Cricket: Broad Hat-Trick Pulls England Back From Brink

Stuart Broad's summer revival continued in style of day two at Trent Bridge. With India heading for a sizeable first innings lead, Broad snared a dramatic hat-trick on the way to figures of 6-46. The Indians slumped from 267-4 to 288 all out, losing four wickets in eight balls along the way.

A first innings lead of 67 gives the Indian attack a nice cushion but the momentum swung firmly in England's direction as Broad ripped through the lower order, sparking wild celebrations at Trent Bridge.

Lost in all the drama was another fine century from Rahul Dravid, who is just adding to his already stellar reputation. Sachin Tendulkar again failed in his bid for a 100th Test century but Dravid and Yuvraj Singh (62) seemed to be driving the tourists into a position of strength before the mind boggling collapse.

Indian bounced back before the close, dismissing Alastair Cook cheaply with the new ball, but England will still consider themselves back in the game after Broad's heroics.

Athletics: World Championships Will Bring Best From Bolt

Usain Bolt cruised to a 200m victory in Stockholm today with a pedestrian (by his standards) time of 20.03s. Hardly headline-making stuff  - and Bolt even admitted that he was unimpressed with the time.

But come the 2011 World Championships in South Korea, count on the Jamaican to be threatening the records he set in Berlin in 2009 - 9.58s in the 100m and 19.19s in the 200m.

That summer was a special one for Bolt as he continued his mission to put athletics back on the map. His performances on the track were stunning but his medals (three golds) were not the whole story. It was his personality that also helped push him into the greatness conversation.

Digging into the 2009 archives, relive the Berlin heroics through these articles:

http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/athletics/227878-the-best-of-2009-usain-bolt

http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/athletics/205747-breath-taking-bolt-shatters-200m-world-record

http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/athletics/155605-bolt-cruise-control-berlin-fun-run

http://www.morethanthegames.co.uk/athletics/185686-bolt-admits-hes-feeling-effects-historic-100m-victory

Cricket: Broad Cameo Keeps England In Touch

India were expected to bounce back after the defeat at Lord's - and they did just that on day one of the Second Test at Trent Bridge.

But a resilent counter-attacking 64 from Stuart Broad spared England's blushes after the Indian seamers had exploited favourable conditions and left the hosts reeling at 124-8. Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar and Sreesanth, in for the injured Zaheer Khan, did the damage, grabbing three wickets apiece. A total of 221 all out was below par but far more respectable than England might have expected once the middle order had crumbled.

India lost Abhinav Mukund to the first ball of their reply but Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman steadied the ship as the tourists ended the day on 24-1.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men came into the game under pressure but India's decision to bowl first was vindicated in the first two sessions. Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott perished early as England slipped to 23-2 and then, after Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen had pushed the score to 69-2 at lunch, an almighty collapse saw both dismissed along with Eoin Morgan (0) and Matt Prior (1).

With India firmly on top when Ian Bell became the eighth wicket to fall, Broad launched England's fightback. The number eight needed just 56 balls to reach his half century and dragged the team past the 200-mark with solid support from Graeme Swann, who injured his hand while batting and needed an X-ray later in the day.

England's total was not what Strauss would have had in mind but momentum was certainly wrestled back after Broad's heroics. The Trent Bridge pitch was giving the bowlers all kinds of encouragement on day one and should become even more bowler friendly as the match progresses.

The meat of the Indian batting line-up still looms large but honours were almost even by the close, though the tourists will believe they can go on to build a decisive first innings advantage. If England get the better of the morning session on day two, this game could yet swing back in their favour.

Football: Bruce's Summer Spending Breathes Life into Sunderland

Losing Darren Bent and Jordan Henderson in the space of six months could have left Sunderland staring at a relegation battle. Instead, manager Steve Bruce has made a string of splashes in the transfer market, revamping the Black Cats squad and welcoming in a new era at the Stadium of Light.

Read more at http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/07/28/sunderland-set-for-new-era-after-spending-spree/46019/

Football: Manchester United Tour Exposes Flaws of MLS

For all the progress made by Major League Soccer over the past few years, Manchester United's US pre-season tour has provided a timely reminder of the gulf in quality between MLS and the top European leagues. For the majority of the fixtures to date, it has been men against boys.

On paper, the tour posed some tricky tests. A stop in Seattle pitted the Premier League champions against the Sounders, one of MLS' most talented teams. Seattle are among the Western Conference contenders, sitting just behind David Beckham's LA Galaxy. None of that counted for much as United thumped the Sounders 7-0, with Wayne Rooney grabbing a 21-minute hat-trick.

Some felt a clash with the MLS All-Stars would be a tougher proposition. So much for that - United waltzed to a 4-0 victory, with the goals shared around between Anderson, Ji-Sung Park, Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Welbeck. By the end, United were toying with their opponents. In truth, the score could have matched the demolition in Seattle.

While the tour has been hugely lucrative for the MLS, with huge crowds flocking to see the United stars up close, the scorelines have not gone unnoticed. Bear in mind, Sir Alex Ferguson's men are still building match fitness after a restful summer. With no World Cup or European Championships, Rooney and company had a rare opportunity to recharge their batteries before returning to training in early July.

But that means that the United stars are likely at about 80% fitness, with the Community Shield ahead next weekend to cap off the pre-season workout. The MLS, meanwhile, has been up and running since March.
Admittedly, Manchester City have not overwhelmed MLS opponents in the same way on their North American tour, beating the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 with a late winner and overcoming the LA Galaxy on penalties after a 1-1 draw. But again the fitness factor must be taken into account.

For United players and fans, there is plenty to smile about. The tour has confirmed the team's status as favourites to retain the Premier League title and showcased the potential of Ashley Young and Phil Jones as well as Federico Macheda and Welbeck. However, for their MLS opponents it has been a harsh learning experience. The game is steadily improving in North America but the signs suggest that MLS clubs will never close the gap on Europe's best.

NBA: Players and Owners Finally Set to Talk Again

A month has already passed since the players and owners last held significant discussions regarding the NBA lockout and a new collective bargaining agreement. Over the course of these four wasted weeks, pessimistic predictions about when NBA fans might next see a regular season game have been flying around relentlessly.

But reports suggest that the players and owners will at least be sitting down together again soon - as soon as Monday, in fact. The two parties remain far apart on several key issues but this meeting would obviously be a step in the right direction.

Read more at http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/6810413/nba-union-first-collective-bargaining-talks-monday-sources-said

Football: Tough Start for McCoist

Just two games into his tenure as manager and new Rangers boss Ally McCoist must be wondering if he has taken on a poisoned challice.

After 5 long years as Walter Smith's No.2, Rangers' all-time record goalscorer finally got the chance to become manager following the former's retirement in May.  Although McCoist has inherited a squad which has won the SPL three years in a row, two unconvincing performances at home have left the new boss under pressure.

Saturday lunchtime's 1-1 draw with Hearts was followed by a shock home defeat against Swedish side Malmo in the UEFA Champions League 3rd round qualifying.

In spite of a new owner in the shape of Craig Whyte and a promise for a change in the transfer policy which has stifled the 'gers recently, McCoist failed to re-sign Kenny Miller, last season's top scorer.  After his unsuccessful spell in Turkey, Miller opted for a move to Cardiff City rather for a return to Govan, mainly due to Rangers' reluctance to pay more than £400,000 they received for the player from Bursaspor.  Add to this reports of defender Madjid Bougherra's itchy feet and the champions squad looks set to become weaker rather than stronger.

Rangers now have a trip to St. Johnstone this weekend before travelling to Sweden for Wednesday's decisive second leg.  Should they fail to qualify for the Champions League proper, question marks over McCoist will persist.  Just 1 goal scored in two outings this campaign suggests McCoist may have to move away from his trusted 4-5-1 formation and provide greater support for striker Nikica Jelavic.

It promises to be a significant week in Scotland's second city...

NBA: Paul, Anthony Considering Playing Overseas

You can add the New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul and the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony to the list of stars toying with the idea of playing overseas during the NBA lockout.

Both revealed an interest in plying their trade in China in the months ahead, lending their voices to the players' cause in the lockout battle with NBA owners. With Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard also thought to be mulling over opportunities to play outside the US, pressure is at least mounting on the owners to get a deal done.

However, until more stars sign on the dotted line for overseas deals, owners are unlikely to be pushed too hard. Talk is cheap, after all, and the New Jersey Nets' Deron Williams is still the only bona fide star to agree an overseas move. If Paul and Anthony were to sign deals in China, then things might be shaken up a little.

Read more at http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/6807479/chris-paul-carmelo-anthony-latest-look-foreign-offers

Football: Manchester United Looking For One More Signing

On the day that Manchester City announced the signing of Sergio Aguero, Manchester United chief executive David Gill admitted that the Premier League champions hope to add another new face of their own before the season begins on August 13.

Gill did not mention names but it would make sense for the club to be targeting a central midfielder.

Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14285602.stm

Football: England Slip From FIFA Top 5

The latest FIFA rankings show England have slipped from the top five, falling two places to number six in part due to their woeful World Cup campaign in South Africa last summer.

It is hardly surprisingly to see Fabio Capello's men drop down the rankings. In fact, if anything, it is a shock that they remain as high as sixth, given that England have not looked contenders for a major tournament since Euro '96 under Terry Venables and appear to be going backwards at present.

