Kevin Pietersen quits international limited-overs cricket

Thursday, May 31, 2012

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has announced his retirement from international limited-overs cricket.

 

The 31-year-old, who made his debut in 2004, played 127 one-day internationals and 36 Twenty20 internationals. "I think it is the right time to step aside and let the next generation of players come through to gain experience for the World Cup in 2015," he said. "I still wish to be considered for selection for England in Test cricket." Pietersen, who was player of the tournament in England's World Twenty20 triumph in the Caribbean in 2010, had been expected to be at the forefront of the side again during this year's competition, which takes place in Sri Lanka from 18 September to 7 October. But it has emerged that the ECB does not allow players to pick and choose between ODI and Twenty20 formats. Pietersen said: "For the record, were the selection criteria not in place, I would have readily played for England in the upcoming ICC World Twenty20." Hugh Morris, managing director of England Cricket, said the ECB was disappointed with the timing of Pietersen's decision, coming four months before the World T20. "As the programming and planning for ODI and T20 format cricket are very closely linked, we have a selection policy that means that any player making himself unavailable for either of the one-day formats, rules himself out of consideration for both formats," he said.

"The selectors will now replace Kevin in both the ODI and the T20 squads. "Kevin is a world-class player and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his efforts and we look forward to his continued contributions to the Test match side." Andrew Strauss was the last senior player to retire from ODI cricket, although he was not part of the Twenty20 set-up. In an interview with BBC Sport late last year, England spinner Graeme Swann said the 50-over international format should be scrapped. Pietersen said he had considered the "intensity of the international schedule and the increasing demands on my body, approaching 32". South Africa-born Pietersen, who has an English mother, has been one of the most successful England batsmen of recent times since he qualified to play international cricket by serving four years in the county game. His 4,184 one-day international runs at an average of 48.14, puts him sixth in the all-time list of England batsmen, and he heads their T20 list with 1,176 runs at 37.93, the only England player to pass four figures in the shortest form of the game. Pietersen's relationship with the ECB, which came under scrutiny when he as England captain in January 2009 following a rift with then coach Peter Moores, was tested again this month after he was fined for criticising commentator Nick Knight on Twitter.














31 May 2012 Last updated at 11:46
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18280196

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London 2012: Chris Adcock & Imogen Bankier win GB place

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier will represent Great Britain in the badminton mixed doubles at London 2012.

 

Their selection means there is no Olympics place for 2004 silver winners Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork. England's Rajiv Ouseph will represent Team GB in the men's singles and Scotland's Susan Egelstaff is picked in the women's singles. Selection for Team GB was determined solely by players' positions in the world rankings. England's Adcock and Scotland's Bankier have already tasted success in the Olympic venue, having won their 2011 World Championships silver at Wembley Arena. Adcock said: "After a tremendously hard year of qualification, when I received my selection letter to say that I would become an Olympian at the London 2012 Games, I was over the moon. "I had achieved one of my lifelong goals and, now that I have been selected to represent Team GB, my focus is to put myself in the best position possible to perform at my optimum level." Bankier added:

"I am absolutely delighted to become a member of the Team GB badminton team and I'm really looking forward to competing in front of a home crowd at Wembley Arena with the potential to hopefully bring home a medal." The announcement came on the 35th birthday of Robertson, whose achievement eight years ago came in partnership with Gail Emms. Ouseph is five-time English National Champion in men's singles and a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist. He learnt to play the game at his local club in Hounslow, close to the Olympic venue in Wembley. He added: "The Olympics is a once in a lifetime experience and I'm honoured to be representing Team GB in my home city of London. "Having grown up here, it's even more exciting to be competing in front of a home crowd and knowing you have great support on the door step." Egelstaff was picked ahead of Jersey's Elizabeth Cann in the women's singles. She is the most experienced member of the squad and won bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.














30 May 2012 Last updated at 11:13
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18254908

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Liverpool renew interest in Swansea's Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool have renewed attempts to discuss their vacant managerial post with Swansea's Brendan Rodgers.

 

Owner John W Henry arrived on Merseyside on Tuesday to personally oversee the recruitment process. Having spoken to Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, Liverpool have gone back to Rodgers to discuss the position. Rodgers, 39, met Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins on Tuesday morning but the Welsh club insist the manager's future was not discussed. Martinez has yet to hear back from Liverpool, but Henry is understood to have been impressed with him when the pair met in Miami last week and was keen to speak to him a second time. Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has given Liverpool until Thursday to decide whether they will offer the Spaniard a contract. Swans boss Rodgers is open to negotiations having been assured he is a genuine contender, though no deal has yet been agreed at this stage. Liverpool have, however, spoken with representatives of Rodgers, to impress on the Northern Irishman just how highly they rate him. Rodgers, who secured the £7m record signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson earlier this week, will not walk away from Swansea lightly. It is understood Swansea would be expecting £5m in compensation if Rodgers was to depart for Liverpool. His commitment to the club is genuine but having turned Liverpool down 10 days ago because he feared becoming involved in a race with multiple candidates, he is now understood to be taking Liverpool's interest more seriously. The Northern Irishman's meeting with Swansea on Tuesday comes after he returned from a trip to the United States, where he watched Wales lose 2-0 against Mexico in New Jersey on Sunday. A day earlier, Swansea said they had not received any further contact from Liverpool, who are looking for a new manager after sacking Kenny Dalglish at the end of the season.

"We would like to confirm that there has been no contact from Liverpool and nothing has changed since our previous statement on the issue," said Swansea in a statement on their official website on Monday. Rodgers signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract with Swansea in February. It is understood that one of the clauses in that deal was a guarantee the Swans would recieve a compensation payment of between £4m and £5m should Rodgers leave for another club. Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez held talks with Liverpool's American owners in Miami last Thursday - although the suggestion from his chairman Dave Whelan that he had been offered a deal at Anfield appears to have been premature. Whelan revealed that further discussions would be held on Tuesday as Liverpool continue to examine all of their options as they move to replace sacked Kenny Dalglish. The Wigan chairman admits he would be happier if Rodgers was installed at the expense of Martinez and criticised Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for their handling of the recruitment process. "If it is true that Liverpool want to speak with Brendan Rodgers it proves they don't know who they want as manager," Whelan told ESPN. "I hope they choose Brendan Rodgers. "Roberto has told me he is speaking with Liverpool again on Tuesday. "I have now made it clear that I want this sorted out by Thursday at the latest as we have to get on preparing for next season." Former Ajax, Barcelona and Holland coach Louis van Gaal has emerged as a leading contender to fulfil a sporting director role at Liverpool as the club reshapes its management structure.











29 May 2012 Last updated at 19:58
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18235961

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RFL will hand out right punishment after brawl - Shaun Wane

Monday, May 28, 2012

Wigan coach Shaun Wane believes the Rugby Football League will hand out suitable punishments after a mass brawl marred their victory over St Helens.

