A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
England-India clash to go ahead
CRICKET:England captain Andrew Strauss has been given no indication that the third Test against India will not go ahead as scheduled in Birmingham today – despite inner city rioting and looting.
The violence which started in London spread to the midlands city of Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol. England’s friendly soccer international against the Netherlands at Wembley tonight has been called off.
“A few of the guys were out earlier yesterday but we got advice from our security manager to come back to the hotel as there were disturbances in the city centre.
“Players have been advised to stay in the hotel for now,” Strauss said yesterday. “We have not been given any indication that the match is not going to go ahead.”
England, who can overtake India at the top of the world rankings if they win the four-test series by a two-match margin, won the first two games easily.
Evans books a date with Lin Dan
BADMINTON:Ireland's, Leinster's and Dundrum's number one, Scott Evans (world ranked 53) defeated Austria's Michael Lahateiner (58) in two sets 21-15, 21-16 in the men's singles first round of the BWF World Championships in Wembley yesterday. Scott, who lives and trains in Denmark, will now have a chance to play Beijing gold medallist and number two seed China's Lin Dan tomorrow.
Ireland’s mixed brother and sister combination Chloe and Sam Magee (38) defeated the French pairing Baptiste Carene and Laura Cloinet (53) in a three-set marathon that took 51 minutes. This first round match was a thriller with the Magees losing the first set 18-21.
They used all their experience from recent gold wins in the Romanian and Lithuanian Opens as they fought hard to take the middle set on a tie-breaker 22-20 and at the close took the final set 21-19.
Leinster players dominate squad
HOCKEY:Gene Muller has named his 18-player squad for the European Nations Championships that get under way in Monchengladbach on Saturday week, with Leinster Division One clubs providing 14 of a panel captained by Railway Union's Alex Speers, writes Mary Hannigan.
The tournament provides the first opportunity to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games, but to do so Ireland would need to reach the final, or take third place should England finish in the top two.
IRELAND SQUAD:E Clarke (Leicester), L Colvin, N Symmons, N Small (all Loreto), A Connery, A O'Flynn, L Jacob, S McCarthy, E Gray (all Hermes), M Crowley (UCC), M Harvey (Pegasus), S McCay, P Smithwick (both Old Alexandra), A Speers (capt), E Smyth, J O'Halloran (all Railway Union), C Sargent (Cork Harlequins), C Watkins (UCD).
Ireland aiming to bounce back
GOLF:Ireland will look to bounce back from their wooden spoon finish of 2010 when they swing into action in the Amateur Home Internationals at County Sligo today.
Last year at Ashburnham in South Wales they beat the Welsh 8½-6½ but lost 10-5 to Scotland and 11-4 to England who went on to become champions.
Ireland, who last won the Raymond Trophy in 2008 at Muirfield, will have an early chance to gain revenge for the drubbing England gave them 12 months ago as they meet today. Wales face Scotland in the other opening day fixture. Neil Gorey, Aaron Kearney, Dermot McElroy, Gary McDermott and Richard O’Donovan will debut for Ireland.
IRISH TEAM:Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little), Paul Cutler (Portstewart), Alan Dunbar (Rathmore), Paul Dunne (Greystones), Neil Gorey (Muskerry), Aaron Kearney (Castlerock), Eddie McCormack (Galway), Gary McDermott (County Sligo), Dermot McElroy (Ballymena), Richard O'Donovan (Lucan), Kevin Phelan (Waterford Castle). Captain: Dr Kevin Flanagan.
Ireland lose to Papua New Guinea
CRICKET:The under-19 World Cup qualifier came to a close yesterday with Ireland's five-wicket loss to Papua New Guinea in Eglinton summing up what has been a mixed bag of a tournament for the host nation, writes Emmet Riordan.
Ireland had already qualified after Monday’s victory over Namibia but will be disappointed after being bowled out for just 155. Papua New Guinea then raced to their target, with the winning boundary scored off the first ball of the 30th over as they secured one of the six places on offer for next year’s World Cup in Australia.
The make-up of the Ireland squad that travels next year is likely to be vastly different from the 14 that took part in the qualifier, with top-order batsmen high on the list for the management team. Ireland finished third in the table behind Nepal and Scotland, who won their final matches yesterday. The other two sides to qualify were Afghanistan and Namibia.
Gleeson & Hurley well placed
GOLF:Alex Gleeson and Gary Hurley put themselves in strong positions in Somerset yesterday for knock-out places in the Boys Amateur Championship after today's second qualifying round.
Gleeson fired a one over par 72 at Enmore Park, while West Waterford’s Hurley went round at Burnham and Berrow, in two over 73.
Rathsallagh’s David Manifold had a disappointing 78, while Elm Park’s Keagan Cummings posted a 74. Royal Portrush’s Jamie Richardson faces a monumental task after an 82 at Burnham. Conor Glynn slumped to a disastrous 88.
Castletroy’s Chloe Ryan failed by a stroke to reach the match-play stages of the British Girls Open Amateur Championship at Gullane yesterday after a two over par 75 gave her a 36-hole total of 154.