The top five is predictably led by reigning European and World Cup champs Spain, with Holland and Germany joining Xavi, Andres Iniesta and company in the top three. Brazil sit fourth while Uruguay, fresh off Copa America glory, have climbed into the number five spot. The Uruguayans, who also caught the eye at the 2010 World Cup with a gutsy run to the semi-finals, jumped a remarkable 13 spots in the rankings.

The rest of the top ten includes Portugal (7), Italy (8), Croatia (9) and Lionel Messi's Argentina (10).

Cricket: Review of England v India, 1st Test at Lord's, London

England won the two thousandth test match at Lord’s yesterday in front of the fifth successive full house of the contest and beneath a clear, blue sky. However, if the weather was a marked departure from the dank, overcast conditions seen on day one steadily improving as the test progressed, the fortunes of the Indians, in contrast, seemed to worsen day by day.

India won the toss and invited England to bat on Thursday but rain curtailed the day’s halfway through the afternoon. If this was unfortunate, denying the visitors the opportunity to exploit favourable bowling conditions, the injury to the leading strike bowler, Zaheer Khan, seemed as though it could have been avoided. Zaheer arrived at Lord’s with one innings of a county warm up under his belt by way of preparation. He had missed the recent test series between India and West Indies and more than one commentator remarked that he appeared to be carrying a little excess weight. In truth, he looked short of fitness, and though he bowled beautifully for 13 overs, his breakdown was not an altogether surprising one.

Zaheer had taken both wickets to fall on day one, and England had reached 127-2 after the 49 overs that could be bowled. Andrew Strauss’ struggle for runs continued after he was outfoxed by a short ball from Zaheer when on 22 and Alastair Cook fell for a rare failure of late, trapped lbw for 12.

Day two was dominated by England, who had Kevin Pietersen to thank in the main. He had shown a rare capacity for restraint on day one, wisely cautiously laying the foundations for his innings. On day two he continued to battle his way into form rather than display his usual polish and flamboyance, although conditions had markedly improved for batting. India were hamstrung by Zaheer’s absence, leaving them with only three fit, frontline bowlers. MS Dhoni’s decision to step into the breach and bowl himself was admirable in some respects - a captain leading from the front. However the sight of a professional outfit swapping around the wicket keeping gloves and pads was ever a slightly shambolic one. Pietersen reached a watchful century with good support from Jonathan Trott (70) and Ian Bell (45) before he finally moved through the gears after Matt Prior had departed for a trademark attacking 71. Pietersen went from 150 to 200 in fewer than 30 deliveries and allowed England to declare with the score on 474-8. India then saw out the half a dozen overs before the close with few alarms.

Stuart Broad, whose place had been under scrutiny before the start of the match, proved to be the star of day three. His bowling was the catalyst for India’s disappointing first innings display. The pre match criticism of Broad had concentrated on his seeming inability, or reluctance, to pitch the ball up to the batsmen and attack the stumps. He had seemed preoccupied with examining the middle of the pitch in recent test matches against Sri Lanka, in the process neutering his wicket taking threat. On Saturday, however, it was pleasing to see him pitch the ball up, allowing for it to swing and move off the pitch and the fruits of such an approach were born in the wickets of Mukund, Gambhir and Tendulkar. Had it not been for uncharacteristic drops off his bowling, he would have had a five wicket haul and dismissed India’s top order. Sachin Tendulkar was given a standing ovation from all sections of the ground as he emerged from the pavilion but was unable to fulfil the script by scoring his one hundredth international century at the home of cricket. He had unfurled a handful of glorious drives, before he was becalmed by the bounce and menace of Chris Tremlett, and eventually fell to Stuart Broad. This was a reward for bowling in partnerships - Tremlett’s threat had brought about Tendulkar’s over ambition against Broad.

While wickets were tumbling at the other end Rahul Dravid remained an unmoveable object, living up fully to his nickname, “The Wall”. Dravid’s walk from pavilion to middle was far less celebrated than Tendulkar’s some thirty or so minutes later. It is remarkable that Dravid, who passed Ricky Ponting as the second highest test run scorer of all time during the course of his innings, should be seen as some sort of warm up act for Tendulkar, but that speaks more for the latter’s pre-eminence rather than denigrating the former’s abilities and proud record. Dravid used the full depth of the crease to Swann, displaying nimble footwork and execution of shots to negate his threat, and - aside from a dropped catch to slip -  he saw off the threat of Broad and Tremlett with few alarms. He reached his century in the company of the injured Zaheer and he showed he had the ability still to move through the gears when required, accelerating seamlessly after the dismissals of Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh in the same over had left him with onl the tail for company.

India were bowled out late on day three for 286 and left with a first innings deficit of 188. England’s openers had a similar number of overs to negotiate as India’s openers had the previous day and they also completed the task with no damage suffered. England had bowled well, but the abiding feeling was that India had not made the most of good batting conditions, and again question marks remained over their preparation for the test match.

Ishant Sharma sprang to life in Sunday’s opening session providing a rare period in which India threatened to wrestle back control of the match from England. He reduced England to 72-5 at lunch, taking the wickets of Pietersen, Bell and Trott. Pietersen and Bell were beaten by tremendous movement off the seam to give catches to Dhoni behind the stumps. Sharma then showed his great potential by bowling Trott with a ball that moved the other way. Any bowler who can move the ball both ways is a potential match winner and it will be interesting to see how Sharma fares on wickets at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston which should both offer him far more encouragement than he found at Lord’s.

India’s renaissance was brief however, and Matt Prior again showed that he is a man England can rely upon totally with bat in hand, by making a swift century in the evening session. It was somewhat surprising that MS Dhoni chose not to begin the post lunch session with Sharma in the attack, for when he did take the ball thirty minutes or so into the session he almost immediately added the wicket of Eoin Morgan to his collection. Thereafter, however, Prior and the born-again Broad added an unbeaten stand of over 150 and England were able to declare setting India a notional 458 to win the test match.

In a prolonged evening session (time still needing to be made up after the loss of 41 overs on day one) India advanced to 80 for just the loss of Mukund. Sachin Tendulkar had been off the field for much of England’s second innings with a stomach upset and Gautam Gambhir had been taken to hospital for a cautionary x-ray after he had been struck a nasty blow to the elbow fielding close to the bat from Matt Prior. India’s lineup was reshuffled with Rahul Dravid opening the innings with Abhinav Mukund and VVS Laxman promoted from his usual number 5 berth to number 3. Dravid took the promotion in his usual unflappable manner. He truly is a batsman of substance, and his success in this test match was met with universal delight for he is a fine man too.

Tickets for day 5 were sold on the door for £20, with children allowed in for free and this prompted some fans to arrive as early as 2am to guarantee admission. Fans were being turned away more than hour before the start of the final day’s play after tickets had sold out. Thus, the denouement of the two thousandth test match was played out fittingly before a vibrant (fifth day crowds are often more raucous than their predecessors), packed house. England were handed an early boost within the first half an hour by Dravid’s dismissal, nibbling at a ball from Jimmy Anderson and edging to Matt Prior behind the stumps. Dravid was visibly furious with himself as he walked off and this was a great blow to India’s solar plexus. Suresh Raina came in at number 4, as Tendulkar still had to make up some time after his absence from the field for much of the previous day. However he was at the wicket before lunch as VVS Laxman somewhat carelessly pulled the first ball of a new spell from Anderson straight to Bell at midwicket. Laxman had made 56 and his dismissal was another vital one for England.

After lunch, there were a few moments of controversy as umpire Billy Bowden failed to give out Tendulkar and Raina with reviews showing both would have been given out under DRS, the review system usually in place for lbw decisions. However in the event neither of these decisions had a crucial bearing on the match, as Tendulkar departed after having made a unusually scratchy, painstaking 11. Possibly he was still feeling under the weather after his illness of the previous day. Raina made 78, offering promise for the rest of the series. Both ultimately fell to Anderson who finished with impressive figures of 5-65, and a little after tea the conclusion, which had seemed rather inevitable from about halfway through day three, was reached. India had been bowled out for 261 to lose by 196 runs.

England’s victory was ultimately comprehensive, and while it was not without blemish, it was an emphatic marker laid down at the opening of the series to decide the number one test side in the world. Stuart Broad’s selection had been vindicated, though a clear judgment of his retention must wait until the dust has settled on the whole series. One might argue that players selected for England have the potential to have good matches at any time, it’s rather more of a requirement that they should do so consistently. It remains to be seen whether or not the selectors fall into the trap of waiting and waiting with the sword of damacles hanging over a players head until said player finally delivers before using that one performance as a case for making his place safe for another x test matches. England’s catching in this match was unusually poor, but it is to be hoped that this was an isolated blemish.

The make up of the England side is also one that can be scrutinised. The persistence with four bowlers adds somewhat to the idea that the England management have the capacity to drag their feet and be a little stubborn. It’s an unnecessarily cautious balance for the side because the team are making so many runs on such a consistent basis that the number 6 batsman is rather redundant. Morgan came to the wicket in the second innings with the score at 60-4 but more often than not he arrives with the score approaching 300-4 and his impact is limited. On this occasion, Morgan was not the man who saw England out of the difficulties of 60-4. Prior at 7 came to the rescue and his continued form only underscores the needlessness of a sixth specialist batsman. It is to be hoped that this realisation dawns upon the England selectors, and that a fifth bowler is picked, preferably a second spinner to give the side greater balance. However in selection and balance of the side they appear to adhere to the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mantra. If England truly wishes to take the number one spot in the rankings and remain there by winning in all conditions, then they will find it easier to achieve with a bolder selection policy.