 

Warriors' Gareth Hock and Chris Tuson, plus Saints' Shaun Magennis, were all shown red cards in Wigan's 42-16 win. "Whatever happens, we'll deal with it," Wane told BBC Sport. "The RFL will do the right thing and we'll deal with it. "We've got a lot of kids coming through that are chomping at the bit to get a game and this might be their chance." A disciplinary hearing on Tuesday is likely to determine any retrospective punishments for all three players, who were dismissed by on-field referee Ben Thaler after consultation with his two assistants. Forward Hock, who missed the final five matches of last season after being found guilty of gouging, could face a lengthy suspension if he is deemed to have been the main perpitrator. "If he's made a mistake, I'll be into him," added Wane. "I don't want to lose Gareth Hock. "He needs to be better and he has been better while he's been under me. He's no angel, but neither are St Helens and neither are we." Meanwhile, St Helens captain Paul Wellens has apologised to supporters after the club succumbed to defeat at the Etihad Stadium, their third loss to Wigan this season. Saints were blown away by five tries in a stunning opening 25 minutes from the Warriors, a start from which they never recovered. Wellens, who had the minor satisfaction of scoring his 200th try for the club in the closing stages, told BBC Radio Merseyside: "It's hugely disappointing. "Our supporters came here expecting a much better performance than what we've shown and we have to apologise to them. "We played well below what we're capable of and it's hard to take. We know that we have to improve."












28 May 2012 Last updated at 12:17
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/18235546

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World Cup Rowing: Three GB golds disappointing - Redgrave

Great Britain's rowers topped the medals table for the second successive World Cup meeting - but they could do better, according to Sir Steve Redgrave.

 

The five-time Olympic champion watched GB win three golds in Lucerne on Sunday, after taking four at the opening regatta in Belgrade. "Overall I'm slightly disappointed in the British team so far this year but my target is four gold medals this summer, and that is still possible," Redgrave told BBC Sport. "The women's pair and double scull look well on their game, the men's four are favourites with the Aussies snapping at their heels, and the men's lightweight double and lightweight coxless four still have great chances. All five of those boats could take gold on their day. "There are big questions around the men's sculling and the selection for the Games will be done before the next race, but I can't see a lot of changes being made. If I was going to criticise anything, it would be that the men's sculling group should have been sorted out earlier. "I know they had illnesses at key times and trials through the winter, but in Olympic year everything comes around very quickly, everyone's on their game, and you can't afford to be behind the game. We've let everyone have a little headstart. "Still, we've got spares who have won silver medals at the World Championships for the last two years. There are 14 categories of boats and they're not on the team; that shows you just how strong the squad is. "Three golds, one silver and one bronze is a great performance, the best of any nation in Lucerne - and yet I'm disappointed because our standards are so high. But I'd rather have that disappointment now than in the first four days of August."












28 May 2012 Last updated at 06:25
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18228655

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Rowing World Cup: GB men's four set world-best time

Friday, May 25, 2012

Great Britain's men's four made a powerful statement on day one of the World Cup event in Lucerne by setting a world-best time in qualifying.

 

Pete Reed, Andrew Triggs-Hodge, Tom James and Alex Gregory won their heat in five minutes 37.86 seconds. The GB four won the opening World Cup in Belgrade but face tougher opposition in Lucerne, with Australia also qualifying well on their 2012 debut. "We didn't set out to get the world record," James told GB Rowing. "The time is nice but it's about finding consistency." Lucerne is the last competition before GB's Olympic rowing squad is named on 6 June, and fast conditons led to a number of record marks being set on Friday. Crews from New Zealand, Australia, the USA and elsewhere are making their season's debuts in Switzerland after skipping Belgrade earlier this month, where Britain won four golds. Leading London hopes Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins won their heat in the women's double scull, while Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter made it through in second place in the lightweight men's double. Helen Glover and Heather Stanning followed up their victory in Belgrade by winning their heat of the women's pair by clear water to qualify for Saturday's semi-finals.

25 May 2012 Last updated at 12:19
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18151932

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Kevin Pietersen: Andrew Strauss calms Twitter row

England captain Andrew Strauss has tried to calm the Twitter row involving Kevin Pietersen.

 

Batsman Pietersen was fined an undisclosed sum by the England and Wales Cricket Board following criticism of commentator Nick Knight on Twitter. But Strauss hopes the fine has resolved the matter. "The Twitter thing is a difficult issue and there's a line to tread. As players there are certain things we can't comment on," Strauss said. "Sometimes we've got to be a bit economical with what we say." Strauss explained that the players' contracts restrict what they are allowed to say in public. "We have conditions of employment that don't allow us to talk about everything and anything," he explained. "We can't criticise the ICC, we can't criticise umpires and in this case the board wasn't happy with Kevin's comments with regard to our broadcaster. "That's their right as a board, so Kevin has obviously received a fine because of that. "You can understand that the board is concerned with making sure their sponsors and broadcasters are looked after. "That's the way of the world. If you sign an England contract you can have opinions on certain things but can't say them publicly.

That's the way it is and there are good reasons for that." England head into Friday's second Test at Trent Bridge hoping to build on their fine victory in the series opener at Lord's. They overcame West Indies by five wickets in an impressive start to the summer. But Strauss feels that the first Test showed that the visitors pose a signficant threat. "It's so easy to get carried away after winning a game," he said. "If Lord's taught us anything, it's that the West Indies are a side very much to be respected. If we do win, we'll deserve it because we'll have had to play some pretty good cricket. "No-one has a God-given right to win a Test match. It's about hard work and West Indies showed glimpses of being quite obdurate and difficult to dislodge at times. "We've just got another five days of very hard work ahead." England paceman Stuart Broad took 11 wickets in the first Test and is hoping conditions at Trent Bridge will give him even more help. "It's an exciting cricket wicket," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "If you bat well you can score 100, if you bowl well you can take wickets. It's a good battle between bat and ball. The outfield is so fast here you get great value for runs and you have to play great cricket to win Test matches here. "Lord's was particularly slow and was very hard to drag anyone into a false shot if they play disciplined. Trent Bridge plays a little quicker and tends to be a pretty true so I'm hoping for a bit of pace and bounce."













 24 May 2012 Last updated at 20:49
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18198258

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Heather Watson within one match of French Open main draw

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Heather Watson is one match away from the French Open main draw after beating Tunisia's Ons Jabeur 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in the second round of qualifying.

 

The British number three was 5-1 down in the tie-break, but swept through the next six points as Jabeur faltered. Watson won three games in a row from 3-3 in the second set and faces Italy's Anna Floris on Friday, aiming to qualify for the second straight year. Compatriot Laura Robson plays France's Laura Thorpe later on Thursday. Watson beat Frenchwoman Stephanie Foretz Gacon in the first round of the main draw last year, before slipping to defeat against Kaia Kanepi, the then-world number 16. The 20-year-old from Guernsey, currently ranked 109, will hope to at least match that run to protect her ranking position and hopes of qualifying directly for the Olympics. The world's top 56 players will make London's 2012 main draw automatically, but with a previso that there can be no more than four from one nation, it is expected that the cut-off will fall around the 70th ranking slot.










24 May 2012 Last updated at 13:13
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18192457

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Roberto Martinez given Liverpool deadline by Wigan

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan is planning to set a deadline for Roberto Martinez to decide whether he will stay as boss.

 

Martinez has been given permission to speak with Liverpool about the vacant managerial position at Anfield. The Spaniard has also been linked with taking over at Aston Villa, the club he turned down last year. "Roberto will be in Barbados until next Tuesday, and I will then set a seven-day deadline by which time I will expect a decision," said Whelan. "I appreciate everyone is in limbo at the moment and there will come a time soon when we'll need an answer one way or the other. "It is dragging on a bit but I only care about one thing - that is the future of Wigan Athletic. Nothing else matters. "It's important we sort this out properly, one way or the other, so we can move forward in preparation for the new season." Liverpool are yet to formally begin the interview process for their managerial vacancy, created when Kenny Dalglish was sacked on 16 May. Whelan remains hopeful that Martinez will stay with the Latics, adding in the Wigan Evening Post: "I must stress that I am by no means resigned to losing Roberto to Liverpool or any other club. "It is not a foregone conclusion. Not at all. Hand on heart, I still believe Roberto will be here next season."









