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| Alastair Cook celebrates his mammouth score. |
Cricket:
Alistair Cook missed out on his treble century by only six runs as England, world number one elect, set India an improbable target. Declaring on 710 for 7, to lead by over 450 runs at the end of the third day of the third test in a series that they have dominated. Cook overshadowed Eoin Morgan's ton, (sharing a stand of 222), as the current best side in test cricket toiled with little reward on the Edgbaston ground. Cook who had batted for over 13 astonishing hours, posted the sixth highest ever score by an Englishman, only second in recent times to Graham Gooch's total of 333, also set against India back in the 1990 summer series.
700 plus is an amazing score, the third highest in English history. However, the other two scores were set in 'timeless tests' and to be able to declare, resting the bowlers, reaped instant dividend as Verinder Sehwag was out for his second golden duck of the match. The pitch seems to suggest that Stuart Broad could have a big impact as they attempt to wrap up the test with a day to play.
India, the best side according to the rankings, have admittedly been shorn of several top players, but it seems futile to believe that even a full strength side would have been able to slow down this cricket juggernaught, let alone beat them. With Cook nearing his 300, the tactic of pushing men towards the boundary ropes to slow the declaration down and as such take more time up, is a tactic that suggests that they are out of ideas and out of options. Once held on a pedestal in cricket mad India, these same players now seem to be winding up careers unless something dramatic is done, and done soon.
With the Edgbaston lights seemingly sorted after problems throughout the day, only bad weather now will prevent England going three nil up with one to play, and claiming the official title of world's best.
700 plus is an amazing score, the third highest in English history. However, the other two scores were set in 'timeless tests' and to be able to declare, resting the bowlers, reaped instant dividend as Verinder Sehwag was out for his second golden duck of the match. The pitch seems to suggest that Stuart Broad could have a big impact as they attempt to wrap up the test with a day to play.
India, the best side according to the rankings, have admittedly been shorn of several top players, but it seems futile to believe that even a full strength side would have been able to slow down this cricket juggernaught, let alone beat them. With Cook nearing his 300, the tactic of pushing men towards the boundary ropes to slow the declaration down and as such take more time up, is a tactic that suggests that they are out of ideas and out of options. Once held on a pedestal in cricket mad India, these same players now seem to be winding up careers unless something dramatic is done, and done soon.
With the Edgbaston lights seemingly sorted after problems throughout the day, only bad weather now will prevent England going three nil up with one to play, and claiming the official title of world's best.
Rugby Union:
The second of England's warm-up matches against Wales, this time in Cardiff, showed the strength of the English squad as they made 13 changes to the starting line-up. With Wales only making four changes it only adds to the optimism, result aside, that England have a squad that can actually compete with the best of the Southern Hemisphere. Whether or not they can actually beat the in-form All Blacks on home turf is another matter entirely.
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| Tiger Woods' troubles continue. |
In the last major of the year, the US PGA, former world number one Tiger Woods' erratic form caused him to miss the cut. With Woods struggling to regain the form he showed prior to injury and revelations about his private life, his fall from grace has been marked. His second round score of seven over was his second worse score in all of his previous majors, giving him no chance of contesting a tournament he once graced with style and aplomb. Only the second time in 56 majors has Woods previously missed the cut,and he has now stated he will work on his game before competing again in November. The world number 30 clearly has fallen a long way, and whilst he is still big news, you can't help but feel, that with the new generation of up and coming golfers on the scene (Rory McIlroy, Ricky Fowler ) that Woods will struggle to reach the heights he previously attained.
McIlroy, who appeared for the second round with his damaged wrist heavily strapped had a mixed round, and lies seven shots off the leader, American Jason Dufner. British hopes would appear to lie with Lee Westwood (one under), with world number one Luke Donald one over. But after a day where the scores ranged from 65 to 77 amongst the top players, there is a long way to go in this championship.
Woods was not the only big name to crash out however, big names Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke were also a long way off the pace and along with defending champion and former world number one, Martin Kaymer, they will now have the weekend off.
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