India are left with the greater headaches as the series moves on to Trent Bridge, Nottingham for the second test starting on Friday. Virender Sehwag, the most destructive opening batsman in cricket, is still in Delhi nursing his shoulder, and is not expected to be available until the third test match. Zaheer Khan faces a race against time to be fit for Trent Bridge. On the positive side, India’s batsmen, will now have had a chance to gain some valuable time in the middle and some exposure to English conditions. It’s just rather a shame that they had to use a live, test match to do so. Nonetheless they are still the number one side in the world, and are notoriously slow starters (a correlation between slow starts to series and a lack of time preparing in alien conditions seems obvious to this observer) so all is certainly not lost for Indian fans. It would be a brave man to bet against an England win at Trent Bridge, a traditional bastion of swing and seam, however there is more than enough quality in India’s ranks to inspire hope.

Football: Uruguay Win Copa America

Uruguay emerged victorious from the 2011 Copa America after defeating Paraguay 3-0 in Sunday's final. The world class strike partnership of Forlan - Suarez did the damage with Forlan scoring 2 and player of the tournament, Suarez, getting the other.

It was a deserved victory for Uruguay who, as in their semi final against Peru, dealt well with the favourites tag and dominated for the majority of the match. The victory was Uruguay's 15th Copa title and makes them the most successful team in South America. Following on from reaching the semi-finals in the 2010 World Cup, Uruguay are establishing themselves as one of the world's top teams.

Whilst the likes of Forlan and regular midfielders, Sebastian Eguren and Diego Perez, are the wrong side of 30, the team is also boasting some impressive young talent coming through. 20year old defender Sebastian Coates was named the player of the tournament and Ajax playmaker, Nicolas Lodeiro, looks an impressive talent. Although still crucial to Uruguay, Forlan's form has significantly dipped since his superb World Cup. But in Edison Cavani, Uruguay have a more than capable replacement. Cavani scored a total of 33 goals last season for club side Napoli and, at 24, can form a strike partnership with Suarez that lasts many years.

As for Paraguay, the national team were greeted by 3,000 fans upon returning to Paraguay and decorated by the President after reaching the Quarter Finals of the World Cup. Reaching the Copa America final may well be seen as equally impressive and the signs of marked progress. They will, however, have to address the issue of management. The contract of Gerardo Martino, head coach since 2007, will expire shortly and it is unsure if he will stay on. He initially planned to step down after the 2010 World Cup but decided to stay on until after the Copa America.

Meanwhile, quarter finalists and hosts, Argentina, have wasted no time in removing their coach, Sergio Batista. Batista was installed initially as an interim coach after the 2010 World Cup, but his position was made permanent shortly after. However, after a Copa America which yielded just one win (against Costa Rica), he has been removed, with the Argentina Football Association clearly stating he had not been "sacked". The Argentine FA also stated that they are in no rush for a new head coach, but names have already been mentioned, including that of Martino. Successful club managers, Alejandro Sabella and Carlos Bianchi, are also amongst the favourites to take over.

NFL: Season Good To Go

The 2011/12 NFL season finally got the green light today, sparking celebrations across the country.

For more details, check out http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6791346/winners-losers-nfl-labor-deal

Cricket: England Seal Superb Victory

India hold the number one ranking in Test cricket but for five days at Lord's England staked their claim to that lofty status, outplaying the tourists and clinching a 197-run win.

Jimmy Anderson led the charge on the final day with 5-65 while Chris Tremlett and Stuart Broad provided able support. Indian resistance was led by Suresh Raina (78) but there was no fairytale ending for Sachin Tendulkar, who made just 12 from 68 balls while battling illness. The little maestro will go down in the history as the greatest batsman of his generation but with no Lord's century to his name - just as Shane Warne failed to record a five-wicket haul at the home of cricket.

Once Tremlett broke the Raina-Mahendra Singh Dhoni partnership to expose the tail, England showed an encouraging ruthless streak, taking the final four wickets for 36 runs. And after Broad trapped Ishant Sharma lbw to seal the result, deserved celebrations began in earnest. Kevin Pietersen collected the man of the match award for his unbeaten double hundred in the first innings but there were several other worthy contenders in the home dressing room.

The past five days at Lord's provided the best possible advert for Test cricket. Gripping session after gripping session went England's way but India refused to roll over. The tourists scrapped hard but did not play their best cricket. They will surely bounce back as the series continues on Friday at Trent Bridge.

If this opener was any indication, the next three Tests will be unmissable. Check back later in the week for Nick Rogerson's First Test recap.

NFL: Lockout All But Over

Fears that the 2011/12 NFL season might be affected by a lockout can finally be shelved as sources confirmed a new deal had been accepted by all parties. The season is set to begin on September 8 as the defending Super Bowl champions the Green Bay Packers host 2010 winners the New Orleans Saints.

Check out http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/6797238/2011-nfl-lockout-owners-players-come-deal-all-points-sources-say

Football: Buffon Focused on Juventus Revival

As a World Cup winner and two-time Serie A champion, Gianluigi Buffon could be forgiven if his competitive fire no longer burned as fiercely. Adored by Juventus supporters for his loyalty during the Calciopoli scandal in 2006, his reputation as a club legend is safe regardless of how the remainder of his career pans out. In short, it is scenario that invites him to enter cruise control.

But Buffon is doing no such thing – instead, he casts a motivated figure. Juventus are entering a new era under new boss Antonio Conte, the former Bianconeri midfielder, and the Italian goalkeeper has a key role to play in bringing the squad together to challenge for the Serie A title again. It will be no easy feat - after all, Juventus have not won the Scudetto since 2003 and finished a distant seventh last season.

There are plenty of reasons for optimism, though. Midfield schemer Andrea Pirlo, a long-time team-mate of Buffon with the Italian national team, arrived this summer with a point to prove after falling out of favour at AC Milan while the club also added defender Stefan Lichtsteiner, central midfielder Michele Pazienza and versatile left-sided player Reto Ziegler. All four have already begun to settle into their new surroundings.

However, Buffon also sounded a note of caution as he prepares to lead Juventus into the new Serie A season.

“In all new projects, whenever you begin, there is the enthusiasm of everyone,” Buffon said through an interpreter in Toronto this weekend. “But we’re only at the beginning of this project right now with the new team.

“We have to look at our objective, which is to become an important team again. We have to overcome the obstacles that we will encounter. We really need to look at this for a full year before you can make decision on how the team is doing.”

A 2-1 loss to Sporting Lisbon on Saturday at Toronto’s BMO Field - part of World Football Challenge 2011 - confirmed that Buffon and Conte have hard work ahead. Juventus fielded all four new recruits but were overrun by a quicker, stronger Sporting side. Alessandro Del Piero and Luca Toni only joined the action in the second half but, despite a sublime finish from the former late on in Toronto, the lack of cutting edge is a concern.

But it is still early days for this group of players and Buffon has been around long enough to know that only so much can be gauged from pre-season form. More important is the fact that the Italian stopper remains as committed and focused as ever. With that in mind, do not bet against Juventus being back in the top three by next May.

Tom Oldfield

Football: Sporting Hold Off Juventus, Win 2-1

Sporting Lisbon were the slicker, stronger side against Juventus at Toronto's BMO Field on Saturday night, earning a 2-1 victory in the latest instalment of the 2011 World Football Challenge. A Yannick Djalo double gave Sporting some breathing room and, though a sublime Alessandro Del Piero chip set up a nailbiting finish, the Portuguese side held on.

Juventus, fielding a string of summer buys, including Andrea Pirlo and Reto Ziegler, have plenty of work ahead as new boss Antonio Conte gets to grips with the challenge in front of him. His team created few openings but threatened through Milos Krasic on the right flank in the first half. Winger Elio De Silvestro looked dangerous in the second half too.

At the other end, the lively Sporting front line caused serious headaches for the Bianconeri back four. Yannick's first goal came via a corner on the right as he fired home from Ogucci Onyewu's knockdown while his second was a fine strike into the far corner, giving Gianluigi Buffon no chance in the Juventus goal.

Juventus made a string of changes at half-time, sending on strike pairing Luca Toni and Del Piero. Neither team really gained the upper hand in the second half but both kept the ball with ease and logged valuable pre-season minutes.

Del Piero breathed life back into the game late on with a classy chipped finish but Sporting gathered themselves to hold off the last gasp Juventus rally and seal a deserved victory. It is early days for both clubs but it is the Italians who have the most work to do over the next few weeks.

Tom Oldfield

Cricket: England On Top After Gripping Day Three

Supporters arrived at Lord's on day three in the hope of seeing Sachin Tendulkar score his 100th Test century - instead they got a typically resilient ton from Rahul Dravid and a relentless performance from England's bowling attack. Unquestionably, England finished the day in the driving seat after dismissing India for 286 and then extending their lead to 193 runs by the close.

But for Dravid's masterclass in concentration and shot selection, India would find themselves in an even bigger hole. In Tendulkar's shadow throughout his career, this was truly his day. The Wall's 33th Test hundred - his first at Lord's - brought a huge ovation from the crowd and he finished unbeaten on 103 from 220 balls. Tendulkar, meanwhile, began brightly before edging the excellent Stuart Broad to Graeme Swann in the slips for 34. The wait for his century of centuries goes on.