24 May 2012 Last updated at 12:43
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18191006

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Alec Stewart column: West Indies may struggle at Trent Bridge

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

England made a good start to their international summer with a pretty convincing win over West Indies at Lord's, but there were a couple of hiccups along the way that they will want to rectify, starting at Trent Bridge on Friday.

 

In the first innings, they had an opportunity to bat West Indies out of the game by posting a score in excess of 450. However, they failed to fully build on the platform laid down by Andrew Strauss's fine century and if West Indies had batted in their first innings anything like they did in their second, the game could have been even closer than it was. You can forgive both teams a little ring-rustiness with the bat, given the amount of rain we have had in the early part of the season, but too many players on both sides got starts and then failed to turn them into the big scores that really influence Test matches. Having said that, I expect England to be stronger at Trent Bridge, where they have won their last three Test matches - against India, Pakistan and New Zealand - by massive margins. The West Indies will find the going in Nottingham even tougher than they did at Lord's because the ground is renowned as a swing bowler's paradise and in James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan, England have three of the best in the business. Since the new Radcliffe Road Stand went up, it seems to swing more than it ever did and the lush outfield at the ground means the ball stays in a better condition to swing for longer.

 The Windies attack has plenty of pace but you wouldn't call them big swing bowlers, so conditions are likely to favour England heavily. The key to the match could be how the inexperienced West Indies batsmen handle the moving ball. We saw glimpses that both Adrian Barath and Darren Bravo are talented cricketers, and if they can learn from their Lord's examination it will stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers. Shivnarine Chanderpaul showed the rest of his team that if you occupy the crease and put a high price on your wicket it is possible to score big runs, and I thought Marlon Samuels supported him well in the second innings. They will need a few more to follow their lead if they are to get back into the series. England have announced the same squad for Trent Bridge and I don't expect a change to the final XI either. Bresnan may only have taken one wicket in the match but he bowled well enough and, with his ability to swing the ball, will have a big part to play in Nottingham. He has also now played 12 Test matches and won them all so I wouldn't even contemplate leaving the lucky mascot out. The Windies, on the other hand, have plenty of selection issues to consider. Ravi Rampaul should have recovered from his injury setback and is likely to replace Shannon Gabriel, who is flying home with a back injury after an impressive debut at Lord's, while the off-spinner Shane Shillingford would provide variety. The age-old issue of getting the right balance is the biggest problem any team faces when they don't possess a genuine all-rounder. I expect them to stick with four frontline bowlers.

The question is, which four? With Chris Gayle's Indian Premier League commitments now over, it will be interesting to see whether the selectors rush him straight into the team. He has had well-documented issues with West Indies cricket but has now resolved his differences and is available. Another player currently out of favour, and plying his trade with Leicestershire, is Ramnaresh Sarwan and after his excellent interview on Test Match Special it was obvious he still has a real desire to represent the Caribbean. On talent alone they would both strengthen the side but the West Indies Cricket Board has some big decisions to make. England's biggest dilemma is probably finding a way to dismiss the brilliant Chanderpaul and they will be studying plenty of footage of him between now and Friday. He has a very open, unorthodox stance, which has served him well over the years, but I still believe the best bet is to bowl full and straight at him. He is a prime candidate for leg-before as he hangs back and plays from the crease line. It does mean potentially giving away a few runs through mid-wicket or square leg but as he batted for more than 10 hours at Lord's for just once out, I would suggest it's worth a go. England need to come up with strategies for Chanderpaul and if Plan A doesn't work, try Plan B. If they end up at Plan Z, that's the time to panic!











 23 May 2012 Last updated at 06:57
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18153830

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London 2012: GB men's hockey team draw Argentina in opener

Great Britain's men face Argentina in their opening London 2012 Olympic hockey match at 1900 BST on 30 July.

 

Argentina's Fernando Zylberberg caused anger in Britain with a television advertisement that showed him training in the Falklands Islands. The video ended with the voiceover: "To compete on English soil, we are training on Argentine soil." Zylberberg was dropped from Argentina's final Olympic warm-up event but could still take part at London 2012. Jason Lee's GB side, ranked number four in the world, will also play South Africa, Pakistan, Australia and Spain at the Olympics.

The GB women's squad, which has already been selected, open their campaign against Japan a day earlier - at 1900 BST on 29 July - with further matches against South Korea, Belgium and China, before taking on world champions the Netherlands in their final group match. Great Britain's women are also ranked fourth in the world, but won the









22 May 2012 Last updated at 19:48
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18168468

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Jose Mourinho signs new four-year deal as Real Madrid manager

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Jose Mourinho has signed a new four-year contract to remain as manager of Real Madrid until 2016.

The Portuguese, 49, took over at Real in 2010 and guided his team to success in the Copa del Rey in his first campaign in charge. He led Real to their first title in four years this season. Mourinho took the Premier League twice with Chelsea - and has won the Portuguese title with Porto and Italian Serie A with Inter Milan.







 22 May 2012 Last updated at 13:49
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18163343

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Golf can no longer be slow on the uptake

As Colin Montgomerie was supporting a radical idea to speed up slow play, Doug Brecht - an official who barely stirs the mercury in the thermometer of fame - was becoming golf's newest hero. The LPGA rules man took a huge step in imposing a genuine penalty to punish the malaise that is the biggest blight on the game. It came in Sunday's semi-final of the women's Sybase Matchplay Championship between American Morgan Pressel and eventual champion Azahara Munoz. Brecht's intervention to award a hole to Munoz to punish her tardy opponent undoubtedly influenced the eventual outcome of the match, making it all the more significant. His action will cheer an ever-growing list of top names calling for more draconian action to speed up play. In recent weeks Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Tiger Woods and now Montgomerie have called for scoring penalties to be imposed on golf's slow coaches. Monty was giving the most outspoken criticism of the game's failure to deal with slow play on the same day Brecht made his move at the knockout tournament in Gladstone, New Jersey.

Pressel and Munoz had covered the front nine of their match at a typically pedestrian pace and were duly told they needed to speed up. Two holes later they were put on the clock. Then Pressel won the 12th with a par to go three up. Brecht's stopwatch showed she had taken two minutes and nine seconds over the three strokes, which was 39 seconds too long. Before they could tee off at the next he imposed the statutory penalty - loss of hole. There was no final warning and no fine, just a punishment that genuinely hurt. Instead of being three holes ahead, the US player was only one up and her Spanish opponent was back in a match she went on to win. Ironically Munoz had been playing the slower golf but Brecht should be congratulated and backed to the hilt for taking action that should serve as a precedent for the rest of the game. "I would clamp down harder than we have been doing," Montgomerie told me. "There has got to be a deterrent. The only thing we can do is impose shot penalties. We have to stop talking about it and start to action the only proper deterrent. "The game is getting slower every year. Five hours for a round is the norm and it is ridiculous. There is no excuse for a round of golf taking more than four hours as a three ball." The 2010 Ryder Cup captain was speaking after being part of a relay team that set a new British record for completing the fastest 18 holes.

