A round-up to today's other stories in brief
India have 95-run win over England
RAVINDRA JADEJA and his spin colleagues bowled India to a 95-run victory over England in the fifth and final one-day international to complete a series sweep yesterday.
A 129-run opening stand between Craig Kieswetter (63) and Cook (60) gave England the perfect platform to chase down a 272-run victory target but Jadeja took four for 33 as the tourists collapsed to 176 all out in just 37 overs.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed three for 28 and part-timers Suresh Raina and Manoj Tiwary one wicket each for India, who failed to beat England in any form of the game on their recent tour.
India, put into bat, had nearly squandered a fluent start to slump to 123 for four before Mahendra Singh Dhoni provided a sparkling unbeaten 75. The teams play a lone Twenty20 International on Saturday.
Flannery in Germany to see specialist over injury
IRELAND and Munster hooker Jerry Flannery yesterday visited a specialist in Germany who has treated Usain Bolt and Bono in a bid to rescue his career.
The 32-year-old, whose World Cup was cut short when he suffered another calf injury, is being assessed by Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, who has been team doctor for Bayern Munich and the German soccer team along with a host of athletes and celebrities.
Munster coach Tony McGahan yesterday confirmed that Flannery had travelled to Germany and said that the hooker’s position might become clearer after he is assessed.
McGahan was able to give probable return dates for most of his lengthy casualty list but Flannery’s future is unclear.
“Jerry Flannery is indefinite at this stage. He is over in Germany getting some advice now so we are hopeful to find out more today,” said McGahan, at a press conference in Thomond Park. McGahan confirmed that Paul O’Connell will again skipper Munster this season.
Thomas announces retirement
DUAL-CODE rugby international Gareth Thomas has announced his retirement at the age of 37.
Thomas started his career in union and played for Wales 100 times between 1997 and 2005, captaining his country and the British and Irish Lions before switching to league.
Thomas was due to play for Wales in rugby league’s Four Nations championship which starts on Friday. “I have listened to and discussed this decision with many of my family and close friends,” Thomas said. “My mind has told me that the time to retire is now. If you can’t give 100 percent to rugby then you can’t do it justice. This is a sad day but I know that my time has come to an end as a player. My passion for the amazing game will never end or leave me,” he added.
So You Think set for Breeders' Cup
SO YOU THINK looks set to head a team of up to a dozen Ballydoyle horses at next week’s Breeders’ Cup extravaganza in Churchill Downs, writes Brian O’Connor.
Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien has notched up four winners at America’s richest meeting in the past but has so far drawn a blank at the US’s most famous track.
Giants Causeway was memorably only just denied in the Classic at Churchill 11 years ago but the home of the Kentucky Derby has not been a happy hunting ground for O’Brien in the past. However, the Ballydoyle team have confirmed that So You Think has been pre-entered for the Classic on dirt over 10 furlongs, an option also left open for the Hardwicke Stakes winner Await The Dawn. The latter has also been given an entry in the Turf event over a mile and a half, along with his stable companion St Nicholas Abbey.
Zoffany, last in the Shadwell Mile at Keeneland on his last start, is the sole Ballydoyle entry for the turf mile with Misty For Me likely to clash again with Midday in the Filly Mare Turf. Harrison’s Cave will try and emulate Man Or Iron (2009) in the Marathon on dirt. The Dundalk winner Up and Homecoming Queen hold entries in both the juvenile fillies races on dirt and turf.
Formula One set for New Jersey
FORMULA ONE is set to have two grands prix per year in the United States with New Jersey to be announced as the venue. After many failed attempts to establish the sport in the country, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is understood to have given the green light to have two GPs each year from as early as 2013. Plans are already well advanced for a race next season at a new facility in Austin, Texas, and now the New York skyline could form the backdrop for a second event. Several cities tried to become the home of F1 in the US, with the race being run in New York, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix and Las Vegas.