For Broad, day three was the perfect response to the raised eyebrows over his selection for this game. Finally returning to a fuller length, he finished with 4-37 from 22 overs. Chris Tremlett chipped in with three important scalps as India sweated in their pursuit of 275 to avoid the follow-on. Even a few dropped catches could not dampen England's spirits.

But Dravid would not throw in the towel, pulling his team past the follow-on target before stroking Broad into the offside to complete his ton. Just as Kevin Pietersen had celebrated jubilantly the previous day, the Indian number three soaked up the moment. After all, this will be his final Test at Lord's.

Despite Dravid's heroics, England remain in the box seat. Ahead by almost 200 and with ten wickets in hand, an aggressive approach with the bat on day four should leave ample time for the seamers and key man Swann to chase the victory. With Zaheer Khan not expected to bowl, the Indians face an uphill battle to save this Test.

Cricket: England Profit on Day Two

Kevin Pietersen answered his critics with an emphatic double century as England piled the pressure on India at Lord's on day two of the First Test. The tourists must now rely on their batting maestros to claw away from danger.

Resuming on 127-2, England suffered the early loss of Jonathan Trott, lbw to Praveen Kumar, but then took the game by the scruff of the neck as Pietersen forged timely partnerships with first Ian Bell (45) then Matt Prior (71). England cruised past 450 before declaring on 474-8 once Pietersen had passed 200. He finished unbeaten on 202.

With Zaheer Khan injured, the Indian attack laboured. Kumar's persistence was rewarded with a five-wicket haul but Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh combined for miserable figures of 0-280.

The Indian openers survived six overs before the close, reaching 17-0, but the big test will come tomorrow as England's pace trio and the spin threat of Graeme Swann put the top order through their paces. A decisive day three is on the cards.

Football: Cleverley Poised for Big Year

Manchester United have been active in this summer transfer market, putting an emphasis on establishing a young core to support the likes of Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic. In Ashley Young, David De Gea and Phil Jones, the champions have added solid performers with the potential to make the step up from good to great.

But Sir Alex Ferguson also hopes to see development among his youth system products, including Tom Cleverley, who impressed on loan at Wigan last season. And Ferguson has already earmarked Cleverley as an important man for the new era at Old Trafford.

Read more at http://bit.ly/nAIrZo

Football: Saints Aiming High

With a first season back in the Championship to look forward to, Southampton fans have plenty to smile about. But gaining promotion from League One was just the first step in the club's journey back to the big time.

Southampton belong in the Premier League - and now the players are in striking range of making that a reality. A lot of work lies ahead but if the youthful core stays intact, anything is possible.

We look back on the team's recent highs and lows, with an eye on the challenges ahead.

http://www.insidefutbol.com/20​11/05/11/southampton-plot-path​-back-to-premier-league/41798/

NBA: New Schedule Released Despite Lockout

When the new NBA schedule was revealed yesterday, fans were left with mixed feelings. On the one hand it was a relief to get a break from the constant lockout discussion and return to talk of MVPs and championship contenders. On the other, it was hard to generate excitement for a 2011/12 schedule that may never be played.

Whether you are on the side of the owners or the players, the lockout is growing more painful by the day. With interest in the league back at an all-time high after a thrilling year, the thought of a shortened, or even lost, season is terrible news for the NBA moving forward.

And so the schedule comes with a huge asterisk, given that the current consensus is that a full 82-game season is very unlikely, with the owners and players still far apart on some of the key points for the new collective bargaining agreement.

Should the two parties find a way to wrap things up quickly, fans will be treated to a Dallas Mavericks-Chicago Bulls clash to tip off the season on November 1, with Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavs raising their championship banner, followed by the LA Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder squaring off later that same night. LeBron James and the Miami Heat would start their championship assault against Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks on November 2.

Other highlights include a Christmas Day line-up that includes the Knicks against the Boston Celtics, a Heat-Mavs Finals rematch and the Lakers facing Derrick Rose and the Bulls.

On paper, it all sounds great. But the sad reality is that this schedule is unlikely to be played. Smart money is on a shortened season with the league issuing a revised schedule at that time.

Cricket: Preview of England V India Test Series

Thursday sees the beginning of what should be a compelling test match series between the currently 1st ranked side in the world, India, and England, who are in 3rd spot. The four test series begins at Lord's in what should be a memorable test match as it is not just the curtain raiser for this summer's skirmish between the two teams but is also the 2,000 test match. In a further twist, that behemoth of the modern game, Sachin Tendulkar, will come to the crease requiring one further century to complete one hundred international hundreds, a notion that would have been unthinkable only a decade ago. If that were not inspiration enough for the little master, he has never scored a test match century at the home of cricket in four previous visits.

After Lord's the series moves on to Trent Bridge and Edgbaston before concluding in late August at The Oval. The fact that the series does not at any stage go further than the East Midlands might on the surface seem to be of some help to the visitors, however the long term forecast for the series predicts distinctly cool and somewhat damp conditions. Hardly the conditions that the Indians are accustomed to, or indeed have prospered in in the past. Rather, these are tailor made conditions for the English seam attack. Given that the dominant battle point of the series would seem to be the English seam attack versus the much vaunted Indian batting line up, the potential conditions take on even greater significance.

To add to England's potential advantage here, Virender Sehwag, counter attacking opening batsman par excellence, is expected to be ruled out for at least the first two tests. This robs the English spectators of one of the most thrilling sights in world cricket but will doubtless act as a further confidence boost to the home dressing room. Sehwag's place will be taken by Abhinav Mukund, whose previous test match experience lies solely in a recent three test contest in the Carribean in which he hardly marked himself out as one with the world at his feet against one of the weakest sides in world cricket. Further factors which might suggest that the Indian batting lineup's strength is more a theoretical one than anything else is the inactivity in the longest form of the game for the first seven months of this year of Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir, who chose to sit out the West Indies series. Chris Tremlett's steepling bounce might also discomfort the Indians, who prefer to come forward onto the front foot rather than deal with short pitched balls aimed at the ribcage and higher.

England have picked a twelve man squad for the first test match and the indications are that Stuart Broad will retain his place despite recent injuries and poor form across all formats of the game both with ball and bat and that Tim Bresnan will be released on the day of the match to return to Yorkshire. In my opinion this is a significant gamble since the Indian batting line up is such a strong one, even after considering potential sticking points. Quite what it would do to the morale of a player short on form to receive a flogging on a grand scale is open to question. Furthermore though, it suggests that England are not applying a consistency of selection on a case by case basis but rather in a sort of blanket approach. Or to put it another way, having in past decades and generations been far too cavalier with the selectorial axe, they have now lurched to far the other way and players seem almost un-droppable (Alastair Cook spectacularly returned to form when his place was in doubt but that is not to say all players can be given endless opportunities to work through bad form in the test match arena). This works fine while the team is winning (it has won five straight test match series) but if results were to dry up it would be interesting to see if this approach were maintained and the faint "jobs for the boys" feel of the outcome of the selection meetings continued. In the case of Broad, it’s hard to escape the feeling that he is being feted as some sort of golden child by the England selectors. As even his county coach, Mike Newell said recently, "As a cricketer he is still learning," Newell said. "But he barely plays county cricket, so he is having to learn in Test matches, on flat pitches against good players. And the way he bowls depends on what kind of bowler England want him to be." Frankly, no player should be learning cricket at a test level - it blows to pieces the idea of selection being based on meritocratic grounds and in the case of Broad, he risks further alienating England fans by his petulant behaviour towards officials and sometimes even his own fieldsmen.

The world’s two best spinners face off in another intriguing sub-plot, with Harbhajan Singh, who recently reached the milestone of 400 test wickets, going head to head with England’s talismanic off spinner, Graeme Swann. Harbhajan is a canny, highly competitive performer who is showing signs of rediscovering his best form and high class spin bowling remains England’s batting Achilles heel. Eoin Morgan’s addition to the middle order goes someway to rectifying this but Strauss, Cook, Trott and Prior remain unconvincing, and rather leaden footed against the world’s better tweakers. I fully expect Harbhajan to have success in this series, regardless of the overhead conditions. He should find at least two of the pitches at the four venues to his liking as England are bound to produce wickets that play to their own strengths.

Zaheer Khan will lead the Indian seam attack and he is the finest exponent of left arm seam bowling around, which is a form of bowling that has recently troubled Andrew Strauss and to a lesser extent, Kevin Pietersen. Ishant Sharma returned to form in the West Indies, but the third seam bowling spot could be an area that England target, with neither Sree Sreesanth nor Munaf Patel being much more than honest toilers. The Indian seam attack has neither the strength in depth of England’s nor the quality in its first choice picks but Zaheer should fare well in English conditions.

A final ingredient in this mouth watering contest is Duncan Fletcher’s presence in the away dressing room. As a veteran of some 96 test matches in his previous role as England coach and a reputation as a batting analyst of the highest - and most scrupulous - order, his inside information may affect the England batting line up (half of whom at least he has first hand knowledge of) in a practical sense but equally has the potential to create an unsettled mindset among those concerned before they even take guard and receive their first ball. His inside information regarding England’s bowling attack is far less significant as only James Anderson played a significant number of games under Fletcher’s stewardship and he has since improved several fold as a bowler. However the Fletcher versus England’s batsmen angle is a fascinating one.