The team of 10 players managed it in 10 minutes 53 seconds at the Golf Live event at the London Club in Kent. It was an entertaining gimmick far removed from the competitive game, but there were enough quality shots to show what is possible when players are up against a stopwatch. And this is relevant to the most revealing aspect of the Pressel controversy which came in Munoz's response. "She lost the hole because she was slow, I wasn't," said the Spanish Solheim Cup star. "I was slow before, but not when the clock was on." This reveals the heart of the problem. Players have two paces of play, one that is snail-like and then a faster version for when they are being timed. How about we just stick to the speedier mode? For that to happen players have to be clocked from the start of their rounds, meaning referees would be required for every group. It would be a radical step but when it was put to Montgomerie he agreed that it needs to be taken. "I would advocate that entirely. On the clock from the word go, so that we don't get to the stage where the last group is taking an hour longer than the first group," the veteran Scot said. "Why wait until there is a problem and then put them on the clock?" Whenever I have suggested such a move to Tour officials they have baulked at the cost of potentially employing more than 50 referees. This point was put to Montgomerie and he swiftly interrupted. He added: "Can we afford to lose sponsors? Can we afford to lose television viewers? Can we afford to lose radio listeners? No we can't. A referee would be cheaper than losing a sponsor." The eight-times Order of Merit winner even agreed that the extra officials should be funded effectively from a prize money levy by taking a slice off the winner's cheque to finance the scheme. "Why not? It would encourage faster play. Any business, and this is a business, has to be proactive. If you are reactive you are too late," Montgomerie said. This week's BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth is unique among full-field regular European Tour events because there is a one-tee start. All 156 competitors begin on the first hole which means those off last will be finishing at dusk. The same applies at the Open Championship. Year on year those rounds seem to finish in darker conditions because they are taking longer and longer, damaging what should be fantastic spectacles. Action needs to be taken. They daren't be as radical as Monty is suggesting, but at least Doug Brecht has had the courage to take a mighty step that, if supported by the game's bosses, will surely concentrate a few of the slower minds in the game.










 Iain Carter | 12:24 UK time, Monday, 21 May 2012 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/iaincarter/2012/05/golf_can_no_longer_be_slow_on.html

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Michael Owen: Manchester United have not offered him a new deal

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Manchester United have confirmed that striker Michael Owen will not be offered a new contract and will be leaving the club.  

 The 32-year-old former England forward joined the Old Trafford club in July 2009 but made just 52 appearances. "The manager informed me after our testimonial match on Tuesday that the club would not be offering me a new contract," said Owen on Twitter. "I have loved every minute I have spent at such a fantastic club." Owen, who also had spells with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle, added: "I would like to thank the players, staff and fans for their support and wish them well for the future. "I now plan to have a short holiday during which I will contemplate my next move." Owen's last game in a United shirt came in Belfast on Tuesday in a testimonial for former goalkeeper Harry Gregg. His time at Old Trafford was blighted by injuries and he managed just four league and cup appearances this season with his final one coming in United's 2-0 win over Otelul Galati during the Champions League group stages in November when he sustained a thigh injury.

 Owen's most memorable goal for Manchester United came at Old Trafford back in September 2009. The striker came off the bench to score a dramatic injury-time winner against Manchester City and win the derby 4-3. He scored another vital goal in the League Cup final against Aston Villa back in 2010. However his celebrations were again cut short by injury and was replaced shortly after. Owen's last appearance for England was back in 2008, but his goal record at international level is outstanding. The striker scored 40 goals in 89 appearances, BBC Sport's Gary Lineker tweeted : "A world-class goalscorer who, but for injury, would have broken many records." Owen started his career as a teenager at Liverpool, before making a move to Spain and Real Madrid in 2004. Having spent just one season in La Liga, the striker moved back to the Premier League where he joined Newcastle United, scoring 30 goals in 74 appearances. Always an admirer of the prolific striker, Sir Alex Ferguson took a risk in signing him for Manchester United on a free transfer in 2009. The Scot said: "It is a pleasure to have had Michael at Manchester United. "Michael is a consummate professional and was an influential figure in our dressing room. Unfortunately he had no luck with his injury this season. "Michael's record of goals per game is exceptional and we wish him all the best for the future."













 17 May 2012 Last updated at 12:41
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18101799

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Varun Chopra ton puts Warwickshire in charge

Varun Chopra's second century of the season for Warwickshire piled more pressure on champions Lancashire. 

Chopra hit a patient 113 as he put on 168 for the first wicket with Ian Westwood, who made 70 for his highest score of the campaign so far. William Porterfield added 34 from 50 balls as the hosts looked in control. But they fell from 224-1 to end the day on 289-4 as Lancashire, who are still aiming for their first Championship victory of 2012, fought back well. Porterfield was caught at slip by Paul Horton, Chopra picked out Karl Brown at mid-wicket and Jim Troughton was bowled by on-loan Ajmal Shahzad. However, the visitors will be keen to quickly end a fifth-wicket partnership of 53 between Darren Maddy (29 not out) and Tim Ambrose (22 not out). Warwickshire were without England pair Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott as they looked to claim the victory that could take them back to the top of Division One. They were helped when second slip Stephen Moore dropped Chopra off of Shahzad when the batsman had only scored 51 and that proved costly as Chopra added another 62 before being dismissed. VIEWS FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX BBC Coventry and Warwickshire's Clive Eakin: "Varun Chopra's second century of the season was an impressively disciplined innings. "He took few risks and resisted the temptation to hit out at Lancashire's spin attack when they bowled in tandem.

"Along with Ian Westwood he was efficient at gathering singles and keeping the scoreboard ticking over without giving the bowlers much encouragement. "Chopra only gave one chance before eventually falling to possibly his first really loose shot. "The wickets in the final session have got Lancashire back into the game to a point, but the Bears will believe they have at least one more productive partnership in them which would lift them to a commanding total." BBC Radio Lancashire's Scott Read: "Lancashire should feel pretty happy with their efforts today as the close of play score isn't really a reflection on how well they bowled. "Leading the way first up this morning was the captain Glen Chapple and Ajmal Shahzad. They bowled with aggression and accuracy and were well backed up by Luke Procter and the spin twins Kerrigan and Keedy. "They got their rewards after tea with a good final session which sets things up nicely for day two. "However, the big concern for the Red Rose is a potential side injury for their captain. Chapple had to leave the field late on, fingers crossed it was just a precaution."












16 May 2012 Last updated at 19:19
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18078285

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London 2012: Natasha Jonas & Nicola Adams qualify

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Natasha Jonas and Nicola Adams have become the first female British boxers to qualify for the Olympic Games after reaching the World Championships semis.

 

 

Liverpudlian lightweight Jonas beat Norway's Ingrid Egner 23-9 in the quarter-finals in Qinhuangdao, China. And Leeds flyweight Adams edged out Indian star Mary Kom Hmangte, 13-11. British middleweight Savannah Marshall is one win from qualifying for London, where women's boxing will make its Olympic debut. Marshall, who beat highly-rated US boxer Claressa Shields on the way to the quarters, will face China's Jinzi Li in the last eight. Adams enjoyed a superb win over five-time 48kg world champion world champion Kom to guarantee at least a bronze, with a semi-final to come against Russia's Elena Savelyeva. The top three Europeans in each weight division in Qinhuangdao qualify for the Games, and Jonas was the first Briton to secure her place - as well as assure herself of at least a world bronze medal. "It's a great feeling," she told BBC Sport's Leon Mann.

