all the more baffling.
If Almunia’s challenge against Rooney was rash, what was Diaby thinking? Giggs whipped a free kick into Arsenal’s box and, unthreatened by opponents, the midfielder jumped weakly and — seeming to lose his bearings — placed a firm header past his own goalkeeper. United were 2-1 ahead and never looked likely to relinquish their lead.
MAN UTD: Foster 6, O’Shea 6, Brown 6, Vidic 7, Evra 7, Fletcher 7, Carrick 6, Valencia 5 (Park 63min), Giggs 7 (Berbatov 85min), Nani, Rooney 7
ARSENAL: Almunia 5, Sagna 6, Gallas 6, Vermaelen 8, Clichy 6, Denilson 6 (Eduardo 79min), Song 7, Eboue 6 (Bendtner 71min), Diaby 4, Arshavin 7 (Ramsey 81min), Van Persie 6
DIVE WATCH
Did he or didn’t he? Wayne Rooney appeared to have lost control of the ball when he pushed it past Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia. There was contact between the United player, with the keeper clearly catching Rooney’s ankles, but it could be argued that the striker was looking for a penalty, and it was duly given. In the end, it proved to be the turning point as Rooney took the penalty himself and scored. It brought the teams level, and Manchester United went on to win. All credit to referee Mike Dean — when Arsenal were 2-1 down and striving to rescue a point, Emmanuel Eboue went to ground too easily under a United challenge and was immediately shown the yellow card by Dean. It is the punishment most pundits feel is required if the practice is to be stamped out .
Source:The times
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Follow England against Australia in the Twenty20 with Hawk-Eye
After England's heroic Ashes victory, they lock horns again with Australia in today's Twenty20 International.
Follow the game with our ball-by-ball coverage including commentary, analysis, graphics and statistics provided by Hawk-Eye.
Not sure if that really was lbw? Hawk-Eye's graphics will provide the answer.
Want to see where Paul Collingwood prefers to hit the quick bowlers? The wagon wheel will enlighten you.
With beehives, batting partnerships, win likelihood and a whole host of other in-match statistical analysis, we have every facet of the game covered.
Source:The times
Follow the game with our ball-by-ball coverage including commentary, analysis, graphics and statistics provided by Hawk-Eye.
Not sure if that really was lbw? Hawk-Eye's graphics will provide the answer.
Want to see where Paul Collingwood prefers to hit the quick bowlers? The wagon wheel will enlighten you.
With beehives, batting partnerships, win likelihood and a whole host of other in-match statistical analysis, we have every facet of the game covered.
Source:The times
Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton crash out of Belgian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton, the reigning Formula One drivers' champion, and Jenson Button, the current championship leader, both crashed out of the Belgian Grand Prix on the opening lap.
Button lost control of his Brawn GP and spun out after he appeared to be clipped at Les Combes corner by Renault's Romain Grosjean, who also left the track.
Hamilton's McLaren Mercedes also received a bump from Jaime Alguersuari of Toro Rosso and both went off at the same bend.
Button, who started from 14th on the grid, currently leads the championship by 18 points, and this is the first time this season that he will have failed to pick up any points. Hamilton started in 12th position.
"I didn't know what happened, but I got hit from behind," Button said.
"It didn't matter anyway because we weren't competitive here."
With the safety car coming in after a couple of laps the race was restarted and led by surprise pole sitter Gianfranco Fisichella of Force India with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in second.
Source:The times
Button lost control of his Brawn GP and spun out after he appeared to be clipped at Les Combes corner by Renault's Romain Grosjean, who also left the track.
Hamilton's McLaren Mercedes also received a bump from Jaime Alguersuari of Toro Rosso and both went off at the same bend.
Button, who started from 14th on the grid, currently leads the championship by 18 points, and this is the first time this season that he will have failed to pick up any points. Hamilton started in 12th position.
"I didn't know what happened, but I got hit from behind," Button said.
"It didn't matter anyway because we weren't competitive here."
With the safety car coming in after a couple of laps the race was restarted and led by surprise pole sitter Gianfranco Fisichella of Force India with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in second.
Source:The times
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Jessica Ennis looks forward to a golden future as the 'face of 2012'
Her nickname might be “Tadpole” on the track and field but Jessica Ennis has just become a big fish in the Olympic pond.
With her heptathlon gold medal triumph at the World Championships on Sunday, the Sheffield athlete is set to make the leap from obscurity to Britain’s Olympic pin-up.
Marketing experts predict that the 23-year-old will become a millionaire by the 2012 Games and bookmakers are reporting a surge of bets on her becoming the next BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
“I had a lot of pressure and a lot of expectation from everyone,” said Ennis. “Luckily I was able to control that and deliver and that’s great practice for 2012 and hopefully I can do the same there.”
It has been a remarkable 12 months for the young athlete who, this time last year, was nursing a triple stress fracture to her right foot that left her wondering if her career might be over.
The injury not only ruled her out of the Beijing Olympics but forced her to retrain to take off from her other foot in the long jump.
Ennis’s family are thought to have lost about £18,000 in flights, tickets and accommodation for Beijing when she pulled out and they stayed away from the World Championships to reduce the pressure on her.
Yet in Berlin at the weekend Ennis led the competition throughout, becoming the first British woman to win the World Championships title with a personal best of 6,731 points.
Now she is being touted as the “face of 2012”. It is a role that the London Olympics organisers had envisaged going to the sprinter Christine Ohuruogu, who grew up close to the Olympic Park, before persistent questions over missed drug tests stained her seemingly perfect marketing story.
Ennis appears to have nothing in her past that could scare off the brand-makers. Her career began aged 10 when she was reluctantly packed off to an athletics scheme at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield during the school holidays. She has a degree in psychology from the University of Sheffield and a long-term boyfriend with whom she shares a home a mile down the road from her parents.
“British athletics has a new superstar and it is only a matter of time before big brands come calling,” said Jon Ridgeon, the managing director of Fast Track, a sports marketing agency. “She is a bright, articulate and personable individual who will no doubt have made London 2012 partners, such as EDF Energy, BT and BP, sit up and take notice of what she can bring to their brands. Her performance and her gold medal elevates her stock and marketability to a new level.”
Tim Crow, the chief executive of Synergy Sponsorship, said: “She has scarcity value and no baggage. Missing Beijing in fact worked in her favour because she is new news.” Ennis could now earn commercial revenues of more than £100,000 a year from off-track activities and appearance fees for major athletics events. Her National Lottery funding will increase from £19,500 to £25,000 this autumn and she will continue to receive support, such as access to facilities and sports scientists at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, worth about £70,000 a year.
Ennis will also be in line for a gold medal bonus from adidas, her main sponsor, in a deal that should rise in value to at least £100,000 a year. Her company accounts show that assets of £14,632 in 2007 had increased to £89,416 last year. Her parents, Vinnie Ennis and Alison Powell, and Ennis’s younger sister, Carmel, 20, said yesterday that they could hardly bear to look at the television screen as they watched her triumph.
“She phoned us half an hour after she’d won it and was screaming, ‘Mum, I’ve done it’,” Ms Powell, a social care worker, said. “I still can’t believe it. That’s my daughter up there on the top of the podium, the champion of the world.”
Mr Ennis, a decorator who moved to Britain from Jamaica when he was 13, said: “Ever since she was a little girl she always wanted to stand on the top of a podium and there she is. I’m just so proud of her.”
Source:The times
With her heptathlon gold medal triumph at the World Championships on Sunday, the Sheffield athlete is set to make the leap from obscurity to Britain’s Olympic pin-up.
Marketing experts predict that the 23-year-old will become a millionaire by the 2012 Games and bookmakers are reporting a surge of bets on her becoming the next BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
“I had a lot of pressure and a lot of expectation from everyone,” said Ennis. “Luckily I was able to control that and deliver and that’s great practice for 2012 and hopefully I can do the same there.”
It has been a remarkable 12 months for the young athlete who, this time last year, was nursing a triple stress fracture to her right foot that left her wondering if her career might be over.
The injury not only ruled her out of the Beijing Olympics but forced her to retrain to take off from her other foot in the long jump.
Ennis’s family are thought to have lost about £18,000 in flights, tickets and accommodation for Beijing when she pulled out and they stayed away from the World Championships to reduce the pressure on her.
Yet in Berlin at the weekend Ennis led the competition throughout, becoming the first British woman to win the World Championships title with a personal best of 6,731 points.
Now she is being touted as the “face of 2012”. It is a role that the London Olympics organisers had envisaged going to the sprinter Christine Ohuruogu, who grew up close to the Olympic Park, before persistent questions over missed drug tests stained her seemingly perfect marketing story.
Ennis appears to have nothing in her past that could scare off the brand-makers. Her career began aged 10 when she was reluctantly packed off to an athletics scheme at the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield during the school holidays. She has a degree in psychology from the University of Sheffield and a long-term boyfriend with whom she shares a home a mile down the road from her parents.
“British athletics has a new superstar and it is only a matter of time before big brands come calling,” said Jon Ridgeon, the managing director of Fast Track, a sports marketing agency. “She is a bright, articulate and personable individual who will no doubt have made London 2012 partners, such as EDF Energy, BT and BP, sit up and take notice of what she can bring to their brands. Her performance and her gold medal elevates her stock and marketability to a new level.”
Tim Crow, the chief executive of Synergy Sponsorship, said: “She has scarcity value and no baggage. Missing Beijing in fact worked in her favour because she is new news.” Ennis could now earn commercial revenues of more than £100,000 a year from off-track activities and appearance fees for major athletics events. Her National Lottery funding will increase from £19,500 to £25,000 this autumn and she will continue to receive support, such as access to facilities and sports scientists at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, worth about £70,000 a year.
Ennis will also be in line for a gold medal bonus from adidas, her main sponsor, in a deal that should rise in value to at least £100,000 a year. Her company accounts show that assets of £14,632 in 2007 had increased to £89,416 last year. Her parents, Vinnie Ennis and Alison Powell, and Ennis’s younger sister, Carmel, 20, said yesterday that they could hardly bear to look at the television screen as they watched her triumph.
“She phoned us half an hour after she’d won it and was screaming, ‘Mum, I’ve done it’,” Ms Powell, a social care worker, said. “I still can’t believe it. That’s my daughter up there on the top of the podium, the champion of the world.”
Mr Ennis, a decorator who moved to Britain from Jamaica when he was 13, said: “Ever since she was a little girl she always wanted to stand on the top of a podium and there she is. I’m just so proud of her.”
Source:The times
Michelle Wie divot becomes big issue for Europeans
Silence the crowds. It is a mantra of any team playing away from home and it is something that Alison Nicholas, the Europe captain, will have drummed into her players yesterday when they set off in pursuit of the Solheim Cup at Rich Harvest Farms, 50 miles west of Chicago.
In the early stages of the match, it seemed as if Europe had done just that. At one point they led in three of the morning fourballs and had an air of confidence that took the galleries, if not their opposition, by surprise.
But as the morning play wore on, and the United States started to turn the tables with some excellent, attacking golf, they had to scramble hard to finish the session trailing the Americans by a single point, 2½-1½, going into the afternoon foursomes.
And for diplomatic reasons it was just as well that Catriona Matthew, who partnered an out-of-sorts Maria Hjorth, sank a hole-winning birdie putt at the 18th hole to secure a half-point with the high-profile pairing of Michelle Wie and Morgan Pressel.
There was consternation among the European players and their captain when Wie asked for, and was given, a free drop from a heavily divoted and pock-marked area of the 18th fairway after she had been forced to lay up short of the par-five hole having been wayward off the tee.
