SPORT IN SHORT

GOLF Rory McIlroy wants fellow Irishman Padraig Harrington to captain Europe at the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

Harrington (pictured) was one of Thomas Bjorn’s five vice-captains as Europe regained the Ryder Cup with a crushing 17.5-10.5 points win at Le Golf National in Paris on Sunday.

“I’ve always thought Padraig would be a good captain in the United States,” McIlroy said.

“He’s won a lot of golf tournaments over there, he’s won a PGA Championship.”

The fall-out from the Americans’ defeat has seen Patrick Reed admit egos were a problem for them, and the Masters champion blamed Jordan Spieth for the end of their successful Ryder Cup partnership.

Reed also claimed it was ‘not smart’ of US captain Jim Furyk to leave him out of two sessions.

CRICKET Having been released by Lancashire last week, spinner Arron Lilley has signed for Leicestershire on a two-year deal.

Lilley, who came through the academy at Emirates Old Trafford, said: “I am delighted to be joining up with Paul Nixon and

the squad. I am keen to develop my game in all three formats and am confident that Grace Road is the best place for me to do that.”

BOXING Amir Khan’s next fight is set to be in February, with either Kell Brook or Manny Pacquiao the most likely opponent.

“It’s either Brook or Pacquiao,” said the Bolton boxer’s promoter Eddie Hearn. “There’s a little bit more hope on the Brook side.

“We’re getting to a stage now where we’re nearly in October, Amir’s not in camp. I can’t tell you that we’re a week away from signing a deal with Brook or Pacquiao. So it’s now February.”