Fletcher had an ability to form close alliances with his England captains, although Andrew Flintoff is a notable exception, and it will be interesting to see how quickly he has been able to come to an understanding with MS Dhoni, with just the recent West Indies tour behind them. Both Dhoni and Andrew Strauss are more lead-by-example captains than great tacticians and both err a little too much on the side of caution - Strauss in his declarations and Dhoni in his recent refusal to chase a target against the West Indies in the 3rd test, settling instead for a draw and 1-0 series win. It feels like a series that is unlikely to be decided by any inspired manoeuvrings on the part of one of the captains to trump his opposing number.

All of these sub plots will be played out in front of packed houses and a significant ex-patriot Indian presence will add greatly to the atmosphere. It is to be hoped that this almost home from home like feel for the visitors will spur them on to great things, however I can’t help but feel that the weather forecast has significantly marked India’s card and I have an idea that the series will be less competitive than many observers predict. I would not at all be surprised to see a 2-0 or a 3-1 scoreline, and would lean towards the former having taken into consideration the potential inclement weather and my strongly held belief that an Indian attack reliant firmly on two bowlers will struggle to take twenty English wickets at any point in the series. However, the fact this view is well in the minority bodes well for the series as a spectacle and the impartial observer and test cricket lover in me hopes for as tight and high quality a series as possible.

Golf: Darren Clarke wins The 140th Open Championship

A final round 70 was enough for overnight leader Darren Clarke to take home the Claret Jug, the Northern Irishman winning by 3 from American pair Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson.

Although the 42 year old from Dungannon eventually negotiated Royal St. George's final holes at a canter, he was made to sweat for his victory, notably by the evergreen Mickelson who defied the tricky conditions to storm round the front 9 in just 30 shots.  "Lefty"'s putter was red-hot, the statistics showed 8 putts after 7 holes but inevitably he could not sustain that form past the turn.  An uncharacteristic miss on the 11th prompted a flurry of dropped shots and Mickelson, who had closed to within one, would eventually shoot a 2 under par 68.

What of Dustin Johnson then?  The big-hitter from South Carolina is in danger of landing himself with the "nearly man" tag in major championships.  For the third time in a little over 2 years he went into the final group on Sunday with a very real chance of winning.  He stayed in touch until a disastrous 7 at the 14th.  His time will surely come.

While all this was going on around him Clarke played the same sensible golf that he had put together all week and seemed to relish being back in contention.  The former Ryder Cup player had suggested some form coming into the championship having claimed his first European Tour title for three years in May, as he won the Iberdrola Open in Mallorca.

Much like the man billed as favourite coming into this championship, Rory McIlroy, Clarke has broken a host of records with his first major win.  Whereas McIlroy's success at Congressional made him the youngest winner of the US Open sine 1923, Clarke becomes the oldest Open Champion since 1967 when 44 year old Roberto di Vicenzo triumphed.  He also won the Claret Jug for the first time after 20 years of trying, also a record.

His win means manager Andrew "Chubby" Chandler can now celebrate 3 wins out of 3 in this year's majors.  Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and McIlroy are both part of Chandler's stable.  And with world number 2 Lee Westwood, so disappointed not to make the weekend at Sandwich, also on Chandler's books, you would not bet against him completing a clean sweep.

The major ultimately goes to the man who played the best golf over 4 days and in Darren Clarke the R&A have a most worthy champion.

Patrick Kendrick

NBA: Howard Setting Sights Overseas?

Dwight Howard has become the latest big name star to mention the possibility of playing overseas during the NBA lockout. The news comes shortly after New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams confirmed that he was heading to play in Turkey.

On the topic of playing overseas, Howard, who plays for the Orlando Magic, admitted it was an option worthy of consideration. "I'm not at liberty to talk about it," he said. "But there's a huge possibility about me going to China or me going overseas to play basketball."

NBA players remain 'locked out' at present and interest in exploring opportunities overseas is growing across the league.

Rugby: Samoa Stun Australia

The rugby world was turned on its head on Sunday as Samoa completed a major upset with a 32-23 victory against Australia in Sydney.

Alesana Tuilagi and Paul Williams scored first half tries as Samoa set the tone early on and subdued the Australian pack. Kane Thompson and George Pisi went over in the second half to stretch the lead and leave the home fans in disbelief.

Australia's fightback came in the form of the boot of fly-half Matt Giteau, who kicked three penalties and two conversions as well as scoring a try on the way to 18 points. But it was too little too late as the Samoans celebrated a memorable win.

Football: Japan and US Provide Perfect World Cup Finale

The Women's World Cup drew new fans across the globe over the past month - and Japan and the US served up a final worthy of the occasion. The Japanese had the last laugh with a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw but women's football was the biggest winner on Sunday afternoon.

It was a tournament full of twists and turns, upsets, great goals and adventurous game plans while the quality of the football was at an all-time high level. The final was no different. A technically excellent Japan side came head-to-head with a gritty, physical US team in a match that was always likely to be a classic.

Twice the Americans led and twice the Japanese hit back, including a heroic 117th minute equaliser from Homare Sawa. And so it came down to the dreaded spot-kicks, where Japan's superior technique proved decisive on the way to a 3-1 scoreline.

The end of the shootout sparked wild celebrations in Japan but the women's game as a whole got a timely boost this month. From the powerful Swedes and Germans, to the skilful Brazilians and Japanese to the resilient and focused Americans, there was something for everyone as women's football earned its place in the spotlight.

Football: Argentina and Brazil out of Copa America

Hosts Argentina and defending champions Brazil both crashed out of the Copa America on penalties at the quarter final stage.

After drawing 1 - 1 with Uruguay in normal time, Carlos Tevez missed his penalty to allow Uruguay to progress to the semis 5 - 4. Brazil, playing later in the day against Paraguay, went in to their shoot out after a 0 - 0 draw. They were unable to hit the back of the net in the shoot out also as Elano, Thiago Silva, Andre Santos and Fred all failed to score.

Brazil and Argentina have played out the last two Copa finals and, despite going into the tournament in indifferent form, were the two pre-tournament favourites this year. Their exits will, most probably, result in outside interest in the tournament decreasing. However, neither team were particularly convincing in the group stages; Argentina laboured to successive draws against Bolivia and Columbia before beating Costa Rica to qualify, whilst Brazil registered draws against Venezuela and Paraguay and a victory against Ecuador.

For both teams, the early exists have confirmed that there are problems. Both installed new managers following the World Cup and, as of yet, have failed to convince their fans that they are heading in the right direction.

Sergio Batista's Argentina are still searching for a formation that can get the best out of Leo Messi. They began the tournament attempting to mimic Barcelona with a 4-3-3 formation with Messi playing in his "false number 9" role. However, this did not work and Argentina leave the tournament still looking for a way to utilise the world's best player effectively.

Brazil on the other hand are a team short of star quality. Following Dunga's reign of 'pragmatism' over the traditional Samba flair, Mario Menezes is still trying to find the right balance of entertainment and results. Without a competitive match until the 2014 World Cup, they will have to establish that balance in friendlies.

As for the Copa America, the unlikely semi finals see Uruguay take on Peru and Paraguay face Venezuela. Peru and Venezuela both failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, but their performances in the Copa suggest that they have a genuine chance of making it to Brazil in 2014. Uruguay and Paraguay on the otherhand are both consolidating after very impressive showings in South Africa. But, following the exists of Brazil and Argentina, all four teams will now have strong aspirations of lifting the Copa in Buenos Aires next Sunday .

Golf: Clarke leads by one from Johnson

Northern Ireland has a population over under 2 million yet we are faced with the very real prospect of three different major winners from the country in a little over a year.  After Graeme McDowell's triumph at the US Open at Pebble Beach last year, and his great friend Rory McIlroy's unforgettable victory at the same tournament last month, it is 42 year old Clarke from Dungannon who has the chance to break his major duck.

Victory is far from a formality however. Clarke has played beautifully this week with three rounds in the 60s yet, having missed a number of makeable putts yesterday, Clarke finds himself a single shot clear of the American Dustin Johnson.

In fact it appears certain golf commentators trying to write obitauries of American golf may have been slightly premature.  Johnson's 68 was the round of the day and put him at 4 under going into Sunday.  He will play with Darren Clarke in the final group.  Even more impressive was fellow countryman Rickie Fowler's 68, the 22 year old battling horrendous conditions to equal the best round of the day.

Fowler is very much in the hunt at 2 under, as are former US Open champion Lucas Glover (-1) and Phil Mickelson (level par).

Nor should we forget the two other Europeans Jimenez and Bjorn who are trying to gatecrash the American party.

So after Dustin Johnson's ace on Thursday and Tom Watson's "slam dunk" on the par-3 sixth on Friday the Open reaches its climax in Sandwich this Sunday evening.

If pressed to back a winner then I'd have a few pounds on Rickie Fowler, the former amateur number one destined for great things.

Patrick Kendrick

Football: The Commentator's View - Crusaders vs. Fulham

Crusaders 1-3 Fulham Europa League 2nd qualifying round first leg.

 Martin Jol moved to bring John Arne Riise back to English football this week, reuniting him with his younger brother Bjorn Helge, but it was another left-back who stole the show for the Cottagers.  20 year old Matthew Briggs was hugely impressive, scoring the opening goal and putting in a very mature display.  After Chris Smalling's move to Old Trafford, have Fulham unearthed another defensive prodigy?