The area had not been designated “ground under repair”, but the rules official nonetheless decreed that it should be considered thus. “We didn’t think anyone would be playing from that spot, so we didn’t mark it off,” she told Nicholas and Matthew. “But we’re trying to do the right thing here.” Whatever happened to the principle of playing the ball as it lies?
In many ways, it was just as well that Wie found a bunker with her third shot and could do nothing to prevent Matthew recording her fifth birdie of the day. The British Open champion had been calmness personified at the start of the round, smiling benignly as the galleries sang their songs and Christina Kim — a self-appointed cheerleader — went into the bleachers to lead the chants of U-S-A, U-S-A.
By the turn the European pair were two up, only to find themselves pegged back by some exceptional approach play and putting from Wie, who was looking more at home as the match unfolded.
The Americans won three holes on the trot from 12th to take the lead for the first time, but it would have seemed unfair if they had gone on to win. A half-point was a fair return for both sides.
Beth Daniel, the United States captain, had made much of her decision to send out Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr, her top-ranked players, in the first match against Sophie Gustafson and Suzann Pettersen, but it looked to have backfired until Creamer sank a huge putt at the 16th to give her team the lead for the first time in the match. They went on to win by one hole.
Europe’s only winning point came from Helen Alfredsson, a former captain, and Tania Elosegui, who beat Julie Inkster and Angela Stanford by one hole.
If there was one area that should have concerned the officials, however, it was pace of play. With the morning matches taking almost six hours to complete, all the afternoon matches were heavily delayed. Six hours for matchplay? Surely not.
Source:The times
In the early stages of the match, it seemed as if Europe had done just that. At one point they led in three of the morning fourballs and had an air of confidence that took the galleries, if not their opposition, by surprise.
But as the morning play wore on, and the United States started to turn the tables with some excellent, attacking golf, they had to scramble hard to finish the session trailing the Americans by a single point, 2½-1½, going into the afternoon foursomes.
And for diplomatic reasons it was just as well that Catriona Matthew, who partnered an out-of-sorts Maria Hjorth, sank a hole-winning birdie putt at the 18th hole to secure a half-point with the high-profile pairing of Michelle Wie and Morgan Pressel.
There was consternation among the European players and their captain when Wie asked for, and was given, a free drop from a heavily divoted and pock-marked area of the 18th fairway after she had been forced to lay up short of the par-five hole having been wayward off the tee.
The area had not been designated “ground under repair”, but the rules official nonetheless decreed that it should be considered thus. “We didn’t think anyone would be playing from that spot, so we didn’t mark it off,” she told Nicholas and Matthew. “But we’re trying to do the right thing here.” Whatever happened to the principle of playing the ball as it lies?
In many ways, it was just as well that Wie found a bunker with her third shot and could do nothing to prevent Matthew recording her fifth birdie of the day. The British Open champion had been calmness personified at the start of the round, smiling benignly as the galleries sang their songs and Christina Kim — a self-appointed cheerleader — went into the bleachers to lead the chants of U-S-A, U-S-A.
By the turn the European pair were two up, only to find themselves pegged back by some exceptional approach play and putting from Wie, who was looking more at home as the match unfolded.
The Americans won three holes on the trot from 12th to take the lead for the first time, but it would have seemed unfair if they had gone on to win. A half-point was a fair return for both sides.
Beth Daniel, the United States captain, had made much of her decision to send out Paula Creamer and Cristie Kerr, her top-ranked players, in the first match against Sophie Gustafson and Suzann Pettersen, but it looked to have backfired until Creamer sank a huge putt at the 16th to give her team the lead for the first time in the match. They went on to win by one hole.
Europe’s only winning point came from Helen Alfredsson, a former captain, and Tania Elosegui, who beat Julie Inkster and Angela Stanford by one hole.
If there was one area that should have concerned the officials, however, it was pace of play. With the morning matches taking almost six hours to complete, all the afternoon matches were heavily delayed. Six hours for matchplay? Surely not.
Source:The times
Lewis Hamilton claims first pole of season
Lewis Hamilton claimed his first pole position of the season as McLaren locked out the front row for Sunday's European Grand Prix in Valencia.
The Briton, fresh from winning his first race of the season last time out in Hungary, posted a time of one minute 38.498 seconds to beat team-mate Heikki Kovalainen to top spot by less than a tenth of a second.
Brawn GP's Rubens Barrichello claimed third place having led the way in Q2, although the Brazilian fared better than team-mate and championship leader Jenson Button, who took fifth.
Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel salvaged fourth place from what had been a difficult two days of practice, although his team-mate - and Button's nearest title challenger - Mark Webber, was ninth.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen took sixth on the starting grid ahead of Williams' Nico Rosberg. Home favourite Fernando Alonso will be disappointed with eighth place for Renault while BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica completed the top 10.
Source:The times
The Briton, fresh from winning his first race of the season last time out in Hungary, posted a time of one minute 38.498 seconds to beat team-mate Heikki Kovalainen to top spot by less than a tenth of a second.
Brawn GP's Rubens Barrichello claimed third place having led the way in Q2, although the Brazilian fared better than team-mate and championship leader Jenson Button, who took fifth.
Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel salvaged fourth place from what had been a difficult two days of practice, although his team-mate - and Button's nearest title challenger - Mark Webber, was ninth.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen took sixth on the starting grid ahead of Williams' Nico Rosberg. Home favourite Fernando Alonso will be disappointed with eighth place for Renault while BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica completed the top 10.
Source:The times
The fifth Test with Hawk-Eye
Follow every ball of the nailbiting Ashes decider with Hawk-Eye, the computer software that answers some of the age-old questions in cricket.
With the series delicately poised at 1-1, Australia need only to draw with England at the Brit Oval to retain the famous urn.
Every decision is critical, and you can see if the umpires got it right with our graphics, statistics and analysis.
Was Andrew Strauss out leg-before? How far did Graeme Swann turn that ball? How quick is James Anderson's slower ball?
Our ball-by-ball coverage is complemented with over-by-over analysis of the main talking points by one of our writers.
View the live updated scoreboard to see how the game is progressing.
And sign up for our Predictor game in which you can guess when the next wicket will fall and how many runs will be scored off each over.
Pledge your allegiance to England or Australia and see which country has the most knowledgeable fans.
Mike Atherton delivers his breakfast report and tea-time analysis, plus listen to our podcasts and watch Shane Warne's video series, including one on How England can beat Australia.
You can also follow the Ashes live on your mobile, free of charge. To get live scores and The Times's live commentary, go to http://m.pulselive.com on your phone's browser or text the word ASHES to 87700 for a link to our Ashes page and then follow the link to the live commentary.
Stay with Times Online for the best coverage of the Ashes decider.
Source:The times
With the series delicately poised at 1-1, Australia need only to draw with England at the Brit Oval to retain the famous urn.
Every decision is critical, and you can see if the umpires got it right with our graphics, statistics and analysis.
Was Andrew Strauss out leg-before? How far did Graeme Swann turn that ball? How quick is James Anderson's slower ball?
Our ball-by-ball coverage is complemented with over-by-over analysis of the main talking points by one of our writers.
View the live updated scoreboard to see how the game is progressing.
And sign up for our Predictor game in which you can guess when the next wicket will fall and how many runs will be scored off each over.
Pledge your allegiance to England or Australia and see which country has the most knowledgeable fans.
Mike Atherton delivers his breakfast report and tea-time analysis, plus listen to our podcasts and watch Shane Warne's video series, including one on How England can beat Australia.
You can also follow the Ashes live on your mobile, free of charge. To get live scores and The Times's live commentary, go to http://m.pulselive.com on your phone's browser or text the word ASHES to 87700 for a link to our Ashes page and then follow the link to the live commentary.
Stay with Times Online for the best coverage of the Ashes decider.
Source:The times
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Wigan Warriors get revenge of sorts
Most Wiganers would swap this comprehensive victory for a trip to Wembley for the Carnegie Challenge Cup final, but Brian Noble’s men can at least claim to have healed some of the wounds inflicted by Warrington seven days ago after a seven-try rout against the Wolves.
Tony Smith, the Warrington coach, watched on in frustration as his side’s collapse meant they slipped out of the top eight with only three engage Super League games left in which to secure their play-off place.
Smith’s worries were further compounded by the half-time withdrawal of Lee Briers, the Wolves’ talismanic scrum half, and Warrington’s public will be crossing their fingers and toes that his facial injury is not serious enough to rule him out of the Wembley showdown with Huddersfield Giants on August 29.
Chris Bridge gave Wolves an early lead, but Wigan roared back back as Pat Richards, Amos Roberts, Sam Tomkins, Cameron Phelps, Thomas Leuluai, Martin Gleeson and George Carmont all touched down.
Only consolation scores from Vinnie Anderson and Chris Riley offered any solace for the visiting side.
• Ryan Hall scored five tries as Leeds Rhinos moved level with St Helens at the top of the Super League by securing a 76-12 win over Castleford Tigers. Brent Webb and Lee Smith crossed twice each to go with further scores from Rob Burrow, Kylie Leuluai, Scott Donald, Jamie Peacock, Mike Ratu and Ali Lauitiiti.
Source:The times
Tony Smith, the Warrington coach, watched on in frustration as his side’s collapse meant they slipped out of the top eight with only three engage Super League games left in which to secure their play-off place.
Smith’s worries were further compounded by the half-time withdrawal of Lee Briers, the Wolves’ talismanic scrum half, and Warrington’s public will be crossing their fingers and toes that his facial injury is not serious enough to rule him out of the Wembley showdown with Huddersfield Giants on August 29.
Chris Bridge gave Wolves an early lead, but Wigan roared back back as Pat Richards, Amos Roberts, Sam Tomkins, Cameron Phelps, Thomas Leuluai, Martin Gleeson and George Carmont all touched down.
Only consolation scores from Vinnie Anderson and Chris Riley offered any solace for the visiting side.
• Ryan Hall scored five tries as Leeds Rhinos moved level with St Helens at the top of the Super League by securing a 76-12 win over Castleford Tigers. Brent Webb and Lee Smith crossed twice each to go with further scores from Rob Burrow, Kylie Leuluai, Scott Donald, Jamie Peacock, Mike Ratu and Ali Lauitiiti.
Source:The times
Evasive can be Hungerford hero for Godolphin at Newbury
Frankie Dettori's mount looks form choice in group two contest and jockey should also be on mark with Kite Wood, pictured.
Evasive, who has joined Godolphin since finishing a creditable fourth to Mastercraftsman at Royal Ascot, can make a winning start for his new connections in the CGA Hungerford Stakes (3.10) at Newbury today.
Formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he had previously finished an excellent sixth behind Sea The Stars on his reappearance in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. A repeat of either of those efforts would make him hard to beat now that he drops down in grade here, while there is every chance that this furlong shorter trip will see him in an even better light.
The improving Border Patrol has claims but will not run unless the ground eases, so the main threat may come from Gallagher, who failed to last home when stepped up to a mile at Newbury, having previously won impressively over this course and distance.
Godolphin have bright prospects of initiating a double through Kite Wood in the CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2.35). He struggled to find his form on his first two starts this term, but put up a classy display when making all the running to beat Tactic with more in hand than the 2-length verdict suggests in group three company at Newmarket last time. Now that he is back in good heart, he can put himself in line for a crack at the St Leger.
The dangers are headed by Dansant, who was a good third to Bronze Cannon in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and has potential over this sort of trip.
Azmeel is another who may have classic potential - albeit next season - and he will be hard to beat in the Usk Valley Stud Stakes (2.05). This well-bred colt justified a tall home reputation when winning on his debut at Sandown Park, despite looking much in need of the experience, and holds entries in all of the top juvenile events this autumn.
