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...

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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...

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Liverpool renew interest in Swansea's Brendan Rodgers

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

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...

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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...

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World Cup Rowing: Three GB golds disappointing - Redgrave

Monday, May 28, 2012

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...

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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...

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Kevin Pietersen: Andrew Strauss calms Twitter row

Friday, May 25, 2012

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...

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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...

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Roberto Martinez given Liverpool deadline by Wigan

Thursday, May 24, 2012

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...

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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...

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

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

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...

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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...

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Golf can no longer be slow on the uptake

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

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...

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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...

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Varun Chopra ton puts Warwickshire in charge

Thursday, May 17, 2012

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...

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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...

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Andy Murray defeats David Nalbandian on clay in Rome

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

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...

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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...

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Newcastle Eagles beat Leicester Riders in BBL Play-Offs

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

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...

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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...

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Alex McLeish poised to leave Aston Villa

Monday, May 14, 2012

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...

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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...

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Challenge Cup: Wigan Warriors v St Helens

Friday, May 11, 2012

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...

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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...

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

Thursday, May 10, 2012

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...

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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...

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Blackburn Rovers' deputy CEO Paul Hunt sacked after leak

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

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...

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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...

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Blackburn face player exodus after relegation - Kevin Gallacher

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

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...

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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...

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Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova both win in Madrid

Monday, May 7, 2012

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...

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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,...

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London 2012: GB canoeist Tim Brabants confident of Olympic place

Friday, May 4, 2012

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...

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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...

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