Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, the Wiggles, Tony Abbott: your boys took one hell of a beating. Cricket pundits from both hemispheres were furiously rewriting their Ashes forecasts after England won the first Test in Cardiff by 169 runs for a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Joe Root’s first-innings 134 and some outstanding bowling in both innings from England pace duo Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad put the hosts on track for a wholly unexpected success. “We were outplayed,” admitted Australia captain Michael Clarke, who headed to Lord’s for this week’s second Test with his side’s much-vaunted bowling attack suddenly looking a little less intimidating after the retirement through injury of Ryan Harris on the eve of the series, and an ankle problem hindering star paceman Mitchell Starc.
Froome sets Tour pace
The first-week shakedown of the Tour de France saw Britain’s Chris Froome wearing the race leader’s yellow jersey despite his Team Sky colleagues losing a team time trial by just one second to BMC Racing in Stage 9. Still it was enough for Froome to put more distance between himself and the sport’s other Fab Four members, Vincenzo Nibali, Alberto Contador and Nairo Quintana, much to the indignation of second-placed BMC rider Tejay van Garderen. “Those guys have that tag, the Fab Four, which is getting a little irritating hearing that,” Van Garderen remarked. Expect the band to reform any day now.
£49m Sterling heads for City
Football’s transfer merry-go-round, having nipped off for a brief beach holiday, returned ever more bronzed and obscenely overloaded with cash. Manchester City led the way, agreeing a £49m ($76m) fee for Liverpool’s brilliant but recalcitrant forward Raheem Sterling, a new record for an English player. Manchester United, meanwhile, went on a signing frenzy, splashing out £24m on Southampton’s French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, £15m on Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger from Bayern Munich and £12.7m for Torino defender Matteo Darmian. United also looked poised to sell goalkeeper David de Gea to Real Madrid, whose veteran stopper Iker Casillas has joined Portuguese side Porto, and Ángel Di María to Paris St Germain, who were reportedly lining up a £47m move.
Teed up for St Andrews
Golf’s aristocracy packed its wet weather gear and headed to Scotland for this week’s British Open. The game’s new all-American crown prince Jordan Spieth recorded the best round of his career in winning the John Deere Classic, his chances of claiming a third successive major victory at St Andrews having already been enhanced by the withdrawal of world No 1 Rory McIlroy, who ruptured ankle ligaments during a game of football. Spieth’s compatriot, Rickie Fowler, underlined his credentials with a one-shot victory at the Scottish Open. “It feels good to be back on form,” Fowler said. “There are a few things we can tighten up before St Andrews but I am excited to get back to St Andrews. I’m looking to get into contention there.”
.png?w=600)