At Newmarket, Bounty Box looks the one to beat in the skybet.com For All Your Football Betting Stakes (3.25). She was always cruising before bounding clear when winning over course and distance last time and, if in the same form, is unlikely to be stopped by a 7lb higher mark.
The best bet of the day is Electioneer in the Oh No Richard O'Neill's Getting Hitched Nursery (4.00). He proved well suited by a drop to the minimum trip when a ready winner of a maiden at Beverley and looks to have been let in lightly on his handicap bow.
The William Hill Great St Wilfrid Stakes (3.55) at Ripon is as competitive as ever, but Kostar, the 2007 victor, should again give a good account. He has only raced four times since that success, but shaped as though retaining plenty of ability on his return at Windsor and should strip fitter with that outing behind him.
Source:The times
Evasive, who has joined Godolphin since finishing a creditable fourth to Mastercraftsman at Royal Ascot, can make a winning start for his new connections in the CGA Hungerford Stakes (3.10) at Newbury today.
Formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he had previously finished an excellent sixth behind Sea The Stars on his reappearance in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. A repeat of either of those efforts would make him hard to beat now that he drops down in grade here, while there is every chance that this furlong shorter trip will see him in an even better light.
The improving Border Patrol has claims but will not run unless the ground eases, so the main threat may come from Gallagher, who failed to last home when stepped up to a mile at Newbury, having previously won impressively over this course and distance.
Godolphin have bright prospects of initiating a double through Kite Wood in the CGA Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2.35). He struggled to find his form on his first two starts this term, but put up a classy display when making all the running to beat Tactic with more in hand than the 2-length verdict suggests in group three company at Newmarket last time. Now that he is back in good heart, he can put himself in line for a crack at the St Leger.
The dangers are headed by Dansant, who was a good third to Bronze Cannon in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and has potential over this sort of trip.
Azmeel is another who may have classic potential - albeit next season - and he will be hard to beat in the Usk Valley Stud Stakes (2.05). This well-bred colt justified a tall home reputation when winning on his debut at Sandown Park, despite looking much in need of the experience, and holds entries in all of the top juvenile events this autumn.
At Newmarket, Bounty Box looks the one to beat in the skybet.com For All Your Football Betting Stakes (3.25). She was always cruising before bounding clear when winning over course and distance last time and, if in the same form, is unlikely to be stopped by a 7lb higher mark.
The best bet of the day is Electioneer in the Oh No Richard O'Neill's Getting Hitched Nursery (4.00). He proved well suited by a drop to the minimum trip when a ready winner of a maiden at Beverley and looks to have been let in lightly on his handicap bow.
The William Hill Great St Wilfrid Stakes (3.55) at Ripon is as competitive as ever, but Kostar, the 2007 victor, should again give a good account. He has only raced four times since that success, but shaped as though retaining plenty of ability on his return at Windsor and should strip fitter with that outing behind him.
Source:The times
Women given right to box at 2012 Olympics
Women boxers earned the right to step into the ring at the London Olympics in 2012 after an historic decision yesterday to eradicate gender inequality at the summer Games.
British fighters rejoiced at the chance to compete in front of a home crowd while equal rights campaigners claimed a long overdue victory.
Government ministers said that the decision by the IOC to admit women would boost participation in a fast-growing sport central to the national fitness agenda. Amid the celebrations, though, the sport was thrust into a potential battle over money as officials pushed for more public funding to support the new medal prospects.
It is understood that they want an extra £2 million over the next three years to fund the women’s programme, which could produce two medals in 2012. Men’s boxing was awarded more than £8 million by UK Sport, the government’s funding agency, after winning three medals in Beijing and targeting four in London.
The sport, awarded a similar sum to badminton, judo and basketball, all of which failed to win medals in Beijing, already feels undervalued. After cycling, it argues that it offers the best per-medal return on taxpayers’ money.
Derek Mapp, chairman of the British Amateur Boxing Association, said: “The IOC’s decision will alert other countries to funding the sport. We need to retain our advantage by investing further.”
UK Sport will review its 2012 grants in December for potential reallocation in April next year. UK Sport said: “We will work with boxing to increase athlete funding. We want this to happen because of the medal potential.” The amount boxing is seeking, though, is likely to exceed what can be delivered given that some sports such as volleyball and handball face the prospect of no public money at all after 2010.
The IOC rejected a bid for inclusion at the Beijing Games amid fears that a lack of competitive depth would result in dangerous mismatches. Since then, the sport has progressed strongly. Jacques Rogge, the IOC president and a former boxing doctor, said: “It is time we included them in the Games.”
Women will compete in three weight divisions in 2012: flyweight 48kg-51kg, lightweight 56kg-60kg and middleweight 69kg-75kg. In order to keep the total number of Olympic boxers at 226, one of the 11 male categories — most probably 48kg — will be dropped.
Equality campaigners feel that is a small sacrifice. Tessa Jowell, the Olympics minister, said it “opened up the last of the Olympic closed shops”. “London 2012 will create the first ever generation of boxing heroines and hopefully inspire even more women to take up the sport,” she added.
Sport England estimates that more than 19,000 women box regularly. The number of registered amateur boxers has jumped from 50 in 2005 to 642.
Source:The times
British fighters rejoiced at the chance to compete in front of a home crowd while equal rights campaigners claimed a long overdue victory.
Government ministers said that the decision by the IOC to admit women would boost participation in a fast-growing sport central to the national fitness agenda. Amid the celebrations, though, the sport was thrust into a potential battle over money as officials pushed for more public funding to support the new medal prospects.
It is understood that they want an extra £2 million over the next three years to fund the women’s programme, which could produce two medals in 2012. Men’s boxing was awarded more than £8 million by UK Sport, the government’s funding agency, after winning three medals in Beijing and targeting four in London.
The sport, awarded a similar sum to badminton, judo and basketball, all of which failed to win medals in Beijing, already feels undervalued. After cycling, it argues that it offers the best per-medal return on taxpayers’ money.
Derek Mapp, chairman of the British Amateur Boxing Association, said: “The IOC’s decision will alert other countries to funding the sport. We need to retain our advantage by investing further.”
UK Sport will review its 2012 grants in December for potential reallocation in April next year. UK Sport said: “We will work with boxing to increase athlete funding. We want this to happen because of the medal potential.” The amount boxing is seeking, though, is likely to exceed what can be delivered given that some sports such as volleyball and handball face the prospect of no public money at all after 2010.
The IOC rejected a bid for inclusion at the Beijing Games amid fears that a lack of competitive depth would result in dangerous mismatches. Since then, the sport has progressed strongly. Jacques Rogge, the IOC president and a former boxing doctor, said: “It is time we included them in the Games.”
Women will compete in three weight divisions in 2012: flyweight 48kg-51kg, lightweight 56kg-60kg and middleweight 69kg-75kg. In order to keep the total number of Olympic boxers at 226, one of the 11 male categories — most probably 48kg — will be dropped.
Equality campaigners feel that is a small sacrifice. Tessa Jowell, the Olympics minister, said it “opened up the last of the Olympic closed shops”. “London 2012 will create the first ever generation of boxing heroines and hopefully inspire even more women to take up the sport,” she added.
Sport England estimates that more than 19,000 women box regularly. The number of registered amateur boxers has jumped from 50 in 2005 to 642.
Source:The times
Tiger Woods sets strong pace in US PGA
Tiger Woods is the greatest front-runner the game has known. So when he took the lead in the first round of the US PGA Championship, it was not surprising that the question on many lips was not whether he could win but by how many?
And when he set off on Friday afternoon for his second round with Padraig Harrington and Rich Beem, the world No 1 would have been pleased to note that none of the morning starters had managed to knock him off his perch at the top of the leaderboard.
In hot and blustery conditions, things had suddenly got a lot tougher. Among those to miss the cut were Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke, while Retief Goosen, the former US Open champion, Phil Mickelson, the world No 2, and Luke Donald were in danger of following them.
Among those lurking with intent, however, were Vijay Singh, twice a winner of this championship, who remained two strokes off the lead after a level-par round of 72, and England’s Ian Poulter, who had five birdies in his 70 to move to two under par.
In normal circumstances, to be three strokes behind and with Woods still to tee off would be regarded as too large a gap. But, with the wind having picked up, Poulter was right to feel confident that he would not be too far behind come the end of the day.
“It is going to be brutal,” he said. “I am very happy to be going back home, putting my feet up and watching it from my armchair.” With a bogey-free five-under-par 67 safely tucked away on the first day, Woods will have known that many in the field would have subconsciously conceded defeat.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think Tiger has a rival at the moment,” Sergio GarcÃa had said earlier in the week, a telling statement from a player once tipped to challenge him for the highest honours.
Which is why it proved a good move for the championship — the fourth and final major of the year — that a revitalised Harrington had been drawn to play with him in the first two rounds. Only the Irishman, it seems, is totally at home in Woods’s company.
With three majors of his own, Harrington positively revels in the challenge of measuring himself against the best and he virtually matched him shot for shot, putt for putt, in the first round to finish only one stroke behind. The true test is whether he has the energy to stay with him for the long haul.
It is one of the misconceptions of the modern game that to “Tiger-proof” courses you need to lengthen them. On the contrary, you need to shorten them and tighten the fairways. And yet if ever a course was designed to play into Woods’s hands, it is Hazeltine National, proudly boasting this week that, at 7,674 yards, it is the longest in major championship history.
What a contrast to Turnberry last month, when Tom Watson held the sporting world enthralled for four days in his quest, at 59, to become the oldest winner of the Open Championship or, indeed, any of the majors.
It was not length that was called for that week, but guile and craft and Watson had them in spades. Woods has them, too, but who missed the cut? He did.
There are other long hitters in the field this week — among them Ross Fisher, of England, who briefly shared the lead after picking up six birdies in his first 16 holes only to drop shots at the last two — but Woods has suddenly found an advantage with generously wide and relatively soft fairways. If he has a weakness, it is a tendency to spray the ball off the tee, but that pressure seems to have been removed. And when he finds fairways, he is virtually unstoppable.
Since the Open, Woods has moved on to a plane of excellence that is barely believable. He has won his past two tournaments — but was pushed all the way by Harrington at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last Sunday — and five out of 12 since he returned to the game in February after eight months out recovering from knee surgery.
He is all about major championships, however, and should he fail to win this one after establishing an early lead, he will regard the season as a disappointing one. If he wins, he will take his tally of majors to 15 and will move to within three of Jack Nicklaus’s record. At 33, time is on his side.
Source:The times
And when he set off on Friday afternoon for his second round with Padraig Harrington and Rich Beem, the world No 1 would have been pleased to note that none of the morning starters had managed to knock him off his perch at the top of the leaderboard.
In hot and blustery conditions, things had suddenly got a lot tougher. Among those to miss the cut were Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke, while Retief Goosen, the former US Open champion, Phil Mickelson, the world No 2, and Luke Donald were in danger of following them.
Among those lurking with intent, however, were Vijay Singh, twice a winner of this championship, who remained two strokes off the lead after a level-par round of 72, and England’s Ian Poulter, who had five birdies in his 70 to move to two under par.
In normal circumstances, to be three strokes behind and with Woods still to tee off would be regarded as too large a gap. But, with the wind having picked up, Poulter was right to feel confident that he would not be too far behind come the end of the day.
“It is going to be brutal,” he said. “I am very happy to be going back home, putting my feet up and watching it from my armchair.” With a bogey-free five-under-par 67 safely tucked away on the first day, Woods will have known that many in the field would have subconsciously conceded defeat.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think Tiger has a rival at the moment,” Sergio GarcÃa had said earlier in the week, a telling statement from a player once tipped to challenge him for the highest honours.
Which is why it proved a good move for the championship — the fourth and final major of the year — that a revitalised Harrington had been drawn to play with him in the first two rounds. Only the Irishman, it seems, is totally at home in Woods’s company.