"I've never boxed so many times against such good opponents and it's nice to just come out on top and come here to do what I said I was going to do, and that's qualify. "But not only did I say that, I said I didn't want to just make up the numbers, I wanted a medal, and that's what I've done. "I'm absolutely made up that I'm still in it and I'll keep fighting until I get beat." Asked when she was certain that she had done enough to qualify for London, Jonas said: "I asked one of the coaches. "We just got it confirmed as we were coming out and I've seen my dad as I was walking round, and he says: 'Yeah, you've done it, you've done it!' "To know that I'm going to go out in London and there could possibly be 10,000 people cheering for you for a change is just unreal. I can't wait to get on the stage and show them what boxing's all about." And on the subject of winning a medal in London, Jonas added: "Don't expect nothing less, that's what I'm there for." Jonas will take on will face Russia's Sofya Ochigava in the semi-final. Ireland's Katie Taylor, going for a fourth consecutive world title, qualified in the same lightweight division as Jonas on Wednesday. "It's a dream come true, I just can't believe it really," said Taylor. "It's just years and years of hard work really to get here, now I'm going to be an Olympian."












16 May 2012 Last updated at 09:17
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18047350

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Andy Murray defeats David Nalbandian on clay in Rome

World number four Andy Murray overcame David Nalbandian 6-1 4-6 7-5 to make it into the third round of the Masters series event in Rome.

 

Murray, 25, cruised through the first set, but found his Argentine opponent a much harder proposition in the second. Nalbandian forced the match into a third with a much-improved service game, but Murray saw out the match. The clay event in Rome is seen as a curtain-raiser for the French Open, which starts in 12 days. Birthday boy Murray did not compete in the Madrid Masters last week having sustained a back injury, and had also received a bye through the first round in Rome. He seemed in total control of the match in the first set, seizing the initiative after dominating Nalbandian's unreliable first serve. After a marathon 15-minute sixth game ended with Nalbandian's 17th unforced error, Murray was able to close out the set. But the experienced Argentine's performance took an abrupt about-turn in the second set, as the 30-year-old clay court specialist broke his higher-ranked opponent then capitalised.

Murray's first serve deserted him, landing a poor 42% and allowing his opponent to take the game into a deciding third. The final set was a tight and hard-fought affair, with both players breaking the other's serve before Murray forced three break points at 5-5. Nalbandian saved the first two before a Murray return clipped the net cord and dropped over, giving the Scot the game and allowing him to serve for the match. He had to save two break points of his own in the final game, but was able to close out the match in the gathering dusk. Murray's victory sets up a third round clash with with either Richard Gasquet, who defeated Roger Federer in this event last year, or home favourite Paolo Lorenzi. Elsewhere, world number one Novak Djokovic dominated Australian teenager Bernard Tomic to produce an impressive start to the defence of his title with a 6-3 6-3 win.












15 May 2012 Last updated at 19:33
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18078676

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Players Championship: Matt Kuchar seals Sawgrass win

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

American Matt Kuchar held his nerve on a tense final day to win the Players Championship at Sawgrass by two shots.

 

The 33-year-old, who started the round one shot behind leader Kevin Na, dropped a shot at the opening hole but hit four birdies for a 13-under total. Scotland's Martin Laird and American trio Zach Johnson, Ben Curtis and Rickie Fowler were joint second. Luke Donald, needing a top-four finish to take over from Rory McIlroy as world number one, finished sixth. Donald had started the final round back in 27th, eight shots behind Na, but battled hard with a round of 66 for a nine-under total. He also equalled the record for golf's richest event, with a back-nine 30 containing six birdies. Kuchar, whose last win came in the 2010 Barclays Championship where he beat Laird in a play-off, saved a shot with a gutsy par putt at the third and then came close to an eagle at the fourth, but had to be content with a birdie. He then hit a lovely approach to the ninth, leaving him with a relatively easy putt before another birdie at the 12th. He picked up another shot at the 16th, and not even a dropped shot at the 17th could halt his charge as he claimed the biggest win of his career to move up to third in the US Ryder Cup standings. "You think of this as one of the strongest fields in golf," Kuchar said.

"To come out as the champion is just an amazing feeling. "I think one of the things that strikes me is walking through the champions' tunnel every day. I can't help but stop and gaze at all the photos going through champions' tunnel, and to think I'm going to be a part of that with Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd, Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Tiger Woods - it's all the best of the best. "To feel like I'm going to see my picture up there next year is pretty cool." Na, who had birdied the 18th to take a one-shot lead into Sunday's final day, was battling with his swing and he also struggled on the greens, dropping four shots in the space of five holes from the fifth to see his challenge disappear and he ended up with an eight-under total. Laird went out in 33 with birdies at the second, seventh and ninth then went into the joint lead with Kuchar thanks to a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th. But errors at the 14th and the long 16th, as well as the bogey at the 18th, left the 29-year-old Glaswegian two shots behind Kuchar. Laird said: "I'm obviously very happy with how I played today. That's one of the best rounds I've ever played under the circumstances, and the conditions." Lee Westwood had also had an opportunity to finish the week as number one following McIlroy's missed cut, but the win he needed never looked likely for long before he closed with a 77. It left Westwood four over and down in 60th place, while another disappointing tournament for Tiger Woods ended with him scoring 73 for one under and he was outside the top 30 for the third event in a row.









14 May 2012 Last updated at 08:00
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/18054814

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Newcastle Eagles beat Leicester Riders in BBL Play-Offs

Newcastle Eagles completed a clean sweep of all four BBL titles this season with a 71-62 win over Leicester Riders in the Play-Off final.

 

Charles Smith, who led the Eagles' scoring with 21 points, was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Leicester made the better start to both halves, but the Eagles' big-game experience told in the second half. The Eagles added the Play-Offs title to the Cup, Trophy and league titles they have already won this season. In all, they have won five play-off titles and 17 of the 28 BBL titles on offer during that period under player-coach Fab Flournoy. Spurred on by Great Britain captain Drew Sullivan, Leicester started aggressively and finished the first quarter with a 10-0 run to lead 21-12.


Newcastle recovered their poise in the second quarter with the help of point guard Paul Gause and tied the game 31-31 just before the half-time interval courtesy of a Darius Defoe dunk. Gause went on to score 13 points and Defoe added 10, while Sullivan had 18 points for Leicester but lacked consistent scoring support from his colleagues. Leicester scored the first six points of the second half but Newcastle overhauled them and led 63-53 going into the last five minutes of the game after a three from Andy Thomson. The Eagles held on to win thanks to baskets from Gause and Defoe in a scrappy end to the game, in which both teams missed several chances to make a decisive run.











12 May 2012 Last updated at 18:56
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/basketball/18047926

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Natasha Jonas wins at Worlds to close on Olympic place

Monday, May 14, 2012

Natasha Jonas moved one step closer to securing a place at the London Olympics with a second-round win at the World Championships in China.

 

Liverpudlian lightweight Jonas, 27, beat Switzerland's Sandra Brugger 23-11 to reach the last 16 in Qinhuangdao. Flyweight Nicola Adams and middleweight Savannah Marshall are the other Britons looking to seal Olympic places. Each of them must finish as one of the top three Europeans in her weight class to qualify for London 2012. "It was good," Jonas told BBC Sport after her win over Brugger. "It's always nice to get out and just do the best you can. It's everything I've been working for since 2009 so basically I've just got to keep going. "I've only reached the last 16 so there's a lot more stages I've got to go, but obviously it's the carrot dangling in front of me that I'm aiming for.