Fulham arrived in Belfast against a backdrop of last week's violence after last week's Orange marches but thankfully the match was played in a very good atmosphere. Seaview's 4G pitch proved to be a decent surface on which to play neat one-touch passing, rather than the death trap Jol had feared.

Although fairly dominant in the opening exchanges, Fulham had to wait until the 39th minute before breaking the deadlock.  The ball was only partially cleared from a corner and landed at the feet of Matthew Briggs who steadied himself before lashing a left-foot shot into the top corner past a helpless Sean O'Neill.

It appeared Fulham would come out in the hunt for more goals in the second half but it was the home side who stunned Mark Schwarzer with an equaliser. Striker Timothy Adamson had barely been in the game when in the 54th minute he juggled the ball with his right before volleying clinically home with his left.  It was a fine individual effort and brought back memories of James McCarthy's strike for Wigan v.s Blackburn last season. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2VcbjAc_t0

Fulham's patience was finally rewarded, however, when they scored twice in three minutes to take a significant 3-1 lead back to West London for next Thursday's second leg.  First, Zamora found space at the near post to head home from a Murphy corner.  Then, Andy Johnson won a penalty for his side as he saw his shot blocked by an arm.  Danny Murphy coolly slotted home the resulting spot-kick.

Still some way to go for Fulham before they reach Premier League form nevertheless this was a professional display against the runners-up of last year's IFA Premiership.  Martin Jol will no doubt be concerned that their season began as early as 30th June and will want survival assured long before the spring as fatigue will no doubt set in.

Patrick Kendrick

Golf: The Open - Day One

The build up focused on the British players in the hunt for The Claret Jug. We wondered whether Donald or Westwood could finally break their major duck, or whether McIlroy could pick up where he left off at Congressional.  One British player who wasn't mentioned was 20 year-old amateur Tom Lewis.

Lewis had the privilege of being paired with Tom Watson, the man he is named after.  Watson, who came within a whisker of winning this great championship at the age of 59, will no doubt have some good advice for his young playing partner.

A 5-under par 65 is remarkable golf for the young Englishman and was enough for a share of the lead with Thomas Bjorn.  Bjorn's collapse at the same course in 2003- which ultimately handed the Open to American Ben Curtis - would be considered the biggest of all time had Jean Van de Velde not waded into the Barry Burn in 1999.  The Dane is out for redemption and is playing with no pressure, having been sixth reserve coming into the Championship.  In his first major since his father's death in May, the former Ryder Cup player will be aiming to go one better than his three second places in major championships.

What of the rest?  As ever this is only round one and there are many more twists and turns around this golf course.  McIlroy is very much in contention with a solid first round 71.  He will no doubt be kept on his toes by playing partners Rickie Fowler and Ernie Els, who shot a 70 and 72 respectively.

Do not be fooled by the low scoring of the first round. A 4 round total in the low 270s should be enough to win this championship.  Day 2 at a major as ever is about consolidation.  70 would be a great number on Friday.

Patrick Kendrick

Basketball: Wade Trying to Forget Finals

Dwyane Wade could have done no more for the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, leading the team in scoring, getting to the free throw line, showing his leadership qualities and producing some of the most outrageous blocks in Finals history.

But that hasn't stopped him reliving the painful 4-2 series loss that handed Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks a first NBA title. Despite a busy summer, which looks set to be extended due to the lockout, it remains on his mind.

This article explains more on Wade's summer schedule and the difficulty of shaking off the Finals heartache...http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/page/wadesummer-110713/dwyane-wade-not-ruling-europe

Football: O'Shea and Brown Ready to Lead New Look Sunderland

When Phil Neville left Manchester United to sign for Everton back in the summer of 2005, he left Old Trafford with tributes flooding in to praise his contributions on and off the pitch.

While stiff competition for places had forced Neville into a backup role during his latter years at the club, it did little to diminish his status as a respected team-mate and fan favourite.

Sir Alex Ferguson said: “You couldn't meet a better professional and he leaves with the gratitude of everyone at the club for his service to United.”

Brother Gary echoed those sentiments, adding: “Everton got themselves one of the deals of the season when they signed Phil. There is not a more dedicated, committed professional out there.”

This summer, Sunderland's double swoop for John O'Shea and Wes Brown has been met with the same plaudits from former employers and team-mates. Now the duo must hit the ground running if they are to lift Sunderland to new heights. They will bolster a shaky Black Cats defence, bringing experience and versatility. Having played alongside some of the best defenders of the Premier League era, their know-how and leadership will be critical.

Ferguson sung the praises of both, pointing to their attitudes and loyalty as well as the stack of silverware they won at Old Trafford. He also suggested that they will be perfect characters to lead by example in the Sunderland dressing room.

Sure, neither can command a starting role for a title-chasing team but do not be fooled into thinking that the pair have little left to offer. Sunderland boss Steve Bruce knows a thing or two about defending and his input will breathe new life into the careers of O'Shea and Brown.

And the United factor should rub off on the rest of squad throughout pre-season, just as it did at Everton when Neville set the tone. It starts with the commitment on the training ground with the willingness to put in the extra hours and hold others accountable but it will not take long to translate to the pitch. After all, the Old Trafford experience teaches harsh lessons.

Like Neville at Everton, the hunger should be bordering on starvation for O'Shea and Brown. Hunger to prove a point, to relaunch their careers and to return to the footballer's bread and butter - regular first team action.

All in all, Sunderland should get exceptional value for the £8 million spent on the defensive duo. Add O’Shea and Brown to the bunch of new faces already signed this summer – Ahmed Elmohamady, Connor Wickham, Craig Gardner, Ji Dong-won, Keiren Westwood, Roarie Deacon and Sebastian Larsson – and the magnitude of Bruce’s Sunderland facelift is apparent.

The loss of Darren Bent mid-season derailed the Black Cats last term and the loss of the emerging Jordan Henderson leaves a hole in midfield – but Sunderland might yet emerge as a stronger, deeper squad after a turbulent seven months. Keep an eye out for O'Shea and Brown replicating the “Neville effect” as the new season begins in a month’s time.

Tom Oldfield

NFL: Good News on the Horizon

The NFL lockout saga could soon come to an end according to league sources, with July 21 being mentioned as the day when the deal between players and owners could be struck.

Though nothing is set in stone at this stage, the signs are promising that the 2011/12 season will begin on time.

Football: Flashback to Croatia at the 1998 World Cup

It is easy to forget how far Croatia have come over the past 15 years. From minnows to contenders, it has been an incredible journey.

The heroics began at the 1998 World Cup as the Croats took the tournament by storm and came close to a place in the final, ruffling plenty of feathers along the way.

We rewind to France '98 and recap that unforgettable summer for Croatia. Check out http://bit.ly/cIJmpB

Golf: Open Championship Preview

The 140^th Open Championship gets underway this Thursday and inevitably there is only name on everyone’s lips. After Rory McIlroy’s unprecedented eight shot victory at Congressional last month, he heads to Kent as the overwhelming favourite to add the famous Claret Jug to the 2011 US Open title.  But to focus too heavily on the Northern Irishman, in spite of his current incredible form, would be doing a disservice to the challenge of The Open and indeed links golf in general.

So impressive was McIlroy’s performance at Congressional and indeed his first three rounds at the Masters that he has almost taken up the mantle vacated by Tiger Woods.  Indeed, McIlroy’s meteoric rise has left few lamenting the former world number 1’s absence.

This should, however, all be put into context. McIlroy is still only 22 and has one major championship to his name.  Woods has 14. Until his win at the year’s second major there were still question marks over whether he could handle the pressure.  He responded emphatically to those doubts, yet now the challenge is even greater.  So is the media spotlight.  Rightly or wrongly, the golfing world will be expecting a performance akin to the 72 holes he put together in Maryland. Lest we forget there are officially three better players than McIlroy.  The hype surrounding the Northern Irishman may well allow his Ryder Cup teammates Luke Donald and Lee Westwood to stay under the radar and finally bag that elusive major.

Nor should a winner from across the pond be discounted. Ten of the last 15 winners have been from the US.  Nick Watney has already amassed in excess of $4 million this year and is in the form of his life.  Phil Mickelson has also spoken of his desire to lift the Claret Jug, his best effort being a third place finish in 2004.

Then again, someone could just come out of nowhere.  Remember Ben Curtis and Todd Hamilton, winners in ’03 and ’04 respectively?

And we’ve still to mention Matteo Manassero and Jason Day... We should be in for one helluva week! Check back for more coverage as events unfold.

Patrick Kendrick

Cricket: England Hold Nerve to Win Series

All series long, the Sri Lankan duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene loomed large for the England bowlers but in the end it was almost the lower order hitters who stole the headlines. However, this was England's day and England's summer. When the dust settled, Alastair Cook had led his team to a 3-2 series victory.

In the decisive ODI at Old Trafford on Saturday, Cook and Craig Kieswetter gave England an explosive start with a quickfire 85-run partnership for the first wicket. Eoin Morgan chipped in with 56 and, despite a wobble late in the innings, England posted a challenging total of 268-9.

Perhaps Cook would have liked an extra 20-25 runs, pushing the target closer to 300, but it always looked a defendable score. When Sri Lanka slumped to 29-3, the game appeared all but over yet Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal chipped away at the target, putting on close to 100 for the fourth wicket.