With three majors of his own, Harrington positively revels in the challenge of measuring himself against the best and he virtually matched him shot for shot, putt for putt, in the first round to finish only one stroke behind. The true test is whether he has the energy to stay with him for the long haul.
It is one of the misconceptions of the modern game that to “Tiger-proof” courses you need to lengthen them. On the contrary, you need to shorten them and tighten the fairways. And yet if ever a course was designed to play into Woods’s hands, it is Hazeltine National, proudly boasting this week that, at 7,674 yards, it is the longest in major championship history.
What a contrast to Turnberry last month, when Tom Watson held the sporting world enthralled for four days in his quest, at 59, to become the oldest winner of the Open Championship or, indeed, any of the majors.
It was not length that was called for that week, but guile and craft and Watson had them in spades. Woods has them, too, but who missed the cut? He did.
There are other long hitters in the field this week — among them Ross Fisher, of England, who briefly shared the lead after picking up six birdies in his first 16 holes only to drop shots at the last two — but Woods has suddenly found an advantage with generously wide and relatively soft fairways. If he has a weakness, it is a tendency to spray the ball off the tee, but that pressure seems to have been removed. And when he finds fairways, he is virtually unstoppable.
Since the Open, Woods has moved on to a plane of excellence that is barely believable. He has won his past two tournaments — but was pushed all the way by Harrington at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational last Sunday — and five out of 12 since he returned to the game in February after eight months out recovering from knee surgery.
He is all about major championships, however, and should he fail to win this one after establishing an early lead, he will regard the season as a disappointing one. If he wins, he will take his tally of majors to 15 and will move to within three of Jack Nicklaus’s record. At 33, time is on his side.
Source:The times
Ferrari cling to hope of Michael Schumacher return
Ferrari have not given up hope of luring Michael Schumacher back to Formula One even though the seven-times champion reiterated yesterday that his comeback is over, Luca Di Montezemolo, the Ferrari president, has launched a campaign for leading Formula One teams to be allowed to run three cars next year, instead of two, which would allow the Scuderia to make a seat available to their favourite German.
Di Montezemolo and Ferrari appear wedded to the idea of a triumphant return to the paddock for Schumacher, and why not, given the dearth of talent around?
As Di Montezemolo put it: “We are talking about Michael Schumacher. He is 40 years old, but he is from another planet. I prefer the champion, even if he is matured, to the mediocre driver, even if he’s young. Our circus needed some great input.”
However, Schumacher is in no position to provide Ferrari with the lift required to make them competitive after spending most of the season in the rear-view mirrors of Brawn GP and Red Bull. His latest statement of intent came yesterday in Geneva.
The small neck fractures he suffered in a motorcycle accident in February have not healed in time for him to replace the injured Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix in Valencia next week.
But even Schumacher admitted that he had not yet mulled over the idea of a full-time return. “Speculation in this business is pretty natural,” he said. “Lots of people have their own opinions, but the fact of the matter is that I am very disappointed not to do what I was looking to do. It is sad that, in the end, I couldn’t fulfil the target.”
So will he or won’t he? There seems little doubt that Schumacher is itching to come back, Ferrari are desperate for him to return and Formula One simply could not turn away a driver who is pure box office. Only injury is keeping Schumacher away from the grand-prix grid and only his body will determine whether he could race again — this year, next year or ever.
Source:The times
Di Montezemolo and Ferrari appear wedded to the idea of a triumphant return to the paddock for Schumacher, and why not, given the dearth of talent around?
As Di Montezemolo put it: “We are talking about Michael Schumacher. He is 40 years old, but he is from another planet. I prefer the champion, even if he is matured, to the mediocre driver, even if he’s young. Our circus needed some great input.”
However, Schumacher is in no position to provide Ferrari with the lift required to make them competitive after spending most of the season in the rear-view mirrors of Brawn GP and Red Bull. His latest statement of intent came yesterday in Geneva.
The small neck fractures he suffered in a motorcycle accident in February have not healed in time for him to replace the injured Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix in Valencia next week.
But even Schumacher admitted that he had not yet mulled over the idea of a full-time return. “Speculation in this business is pretty natural,” he said. “Lots of people have their own opinions, but the fact of the matter is that I am very disappointed not to do what I was looking to do. It is sad that, in the end, I couldn’t fulfil the target.”
So will he or won’t he? There seems little doubt that Schumacher is itching to come back, Ferrari are desperate for him to return and Formula One simply could not turn away a driver who is pure box office. Only injury is keeping Schumacher away from the grand-prix grid and only his body will determine whether he could race again — this year, next year or ever.
Source:The times
Murray Goodwin steers Sussex into Twenty20 Cup final
Twenty20 Cup semi-final at Edgbaston: Sussex v Northamptonshire Sussex win by seven wickets.
Sussex will contest the final of the Twenty20 Cup for the first time after overcoming Northamptonshire by seven wickets in the first semi-final at Edgbaston.
Murray Goodwin's 43-ball half-century ensured the Sharks made sure of their place in the Champions League in India in October - and a potential six million dollar jackpot - as they chased down a modest 137 target with two balls to spare.
But in the immediate term the Sharks, who were beaten by Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy final last month, will now meet the winners of the Somerset-Kent semi-final this evening.
Sussex opener Luke Wright looked in good form and pulled a short ball from Johan van der Wath for six as the paceman conceded 16 runs in his second over.
After making 18 off 13 balls, he tried to hit Andrew Hall over the top and provided Rob White with a comfortable catch at mid-off with 30 on the board.
Goodwin has endured a modest season by his high standards but he reeled off a series of boundaries all around the wicket, one of which through the covers off Lee Daggett brought up the 50 in the eighth over.
Rory Hamilton-Brown gave him good support during a second-wicket stand of 91 in 14 overs and also found Daggett to his liking as he drove him over long on for six.
Goodwin reached his own half century with a clip through mid-wicket for his seventh boundary off David Willey.
He survived one chance on 63 when Willey spilled a catch on the mid-wicket boundary off the unfortunate Daggett with the total on 112 in the 16th over.
Hall returned for his second spell and instantly bowled Hamilton-Brown (29) while Dwayne Smith made only two before edging Van der Wath to wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien.
But Goodwin remained unbeaten on 80 from 67 balls with ten fours to seal victory for his side.
Sussex skipper Michael Yardy had opted to put Northants into bat after winning the toss and played a major role himself in keeping the Steelbacks in check on a slow pitch.
Yardy conceded only 23 runs in his four overs and picked up the wicket of O'Brien (24) while fellow spinner Will Beer was almost as economical with one for 26.
Northants opener Ian Harvey enjoyed plenty of one-day success with Gloucestershire and he smote 21 off 15 balls with four fours before being bowling off the inside edge by James Kirtley.
But after that there was a lack of momentum during the Northants innings and the other opener, White, was run out for 20 by Ed Joyce's direct hit from extra cover after attempting a risky single.
Yardy and Beer kept such a tight rein in the middle part of the innings that only one four and one six - by Niall O'Brien - were registered between the seventh and 17th overs.
O'Brien was stumped by Andrew Hodd down the leg-side off Yardy and then Beer accounted for Alex Wakely (10) who holed out on the mid-wicket boundary to Yasir Arafat.
Arafat returned to the attack to dismiss Rikki Wessels and Van der Wath in successive overs and it needed an unbeaten 34 off 29 balls from Northants skipper Nicky Boje to help his side to 136 for six.
Had they won, Northants would not have been eligible to participate in the Champions League as Hall and Boje did not produce evidence in time to prove they had severed their links with the rebel Indian Cricket League.
Source:The times
Sussex will contest the final of the Twenty20 Cup for the first time after overcoming Northamptonshire by seven wickets in the first semi-final at Edgbaston.
Murray Goodwin's 43-ball half-century ensured the Sharks made sure of their place in the Champions League in India in October - and a potential six million dollar jackpot - as they chased down a modest 137 target with two balls to spare.
But in the immediate term the Sharks, who were beaten by Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy final last month, will now meet the winners of the Somerset-Kent semi-final this evening.
Sussex opener Luke Wright looked in good form and pulled a short ball from Johan van der Wath for six as the paceman conceded 16 runs in his second over.
After making 18 off 13 balls, he tried to hit Andrew Hall over the top and provided Rob White with a comfortable catch at mid-off with 30 on the board.
Goodwin has endured a modest season by his high standards but he reeled off a series of boundaries all around the wicket, one of which through the covers off Lee Daggett brought up the 50 in the eighth over.
Rory Hamilton-Brown gave him good support during a second-wicket stand of 91 in 14 overs and also found Daggett to his liking as he drove him over long on for six.
Goodwin reached his own half century with a clip through mid-wicket for his seventh boundary off David Willey.
He survived one chance on 63 when Willey spilled a catch on the mid-wicket boundary off the unfortunate Daggett with the total on 112 in the 16th over.
Hall returned for his second spell and instantly bowled Hamilton-Brown (29) while Dwayne Smith made only two before edging Van der Wath to wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien.
But Goodwin remained unbeaten on 80 from 67 balls with ten fours to seal victory for his side.
Sussex skipper Michael Yardy had opted to put Northants into bat after winning the toss and played a major role himself in keeping the Steelbacks in check on a slow pitch.
Yardy conceded only 23 runs in his four overs and picked up the wicket of O'Brien (24) while fellow spinner Will Beer was almost as economical with one for 26.
Northants opener Ian Harvey enjoyed plenty of one-day success with Gloucestershire and he smote 21 off 15 balls with four fours before being bowling off the inside edge by James Kirtley.
But after that there was a lack of momentum during the Northants innings and the other opener, White, was run out for 20 by Ed Joyce's direct hit from extra cover after attempting a risky single.
Yardy and Beer kept such a tight rein in the middle part of the innings that only one four and one six - by Niall O'Brien - were registered between the seventh and 17th overs.
O'Brien was stumped by Andrew Hodd down the leg-side off Yardy and then Beer accounted for Alex Wakely (10) who holed out on the mid-wicket boundary to Yasir Arafat.
Arafat returned to the attack to dismiss Rikki Wessels and Van der Wath in successive overs and it needed an unbeaten 34 off 29 balls from Northants skipper Nicky Boje to help his side to 136 for six.
Had they won, Northants would not have been eligible to participate in the Champions League as Hall and Boje did not produce evidence in time to prove they had severed their links with the rebel Indian Cricket League.
Source:The times
Premier League: how the games unfolded
Chelsea 2-1 Hull City Match report Aston Villa 0-2 WiganBlackburn 0-2 Man CityBolton 0-1 Sunderland Portsmouth 0-1 FulhamStoke 2-0 BurnleyWolves 0-2 West Ham
Everton v Arsenal 17:30
For individual live commentaries for the above games as well as scores and scorers from around the country go to our Match Tracker, by clicking here.
17:00 F-T Aston Villa 0-2 Wigan Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa appear to have missed the influencial Gareth Barry after his summer move to Man City. Wigan's deserved victory came courtesy of a wondergoal from Hugo Rodallega and Jason Koumas's second-half effort.
16:59 F-T Portsmouth 0-1 Fulham Bobby Zamora's deflected effort is enough to give Fulham victory over Portsmouth.
16:57 F-T Stoke 2-0 Burnley A Ryan Shawcross header and Stephen Jordan own-goal makes it an unhappy return to the top flight for Burnley.
16:56 F-T Bolton 0-1 SunderlandDarren Bent's 10th-minute goal on his debut for Sunderland earns the points for new boss Steve Bruce.
16:55 F-T Wolves 0-2 West Ham Goals from Matthew Upson and Mark Noble give Wolves a welcome the the Premier League they did not want.