It's nice to sometimes think ahead but I have to keep focused on now." Marshall takes to the ring on Monday against 75kg opponent Claressa Shields of the United States in the second round, while Adams is also through to the second round after outpointing Belarusian Yana Levankova in her opening bout. The London Olympics are the first time women's boxing will feature at a Games after changes to the programme in 2009.








14 May 2012 Last updated at 12:47
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18047350

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Alex McLeish poised to leave Aston Villa

The 53-year-old former Scotland manager said his farewell to the Villa players on Monday morning. Villa have endured a poor Premier League campaign, finishing just above the relegation zone after winning only four of 19 games at home. The club have yet to make an official announcement about McLeish, who left close rivals Birmingham City to join Villa in June last year. McLeish faced widespread protests from Villa supporters after leaving relegated Birmingham to take over from Gerard Houllier 11 months ago . Villa, who won only seven league matches all season, effectively secured their Premier League status with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham in the penultimate game of the season.








14 May 2012 Last updated at 12:29
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18056282

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GB women's London hopes on the line in China

Friday, May 11, 2012

Great Britain's top female boxers will try to secure Olympic qualification at the World Championships in China.

 

Flyweight Nicola Adams, lightweight Natasha Jonas and middleweight Savannah Marshall will represent Britain in Qinhuangdao from Friday. To qualify for London, they must make their semi-finals or be one of four Europeans in the quarter-finals. Continue reading the main story “ I feel that all the coaches believed in me and I believe in myself ” Natasha Jonas "I don't just want to qualify, I want to go for the gold medal," 29-year-old Adams told BBC Sport. The London Olympics are the first time women's boxing will feature at a Games after changes to the programme in 2009. With two World silver medals already won and an impressive victory against world number one flyweight Ren Cancan in February, Adams will be one of the favourites to win gold in Qinhuangdao.

"I've had some good wins over the past couple of months which has boosted my confidence even further," said the Leeds fighter. "I don't want to get too carried away. I'm keeping my feet on the ground because I know everybody wants to qualify, and everybody wants to go to the Olympics, so they're all going to be coming for me." In the remaining two Olympic weight divisions, Britain will be represented by Jonas at lightweight (60kg) and middleweight Marshall (75kg). Jonas, who describes herself as being in the "best mental condition of her career", was chosen for the squad following a long selection battle with Chantelle Cameron and Amanda Coulson.

"Just winning the opportunity to qualify for the Olympics, ahead of two superb boxers like Amanda and Chantelle, is a great achievement," said Jonas, who won gold at the test event in November last year. "However, the challenge now is to do well at the World Championships and make sure I earn a place to compete at London. "It was unanimous that I should go to the worlds, so I feel that all the coaches believed in me and I believe in myself." Rob McCracken, GB Boxing performance director, said: "The female squad has made great progress in the last two years. The women have gained a lot of experience and have a track record of winning medals at international competitions." Lisa Whiteside has been chosen by the Amateur Boxing Association of England to compete in the event at the non-Olympic featherweight (57kg) category. Wales will be represented by Lynsey Holdaway (48kg), Becky Price (60kg) and Lauren Price (69kg).









11 May 2012 Last updated at 11:23
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/17972584

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Challenge Cup: Wigan Warriors v St Helens

Wigan prop Paul Prescott has recovered from a back injury and returns for his side's televised Challenge Cup quarter-final clash with arch-rivals St Helens.

 

Anthony Gelling is expected to continue to deputise for Pat Richards (knee) after scoring two tries last week. Saints expect to have back rower Jon Wilkin (shoulder) available after a five-match absence, while Josh Perry and Gary Wheeler are close to fitness. Only prop Tony Puletua and winger Ade Gardner remain on the sidelines. Saturday's match takes place at the DW Stadium following days of protracted talks due to the stadium hosting Wigan Athletic's final Premier League home game 24 hours later.

Bolton's Reebok Stadium and the Leigh Sports Village were considered as alternative venues before Warriors chairman Ian Lenagan managed to agree a deal with stadium owner Dave Whelan. Cup holders Wigan will be hoping for a repeat of last season's Challenge Cup victory over St Helens, who they beat 18-12 at the semi-final stage. They went on to lift the trophy for a record 18th time, ending a nine-year spell without the title. Saints, meanwhile, will be looking for an improved performance after losing 28-10 to the Warriors in the Super League on 6 April. That loss was their only defeat in eight league and cup games under caretaker head coach Mike Rush since the departure of Royce Simmons on 19 March.








11 May 2012 Last updated at 12:00
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/18001083

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Mitchell Johnson back for Australia ODI tour of England

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Australia have recalled fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Patrick Cummins to their one-day side for next month's tour of Ireland and England.

 

Johnson, 30, has recovered from foot surgery, while 18-year-old Cummins is back after a heel injury. Veteran Brett Lee is also in the squad while Matthew Wade is the only specialist wicketkeeper included. Selector John Inverarity said: "Johnson is in contention for the World Twenty20 and needs some quality cricket." Inverarity added: "We are also excited about the return of Pat Cummins and we are looking to ease him back into the team. "He will not be expected to play in all of the eight scheduled games." Both Johnson and Cummins have been selected for Australia A's tour of England that follows the ODI tour. Former captain Ricky Ponting is not in the squad having admitted earlier this year that he does not expect to play one-day cricket again after being dropped. The tourists begin against Leicestershire on 21 June, and play Ireland and Essex before taking on England in five ODIs.

Australia A, who will be captained by Test opener Ed Cowan, have included 11 players with international experience in their 17-man squad. They will play warm-up games against Derbyshire and Durham before two four-day matches against England Lions. Australia squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson, George Bailey, Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mike Hussey, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner Australia A squad: Ed Cowan (captain), Peter Forrest (vice-captain), George Bailey, Jackson Bird, Joe Burns, Tom Cooper, Patrick Cummins, Ben Cutting, Liam Davis, Jon Holland, Mitchell Johnson, Michael Klinger, Nathan Lyon, Tim Paine (wk), James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc












 10 May 2012 Last updated at 10:14
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18016732

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Yaya Toure wants Man City to become world's top club

Yaya Toure has told BBC Sport that he wants to help Manchester City become the biggest club in the world. 

The midfielder has been a key figure for City, who attempt to clinch the Premier League title this weekend. He told World Focus: "That's why I came here, to help the team... to help the club go forward and make it bigger than any club in the world." City host QPR on Sunday and will become champions if they match Manchester United's result at Sunderland. Asked whether he was feeling the pressure, Toure, who was signed from Barcelona for a reported £24m in July 2010, said: "No, because I have a lot of experience. I have already won some important trophies." Toure, a member of the Barcelona squad that won all six domestic and international titles they contested in 2009, has been an increasingly influential figure for Roberto Mancini's side this season. 

The Ivory Coast international, 28, scored both goals in a 2-0 win at Newcastle on Sunday and also helped City beat neighbours United 1-0 on 30 April. Toure, who also scored in City's FA Cup semi-final and final victories last season, believes his know-how was one of the main reasons City agreed to pay such a big fee to sign him from Barcelona on a five-year deal. "I think they made the right choice," said Toure, who once had a trial with Arsenal. "I wanted to come to the club to make a story and my decision was to come to City. "Of course, some people make some speculation about other things, but, for me, when you are a football player, you always want to go where you can be loved and be the best player. "At Barcelona, I was a good player but at City I am an important player for the team." City failed to reach the latter stages of the Champions League this season, but Toure says a first top-flight title since 1968 would be an important step on the road to becoming the biggest club in the world. "This Sunday coming, we have to deliver," he said. "It's very important." 

