Flintoff gets green light to play in Ashes finale August 10, 2009 WOUNDED England received the perfect pick-me-up last night after being told talismanic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will be fit for the decisive fifth Ashes Test at The Oval next week. Flintoff, 31, was controversially left out of the fourth Test at Headingley at the weekend and was sorely missed as England crashed to Australia by an [...]
Let battle commence again August 10, 2009 THE fantastic battle between Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington at Firestone on Sunday night whets the appetite for what promises to be an intriguing US PGA Championship this week. I’m fast running out of superlatives to describe Tiger Woods – the statistics speak from themselves. This was his seventh Bridgestone victory – a Tour record [...]
Harrington: Rivalry with Tiger only just beginning August 10, 2009 IRELAND’S Padraig Harrington insists he has already put his triple-bogey heartbreak behind him as he turns his attention to this week’s US PGA Championship. Harrington was one shot clear and heading for his first win of the season at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio on Sunday when disaster struck at the 16th hole. The [...]
England set to axe flops after Aussies take charge August 9, 2009 Bopara under threat as Flower prepares for deciding Ashes Test at the OvalENGLAND head coach Andy Flower insists he is ready to wield the axe ahead of the Ashes decider at the Oval after his side’s fourth Test humiliation.Australia clinched victory by an innings and 80 runs early on day three at Headingley, levelling the [...]
Ultimate Test for the team ethic August 9, 2009 ENGLAND’S ethic is all about playing as a team and, following their Headingley humbling, they will need to provide the perfect example of that approach in the Ashes decider. Individually, they just don’t possess the quality to bounce back. They do not have a Sachin Tendulkar or Muttiah Muralitharan at their disposal to drag them [...]
First blood to Chelsea after United fluff shoot-out lines August 9, 2009 CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti declared himself ready to launch an assault on Manchester United’s Premier League crown after beating the champions in yesterday’s Community Shield at Wembley. Blues goalkeeper Petr Cech saved two penalties as Ancelotti’s men won a shoot-out 4-1, after the traditional curtain-raiser to the top-flight season ended in an entertaining draw. Goals [...]
Harrington blows chance as Tiger takes advantage August 9, 2009 IRELAND’S Padraig Harrington squandered his chance of glory at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio with a triple bogey eight at the 16th hole. Harrington led Tiger Woods by one shot with three to play, but found the water and was duly punished by the world No1, who birdied after hitting the green with a [...]
England team pulls out over terror threats August 9, 2009 ENGLAND yesterday pulled out of the World Championships in India on the eve of the competition because of security fears. Reports in the local media had suggested the tournament was a target for the Islamic extremist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Badminton England’s performance director Ian Moss said: “When the players saw the lack of security at the [...]
Giants stand tall to beat holders August 9, 2009 RUGBY LEAGUE: Huddersfield will meet Warrington in the final of the Challenge Cup after the Giants’ 24-14 win over holders St Helens. Loose forward Stephen Wild scored two of the Yorkshire outfit’s five tries to send them into the Wembley showpiece on 29 August. Winger Francis Meli notched a hat-trick for St Helens but could [...]
Redknapp cool on Young move August 9, 2009 FOOTBALL: Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp insists he has no chance of prising England winger Ashley Young from Aston Villa. Spurs have been linked with a £21m bid for Young, but Redknapp, speaking after his side’s 3-0 friendly win over Olympiacos, said: “Everybody would like to have him but I don’t think there is a chance [...]