16:53 F-T Blackburn 0-2 Man City First clean sheet for a year and goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland gives Man City a great start to the season. Can they really challenge the top four this year?
16:49 GOAL! Blackburn 0-2 Man City A great run and finish from Stephen Ireland all but seals the points for Man City. The midfielder makes a statement that he will be just as important to Mark Hughes this season as he was last year despite all the players brought in over over the summer.
16:46 Everton v Arsenal teams
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Osman, Neville, Cahill, Pienaar, Fellaini, Jo. Subs: Nash, Saha, Vaughan, Gosling, Rodwell, Duffy, Baxter.
Source:The times
Everton v Arsenal 17:30
For individual live commentaries for the above games as well as scores and scorers from around the country go to our Match Tracker, by clicking here.
17:00 F-T Aston Villa 0-2 Wigan Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa appear to have missed the influencial Gareth Barry after his summer move to Man City. Wigan's deserved victory came courtesy of a wondergoal from Hugo Rodallega and Jason Koumas's second-half effort.
16:59 F-T Portsmouth 0-1 Fulham Bobby Zamora's deflected effort is enough to give Fulham victory over Portsmouth.
16:57 F-T Stoke 2-0 Burnley A Ryan Shawcross header and Stephen Jordan own-goal makes it an unhappy return to the top flight for Burnley.
16:56 F-T Bolton 0-1 SunderlandDarren Bent's 10th-minute goal on his debut for Sunderland earns the points for new boss Steve Bruce.
16:55 F-T Wolves 0-2 West Ham Goals from Matthew Upson and Mark Noble give Wolves a welcome the the Premier League they did not want.
16:53 F-T Blackburn 0-2 Man City First clean sheet for a year and goals from Emmanuel Adebayor and Stephen Ireland gives Man City a great start to the season. Can they really challenge the top four this year?
16:49 GOAL! Blackburn 0-2 Man City A great run and finish from Stephen Ireland all but seals the points for Man City. The midfielder makes a statement that he will be just as important to Mark Hughes this season as he was last year despite all the players brought in over over the summer.
16:46 Everton v Arsenal teams
Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Osman, Neville, Cahill, Pienaar, Fellaini, Jo. Subs: Nash, Saha, Vaughan, Gosling, Rodwell, Duffy, Baxter.
Source:The times
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Sport in brief: Padraig Harrington continues to play leading role
Ronnie O’Sullivan fined Richard Gasquet under fire Michael Schumacher sells Broc Parkes sets the pace Britain relegated.
Golf Padraig Harrington recorded a one-under-par 69 to maintain his lead after the second round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akran, Ohio. The Irishman had his best round of the year, a 64, on Thursday to lead by two shots and played solidly to move to seven under yesterday.
Harrington takes a one-shot lead into the third round today, with Tim Clark, of South Africa, on six under after a round of 68, and Scott Verplank, the American, a further shot behind. Oliver Wilson is the leading British player, tied in thirteenth place on two under with Tiger Woods, the world No 1.
O'Sullivan in the red
Snooker Ronnie O’Sullivan has been fined £300 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association for prematurely conceding a frame last December. While 23-0 up in a frame during a last-16 match against Joe Perry at the UK Championship in Telford, O’Sullivan walked out of the arena, and into the mid-session interval, after missing a red.
Gasquet under fire
Tennis The ITF has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to increase the severity of the ban handed out to Richard Gasquet after the Frenchman, now ranked No 38 in the world, tested positive for cocaine. A tribunal gave Gasquet a ban of 2½ months after ruling that he inadvertently ingested the drug by kissing a woman in a Miami nightclub. The ITF had been seeking a two-year suspension.
Schumacher sells
Formula One The return of Michael Schumacher has led to an extra 10,000 ticket sales for the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23. Meanwhile, Valmor Sport, the race organiser, is confident that a one-race suspension of Fernando Alonso, the Renault driver and Spanish hero, for compromising safety rules will be overturned at an appeal hearing before the FIA, the sport’s governing body.
Parkes sets the pace
Motorcycling Broc Parkes and Sheridan Morais, the Kawasaki World Superbike team-mates, set the pace in free practice yesterday before the weekend’s triple-race eighth round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch. Parkes, of Australia, set a scorching pace in the afternoon session, with his best lap of 1min 26.910sec coming at an average speed of 95.30mph.
Britain relegated
Equestrianism The Great Britain showjumping team failed to save themselves from relegation last night, despite finishing equal second at the Meydan FEI Nations Cup event in Dublin. Britain were joint eighth with Belgium in the league and were relegated with Italy, who were bottom. Belgium survived because their record in the seven previous Nations Cup events was better than Britain’s.
Source:The times
Golf Padraig Harrington recorded a one-under-par 69 to maintain his lead after the second round of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akran, Ohio. The Irishman had his best round of the year, a 64, on Thursday to lead by two shots and played solidly to move to seven under yesterday.
Harrington takes a one-shot lead into the third round today, with Tim Clark, of South Africa, on six under after a round of 68, and Scott Verplank, the American, a further shot behind. Oliver Wilson is the leading British player, tied in thirteenth place on two under with Tiger Woods, the world No 1.
O'Sullivan in the red
Snooker Ronnie O’Sullivan has been fined £300 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association for prematurely conceding a frame last December. While 23-0 up in a frame during a last-16 match against Joe Perry at the UK Championship in Telford, O’Sullivan walked out of the arena, and into the mid-session interval, after missing a red.
Gasquet under fire
Tennis The ITF has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to increase the severity of the ban handed out to Richard Gasquet after the Frenchman, now ranked No 38 in the world, tested positive for cocaine. A tribunal gave Gasquet a ban of 2½ months after ruling that he inadvertently ingested the drug by kissing a woman in a Miami nightclub. The ITF had been seeking a two-year suspension.
Schumacher sells
Formula One The return of Michael Schumacher has led to an extra 10,000 ticket sales for the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23. Meanwhile, Valmor Sport, the race organiser, is confident that a one-race suspension of Fernando Alonso, the Renault driver and Spanish hero, for compromising safety rules will be overturned at an appeal hearing before the FIA, the sport’s governing body.
Parkes sets the pace
Motorcycling Broc Parkes and Sheridan Morais, the Kawasaki World Superbike team-mates, set the pace in free practice yesterday before the weekend’s triple-race eighth round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch. Parkes, of Australia, set a scorching pace in the afternoon session, with his best lap of 1min 26.910sec coming at an average speed of 95.30mph.
Britain relegated
Equestrianism The Great Britain showjumping team failed to save themselves from relegation last night, despite finishing equal second at the Meydan FEI Nations Cup event in Dublin. Britain were joint eighth with Belgium in the league and were relegated with Italy, who were bottom. Belgium survived because their record in the seven previous Nations Cup events was better than Britain’s.
Source:The times
Tony Mowbray relishes chance to pit wits against Arsène Wenger in European play-off
Battle of Britain for Champions League berth .
Arsenal were drawn to face Celtic yesterday in the play-offs for the Champions League group stage, a tie that is already inducing feelings of excitement and anxiety on both sides of the Border.
Arsène Wenger’s side will travel north for the first leg in Glasgow on August 18 or 19, with the return match taking place a week later at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal were already guaranteed their place in yesterday’s draw, while Celtic secured their play-off spot after their 2-0 win away to Dynamo Moscow on Wednesday night, having lost the first leg 1-0 in Glasgow.
In Scotland, some of the more cynical observers believe that Tony Mowbray’s side could face a hiding at the hands of their English opponents, given the vast gulf in spending power between the two clubs.
Arsenal, however, may feel nervous about the tie, especially the first leg in Scotland, where Celtic have an excellent home record in Europe.
Mowbray said that he relished the task facing him and his players. “It’s a tough draw for us, but everyone at the club is looking forward to two games against one of the top sides in European football,” the Celtic manager said. “It’s a glamour draw for both clubs and one that will certainly capture the imagination of both sets of supporters. We can all look forward to two fantastic European nights.
“I have huge respect for Arsène and the job he’s done at Arsenal. He’s had a lot of success at the club and has built a side that plays the game in the right way. Arsenal don’t spend the millions on players that other English clubs do, but they play with a real style and always try to entertain. That’s down to Arsène and his philosophy.
“It’s a hard draw for us but we will go into the game fully prepared and confident. The attitude and application of the players since I arrived at Celtic has been first class, and their ability was there for all to see against Dynamo on Wednesday.”
The tie poses crowd and security issues. Celtic Park will be filled to its 60,000 capacity for the first leg, but the Scottish club could easily take 25,000 supporters to London for the second leg. Celtic, of course, will receive only a fraction of that number of tickets.
While Wenger has been criticised for his lack of summer recruitment, Mowbray has so far spent £3.8 million — quite a sum for Celtic — on Marc-Antoine Fortuné, the Nancy striker, who featured under Mowbray during a loan deal at West Bromwich Albion last season, as well as £2.5 million on Danny Fox, the defender, from Coventry City. Landry N’Guemo, the Cameroon midfield player, has also been brought in on loan from Nancy.
The Celtic manager has had a hectic time since being appointed as Gordon Strachan’s successor on June 17 and has been critical of the club’s pre-season schedule, which he inherited on his arrival. As well as trying to qualify for Europe and sign new players, Celtic have played friendlies in Australia, Cardiff, London and Manchester.
“Sometimes it has seemed we’ve spent more time in the air than on the ground, so it has not been ideal,” Mowbray said. “But I make no excuses. It is the club’s business and we get on with it. And I’m only at the very start of a work in progress here at Celtic.”
Charlie Nicholas, the former Celtic and Arsenal striker, said that the tie will be closer than many might expect. “They would have wanted to avoid each other,” Nicholas said. “But the Celtic fans will be happy because after their last two games they would fancy playing anyone. It was a very good performance from them the other night in Russia.
“For Arsenal, the concern is the lack of players they have brought in, on top of their injuries. I think it will be very tight.”
Champions League draw
First leg Aug 18-19, second leg Aug 25-26
Lyons v Anderlecht Celtic v Arsenal Timisoara v Stuttgart Sporting Lisbon v Fiorentina Panathinaikos v Atlético Madrid Sheriff v Olympiacos Red Bull Salzburg v Maccabi Haifa Ventspils v FC Zurich Copenhagen v Apoel Nicosia Levski Sofia v Debreceni
Europa League draw
To be played on Aug 20 and 27, British clubs only
Dynamo Zagreb v Heart of Midlothian Everton v Sigma Olomouc Fulham v Amkar Perm Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa.
Source:The times
Arsenal were drawn to face Celtic yesterday in the play-offs for the Champions League group stage, a tie that is already inducing feelings of excitement and anxiety on both sides of the Border.
Arsène Wenger’s side will travel north for the first leg in Glasgow on August 18 or 19, with the return match taking place a week later at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal were already guaranteed their place in yesterday’s draw, while Celtic secured their play-off spot after their 2-0 win away to Dynamo Moscow on Wednesday night, having lost the first leg 1-0 in Glasgow.
In Scotland, some of the more cynical observers believe that Tony Mowbray’s side could face a hiding at the hands of their English opponents, given the vast gulf in spending power between the two clubs.
Arsenal, however, may feel nervous about the tie, especially the first leg in Scotland, where Celtic have an excellent home record in Europe.
Mowbray said that he relished the task facing him and his players. “It’s a tough draw for us, but everyone at the club is looking forward to two games against one of the top sides in European football,” the Celtic manager said. “It’s a glamour draw for both clubs and one that will certainly capture the imagination of both sets of supporters. We can all look forward to two fantastic European nights.
“I have huge respect for Arsène and the job he’s done at Arsenal. He’s had a lot of success at the club and has built a side that plays the game in the right way. Arsenal don’t spend the millions on players that other English clubs do, but they play with a real style and always try to entertain. That’s down to Arsène and his philosophy.