10 May 2012 Last updated at 12:37 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18006889

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London 2012: Final three sailors named for Team GB squad

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

The British Olympic Association has named the final three sailors for Team GB's 2012 squad.

 

Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes will compete in the 49er class, while Alison Young will take part in the Laser Radial event. They complete the 16-sailor squad for all 10 sailing events in the 2012 Olympics. Team leader Stephen Park said Team GB had "people who've got potential to medal in every single event". Morrison and Rhodes have been sailing together since 2001, and have won World and European titles. London 2012 will be their second Olympics, after Beijing in 2008.

"It's a massive honour to be selected," Morrison said. "The trials have been a lot closer, but we always believed that we were the best team to deliver gold in 2012." Young, 24, who will be making her Olympic debut at Weymouth and Portland, said she was stunned to be chosen. "It's pretty cool to be selected for an Olympic Games. There's a lot of experience on the team, so hopefully I'll be able to tap into some of that to help me at my first Games." British sailors are the most successful in Olympic history, having won 50 medals - including 25 golds - since sailing was introduced to the Olympics in Paris in 1900.









9 May 2012 Last updated at 12:06
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18005751

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Blackburn Rovers' deputy CEO Paul Hunt sacked after leak

Blackburn's deputy chief executive Paul Hunt has been sacked after calling for Steve Kean's dismissal as manager.

 

According to a leaked letter seen by the Sporting Intelligence website, Hunt told the club's owners in December that it was time for the 44-year-old Kean to leave Ewood Park. Hunt expressed the view that Kean's tenure "isn't working" and "is ready to go". Rovers have made no comment but Kean is set to speak to the media on Wednesday. Hunt's departure comes days after the club were relegated from the Premier League following a 1-0 home defeat by Wigan. Kean's reign has been a troubled one, with many Blackburn fans unhappy with the way he has managed the team. The Scot took over as manager in December 2010 following the sacking of Sam Allardyce. Venky's, Rovers' Indian owners, have also come in for heavy criticism for their running of the Lancashire club.

Hunt's letter indicates he had serious concerns about the Premier League side's direction before Christmas. "He [Kean] has lost the crowd and as a result of this evening's game [2-1 loss to Bolton on 20 December] has lost the dressing room as well - the players no longer want to play for him," wrote Hunt. "It is a shame and disappointing but we must act now to save the club. The board should be asked their opinion on who should be the new manager." Hunt insisted he had the best interests of the club at heart and also detailed worries about finances. "I have been your senior officer at the club for six months now and I feel that I must now write to you to ask you to make some significant changes to save the club, perhaps from relegation but also perhaps from administration," said Hunt. "We are losing fans/customers at an alarming rate. I am very concerned that fans are voting with their feet and not attending, not purchasing and not engaging with the club." Blackburn play their final league game of the season against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.












9 May 2012 Last updated at 11:43
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18005433

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David Haye & Dereck Chisora to fight at Upton Park

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

David Haye and Dereck Chisora are to face each other at Upton Park on 14 July in a fight sanctioned by the Luxembourg Boxing Federation.

 

Chisora's manager Frank Warren told the BBC he would officially announce the fight at 1230 BST at a news conference. The British heavyweights were involved in a brawl following Chisora's defeat by Vitali Klitschko in Munich. The British Boxing Board of Control will not sanction the fight because neither holds a British licence. Chisora had his licence withdrawn after a number of controversial incidents before and after the Klitschko fight - but he has appealed against the decision. The 28-year-old slapped Klitschko at the weigh-in and spat water at the Ukrainian's brother Wladimir before the contest. Haye relinquished his licence when he retired in October last year , three months after losing his WBA title to Wladimir in Hamburg. Warren had previously said he would not go ahead with a fight between the two boxers. However, he said he changed his mind because Chisora's appeal against his licence withdrawal had been "pushed back to July". Warren said: "What he [Chisora] did was stupid and there should be some sort of punishment. "But he will be out of action for six months and will lose money.

Why should he not make a living?" Chisora was granted a licence to fight by the Luxembourg Boxing Federation but Warren added that "a number of commissions" had been willing to do so. Warren said he would not be taking a commission from Chisora for the fight, but would make money as a "shareholder" in the Box Nation subscription channel that will air the fight. When asked whether holding the fight might threaten his own licence as a promoter with the British Boxing Board of Control, Warren said he hoped they would not hold it against him. "What I'm doing is legal and lawful," he said. "I have a managerial contract with Chisora, I have legal obligations to him and I won't have these compromised by the British Boxing Board of Control. "When they made their decision, they said he was able to apply for a licence in another jurisdiction, that was said at the hearing, and that is what he's done."













8 May 2012 Last updated at 08:20
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/17987600

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Blackburn face player exodus after relegation - Kevin Gallacher

Blackburn could face an exodus of players after relegation from the Premier League, according to their former striker Kevin Gallacher.

 

And Gallacher believes players such as striker Junior Hoilett will leave "Junior is not holding off signing a contract for no reason. He wants to see what the future holds and now we know the club's future is in the Championship," said Gallacher. "No disrespect to Junior but I think he's gone and I am sure he will attract offers from the Premier League and also abroad because he is a real talent. "You then worry that people like Paul Robinson may go as well. He has been a fantastic goalkeeper for Blackburn and you wonder whether another Premier League club will come in for someone of that experience and calibre. "[Defender] Gael Givet has been a stalwart but the concern for Blackburn fans will be that these players will want to play at the highest level rather than drop down a division with Rovers.

There may be others who feel the same." During the defeat by Wigan there was sustained criticism from supporters of Indian owners Venky's and manager Steve Kean, while a chicken was released onto the pitch in an apparent protest against the club's owners, a company that specialises in meat processing. Gallacher said Rovers have been in serious trouble for some time and believes the sale of key figures earlier this season proved costly. "I'm afraid relegation has had a feeling of inevitability about it for a while," added the Scot, who was part of the Blackburn squad which won the Premier League title in 1995. "They lost their better experienced players such as Ryan Nelsen and Chris Samba, good players and big influences in the dressing room. "When you do that and don't replace them then you can end up in trouble and sadly for Blackburn it has ended up with relegation."











By Phil McNulty Chief football writer, BBC Sport
8 May 2012 Last updated at 12:49
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17992153

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Rory McIlroy is world number one as Rickie Fowler wins at Quail

Monday, May 7, 2012

Rory McIlroy returned to golf's world number one spot, despite losing a play-off to Rickie Fowler, who won his first PGA Tour title at Quail Hollow Club.

 

The duo tied at 14 under with DA Points and headed into a sudden-death play-off for the Wells Fargo Championship. American Fowler, the world number 39, took the title after producing a superb approach shot at the first extra hole. McIlroy's second-place finish was enough for him to leapfrog Luke Donald at the top of the world rankings. "It's a little consolation," said the 23-year-old Northern Irishman. "I would rather win the tournament, but it's good. "I want to try to play well for the next few weeks and solidify my spot at number one." Fowler, also 23, was making his 67th PGA Tour start since turning professional in 2009. He needed just one hole to win the play-off - sinking a four-foot putt to birdie the 18th hole, while McIlroy and Points could only par. Fowler, who won on his 72nd attempt, said:

"It's been a wait, but I'm definitely still young, and hopefully this opens the door to many more." "It's nice to be mentioned as a PGA Tour winner." The win brought back memories of McIlroy's first Tour win, which came at the same venue two years ago - albeit in more spectacular fashion as he finished with a course-record 62. Fowler said of McIlroy: "We've always had a great camaraderie, been good buddies. I definitely respect him as a player, and I feel like he respects me as well". "I've had a lot of fun playing against him." Fowler carded the best final round of the trio, a three-under 69, but it was not the best of the day. That honour went to Englishman Lee Westwood. The world number three was clubhouse leader for much of the afternoon after firing a fine six-under-par round of 66 to reach 11 under.






