Athletics: Lawrence Clarke has been named captain of the Great Britain team for this week’s European Indoor Championships in Prague. Clarke, who has been hampered by injury since finishing fourth in the 110 metres hurdles at London 2012, is fit again and a strong medal contender in the 60m hurdles. The Eton-educated athlete, dubbed the Toff of the Track, said in a statement: “It’s an absolute privilege (to be captain). I’ve worked so hard for so many years to be a part of the team and to be honoured in this way is a great privilege.”

Sailing: Stand-in MAPFRE skipper Xabi Fernandez steered his crew to victory after an epic Pacific Ocean battle in the fourth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. The Spanish boat won the 5,264-nautical mile journey from Sanya, China to Auckland by four minutes 25 seconds after more than 20 days sailing. Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by Briton Ian Walker, took the overall lead after four legs of nine with their second runners-up spot in a row. Dongfeng Race Team (China), victors in the previous leg to their home port of Sanya, were third. The teams will have a short break in Auckland before leaving for the next leg, through the Southern Ocean, to Itajai in south east Brazil.

Tennis: David Ferrer won a record-equalling fourth Mexican Open title with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Kei Nishikori in the Acapulco hardcourt final, yesterday. The Spanish world number nine’s triumph put him level with Austrian Thomas Muster with four Mexican titles having also won the tournament three times from 2010-2012 on clay. It was Ferrer’s third title this year after Doha and last week’s win in Rio de Janeiro and 24th of his career, ending a run of five defeats to the Japanese top seed. Nishikori now leads Ferrer 7-4 in their meetings.

Cricket: Eoin Morgan will be glad to see the back of Wellington stadium after England were humiliated there for the second time in less than 10 days yesterday. Morgan’s side had posted a credible 309 for six in their World Cup Pool A clash against Sri Lanka but could not bowl well enough or take their chances to defend the total. Lahiru Thirimanne scored an unbeaten 139 while Kumar Sangakkara was 117 not out as Sri Lanka produced the highest successful run chase on the ground known as the ‘Cake Tin’. Sri Lanka finished on 312-1 in 47.2 overs, giving them a nine-wicket victory, nine days after New Zealand hammered England by eight wickets at the same venue.

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