“It’s a hard draw for us but we will go into the game fully prepared and confident. The attitude and application of the players since I arrived at Celtic has been first class, and their ability was there for all to see against Dynamo on Wednesday.”
The tie poses crowd and security issues. Celtic Park will be filled to its 60,000 capacity for the first leg, but the Scottish club could easily take 25,000 supporters to London for the second leg. Celtic, of course, will receive only a fraction of that number of tickets.
While Wenger has been criticised for his lack of summer recruitment, Mowbray has so far spent £3.8 million — quite a sum for Celtic — on Marc-Antoine Fortuné, the Nancy striker, who featured under Mowbray during a loan deal at West Bromwich Albion last season, as well as £2.5 million on Danny Fox, the defender, from Coventry City. Landry N’Guemo, the Cameroon midfield player, has also been brought in on loan from Nancy.
The Celtic manager has had a hectic time since being appointed as Gordon Strachan’s successor on June 17 and has been critical of the club’s pre-season schedule, which he inherited on his arrival. As well as trying to qualify for Europe and sign new players, Celtic have played friendlies in Australia, Cardiff, London and Manchester.
“Sometimes it has seemed we’ve spent more time in the air than on the ground, so it has not been ideal,” Mowbray said. “But I make no excuses. It is the club’s business and we get on with it. And I’m only at the very start of a work in progress here at Celtic.”
Charlie Nicholas, the former Celtic and Arsenal striker, said that the tie will be closer than many might expect. “They would have wanted to avoid each other,” Nicholas said. “But the Celtic fans will be happy because after their last two games they would fancy playing anyone. It was a very good performance from them the other night in Russia.
“For Arsenal, the concern is the lack of players they have brought in, on top of their injuries. I think it will be very tight.”
Champions League draw
First leg Aug 18-19, second leg Aug 25-26
Lyons v Anderlecht Celtic v Arsenal Timisoara v Stuttgart Sporting Lisbon v Fiorentina Panathinaikos v Atlético Madrid Sheriff v Olympiacos Red Bull Salzburg v Maccabi Haifa Ventspils v FC Zurich Copenhagen v Apoel Nicosia Levski Sofia v Debreceni
Europa League draw
To be played on Aug 20 and 27, British clubs only
Dynamo Zagreb v Heart of Midlothian Everton v Sigma Olomouc Fulham v Amkar Perm Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa.
Source:The times
Shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo looms large over Manchester United’s young pretenders
Sir Alex Ferguson warns his young forwards that they have some way to go before they can replace the departed Portuguese striker.
Even as his team prepare to raise the curtain on the new top-flight season tomorrow, Sir Alex Ferguson remains misty-eyed about the star performer who has left the building.
Other big-name players have departed the Old Trafford stage with barely a pat on the back from Ferguson down the years, but the Manchester United manager continues to shower bouquets on Cristiano Ronaldo.
The context yesterday, before the Community Shield match against Chelsea at Wembley tomorrow, was the size of the task facing Wayne Rooney, in particular, as he looks to lead United into the post-Ronaldo era. For all the varying qualities of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and others, Rooney appears the most obvious talisman for the new-look United, but Ferguson appeared hesitant at best yesterday when asked whether the England forward was ready to emulate Ronaldo, now at Real Madrid, in making the jump towards the highest echelons.
It was put to Ferguson that three years ago Ronaldo and Rooney were synonymous, two young players, 21 and 20, with immense potential and that, whereas the Englishman has gradually attained or come close to world-class status, his Portuguese team-mate went stratospheric.
Greatness should not be measured in terms of goals alone, but, having scored as many Premier League goals (13) in his first two seasons at United as Ronaldo managed in his first three, Rooney, like everyone else in the English game, was left in Ronaldo’s wake from the start of the 2006-07 campaign, managing 38 goals in 83 league starts as opposed to his team-mate’s incredible haul of 66 in 93.
When Ferguson described Ronaldo recently as “without question the best player in this world of ours — streets ahead of Lionel Messi, streets ahead of Kaká”, it went without saying that he was saying that Real’s £80 million man was streets ahead of anyone he left behind at Old Trafford. That extends to Valencia, who was signed from Wigan Athletic as the closest thing to a direct replacement for the Portugal forward, but Ferguson is expecting big things from the Ecuadorean, a more orthodox threat on the right wing, as well as a great leap forward from Rooney and others.
Ferguson talked of having “bought potential” in the shape of Valencia, a player who, having turned 24 this week, is only six months younger than Ronaldo. He talked, too, of the rich potential of Rooney, Nani, Danny Welbeck and, in particular, Federico Macheda, the 17-year-old Italian forward who, he said, “is going to give me real problems. For his age, he’s exceptional. He’s going to be a top, top player.”
No one at Old Trafford, it seems, though, can yet bear comparison to Ronaldo. “Wayne is a totally different type of player to Ronaldo,” Ferguson said. “I don’t think you can compare them. Ronaldo is lightning quick, he has two good feet, he is magnificent in the air, and what is there left to say about his goalscoring record?
“For any player, whether it is Rooney, Macheda, Welbeck or Nani, all the forwards, they all have to say, ‘Well, this guy was exceptional.’ And the only way any player can achieve an improvement is through practice on the training field, having the desire to improve themselves in every training session. People in our game misread what a training session means. It’s not just to fill your morning or keep you out of the house. It is to improve yourselves as footballers.
“We are lucky that some of the players we have had here, and have at the moment, have that desire to improve all the time. It’s only through training sessions that players can improve.”
What is clear is Ferguson’s belief that Ronaldo rose to greatness through hard work and that nobody, whether it is Rooney, Macheda, Berbatov or Nani, can expect to emulate their former team-mate without total commitment on the training ground.
The other main factor in United’s success in the past three seasons has been a solid defence, but their resources will be stretched as the new campaign begins. Edwin van der Sar is out for ten weeks with a broken finger, while Nemanja Vidic will join Gary Neville and Rafael Da Silva in sitting out the Barclays Premier League opener against Birmingham City next weekend.
Ben Foster is expected to start in goal for United tomorrow, with Rio Ferdinand marshalling John O’Shea, Jonny Evans and Fabio Da Silva in a makeshift back four that Chelsea, under new management yet again, will be eager to exploit.
Source:The times
Even as his team prepare to raise the curtain on the new top-flight season tomorrow, Sir Alex Ferguson remains misty-eyed about the star performer who has left the building.
Other big-name players have departed the Old Trafford stage with barely a pat on the back from Ferguson down the years, but the Manchester United manager continues to shower bouquets on Cristiano Ronaldo.
The context yesterday, before the Community Shield match against Chelsea at Wembley tomorrow, was the size of the task facing Wayne Rooney, in particular, as he looks to lead United into the post-Ronaldo era. For all the varying qualities of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and others, Rooney appears the most obvious talisman for the new-look United, but Ferguson appeared hesitant at best yesterday when asked whether the England forward was ready to emulate Ronaldo, now at Real Madrid, in making the jump towards the highest echelons.
It was put to Ferguson that three years ago Ronaldo and Rooney were synonymous, two young players, 21 and 20, with immense potential and that, whereas the Englishman has gradually attained or come close to world-class status, his Portuguese team-mate went stratospheric.
Greatness should not be measured in terms of goals alone, but, having scored as many Premier League goals (13) in his first two seasons at United as Ronaldo managed in his first three, Rooney, like everyone else in the English game, was left in Ronaldo’s wake from the start of the 2006-07 campaign, managing 38 goals in 83 league starts as opposed to his team-mate’s incredible haul of 66 in 93.
When Ferguson described Ronaldo recently as “without question the best player in this world of ours — streets ahead of Lionel Messi, streets ahead of Kaká”, it went without saying that he was saying that Real’s £80 million man was streets ahead of anyone he left behind at Old Trafford. That extends to Valencia, who was signed from Wigan Athletic as the closest thing to a direct replacement for the Portugal forward, but Ferguson is expecting big things from the Ecuadorean, a more orthodox threat on the right wing, as well as a great leap forward from Rooney and others.
Ferguson talked of having “bought potential” in the shape of Valencia, a player who, having turned 24 this week, is only six months younger than Ronaldo. He talked, too, of the rich potential of Rooney, Nani, Danny Welbeck and, in particular, Federico Macheda, the 17-year-old Italian forward who, he said, “is going to give me real problems. For his age, he’s exceptional. He’s going to be a top, top player.”
No one at Old Trafford, it seems, though, can yet bear comparison to Ronaldo. “Wayne is a totally different type of player to Ronaldo,” Ferguson said. “I don’t think you can compare them. Ronaldo is lightning quick, he has two good feet, he is magnificent in the air, and what is there left to say about his goalscoring record?
“For any player, whether it is Rooney, Macheda, Welbeck or Nani, all the forwards, they all have to say, ‘Well, this guy was exceptional.’ And the only way any player can achieve an improvement is through practice on the training field, having the desire to improve themselves in every training session. People in our game misread what a training session means. It’s not just to fill your morning or keep you out of the house. It is to improve yourselves as footballers.
“We are lucky that some of the players we have had here, and have at the moment, have that desire to improve all the time. It’s only through training sessions that players can improve.”
What is clear is Ferguson’s belief that Ronaldo rose to greatness through hard work and that nobody, whether it is Rooney, Macheda, Berbatov or Nani, can expect to emulate their former team-mate without total commitment on the training ground.
The other main factor in United’s success in the past three seasons has been a solid defence, but their resources will be stretched as the new campaign begins. Edwin van der Sar is out for ten weeks with a broken finger, while Nemanja Vidic will join Gary Neville and Rafael Da Silva in sitting out the Barclays Premier League opener against Birmingham City next weekend.
Ben Foster is expected to start in goal for United tomorrow, with Rio Ferdinand marshalling John O’Shea, Jonny Evans and Fabio Da Silva in a makeshift back four that Chelsea, under new management yet again, will be eager to exploit.
Source:The times
Shadow of Cristiano Ronaldo looms large over Manchester United’s young pretenders
Sir Alex Ferguson warns his young forwards that they have some way to go before they can replace the departed Portuguese striker.
Even as his team prepare to raise the curtain on the new top-flight season tomorrow, Sir Alex Ferguson remains misty-eyed about the star performer who has left the building.
Other big-name players have departed the Old Trafford stage with barely a pat on the back from Ferguson down the years, but the Manchester United manager continues to shower bouquets on Cristiano Ronaldo.
The context yesterday, before the Community Shield match against Chelsea at Wembley tomorrow, was the size of the task facing Wayne Rooney, in particular, as he looks to lead United into the post-Ronaldo era. For all the varying qualities of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and others, Rooney appears the most obvious talisman for the new-look United, but Ferguson appeared hesitant at best yesterday when asked whether the England forward was ready to emulate Ronaldo, now at Real Madrid, in making the jump towards the highest echelons.
It was put to Ferguson that three years ago Ronaldo and Rooney were synonymous, two young players, 21 and 20, with immense potential and that, whereas the Englishman has gradually attained or come close to world-class status, his Portuguese team-mate went stratospheric.
Greatness should not be measured in terms of goals alone, but, having scored as many Premier League goals (13) in his first two seasons at United as Ronaldo managed in his first three, Rooney, like everyone else in the English game, was left in Ronaldo’s wake from the start of the 2006-07 campaign, managing 38 goals in 83 league starts as opposed to his team-mate’s incredible haul of 66 in 93.
