Finn scoops ICC award
England fast bowler Steven Finn was been named ICC’s Emerging Player of the Year for his impressive start to life as an international cricketer, Finn has quickly settled into life on the international scene has beating off competition from England team-mates Eoin Morgan and Tim Bresnan to scoop the accolade at the ICC Awards which was held in Bangalore.
Speaking about being named Emerging Player of the Year, he said, “It’s a great honour to win this, an award I wasn’t expecting, and I’m very pleased and honoured to be playing Test match cricket for my country.
“I’ve enjoyed the last few months representing my country and I hope it continues.
“Next up is the Ashes and I think we’re well prepared to win the series – we’ve got a settled side ready to go for this winter.”
Nadal: Don’t write Federer off
Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal has said that no-one should right off record breaker Roger Federer just yet, the World no one insists that the Swiss is no spent force and is backing the player to add to his 16 grand slam titles.
“He won at the Australian Open and won in Cincinnati (Federer’s 17th Masters 1000 title), got to the final in Madrid and Toronto … so it’s a good year for him,” Nadal told reporters at this week’s Japan Open.
“It’s very difficult to always be 100 percent and what Federer did the last seven or eight years is almost impossible to repeat. It’s unbelievable.”
Nadal has kept us the pace with Federer this season in winning all four grand slam crowns winning last month’s U.S. Open to move to nine overall titles.
But the Spaniard has warned that it was far too early to write off Federer, who has won 63 career titles but has slipped to third in the world rankings.
“Of course he is going to challenge to win the big tournaments,” said Nadal, who is making his first appearance in Japan this week. “He is still — what? — number two or three in the world and his game is still at a very high level.”
Liverpool on the verge of a takeover
The owners of the Boston Red Sox who are run by New England Sports Ventures have pledged to remove all of Liverpool’s debt and stabilize the and turning the Premier League club into winners should its £300 million pound takeover bid be successful.”
“NESV wants to create a long-term financially solid foundation for Liverpool FC and is dedicated to ensuring that the club has the resources to build for the future, including the removal of all acquisition debt,” they said in a statement.”
“Our objective is to stabilise the club and ultimately return Liverpool FC to its rightful place in English and European football, successfully competing for and winning trophies.”
“Since 2001, New England Sports Ventures has made successful investments in sports and entertainment properties.”
“Our portfolio of companies, including the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park, New England Sports Network, Fenway Sports Group and Roush Fenway Racing are all committed to one common goal: winning.”
“NESV wants to help bring back the culture of winning to Liverpool FC. We have a proven track record, shown clearly with the Boston Red Sox. The team has won two World Series Championships over the past six years. We will bring the same kind of openness, passion, dedication and professionalism to Liverpool FC.”
“We are hopeful with regard to the pending legal and English Premier League procedures now under way, however, in light of these issues, we will respectfully refrain from comment or further actions at this time.”
Mark Schwarzer to leave Fulham
Arsenal need for a goalkeeper has spurned Fulham goalkeeper into confirming that he wants a move away from Craven Cottage, Mark Schwarzer was a summer target for Arsenal and the new Fulham boss Mark Hughes dug his heels in to keep hold of the Australian stopper. But now Schwarzer has come out publicly expressing his desire to leave the West London club owned by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed.
“A lot can happen between now and January. What will be, will be,” said Schwarzer.
“If there’s an opportunity in January, then we’ll explore it.
“This is the only time in my career I have ever tried to force an issue. I don’t have time on my side. If you were a 30-year-old you would walk away and say ‘fair enough, I understand’.
“But I’m almost 38 and I want to fulfil an ambition. The sheer opportunity that was there. That was very flattering, but sometimes you’ve just got to grin and bear it and just get on with normal life again as much as possible.”