Suddenly Cook and his players looked anxious but the mood changed dramatically when both Sri Lankan batsmen fell in quick succesion. At 131-5, there really looked to be no way back. But again the tourists refused to throw in the towel. The dangerous Angelo Mathews and the emerging Jeevan Mendis rattled along to ensure a thrilling finish.

As England sweated, Sri Lanka were left to get 60 runs from the final eight overs with two settled batsmen at the crease. The momentum shifted several times in the closing overs as Mendis holed out to Pietersen then Sri Lanka slipped to 246-8 with the run out of Dhammika Prasad - only for Lasith Malinga to swing his first ball for six and cut the equation to 17 runs off 12 balls.

But England had the last laugh as Mathews tried one big shot too many and Jade Dernbach bowled Malinga to strand Sri Lanka 16 runs short. It was a pulsating finale to a gripping series and for Cook, who had taken his fair share of criticism in the media prior to the start of the series, it was a dream start to his ODI captaincy.

Football: Flashback to Pato's Arrival on the Serie A Scene

AC Milan's first Serie A title since 2004 has brought some much-needed optimism for the Rossoneri. The team still requires a considerable overhaul but Massimiliano Allegri has worked wonders with a squad packed with temperamental characters.

The last time that the Milan supporters felt this hopeful might well have been after Alexandre Pato burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old prodigy. His debut promised great things and, while there have been obstacles along the way, he has developed into a real talent. The feeling remains that there is plenty more to come. 

We look back to 2008 and Pato's first league start in the famous red and black of AC Milan. Check out http://bit.ly/cLBhO4

Basketball: Lookahead to Next Season

Who knows when the next NBA season will begin but there are plenty of players chomping at the bit to take the next step. We look at the young players ready to progress on the road from good to great.

Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors): With Monta Ellis possibly being traded, the Warriors should soon become Curry's team. New head coach Mark Jackson is a shrewd man and he will put the ball in Curry's hands more frequently, giving the guard the chance to average a comfortable 20-10.

John Wall (Washington Wizards): Overshadowed by Blake Griffin last season, Wall still produced a steady first year and will improve as he continues the learning process. Using his speed alongside a talented young core, he could join the group of elite point guards as soon as next season.

Greg Monroe (Detroit Pistons): 2010/11 was an instantly forgettable season for Detroit, with the exception of Monroe's development. There is little reason to expect the Pistons to improve on last year's struggles but Monroe's post All-Star Break form suggests that he is ready to take on more responsibilities for the Pistons.

Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee Bucks): After an exciting rookie year, Jennings had a sophomore season to forget. Miserable shooting and head-scratching shot selection, he took several steps backwards. But he has the tools to bounce back and return to the head-turning form of 2009/10. In a league dominated by speedy guards, Jennings could be among the best next season.

Football: Flashback to Costa Rica at Italia '90

Costa Rica's World Cup debut at the 1990 World Cup somewhat slipped under the radar. Expected to make up the numbers in the group stage, they sprung a surprise or two on the way to the second round.

We look back at the Costa Ricans' memorable summer. Check out http://bit.ly/mPTEia

Baseball: Jeter Closing in on 3,000 Hits

New York Yankees star Derek Jeter is closing in on becoming the franchise's first player to reach 3,000 hits. He sits two hits shy of that mark after adding to his tally against Tampa Bay on Thursday night with a first innings double.

He would become the 28th major league player to reach the 3,000 hits landmark and all eyes will be on Jeter as he attempts to join this exclusive club this week.

Cricket: England Focused on Shutting Down Sri Lankan Bats

After a horror show at the Oval in the first ODI, Sri Lanka's batsmen have bounced back to take over this series, leaving England's bowlers to scratch their heads time and again.

It was only a matter of time before Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene - both disappointing for much of the Test series - rediscovered top form but the emergence of no3 Dinesh Chandimal has been an added bonus for the tourists.

Sangakkara and Jayawardene might just be the best one-two batting punch in world cricket and England will not be the last team to suffer at their hands. But Alastair Cook's bowling attack must put in a better effort at Trent Bridge on Wednesday. So far, the length has been too short and the line too wayward.

But changes may be on the way. There have been calls for Stuart Broad to be replaced after a miserable series to date but, as the Twenty20 captain and a man marked out as a key cog for the future, his demotion would be a brave move from the selectors. Rotating other seam bowlers may also be an option. One thing is for sure, England need some fresh legs.

Cook's men find themselves in a must-win situation for the final two games of the series. If the hosts do not produce a more incisive, sharper effort with the ball, expect the Sri Lankan top order to make hay once again and make the fifth and final ODI all but meaningless.

Basketball: Celtics Must Keep Garnett, Allen For One More Run

The NBA lockout has given teams extra time to ponder their options - both for the coming season and the one that follows it. With a number of star names set to become free agents in 2012, planning for the future must start now.

For the Boston Celtics, the championship window has been steadily closing over the past three seasons. A veteran core, which won a title in 2008, has become more injury prone and in need of fewer minutes on the court. But the Celtics must avoid the temptation to part company with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, who can both walk away for nothing in 2012.

Boston GM Danny Ainge has suggested that he will listen to offers for any player on the roster - probably in the hope of landing a young, athletic piece for the future. But Garnett and Allen, together with Paul Pierce, have at least one more championship run left in their Hall of Fame careers. Sure, they won't play 40+ minutes a night anymore but this trio has an abundance of playoff experience and the hunger to fight the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat again in 2011/12.

Allen's shooting - especially from 3-point land - has shown no signs of slumping. He shot a whopping 44% from downtown last season while his overall field goal percentage was just under 50% on the way to 16.5 points a night. Garnett, meanwhile, averaged around 15 points and nine rebounds a night while anchoring the famously stingy Celtics defense. Despite injury concerns, he has played 140 games across the past two regular seasons.

Boston will not get fair trade value for these two veterans this summer and neither has hinted at wanting a move away from Beantown. Therefore, the best option for the Celtics is to stick with the 'Big Three' for one more championship run and trust that the team's experience is enough to overcome the youth and athleticism showcased by the Bulls and Heat.

Golf: Woods Out of Open Championship

Tiger Woods has ruled himself out of this month's Open Championship due to the persistent leg injury that has derailed his year.

Woods is a three-time Open Championship winner but a combination of below par form and an injury nightmare has seen him fall to 17th in the world rankings. He has not played competitively since May and admitted he would not return until he felt 100%.

The American is still four majors away from matching Jack Nicklaus' record...but the wait goes on. 

Cricket: Suppiah Sets New Twenty20 Record

Somerset all-rounder Arul Suppiah moved into the history books on Tuesday with the best ever bowling figures in world Twenty20 cricket, grabbing six wickets for five runs in a win over Glamorgan.

Suppiah comfortably moved past the previous best of 6-14 set by Pakistan seamer Sohail Tanvir in May 2008. The victory pushed Somerset back into contention in the South Group.

Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/13983683.stm

Football: Women's World Cup Heating Up

As the women's World Cup edges ever closer to the quarter-final stage, picking a winner is becoming increasingly difficult. And the parity on show thus far in Germany has come as a refreshing surprise.

The Germans wore the favourites tag prior to the tournament, especially on home soil, but two narrow wins have hardly inspired confidence. Meanwhile, Brazil, the USA and Sweden have certainly thrown their hats into the ring.

Germany and France have both qualified for the last eight but square off tomorrow in the final group game with top spot on the line. And there is the possibility of an England-Germany quarter-final to weigh up.

Either way, there are some huge games ahead and, with the home crowds embracing the tournament like they did in 2006 for the men's World Cup, the stage is set for more heroics in the days to come.

Baseball: Bautista Still Flying High

Jose Bautista's meteoric rise shows no signs of stopping. The Toronto Blue Jays slugger was the leading vote-getter for the MLB All-Star game and will also take part in the Home Run Derby.

Bautista led the league last season with 54 home runs and he is on his way to similarly impressive mark this season. Heading into Tuesday's clash with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, he has notched 27 homers and 56 RBIs.

Come July 12, Bautista will take his place alongside New York Yankees stars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez in a star-studded American League side. But don't be surprised if Bautista shines brightest on this big stage.

Tennis: Djokovic Confirms Number One Status with Wimbledon Triumph

Novak Djokovic's remarkable year continued on Sunday as he won the Wimbledon title for the first time, conquering defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3. In the process, he confirmed his status as the world's number one player, a ranking that will be official on Monday.

Nadal simply had no answer to Djokovic. The Serbian was able to take control of the longer rallies and find timely winners to frustrate his opponent time and again. He also demonstrated his psychological edge, having now beaten Nadal in five consecutive finals this year.

Though his wobble in the third set suggested a five-set classic might be on the cards, Djokovic quickly recovered to trouble Nadal's serve once again and clinch the decisive break in the eighth game on the fourth set. When the Spaniard fired long in the following game, Djokovic could celebrate the most significant victory of his career - and he had no shortage of family members in attendance for the post-match party.

And so we now enter the Djokovic era. With Roger Federer stuttering and Nadal hitting a brick wall against the Serbian, the men's game has taken another gripping twist. Roll on the US Open.

Cricket: Sri Lanka Take 2-1 Series Advantage

Sri Lanka's top order batsmen trumped England for the second straight game on Sunday en route to successfully chasing a target of 247 and moving into a 2-1 series lead. Mahela Jayawardene led from the front with 79 while youngster Dinesh Chandimal completed the job with an unbeaten 105.