When Ferguson described Ronaldo recently as “without question the best player in this world of ours — streets ahead of Lionel Messi, streets ahead of Kaká”, it went without saying that he was saying that Real’s £80 million man was streets ahead of anyone he left behind at Old Trafford. That extends to Valencia, who was signed from Wigan Athletic as the closest thing to a direct replacement for the Portugal forward, but Ferguson is expecting big things from the Ecuadorean, a more orthodox threat on the right wing, as well as a great leap forward from Rooney and others.
Ferguson talked of having “bought potential” in the shape of Valencia, a player who, having turned 24 this week, is only six months younger than Ronaldo. He talked, too, of the rich potential of Rooney, Nani, Danny Welbeck and, in particular, Federico Macheda, the 17-year-old Italian forward who, he said, “is going to give me real problems. For his age, he’s exceptional. He’s going to be a top, top player.”
No one at Old Trafford, it seems, though, can yet bear comparison to Ronaldo. “Wayne is a totally different type of player to Ronaldo,” Ferguson said. “I don’t think you can compare them. Ronaldo is lightning quick, he has two good feet, he is magnificent in the air, and what is there left to say about his goalscoring record?
“For any player, whether it is Rooney, Macheda, Welbeck or Nani, all the forwards, they all have to say, ‘Well, this guy was exceptional.’ And the only way any player can achieve an improvement is through practice on the training field, having the desire to improve themselves in every training session. People in our game misread what a training session means. It’s not just to fill your morning or keep you out of the house. It is to improve yourselves as footballers.
“We are lucky that some of the players we have had here, and have at the moment, have that desire to improve all the time. It’s only through training sessions that players can improve.”
What is clear is Ferguson’s belief that Ronaldo rose to greatness through hard work and that nobody, whether it is Rooney, Macheda, Berbatov or Nani, can expect to emulate their former team-mate without total commitment on the training ground.
The other main factor in United’s success in the past three seasons has been a solid defence, but their resources will be stretched as the new campaign begins. Edwin van der Sar is out for ten weeks with a broken finger, while Nemanja Vidic will join Gary Neville and Rafael Da Silva in sitting out the Barclays Premier League opener against Birmingham City next weekend.
Ben Foster is expected to start in goal for United tomorrow, with Rio Ferdinand marshalling John O’Shea, Jonny Evans and Fabio Da Silva in a makeshift back four that Chelsea, under new management yet again, will be eager to exploit.
Source:The times
Even as his team prepare to raise the curtain on the new top-flight season tomorrow, Sir Alex Ferguson remains misty-eyed about the star performer who has left the building.
Other big-name players have departed the Old Trafford stage with barely a pat on the back from Ferguson down the years, but the Manchester United manager continues to shower bouquets on Cristiano Ronaldo.
The context yesterday, before the Community Shield match against Chelsea at Wembley tomorrow, was the size of the task facing Wayne Rooney, in particular, as he looks to lead United into the post-Ronaldo era. For all the varying qualities of Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen, Antonio Valencia and others, Rooney appears the most obvious talisman for the new-look United, but Ferguson appeared hesitant at best yesterday when asked whether the England forward was ready to emulate Ronaldo, now at Real Madrid, in making the jump towards the highest echelons.
It was put to Ferguson that three years ago Ronaldo and Rooney were synonymous, two young players, 21 and 20, with immense potential and that, whereas the Englishman has gradually attained or come close to world-class status, his Portuguese team-mate went stratospheric.
Greatness should not be measured in terms of goals alone, but, having scored as many Premier League goals (13) in his first two seasons at United as Ronaldo managed in his first three, Rooney, like everyone else in the English game, was left in Ronaldo’s wake from the start of the 2006-07 campaign, managing 38 goals in 83 league starts as opposed to his team-mate’s incredible haul of 66 in 93.
When Ferguson described Ronaldo recently as “without question the best player in this world of ours — streets ahead of Lionel Messi, streets ahead of Kaká”, it went without saying that he was saying that Real’s £80 million man was streets ahead of anyone he left behind at Old Trafford. That extends to Valencia, who was signed from Wigan Athletic as the closest thing to a direct replacement for the Portugal forward, but Ferguson is expecting big things from the Ecuadorean, a more orthodox threat on the right wing, as well as a great leap forward from Rooney and others.
Ferguson talked of having “bought potential” in the shape of Valencia, a player who, having turned 24 this week, is only six months younger than Ronaldo. He talked, too, of the rich potential of Rooney, Nani, Danny Welbeck and, in particular, Federico Macheda, the 17-year-old Italian forward who, he said, “is going to give me real problems. For his age, he’s exceptional. He’s going to be a top, top player.”
No one at Old Trafford, it seems, though, can yet bear comparison to Ronaldo. “Wayne is a totally different type of player to Ronaldo,” Ferguson said. “I don’t think you can compare them. Ronaldo is lightning quick, he has two good feet, he is magnificent in the air, and what is there left to say about his goalscoring record?
“For any player, whether it is Rooney, Macheda, Welbeck or Nani, all the forwards, they all have to say, ‘Well, this guy was exceptional.’ And the only way any player can achieve an improvement is through practice on the training field, having the desire to improve themselves in every training session. People in our game misread what a training session means. It’s not just to fill your morning or keep you out of the house. It is to improve yourselves as footballers.
“We are lucky that some of the players we have had here, and have at the moment, have that desire to improve all the time. It’s only through training sessions that players can improve.”
What is clear is Ferguson’s belief that Ronaldo rose to greatness through hard work and that nobody, whether it is Rooney, Macheda, Berbatov or Nani, can expect to emulate their former team-mate without total commitment on the training ground.
The other main factor in United’s success in the past three seasons has been a solid defence, but their resources will be stretched as the new campaign begins. Edwin van der Sar is out for ten weeks with a broken finger, while Nemanja Vidic will join Gary Neville and Rafael Da Silva in sitting out the Barclays Premier League opener against Birmingham City next weekend.
Ben Foster is expected to start in goal for United tomorrow, with Rio Ferdinand marshalling John O’Shea, Jonny Evans and Fabio Da Silva in a makeshift back four that Chelsea, under new management yet again, will be eager to exploit.
Source:The times
Australia take stranglehold on first day of fourth Ashes Test
Headingley Carnegie (first day of five; England won toss): Australia, with six first-innings wickets in hand, are 94 runs ahead of England.
Throughout the summer, Andrew Strauss has been making bullish noises about his team’s ability to cope without their alpha males, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen.
The hypothetical became a reality as England took to the field for the first time in nearly six years without either. The response was not so much a statement of independence as a cry for help, Australia bowling out England for their lowest Ashes total at Headingley in a hundred years and finishing the day in credit, if not quite yet in clover. Before the start, England were effectively five good days from regaining the Ashes. But so disastrously did things go for the first two sessions yesterday, from the early news of Flintoff’s withdrawal, to Matt Prior’s pre-match back spasm — which required a last-minute injection — to the thoroughly inept batting and bowling that, in its own way, was just as poor, that it will take a remarkable turnaround if England are to go to the Brit Oval on Thursday week with their lead intact.
This pantomime summer has seen Ricky Ponting cast as the ugly sister to Strauss’s Cinderella, booed every time he has appeared on stage. He was booed thunderously to the crease by a certain section of the crowd again, more a raspberry to interfering administrators than any hatred of Ponting, and was booed off the stage as well, but by the time he departed leg-before to Stuart Broad, his team were already 38 to the good.
Ponting played the innings of the day, even if he was helped by an England attack far more accommodating than the clowns on the Western Terrace. The bowling was short and often wide, as if to order, so that Ponting was able to showcase to his detractors the cutting and pulling at which he is just about the best in the business. He shared in a century partnership with Shane Watson, the fifty-and-out man, which consolidated his team’s earlier gains. A lead of 150 or more should prove enough.
In the wake of a first-innings batting performance so woeful that only two batsmen made double figures, questions will no doubt be asked about England’s team selection after Flintoff’s withdrawal. But those who argue for the extra batsman — selecting Jonathan Trott at the expense of Broad — will be aiming arrows at the wrong target. England were collectively awful yesterday, so much so that one player could hardly have made much difference, and Broad was the best bowler in the last session, snaring Mike Hussey leg-before as well as Ponting.
Once Prior had recovered, England made one change, Stephen Harmison replacing Flintoff. It was a show of faith in the five specialist batsmen, but they suffered a failure of nerve, technique and planning, all five caught in the arc between wicketkeeper and gully, four for single-figure scores, as Australia bowled the kind of full, probing length that was beyond England later.
Certainly this proved to be a decent toss to lose for Ponting, the ball swinging consistently in the morning and darting off a dry surface like a chased buck, but that is expected at this most capricious of grounds. Headingley demands craftsman-like disciplines — playing tightly around off stump, not driving anything other than halfvolleys, not chasing anything too wide — and these were ignored.
Credit, though, to Australia, who, by replacing Nathan Hauritz with Stuart Clark, got their selections spot on and set about consolidating the momentum they believed had come their way at Edgbaston with their best bowling performance of the summer.
Although Peter Siddle took five wickets, the first and the last four, Clark was central to Australia’s improvement. His absence until now has been a surprise because he has always seemed ideally suited to English conditions. There have been whispers that he has lost a little of his nip, but given the movement on offer, the premium was on accuracy, not pace. A ten-over spell of exquisite medium-pace swing and cut either side of lunch brought him four maidens, three wickets — Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood pushing forward and Broad clipping to short square leg — and England just 18 runs. He applied the tourniquet that Australia have been missing throughout the summer.
Clark’s pressure from one end brought benefits at the other as England’s middle order was exposed again. Ravi Bopara, looking increasingly out of his depth at No 3, hung his bat out limply to Ben Hilfenhaus and was caught in the gully, while Ian Bell failed to get his glove out of the way of a ripsnorting bouncer from the improving Mitchell Johnson. Only Prior, stranded on 37, stood tall.
It was the most difficult day that Strauss has had as captain, with a fire alarm going off at the team hotel at an unsociable hour and the shenanigans surrounding Prior’s late fitness test. The key for captains who are opening batsmen is to be able to put the worries to one side when the first ball comes down. But there was so much going on before the start of play, so many decisions to make and such a short space of time once the toss had been put back by ten minutes, that it would have been near impossible.
So when Hilfenhaus bowled a perfect first ball — the kind that a left-hander dreads above all (full length and swinging back into the pads) — the surprise was not that Strauss missed it, but that Billy Bowden did not raise the crooked finger. It was plumb.
A mighty reprieve, then, but the captain’s mind was clearly elsewhere, and he wafted 16 balls later at a wide ball from Siddle, Marcus North pouching a stunner at slip. It was a bad start for Strauss on a day when his Ashes dreams may have turned to dust.
Scoreboard
England: First Innings*A J Strauss c North b Siddle 3A N Cook c Clarke b Clark 30R S Bopara c Hussey b Hilfenhaus 1I R Bell c Haddin b Johnson 8P D Collingwood c Ponting b Clark 0†M J Prior not out 37S C J Broad c Katich b Clark 3G P Swann c Clarke b Siddle 0S J Harmison c Haddin b Siddle 0J M Anderson c Haddin b Siddle 3G Onions c Katich b Siddle 0Extras (b 5, lb 8, w 1, nb 3) 17Total (33.5 overs) 102
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-16, 3-39, 4-42, 5-63, 6-72, 7-92, 8-98, 9-102.
Bowling: Hilfenhaus 7-0-20-1; Siddle 9.5-0-21-5; Johnson 7-0-30-1; Clark 10-4-18-3.
Australia: First InningsS R Watson lbw b Onions 51S M Katich c Bopara b Harmison 0*R T Ponting lbw b Broad 78M E K Hussey lbw b Broad 10M J Clarke not out 34M J North not out 7Extras (b 9, lb 3, w 2, nb 2) 16Total (4 wkts, 47 overs) 196
†B J Haddin, M G Johnson, S R Clark, P M Siddle and B W Hilfenhaus to bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-133, 3-140, 4-151.
