Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sports World |
- Prior “surprised” at World Cup inclusion
- Nadal sets up Aussie battle
- Denilson hits out but is it frustration at his own performances?
| Prior “surprised” at World Cup inclusion Posted: 20 Jan 2011 07:01 AM PST England wicket keeper Matt Prior has expressed his shock at being selected for England's 15 man squad for the World Cup in February. Prior has been absent from the England one-day side since March 2010 but has been recalled at the expense of Steven Davies. The Surrey wicketkeeper looked likely to retain the gloves for the tournament having been included in the first 11 for the current one-day series against Australia, but the England Selectors opted for the in-form Prior. Sports betting placed the 28-year-old as an outsider for a place in the squad but he was the surprise inclusion in an otherwise predictable squad. The Sussex wicketkeeper/batsman admitted he thought a recall was unlikely. He said: "I wasn't expecting it…I'm absolutely delighted with the selection. It feels like I have come home again." The man in possession of the gloves for the test side offered his condolences to Davies and added: "It works that way, its international sport. It's cut-throat at times, but everyone has been through it. I'm just very happy that I've got the nod this time." After England's test win against Australia, Prior had remained in Australia to take part in the domestic Twenty20 series for Victoria Bushrangers but will now join England on the sub-continent for the a warm-up match against Canada before their first game of the tournament against the Netherlands on February 22nd.  |
| Posted: 20 Jan 2011 04:43 AM PST In his quest to become the first player to hold all four Grand Slams at once since 1969 Rafael Nadal is certainly making light work of things so far. After leading 6-0 5-0 in his first round encounter against Brazilian Marcos Daniel before his opponent retired, the Spaniard is clearly keen to minimise time spent on court in the early rounds as he set about his task in round two in equally destructive fashion. Facing American qualifier Ryan Sweeting, Nadal took just 28 minutes to wrap up the first set 6-2 before dropping just one game in the 38-minute 6-1 second set. There was no let up in the third either as another convincing 6-1 win completed the victory in just only one hour and 40 minutes, putting Nadal through and sending out a warning to his rivals. No one would have been surprised as the Goalwire live match score came though. He should face a greater challenge in the next round though as he will also have to battle a partisan home crowd as Australian teenager Bernard Tomic in round three. Wildcard entrant Tomic, who is ranked 199 in the world, shocked Spain's 31st seed Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 to the delight of the Melbourne crowd and he will represent the first true obstacle standing in the way of Nadal and a place in the history books. It was a real livescore tennis upset, and fans will be hoping for more of the same. The 18-year-old, who was born in Germany but moved to Australia as a child, is bidding to become the first Aussie in eight years to beat the world's best male tennis player. Not since Mark Philippoussis beat Andre Agassi in the fourth round at Wimbledon en route to the 2003 final has an Australian beaten men's world number one. But despite the pressure that it brings, Tomic's declaration that he has nothing to lose has piled the pressure back onto Nadal who will have to show his true class if he is to extend his stay in the competition.  |
| Denilson hits out but is it frustration at his own performances? Posted: 20 Jan 2011 01:20 AM PST Arsenal as a team have improved beyond the level of expectation widely set for them this season, and many believe that there has not been a better time to be a fan of the Gunners in recent times. That said, there have still been a few questions asked about the relative strength of the Gunners squad, questions that have grown in importance as Arsenal have failed to defeat lower league opposition (as well as Wigan) when they decided to rest several first team stars. The football odds still indicate they are in with a fantastic chance of winning something this season, but there are issues that need to be addressed. Although several players can be accused of not quite reaching the standards they appear capable of, one of the more noticeable disappointments in recent times has been Denilson, a player who is almost certainly worthy of being regarded as one of the Arsenal players who has taken a significant step backwards in their career since the start of the season and the football predictions suggest he may be moved on if he doesn't improve soon. However, with Denilson choosing to vent his frustration by attacking Arsenal in the press, he is perhaps one of those players who should take a close look at the likes of Samir Nasri in order to find clues as to how he can regain his starting place that has been usurped by the in-form Jack Wilshere. If Denilson manages to raise his game and play a part in any success that the Gunners end up enjoying this season, then any incidents which hint that he has shown his youth by throwing his toys out of the pram will quickly be forgotten, but if he continues to perform at his current level, he may find that he is not going to be allowed to wear the red and white of Arsenal for too much longer.  |
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