After choosing to bat first, England relied heavily on captain Alastair Cook, who made a gritty, patient 119 from 143 balls with 13 fours to anchor the hosts' innings and bring a defendable total within reach. Kevin Pietersen made a breezy 41 but England's hopes of posting 275+ were rattled by the early dismissals of Craig Kieswetter (3) and Jonathan Trott (2). A total of 246-7 left the door open for the Sri Lankans.

Tim Bresnan pegged back Tillakaratne Dilshan's off stump early in Sri Lanka's reply but Jayawardene and Chandimal played with real confidence, taking on the short ball and exploiting the powerplay. Stuart Broad again and Jade Dernbach made few inroads as the tourists sauntered past the 100-mark in the 17th over. Well ahead of the rate and with nine wickets in hand, it was theirs to lose.

Even the lose of Jayawardene could not derail the Sri Lankans. Sangakkara steadied the ship alongside Chandimal and England never looked like a sparking the kind of collapse that was required for a comeback. The Sri Lankans created a little late drama as Angelo Mathews went into ultra-defensive mode to allow Chandimal to complete his ton but the tourists wrapped up the win with ten balls to spare.

The series now shifts to Trent Bridge on July 6 - and the England camp have some tough decisions to make over the coming days. The bowling attack has floundered since the first ODI and fresh legs and minds might be the only way to wrestle control back from the Sri Lankan batsmen.

Football: Flashback to Nigeria at World Cup 1994

The 1994 World Cup final has gone down in history as one of the worst of all-time but the tournament itself was anything but dull. Legends of the game lived up to their billing and minnows sprung surprises at every turn. From Romario and Roberto Baggio to Gabriel Batistuta and Hristo Stoichkov, there was no shortage of heroic performances.

But Nigeria's emergence still stands out as one of the tournament's highlights. Here we look back on the Nigerians' run at the 1994 World Cup - http://bit.ly/bfxTzA

Basketball: Chandler, Nene, West Likely to Hit Free-Agent Market

The NBA lockout has made the free agent process that bit tougher for this summer, with teams unsure of the salary cap that will be imposed and therefore unwilling to overcommit on big money contracts. It is just another area of uncertainty in the NBA world at present.

While the 2011 free agent class is not a patch on the star-studded 2010 group - featuring LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire and Joe Johnson - there are still several players up for grabs who could transform a franchise from also-ran to contender.

The Dallas Mavericks have a tough decision to make on Tyson Chandler, the imposing presence credited with improving the team's defense and instilling a new toughness within the locker room. Chandler will attract huge interest from a range of teams - including contenders like the Miami Heat and basement dwellers with money to spend like the Toronto Raptors - but the Mavericks appear reluctant to offer a new contract until seeing where the salary cap falls, given that they have a number of other free agents to tie down to new deals too.

Chandler has given every indication that he would prefer to stay in Dallas but the contract he is offered might not match up to other offers that come his way. The Mavericks are committed to re-signing JJ Barea, Carun Butler and potentially DeShawn Stevenson and Brian Cardinal too.

Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets risk losing skilled Brazilian Nene, who has opted to test free agency rather than sign an extention. He is expected to command offers of more than $13 million a year but again there will be hesitation in terms of committing to a big deal. The fear is that a hard salary cap emerges and teams get trapped in hefty deals agreed prior to the verdict.

Nene has won his battles with injury and cancer and has produced strong numbers over the past two seasons. He was a key part of the Nuggets' run to the Western Conference Finals in 2009, alongside Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, and has earned a spot among the top centers in the game today. He has a solid jump shot, he rebounds well and his field goal percentage is always among the league's best.

The New Orleans Hornets' power forward David West is another intriguing talent available this summer. He has been an integral part of the Hornets team for several seasons and a real fan favourite but, while his comments suggest he would like to remain in Hornets colours next season, he is committed to winning and that may be tough in New Orleans, especially with Chris Paul having one foot out the door in 2012.

West could provide a real lift to a contending team and has provided consistent numbers throughout his career. His agent, like Chandler's and Nene's, will be receiving a barrage of calls over the weeks and months ahead.

No team wants to make a foolish move prior to the new salary cap - and other considerations - being agreed. But for some, the opportunity to snap up a proven big man might prove too tempting to resist. In a league increasingly dominated by small, quick guards, talented 6"9 to 7" presences are a rare commodity and tough to pass on.

Baseball: Usual Suspects Well-Placed at Halfway Stage

At the halfway point in the 162-game MLB regular season, familiar names are sitting comfortably as division leaders. While few expected to see the San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers contesting the World Series last year, the perennial contenders are back and making compelling cases thus far in 2011.

In the American League, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox both look post-season bound. The Yankees hold a slender lead atop the American League East division and are closing in on the 50-win mark. Boston are 2.5 games back. Elsewhere, the Cleveland Indians and the Rangers are leading their divisions in the AL.

Meanwhile, in the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies are confirming their status as the best team in baseball. Already past the 50-win mark, the Phillies hold the best winning percentage in the league and boast a pitching rotation that suggests a spot in the World Series is theirs to lose. But the Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals are also making noise in the NL, occupying first place in their divisions.

However, the majority of optimism is coming from New York, Boston and Philadelphia. On current form, it looks odds on that the Phillies will face either the Yankees or Red Sox in the World Series...but given the length of the baseball season, there is plenty of time for the rest of the contending pack to force their way into the discussion.

Tennis: Kvitova Powers to Women's Title

Maria Sharapova was supposed to have the edge in the 2011 Women's final - she was the most senior player and had one Wimbledon title already under her belt. But on Saturday afternoon, it was all about Petra Kvitova, who powered past Sharapova to win 6-3, 6-4.

This was Kvitova's first Grand Slam title and she became the first Czech to lift the winners silverware at SW19 since Jana Novotna 13 years ago - and Novotna and Martina Navratilova were both in attendance on Centre Court to witness Kvitova's heroics.

For Sharapova, it was a disappointing end to an impressive run in this year's tournament. While she has clearly re-established herself as a leading contender in the women's game, question marks remain over her shoulder and her serve. Kvitova was able to capitalise and, in a final that featured eight breaks of serve, that proved to be the difference.

Attention now turns to tomorrow's showpiece final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, who will take over as world number one on Monday regardless of the outcome of the match.

Boxing: David Haye v Wladimir Klitschko

The endless talking - mainly on the part of David Haye - is over. It's been years in the making, but tonight the differences of David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko, as well as the ownership of 4 of the World Heavyweight Boxing belts, will be decided in the ring in Hamburg, before a rapt crowd of more than 45,000 and many millions viewing proceedings on television.

It's been a busy week in Hamburg with the final pre-fight press conference unusually early on Monday, leaving David Haye, by his own assessment, kicking his heels somewhat for the rest of the week (although it's a mark of the relaxed nature of the man that even on the day of the fight he has the wherewithal to joke on twitter). A public training session followed in midweek with the unusual sight of Wladimir Klitschko in the front row watching David Haye sparring in a southpaw stance (more mind games from the orthodox Haye) as well as the sight of Haye's trainer, Adam Booth, bringing out the "glove on a stick" which was used both in the run in to this fight and Haye's earlier fight with Nikolai Valuev to mimic the great reach and height of both men with the jab.

Yesterday was the occasion of that great pre fight event, the weigh in, which has proved many exciting moments before so many great fights of yester year. It was a fairly calm, straightforward event on this occasion, though unsurprisingly David Haye claimed that he had again seen the fruits of his continuous trash talking in the demeanour of Klitschko. Haye's trash talking, having been pivotal in the procurement of the fight in the first instance, has been deployed in order to influence Klitschko's tactics on fight night. Haye's best chance of victory will come if he can encourage Klitschko to attack and he believes that an enraged Klitschko is more likely to do this. If Klitschko employs his usual, cagey tactics, behind his ramrod, debilitating jab then he will surely win on points or via a late stoppage. The fight simply cannot go to the judges cards from Haye's point of view and if there was any chance that Haye needed a reminder of this, it arrived in the shape of widely condemned split decision in favour of German Felix Sturm last weekend, fighting at home. Many respected observers had Matthew Macklin, the British challenger, winning by 2 or 3 rounds.

Both Haye and Klitschko looked in magnificent shape at the weigh in, which is totally in keeping with their reputations as well conditioned boxers and at odds with the heavyweight division as it is today. Klitschko weighed in at 243lbs and Haye, 30lbs lighter.

Many British boxing pundits, from the thoughtful and analytical Barry McGuigan, to the rabble rousing, jingoistic Ricky Hatton and Glenn McCrory, have called the fight as a David Haye win via knockout. Tellingly, however, many of the bookmakers have remained static in terms of the odds being offered for the fight and the assessments of British pundits and Haye's fellow British boxers should be taken with a liberal pinch of salt. Nevertheless the fight has the potential to be the most exciting in the division for 8 long years, since Lennox Lewis and Wladimir's brother, Vitali, went toe to toe in Los Angeles.

I call this fight in favour of Wladimir Klitschko, via stoppage at some point between rounds five and seven, as I expect him to resist Haye's attempts to influence his tactics and retain his usual cagey, stance behind his jab, forcing Haye to make the running and leaving himself exposed in the middle rounds to Klitschko's more offensive weapons.