Cricket: England cricket chief Giles Clarke has settled a libel case against him stemming from allegations about secret plans for a rebel Twenty20 league in England. ECB chairman Clarke had been sued by sports marketing giant IMG over suggestions in 2010 about plans for a breakaway T20 league that would “destroy world cricket’s structure.” However, the ECB said the case had now been settled after Clarke accepted IMG had not broken any regulations.
Rugby Union: Geoff Parling is in line to start his first Test for England as one of three changes expected for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Wales. The Leicester lock is understood to have been promoted into the starting side to run the lineout in place of Tom Palmer, who was axed from the squad this week. Lee Dickson and Ben Morgan are also preparing to make their full debuts after impressive performances off the bench against Scotland and Italy.
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Athletics: World 100m record holder Usain Bolt (picture) will renew his rivalry with fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell at the Diamond League meet in Rome on May 31. Bolt was a huge draw at the Olympic Stadium last year where almost 50,000 people turned up to watch the world’s fastest man. He didn’t disappoint either by overhauling Powell with a late surge to win the 100m in 9.91sec.
Baseball: Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish worked out on Tuesday for the first time as a member of Texas Rangers at a pre-season training camp. The 25-year-old, who became a sensation for Japan’s Nippon Ham Fighters, was obtained by the US champions after posting a winning bid of $51.7m just for the right to open talks. That money went to the Fighters when Darvish signed a six-year deal with Texas worth $56m on January 18.
Tennis: No.1 seed John Isner hammered 26 aces en route to a 7-6, 7-6 victory over Gilles Muller in the first round of the Memphis Open. The world number 13, who is chasing his fourth career title, clinched the victory by winning the final three points of the second set tiebreaker. Isner, 26, won 48 of 50 first-serve points and had just two double faults compared to nine for the Belgian Muller in the 100-minute match.
Basketball: Miami Heat used a fourth-quarter offensive burst to beat Sacramento Kings 120-108 behind a 30-point performance from superstar Dwyane Wade. Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers scored 20 points each and LeBron James finished with 18 for Miami, who have won seven straight NBA games. Sacramento Kings have now lost 10 straight matches in Miami.
World Indoors: Mo Farah was named in a 39-strong Great Britain squad for next month’s World Indoor Championships in Istanbul despite speculation the distance runner may skip the event. The reigning 5,000 metres world champion is reportedly considering his involvement in the March 9-11 championships following his defeat over two miles at the British Grand Prix in Birmingham last weekend. However the 28-year-old star was named by British athletics chiefs for the finale to the indoor season.