Bowling: Anderson 12-2-55-0; Harmison 13-3-55-1; Onions 11-2-45-1; Broad 11-4-29-2.
Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and B F Bowden (New Zealand).
Source:The times
Throughout the summer, Andrew Strauss has been making bullish noises about his team’s ability to cope without their alpha males, Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen.
The hypothetical became a reality as England took to the field for the first time in nearly six years without either. The response was not so much a statement of independence as a cry for help, Australia bowling out England for their lowest Ashes total at Headingley in a hundred years and finishing the day in credit, if not quite yet in clover. Before the start, England were effectively five good days from regaining the Ashes. But so disastrously did things go for the first two sessions yesterday, from the early news of Flintoff’s withdrawal, to Matt Prior’s pre-match back spasm — which required a last-minute injection — to the thoroughly inept batting and bowling that, in its own way, was just as poor, that it will take a remarkable turnaround if England are to go to the Brit Oval on Thursday week with their lead intact.
This pantomime summer has seen Ricky Ponting cast as the ugly sister to Strauss’s Cinderella, booed every time he has appeared on stage. He was booed thunderously to the crease by a certain section of the crowd again, more a raspberry to interfering administrators than any hatred of Ponting, and was booed off the stage as well, but by the time he departed leg-before to Stuart Broad, his team were already 38 to the good.
Ponting played the innings of the day, even if he was helped by an England attack far more accommodating than the clowns on the Western Terrace. The bowling was short and often wide, as if to order, so that Ponting was able to showcase to his detractors the cutting and pulling at which he is just about the best in the business. He shared in a century partnership with Shane Watson, the fifty-and-out man, which consolidated his team’s earlier gains. A lead of 150 or more should prove enough.
In the wake of a first-innings batting performance so woeful that only two batsmen made double figures, questions will no doubt be asked about England’s team selection after Flintoff’s withdrawal. But those who argue for the extra batsman — selecting Jonathan Trott at the expense of Broad — will be aiming arrows at the wrong target. England were collectively awful yesterday, so much so that one player could hardly have made much difference, and Broad was the best bowler in the last session, snaring Mike Hussey leg-before as well as Ponting.
Once Prior had recovered, England made one change, Stephen Harmison replacing Flintoff. It was a show of faith in the five specialist batsmen, but they suffered a failure of nerve, technique and planning, all five caught in the arc between wicketkeeper and gully, four for single-figure scores, as Australia bowled the kind of full, probing length that was beyond England later.
Certainly this proved to be a decent toss to lose for Ponting, the ball swinging consistently in the morning and darting off a dry surface like a chased buck, but that is expected at this most capricious of grounds. Headingley demands craftsman-like disciplines — playing tightly around off stump, not driving anything other than halfvolleys, not chasing anything too wide — and these were ignored.
Credit, though, to Australia, who, by replacing Nathan Hauritz with Stuart Clark, got their selections spot on and set about consolidating the momentum they believed had come their way at Edgbaston with their best bowling performance of the summer.
Although Peter Siddle took five wickets, the first and the last four, Clark was central to Australia’s improvement. His absence until now has been a surprise because he has always seemed ideally suited to English conditions. There have been whispers that he has lost a little of his nip, but given the movement on offer, the premium was on accuracy, not pace. A ten-over spell of exquisite medium-pace swing and cut either side of lunch brought him four maidens, three wickets — Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood pushing forward and Broad clipping to short square leg — and England just 18 runs. He applied the tourniquet that Australia have been missing throughout the summer.
Clark’s pressure from one end brought benefits at the other as England’s middle order was exposed again. Ravi Bopara, looking increasingly out of his depth at No 3, hung his bat out limply to Ben Hilfenhaus and was caught in the gully, while Ian Bell failed to get his glove out of the way of a ripsnorting bouncer from the improving Mitchell Johnson. Only Prior, stranded on 37, stood tall.
It was the most difficult day that Strauss has had as captain, with a fire alarm going off at the team hotel at an unsociable hour and the shenanigans surrounding Prior’s late fitness test. The key for captains who are opening batsmen is to be able to put the worries to one side when the first ball comes down. But there was so much going on before the start of play, so many decisions to make and such a short space of time once the toss had been put back by ten minutes, that it would have been near impossible.
So when Hilfenhaus bowled a perfect first ball — the kind that a left-hander dreads above all (full length and swinging back into the pads) — the surprise was not that Strauss missed it, but that Billy Bowden did not raise the crooked finger. It was plumb.
A mighty reprieve, then, but the captain’s mind was clearly elsewhere, and he wafted 16 balls later at a wide ball from Siddle, Marcus North pouching a stunner at slip. It was a bad start for Strauss on a day when his Ashes dreams may have turned to dust.
Scoreboard
England: First Innings*A J Strauss c North b Siddle 3A N Cook c Clarke b Clark 30R S Bopara c Hussey b Hilfenhaus 1I R Bell c Haddin b Johnson 8P D Collingwood c Ponting b Clark 0†M J Prior not out 37S C J Broad c Katich b Clark 3G P Swann c Clarke b Siddle 0S J Harmison c Haddin b Siddle 0J M Anderson c Haddin b Siddle 3G Onions c Katich b Siddle 0Extras (b 5, lb 8, w 1, nb 3) 17Total (33.5 overs) 102
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-16, 3-39, 4-42, 5-63, 6-72, 7-92, 8-98, 9-102.
Bowling: Hilfenhaus 7-0-20-1; Siddle 9.5-0-21-5; Johnson 7-0-30-1; Clark 10-4-18-3.
Australia: First InningsS R Watson lbw b Onions 51S M Katich c Bopara b Harmison 0*R T Ponting lbw b Broad 78M E K Hussey lbw b Broad 10M J Clarke not out 34M J North not out 7Extras (b 9, lb 3, w 2, nb 2) 16Total (4 wkts, 47 overs) 196
†B J Haddin, M G Johnson, S R Clark, P M Siddle and B W Hilfenhaus to bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-133, 3-140, 4-151.
Bowling: Anderson 12-2-55-0; Harmison 13-3-55-1; Onions 11-2-45-1; Broad 11-4-29-2.
Umpires: Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and B F Bowden (New Zealand).
Source:The times
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Andrea Pirlo is off the market, say AC Milan
Chelsea's pursuit of Andrea Pirlo looks set to end in disappointment after AC Milan said the midfielder would not be leaving the San Siro.
Silvio Berlusconi, the Milan owner, met with vice-president Adriano Galliani and coach Leonardo to discuss Pirlo's future, after which he announced that Pirlo had been taken off the market. "Andrea Pirlo will stay with us and finish his career at Milan," Berlusconi said.
Berlusconi revealed that the Serie A club had received an offer from Chelsea, but that the player's importance to the team meant he would be impossible to replace. "Chelsea made a major offer for Andrea Pirlo," he said. "We spoke to the player and decided to grant Leonardo's request that we keep Pirlo.
"Galliani will have the funds necessary to buy a great goalscorer immediately to flank the strikers already in the squad."
Milan are expected to renew their efforts to lure Brazil's Luis Fabiano from Seville, while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, of Real Madrid, and Chelsea's Claudio Pizarro are also targets.
Source:The times
Silvio Berlusconi, the Milan owner, met with vice-president Adriano Galliani and coach Leonardo to discuss Pirlo's future, after which he announced that Pirlo had been taken off the market. "Andrea Pirlo will stay with us and finish his career at Milan," Berlusconi said.
Berlusconi revealed that the Serie A club had received an offer from Chelsea, but that the player's importance to the team meant he would be impossible to replace. "Chelsea made a major offer for Andrea Pirlo," he said. "We spoke to the player and decided to grant Leonardo's request that we keep Pirlo.
"Galliani will have the funds necessary to buy a great goalscorer immediately to flank the strikers already in the squad."
Milan are expected to renew their efforts to lure Brazil's Luis Fabiano from Seville, while Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, of Real Madrid, and Chelsea's Claudio Pizarro are also targets.
Source:The times
Liverpool agree £20m fee with Roma for Alberto Aquilani
Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Alberto Aquilani from Roma, subject to a medical, for about £20 million.
The signing comes just hours after Xabi Alonso passed his medical at Real Madrid and completed a £30m move to the Bernabeu after five years at Anfield.
"Alberto is a very good player and I'm delighted we've reached agreement with Roma for his transfer," Rafa Benitez, the Liverpool manager, said. "He will travel to Merseyside later this week for a medical. Alberto has a winning mentality and great experience in both Serie A and the Champions League.
"He has long been recognised as a top class talent in Italy, captaining his country at both under-19 and under-21 levels before establishing himself in the senior national side."
The Italy midfielder has not played since March, having made only 14 league appearances last season, and underwent surgery on his right ankle in May.
Source:The times
The signing comes just hours after Xabi Alonso passed his medical at Real Madrid and completed a £30m move to the Bernabeu after five years at Anfield.
"Alberto is a very good player and I'm delighted we've reached agreement with Roma for his transfer," Rafa Benitez, the Liverpool manager, said. "He will travel to Merseyside later this week for a medical. Alberto has a winning mentality and great experience in both Serie A and the Champions League.
"He has long been recognised as a top class talent in Italy, captaining his country at both under-19 and under-21 levels before establishing himself in the senior national side."
The Italy midfielder has not played since March, having made only 14 league appearances last season, and underwent surgery on his right ankle in May.
Source:The times
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Follow Ashes third Test live with Hawk-Eye
Click on the image below for live commentary on every ball.
Times Online is the best place to follow the Ashes this summer - thanks to our partnership with Hawk-Eye, the computer software that answers some of the age-old questions in cricket.
Was the umpire right to give Andrew Strauss out leg-before? How far did Graeme Swann turn that ball? How quick is James Anderson's slower ball?
We are carrying ball-by-ball coverage of every Ashes Test match, with over-by-over analysis of the main talking points by one of our writers.
View the live updated scoreboard to see how the game is progressing.
Sign up for our Predictor game in which you can guess when the next wicket will fall and how many runs will be scored off each over.
Pledge your allegiance to England or Australia and see which country has the most knowledgeable fans.
Mike Atherton delivers his breakfast report and tea-time analysis, plus listen to our podcasts and watch Shane Warne's video series, including one on How England can beat Australia.
You can also follow the Ashes live on your mobile, free of charge. To get live scores and The Times's live commentary, go to http://m.pulselive.com on your phone's browser or text the word ASHES to 87700 for a link to our Ashes page and then follow the link to the live commentary.
Stay with Times Online for the best coverage of the Ashes series.
Source:The times
Times Online is the best place to follow the Ashes this summer - thanks to our partnership with Hawk-Eye, the computer software that answers some of the age-old questions in cricket.
Was the umpire right to give Andrew Strauss out leg-before? How far did Graeme Swann turn that ball? How quick is James Anderson's slower ball?
We are carrying ball-by-ball coverage of every Ashes Test match, with over-by-over analysis of the main talking points by one of our writers.
View the live updated scoreboard to see how the game is progressing.
Sign up for our Predictor game in which you can guess when the next wicket will fall and how many runs will be scored off each over.
Pledge your allegiance to England or Australia and see which country has the most knowledgeable fans.
Mike Atherton delivers his breakfast report and tea-time analysis, plus listen to our podcasts and watch Shane Warne's video series, including one on How England can beat Australia.
You can also follow the Ashes live on your mobile, free of charge. To get live scores and The Times's live commentary, go to http://m.pulselive.com on your phone's browser or text the word ASHES to 87700 for a link to our Ashes page and then follow the link to the live commentary.
Stay with Times Online for the best coverage of the Ashes series.
Source:The times
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
