A round-up of today's other sports news in brief
Rib injury keeps Lee out of first Test
Australian fast bowler Brett Lee will miss the first Ashes Test against England starting in Cardiff tomorrow because of a rib injury.
“I’ve sustained a small muscle tear which has ruled me out of the first Test,” Lee said at a news conference yesterday. “I’m very disappointed.”
Australian physio Alex Kountouris said there was still a chance of Lee being fit enough for the second test next week.
“He’s not out of Lord’s,” Kountouris said yesterday.
Lee, one of Australia’s key bowlers in the 2005 series, suffered soreness in his ribs following a warm-up game against the England Lions.
The 32-year-old Lee has been out of Test action since December, but he had looked in condition to make an impact in this week’s Test after taking six first-innings wickets for 76 runs in the first innings against the England Lions at Worcester.
Meegan, Harrison and Burdis set new targets
SWIMMING: Irish competitors impressed in the pool at the World University Games again yesterday.
In the 800 metres freestyle, Andrew Meegan set a new national record of 8:18.06 and Karl Burdis broke the 100 metres backstroke record for the third time in two days. He shaved 0.01 seconds off the record in the event’s final where he finished seventh in 55.02.
Ryan Harrison broke the men’s 200 metres freestyle record twice in one day, clocking 1:49.67 in the evening’s semi-final after breaking the record in the morning’s heat. He finished 10th overall, just missing out on the final by half a second. Ashleigh Hyland swam 1:13.92 in her heat in the 100 metres breaststroke.
Meanwhile, Tennis Ireland had a tough day on the clay courts. Dara McLoughlin and Niamh Coveney lost in a tie-break to France’s Rousset and Garcia in the mixed doubles.
DCU’s Simon Wrafter lost in straight sets to Hsin-Han Lee of Chinese Taipei 0-6, 0-6 in the third round of the men’s singles and, in the women’s second round clash, Andrea Maughan lost to Germany’s Ria Dornemann 4-6, 2-6.
IRB charge South Africa
RUGBY: The South African Rugby Union is to be charged with misconduct for allowing its players and coach to wear white “justice” armbands in Saturday’s Test against the British and Irish Lions in Johannesburg.
The Springbok players and management, including coach Peter de Villiers, wore the bands in protest at what they considered an unfair two-week suspension given to lock Bakkies Botha for charging Lions prop Adam Jones in the second Test in Pretoria.
South Africa appealed against Botha’s ban but the suspension was upheld and he missed the third Test, which the Lions won 28-9.
“The International Rugby Board (IRB) takes the view that such an act demonstrates a clear disregard of the disciplinary process and does so in a manner which brings, or has the potential to bring, the game into disrepute,” the sport’s governing body said in a statement.
The IRB has notified the South Africa Rugby Union that it intends to begin the disciplinary proceedings.
Bolt takes on Crawford
ATHLETICS: Usain Bolt will renew his rivalry with former Olympic 200-metres champion Shawn Crawford at the Athletissima meeting in Lausanne tomorrow.
Having won the 100m title with a world record performance, Bolt relieved American Crawford of the 200m crown in Beijing last summer when he lowered the legendary Michael Johnson’s mark with a phenomenal time of 19.30 seconds. The Jamaican triumphed by 0.66secs.
Strong opening challenge by Ireland
HOCKEY: Ireland opened their Champions Challenge II campaign at Belfield last evening with a 3-0 win over Chile, a result that puts them top of their pool on goal difference after tournament favourites Japan, who Ireland play tonight, suffered a surprise 3-2 defeat at the hands of Poland, writes Mary Hannigan.
All three Irish goals came from John Jermyn, two drag flicks and a penalty stroke. The Church of Ireland man had the hosts 2-0 up by half-time, completing his hat-trick after the break.
In Pool B second seeds Malaysia beat Austria 3-2, while France, the third highest ranked team in the tournament, held off Russia, 5-3.
In the under-18 European Championships, the Irish girls were beaten 2-1 by hosts Belgium in their opening game, Katie Codyre getting Ireland’s goal, while the boys’ game against Ukraine in Vienna was abandoned after five minutes due to a thunderstorm and torrential rain.
The match will be played at 8.30 this morning, with Ireland playing again later (against Austria).
Champions Challenge II(at Belfield) – Pool A: Japan 2, Poland 3; Ireland 3 (J Jermyn 3), Chile 0. Pool B: Malaysia 3, Austria 2; France 5, Russia 3. Today – Pool A: Poland v Chile, 5.45; Ireland v Japan, 8.0. Pool B: Austria v Russia, 1.15; France v Malaysia, 3.30.
Ricketts to buy Chicago Cubs
BASEBALL: The Ricketts family has reached a deal to buy the storied Chicago Cubs baseball team from bankrupt media company Tribune Co for slightly less than the original €645 million bid, a source familiar with the deal said yesterday. “There is a deal between the Ricketts and Tribune Co,” said the source. The Ricketts’ financing package had already been submitted to Major League, which now must review the final agreement. Seventy-five percent of the league’s 30 owners must approve a deal and then the bankruptcy court must sign off before the Ricketts family can take control of the team.
