■CRICKET
Woman wins ‘Wisden’ honor
England’s Claire Taylor has become the first woman to be named as one of the Five Cricketers of the Year by Wisden, the sport’s annual of record. Taylor’s award comes after her starring role in England’s recent World Cup triumph and her success in helping the team to an Ashes series win in Australia last year. The 33-year-old, who has played 109 one-day internationals, was selected as the player of the World Cup after scoring a hundred and two half-centuries in England’s victorious campaign in Australia last month. South Africa dominate the remainder of the 2009 Five Cricketers of the Year. Wicket-keeper Mark Boucher and opening batsman Neil McKenzie are honored for their roles in the Proteas’ Test series win in England last year, while their compatriot Dale Benkenstein is recognized for his role in captaining Durham to their first English County Championship title. The list is completed by England fast bowler James Anderson.
■SOCCER
El Hadji Diouf quits again
Senegal striker El Hadji Diouf quit international soccer for the second time on Thursday, the country’s national federation said. He will continue to play club soccer in England, the federation said. El Hadji Diouf, who plays for Blackburn in the English Premier League, said in October 2007 that he was calling time on his international career after falling out with the management of the national team. The 28-year-old later changed his mind.
■SOCCER
Drunken fan found in toilet
An Ireland fan was found in the toilet of a bar in Bari, Italy, the morning after the Italy-Ireland World Cup qualifier in the city, having spent the entire night there. The 34-year-old was discovered on Thursday morning, still sleeping off the previous day’s drinking marathon, by the bar owner, who called emergency services. Italian news agency Ansa reported that no one had noticed the Irishman’s presence in the bar’s toilet when it closed up for the night.
■SOCCER
Saints’ future in jeopardy
Southampton’s parent company went into administration on Thursday, leaving the Saints in danger of not even lasting until the end of the League Championship season. Although the Saints should avoid the automatic 10-point penalty to hit other cash-strapped clubs in the Football League, joint administrator Mark Fry said they needed to find a new owner soon or possibly go out of business. “If we don’t find a buyer for the club, there is a very, very high probability that it will not last until the end of the season,” Fry said. “Realistically, it will mean the end of the football club.” A Premier League club only four seasons ago, the Saints are next-to-last in the League Championship and in danger of dropping into the third tier of English soccer for the first time since 1960.
■SUPER 14
Mackay wakes from coma
ACT Brumbies lock Shawn Mackay has woken up from a medically induced coma in Durban, South Africa, after suffering spinal injuries and a broken leg when he was struck by a car last weekend. Mackay, who has started communicating with doctors and family through blinking, had undergone surgery to his spine and was making good progress, but it was too early to determine any long-term damage, the Super 14 said in a statement.
Mackay was struck by a car while returning to the hotel with team mates in the early hours of last Sunday morning.
RSS