The Sports Matrix: Tuesday 12 July 2011

Sky may take legal action over crash

Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford is considering legal action after a car knocked his rider Juan Antonio Flecha into a ditch on Sunday. “Once we’ve got the facts, or the lawyers say Team Sky or Juan can do this or that, we’ll have a clear picture,” he said. MORE

Chelsea’s Modric bid ‘ridiculous’

Harry Redknapp yesterday said that Chelsea’s £22m offer for Luka Modric was nowhere near his value. He said the bid was “ridiculous”, and that: “if you are going to make an offer, make an offer. Don’t offer £22m for a player that is worth nearer to £50m.” MORE

Jeter joins the 3,000 hits club

New York Yankees shortstop and captain Derek Jeter recorded his 3,000th hit last weekend, making him the 28th player to achieve the feat. Jeter has spent his whole career at the Yankees, since his debut in 1995. MORE

Vitali: Let me fight David Haye next

Vitali Klitschko wants to fight David Haye, because of the Briton’s conduct before his fight against Vitali’s brother Wladimir. “There is one reason why I want to fight David,” said Vitali, “because he touched me personally with his bad words.” MORE

Adebayor refuses to train at City

Emmanuel Adebayor has effectively gone on strike at Manchester City by failing to show up for pre-season training after being left out of the summer tour squad. He is likely to be fined at least two weeks’ wages by City. MORE

Broad fails to build on early wicket...

Stuart Broad’s performance for Nottinghamshire against Somerset was mixed yesterday, as he attempted to prove himself ahead of next week’s first Test against India. After a wicket with his seventh ball, Broad finished with two for 75 from 23 overs. MORE

...while Bresnan makes his case

Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad’s main rival for a place in the first Test, took four for 68 yesterday for Yorkshire against Worcestershire at Scarborough. His bowling was mixed though, and he was costly soon after lunch. The visitors were dismissed for 168. MORE

Wenger confident on keeping Nasri

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger believes he can convince Samir Nasri to stay at the club for at least one more year. Nasri, 24, has one year left on his deal and is refusing to sign an extension, amid interest from both Manchester clubs and Chelsea. MORE

Stoney hits back at Powell criticism

Casey Stoney has defended England’s women’s team against coach Hope Powell’s accusations of “cowardice” after their World Cup penalty defeat. “I don’t think any of the players are cowards, to be honest,” Stoney said. “I’m not sure where that came from.”

Opinion: James Lawton

Luke Donald has shown again, with his sublime victory at the Scottish Open, that he can play like a dream. Now he merely has to put an end to a major nightmare, and seriously challenge for the Open this week. MORE

McIlroy to play with American young pretender

After his win at the US Open, Rory McIlroy starts Thursday’s Open at Royal St George’s as the hottest young talent in golf. He will be teeing-off with his one challenger for that title, 22-year-old American Rickie Fowler. The pair will be part of the threeball including Ernie Els starting at 9.09am. Fowler, narrowly older than McIlroy, is close friends with the Northern Irishman; and the pair’s careers have been close. The Californian recently told The Independent that McIlroy’s success was “inspiring” to fellow young players. MORE

Garrigus continues rise after rehab

Robert Garrigus will be playing at his first Open this week, after a battle with drug addiction earlier in his career. “I knew if I could get clean, I could succeed,” the American recalled. Having gone through rehabilitation, he finished third in the US Open. MORE

Frankel jockey aims to stay calm

Tom Queally, who will ride Frankel a fortnight tomorrow against Canford Cliffs at the Sussex Stakes, is refusing to let the pressure affect him. “Sure it’s just a horserace,” he said. “You can’t let it get to you. I’m pretty laid back; always have been.” MORE