INDOOR MEET ...
Reboot time for the Mobot as Mo Farah returns to the track to see how well he’s firing after winter training in the US. The reigning 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic, world and European champion will defend his world titles this year and it all begins with a shakedown at the Birmingham Indoor Grand Prix on Saturday (BBC1, 1pm). There are plenty of other stars to savour as well with Katarina Johnson-Thompson in the long jump and Richard Kilty facing last year’s winner James Dasaolu in the 60m.
CRICKET AUCTION ...
No doubt wondering what must now be done to give England an earthly in the World Cup, Eoin Morgan might yet spare a glance over his shoulder on Monday and wonder what effect his form will have in dollar terms, when the IPL auction for 2015 takes place. Morgan put his name forward for the tournament, knowing it would effectively end his bid to be part of the Ashes this summer: “The ambition still is to play Test cricket – absolutely – but given where I am at the moment, the IPL is the best thing for me,” he said. He is joined at the gavel-bashing by Kevin Pietersen, who was released by Delhi having captained them to last place last year, but whose recent Big Bash form suggests will be snapped up again. England’s Alex Hales and Ravi Bopara are also believed to have put themselves up for sale and other big names expected include India’s Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik, Australia’s Aaron Finch, and South Africa’s Hashim Amla.
RYDER CUP CHOICE ...
Europe’s captain for the next Ryder Cup, to be held in 2016 in Hazeltine, Minnesota, is likely to be chosen on Wednesday when the selection committee meet to decide who will take over from Paul McGinley, who successfully defended the title at Gleneagles last year. It’s the biggest gig in golf and with Europe having lost only twice since 1995 it now comes heavy with expectation of success. Pressure on, then, for Darren Clarke and Miguel Ángel Jiménez, both Ryder Cup stalwarts, who are understood to be the only two candidates for the role. The committee consists of former captains McGinley, Colin Montgomerie, José María Olazábal, former Cup player David Howell, and European Tour chief executive, George O’Grady.