7 May 2012 Last updated at 07:14
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/17979055

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Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova both win in Madrid

Top seeds Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova are both through to the second round of the Madrid Open.

 

The world number one and last year's runner up Azarenka beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 6-4. Second seed Sharapova crushed Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu 6-0 6-2. Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki also made it through, but only after being pushed all the way by Ksenia Pervak . She eventually prevailed 7-6 (9-7) 3-6 6-4. Another ex-world number one, Ana Ivanovic beat French qualifier Mathilde Johansson 6-4 6-1. Of the other players fancied to do well on the new blue clay surface, the 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone crashed out 6-4 6-7 (8-10) 6-3 to American qualifier Varvara Lepchenko .

The courts have been attracting almost as much attention as the players. Speaking before the tournament Wozniacki said: "Blue is my favourite colour, this makes things a bit different. "The court seems a bit faster than when it was (traditional) red. "Adding the Madrid altitude (650 metres above sea level) makes it even faster. But we will only know who handled it best when the tournament is over." Defending champion Petra Kvitova added: "I haven't practised on them enough yet to say, but I think they are something new for us."In my opinion they look very nice, very cool. "I like the colour, so I'm looking forward to playing on them." Both Venus and Serena Williams are in action on Monday with ninth-seed Serena taking on Russia's Elena Vesnina while Venus, who is on a wildcard, takes on Angelique Kerber of Germany in the second round.









 6 May 2012 Last updated at 20:56
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/17978470

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Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy head field at Wentworth

Friday, May 4, 2012

World number one Luke Donald and number two Rory McIlroy will tee-off against a strong field at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth on 24 May.

 

The line-up at the Surrey course boasts 14 major champions, including Ireland's Padraig Harrington, Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal and South African Ernie Els. Donald beat Lee Westwood in a play-off to win in 2011, a victory which saw him lead the rankings for the first time. The event is only one of two Tour events taking place in England in 2012. The Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes in July is the other English event. England's Donald and Northern Ireland's McIlroy have swapped places at the top of the rankings four times in 2012, with the Englishman moving back to number one after finishing third in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in April. World number three Westwood will also compete at Wentworth, alongside British major winners Darren Clarke, Graeme McDowell and Paul Lawrie.

The other major champions competing at the event will be German Martin Kaymer, South Africans Retief Goosen and Charl Schwartzel, New Zealand's Michael Campbell, Mike Weir from Canada and Americans Shaun Micheel and Rich Beem.





 4 May 2012 Last updated at 11:52
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/17954418

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London 2012: GB canoeist Tim Brabants confident of Olympic place

Reigning Olympic canoe sprint champion Tim Brabants says he is confident of beating 1000m rival Paul Wycherley to selection for the London Games.

 

The GB squad will head to Poznan in Poland for the second round of European qualification on 16-17 May. Brabants and Wycherley are battling it out with each other to represent GB. "It'll be one of us who goes to the Olympics, hopefully it'll be one of us on the podium. I think it will be me if I'm honest," Brabants told BBC South. GB have so far qualified three boats for London 2012, and have another three host nation places. Poznan will be an opportunity to qualify more boats and for individuals to impress selectors. While the boats are qualified, exactly who will fill the seats will not be announced until 14 June. The Olympic canoe sprint event will take place at Dorney Lake in Berkshire during the second week of the Games, with the majority of the squad now living in and around the area. One of the key battles is for the place in the K1 1000m men's race. At the national championships last month, Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Brabants beat rival Wycherley in the first of three race-offs. Brabants edged their K1 1000m heat on Nottingham's Holme Pierrepont course by three hundredths of a second.

Wycherley beat Brabants last summer, earning himself the right to compete at the 2011 World Championships, but Brabants - who also won bronze over 500m in Beijing - has started his home Olympic year in excellent form. Two races remain, at separate World Cup events in May, and the first to two wins will be selected in Team GB for London. As Brabants explains, he is relishing the rivalry. "For the last 10 years I've never been contested in the 1000m," he said. "My biggest competition has always come from abroad. Last year was a rubbish year having spent most of the year in a sling. Paul beat me in the selection race last year, so it showed me just how far behind I was in terms of selection." Wycherley admits he is facing a huge battle to earn qualification for 2012 against the man he believes is the best canoeist in the world. "It's a real honour to be compared to Tim, who is the reigning Olympic champion," said Wycherley. "I'm just going out there and doing what I've always done, which is racing from A to B as fast as I can, and it turns out that Tim and I are having a very close race. These are exciting times and great for GB canoeing." Wycherley added: "I am in absolutely no doubt that Tim is in fine form this year and a fantastic athlete, and in my mind the best 1000m paddler in the world. "So I'm just going to go out there and do my very best and fight for every point and hope it goes my way like it did last year."











4 May 2012 Last updated at 11:37
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/17942488

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America-based businessman Miller nears takeover at Rangers

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Rangers' administrators have granted Bill Miller preferred bidder status and hope the club will be in his hands later this month.

 

The America-based businessman announced plans to form an "incubator" company that would see the assets of Rangers transferred to a new company. Miller's initial bid was dependent on the Scottish football authorities not imposing further sanctions on the club. But Duff & Phelps describe the offer as "unconditional". "Bill Miller has got sufficiently comfortable in terms of the football authorities to go unconditional with his bid, and on that basis we can proceed," said Rangers joint administrator David Whitehouse. "Mr Miller now proposes to complete his transaction by the end of the season." The "incubator" idea would leave an "old company" saddled with the club's debts and aiming to deal with its creditors via a Creditors Voluntary Arrangement [CVA]. Administrator Paul Clark explained that the two entities would later reunite, saying he thought it was an "entirely workable strategy". Clark also revealed that Miller's bid was "substantially greater" than the rival offer from the Blue Knights consortium led by former Rangers director Paul Murray and backed by Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy. He added that it would provide "a stable platform" for the club and provide the best return for creditors. Clark stressed that the bid "avoids the need for liquidation" but did not address what would happen in the event of a failure to agree a CVA.

Rangers are facing a 12-month transfer embargo, pending an appeal against the Scottish Football Association's decision. And given PFA Scotland believe players are not legally obliged to join a newco, the American, who runs a tow truck business, may struggle to assemble a squad. Uefa also insist clubs are members of national associations for three years before they are allowed into European competition. Sections of the Rangers support have voiced opposition to Miller's proposed takeover. However, following Wednesday's 5-0 win over Dundee United manager Ally McCoist said: "I think everybody has got to be given a chance, whether it's Bill Miller or whoever it may be. "We would all be wrong to sit and be judge and jury immediately before anything could happen. "I don't think we are in a position other than we have to be supportive of somebody that will hopefully come in and take the club forward. "People will have their own opinions on things and ideas of who they want. "But, from within the club, we just want somebody who will come in and give us a little bit of stability again and hopefully take the club forward."












3 May 2012 Last updated at 11:36
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17921616

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