TOP 100 SPORT SITES
| |||
|
| |||
| |||
|
| |||
| Vick wins Eagles' courage award PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Michael Vick's peers appreciate his tough journey back to the NFL.... hosted.ap.org |
Swann swoops to help England destroy shambolic South Africa It took a little over 70 minutes for England to demolish the remnants of the South African second innings and win the second Test. When Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann ended the siege and stormed the citadel so outrageously the previous afternoon, the certainty of South Africa's defeat was offset only by the chance that the weather might intervene. But once more the wind shifted, the skies cleared as the morning moved on, Swann got his usual wicket in his opening over and resistance thereafter was token.The margin of victory, an innings and 98 runs, represents a massive blow to the South Africans, who must consider a number of serious issues before the third Test begins in Cape Town on Sunday. This was a famous England victory abroad to rank, in recent times, with those at Mumbai in 2006, Johannesburg in 2005 and Colombo in 2001.Fittingly, it was Swann who clinched the match with the wicket of Dale Steyn, another for this prolific collector of lbw decisions. It gave him his fifth wicket of the innings, ninth of the match (the best haul of his brief 14-Test career) and 54th of the calendar year, a figure exceeded only by Mitchell Johnson's 63. Broad collected a further wicket and deserved five: he had to settle for four for 43 as the other wicket fell to James Anderson who, along with Graham Onions, was pretty much a bystander after the new-ball burst.Swann goes from strength to strength, his influence now as great as that of any member of the team. There was no quibbling when he was deemed man of the match for the second successive game. What Andrew Strauss has on his hands is a man for all seasons, a spinner who has learned the nuances of his trade through hard work at the coalface of county cricket and who can now take wickets on any surface. Thus he becomes ubiquitous, someone who performs the traditional Aunt Sally role of the England spinner in lending respite to the seamers while maintaining pressure on the batsmen and himself cleaning up. Suddenly the idea of a four-man attack, so decried in some quarters, does not look so shabby.Almost by stealth Strauss and the coach, Andy Flower, have assembled an attack that is producing results. It is true that England have played more Test matches than all but Australia, but Swann's record over the past year – and those of Broad and Anderson, who with 47 and 40 are the world's third- and fifth-highest wicket-takers in 2009 – tells its story. The fact that no bowler managed to take 10 wickets in a match – the first time that has happened for four decades – says a lot about the standard of bowling (as well as pitches and balls) but of the four men who managed nine one is Swann and another Anderson. Add the emergence of Onions and there is room for optimism, even if a bowler of express pace would be handy.On Tuesday evening, South Africa's sports psychologist, Jeremy Snape, was musing on how he could be a busy man over the next few days. This defeat will have cut deep into the psyche of a team whose ethos stems from their bullishness and attritional qualities. That will have to change. The bluster will have to go. They have been humiliated. What Snape will no doubt be reinforcing is how adversity can give birth to some astonishing deeds. England, he might note, were humiliated to no lesser degree by Australia at Headingley last summer. They came back to win the final Test. But it depends on the leadership skills of those in charge and the character of the players.More cause for reflection will come in the knowledge that in three Cape Town Tests since South Africa's readmission, England have been beaten by 10 wickets, then by an innings and 37, and then by 196 runs. History does not win matches but this is a significant positive for the home team, even if England believe they could now walk to Robben Island.Yet the South African side needs some fundamental changes to personnel and strategy. They have strugglers in Ashwell Prince, a middle-order batsman who looks as comfortable opening as he would sumo wrestling, and JP Duminy, whose promise is not apparent at present. England appear to have got the hang of Paul Harris, too, the spinner who somehow got himself to No7 in the world rankings before falling to No12, and there were fitness doubts in this match over the seamer Morne Morkel, who bowled just four overs on Tuesday in two spells and was said to have a "fatigued" left foot. Whatever that might be.Finally there is Makhaya Ntini, a shadow of the bowler he once was, a totem still but looking horribly like a token as well. South Africa can no longer afford sentiment. They have to pick a side that has the capacity to break out, with a strategy that involves going after Swann. Attrition will suit England more than them now. Friedel de Wet, who made an excellent debut at Centurion in the first Test, should come in to replace Ntini, perhaps with another opener brought in too. Duminy's off-spin brought the best figures by a South African spinner at Kingsmead since 1961. That alone might save his place. These are trying times for South Africa and England are rampant.England in South Africa 2009-2010England Cricket TeamSouth Africa cricket teamGraeme SwannStuart BroadAndy FlowerAndrew StraussCricketMike Selveyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
