Morgan agrees new contract

CRICKET

EOIN MORGAN has renewed his commitment to Middlesex after agreeing a new contract with the county.

Dubliner Morgan, the England limited-overs captain, has been with the team since 2005 and has made more than 230 appearances, scoring 7,500 runs in all formats of the game.

The 31-year-old said: “I am pleased to have extended my contract with the club that I’ve represented since I was a youngster.

“We’ve got an exceptionally talented squad here at Middlesex, with a terrific blend of youth and experience, and I’m really excited about what we can achieve as a playing group going forwards.”

MOTORSPORT

FERRARI chairman Sergio Marchionne has fired a warning at Formula 1 bosses that the team could lead others out of the sport if it becomes too much like Nascar, with the direction change planned under Liberty Media still threatening the future of the sport.

The Italian manufacturer has made their unhappiness with the proposed rule changes from 2021 clear in recent weeks.

“We are not interested in making cars all the same and simple and cheap engines like Nascar,” Marchionne said. “If anything, the real problem is that there is no overtaking and F1 needs more exciting races.”

CYCLING

GERAINT THOMAS has called for a blanket ban on Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) and life-bans for serious doping violations.

The Welsh rider also defended his team leader Chris Froome, giving his backing in the wake of an adverse analytical finding for the asthma drug Salbutamol at the Vuelta a Espana.

“Let’s say I was at the Tour and I was leading and then I got sick. I could technically have a TUE but I’m not sure I would because it’s going to come out,” he said. “I have a strong stance on anti-doping. So I’d get rid of TUEs and I’d ban people for life for blood doping, and EPO.”

HOCKEY

IRELAND’S men have finished the year as a top 10 team in world hockey.

The latest rankings take in the Hockey World League finals which concluded in India last week, and although Craig Fulton’s men didn’t make those finals, they retain 10th position on the ladder.

DARTS

GERMANY’S Kevin Munch has knocked Adrian Lewis out of the World Darts Championship, beating the English man 3-1 in Alexandra Palace last night.

Munch cruises through to the second round after a shock victory over the two-time PDC champion.