Rowing: Cracknell's comeback

Crews from 37 countries start in the second round of the world cup here today on the 1972 Olympic course. The British coxless four is in what chief coach Jürgen Grobler hopes will be its final Olympic line-up, with James Cracknell back after a stress fracture.

Crews from 37 countries start in the second round of the world cup here today on the 1972 Olympic course. The British coxless four is in what chief coach Jürgen Grobler hopes will be its final Olympic line-up, with James Cracknell back after a stress fracture.

Matthew Pinsent strokes, Alex Partridge from the 2003 eight is at three, with Steve Williams at bow. On paper they have an easy passage to the semi-final, but the stakes are high after the appearance of the Canadians, with one change since they took the 2003 world title. The German four received a bloody nose three weeks ago from the British crew when Ed Coode subbed for Cracknell.

Coode has now moved into the eight in which he won a bronze medal at last year's world championships.

Britain's pair of Toby Garbett and Rick Dunn, late of the coxless four, have their first run out after Dunn recovered from a virus. There is a new Canadian pair in their event plus the bronze medallists from last year, South Africa. The women's pair of Katherine Grainger and Cath Bishop are also in a strong line-up, although the Romanians who beat them in Poznan three weeks ago are not here.