MU could see $10 million windfall by joining Big Ten University of Missouri officials have about 10 million reasons to make the leap to the Big Ten Conference should they be invited. bizjournals.com |
Cardinals fans invited to Friday sendoff The Arizona Cardinals will hold a pep rally at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Friday before they fly to New Orleans to take on the Saints. feeds.bizjournals.com |
Schumacher has 'great feelings' on return • German questioned about plans to win the 'right way'• Seven-times world champion unveils new coloursMichael Schumacher was today forced to defend his reputation as he faced up to the least attractive aspect of his Formula One comeback. Despite his unprecedented success, there remain stains on the German's character, such as his infamous collisions with Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve as he fought for the world championship in 1994 and 1997 respectively.There was his victory in the 2002 Austrian grand prix when his then team-mate Rubens Barrichello was ordered to pull over to allow the now 41-year-old by.And there was the deliberate parking of his Ferrari at La Rascasse in qualifying for the Monaco grand prix as he attempted to thwart his then title rival Fernando Alonso.When asked whether his return was an opening to show he could win in the right way, Schumacher's response bristled with indignation. Speaking at the launch of the new Mercedes GP team in Stuttgart, he sarcastically replied: "Ninety-one victories, seven titles, you win only in a bad way. Absolutely. Yeah, you're right, I need to prove [myself] now."When it was put to Schumacher the initial question referred to the manner he won, and not what he won, Schumacher caustically remarked: "Yeah, I know. I did win all this in the manner in which you are trying to ask questions."In a more serious tone, he added: "Let's be sensible and think about the reality, and look forward to what we might all face, learn and enjoy together. That's what I'm looking for."On a more positive note, Schumacher spoke of his sense of personal renewal having returned to F1. He announced his comeback to the sport just before Christmas and was joined by his team-mate Nico Rosberg, the team principal Ross Brawn, the chief executive Nick Fry and the Mercedes motorsport head Norbert Haug.The new car is poised for its debut on the opening day of the first test in Valencia next Monday, leaving Schumacher, Rosberg et al to stand alongside last season's double championship-winning model.The obvious difference, however, was that the white, yellow and black of the Brawn GP car that carried Jenson Button to the title has now been replaced by Mercedes' traditional silver.The manufacturing giant Mercedes completed a takeover of the Brackley-based team in November, with Brawn then luring Schumacher out of his three-year hiatus following Button's defection to McLaren.Schumacher had planned to return with Ferrari for the European grand prix in Valencia last season only for a neck injury sustained in a motorbike accident last February to scupper those plans.But the enthusiasm he received on that occasion encouraged him to consider a full-time return."Being part of this team is a great feeling, a great emotion," said Schumacher just 48 days before the first race of the season in Bahrain. "Finally the 2010 Formula One season is firing up. I am totally committed to this new challenge. This season feels like a restart for me and I am so motivated."We have a very exciting combination here. We have a world champion team in every sense of the word, and I cannot wait to get into the car for the first time in Valencia. I am convinced the team will be in a very good position to fight for the championships this season and I will definitely give it a go."Driving for Mercedes-Benz again is like the closing of a circle for me as I started my racing driver career [in sports cars] with the three-pointed star on my helmet. This is another reason why I cannot wait for the competition to get under way."Rosberg was announced as the first German to be signed for Mercedes since 1955 and he said: "It's very special, a dream come true. It's fantastic, and I really look forward to it."Working with people like Ross, Nick, Norbert, and especially Michael, is something I'm very much looking forward to."Brawn added: "Working with Michael again is a very special event I didn't know would happen again, so for motivation, it's exciting for me to be involved with him again."Nico is a wonderful prospect and I'm sure he will enjoy working with Michael and seeing how a seven-time world champion operates."The final thing is being part of the rebirth of the racing team of such an iconic brand as Mercedes-Benz. I've been very privileged to be involved in many great things in my time, but this is very special indeed."Michael SchumacherMercedes GPFormula OneMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |