SPORT IN BRIEF
Sabres crash to defeat
CRICKET: Somerset’s chances of qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League suffered a blow after they crashed to a 44-run defeat to Trinidad & Tobago in Bangalore.
Denesh Ramdin top-scored with 39 as Trinidad smashed 150-9 from their 20 overs and took a firm hold on the game when they dismissed key man Marcus Trescothick in the second over.
Somerset never recovered, slumping to 106 all out – and now need T&T to beat and eliminate Deccan Chargers in their final group game to progress.
Henin handed Australian wildcard
TENNIS: Former world No1 Justine Henin has been handed a wildcard for the Australian Open in January – her first Grand Slam event since deciding to come out of retirement.
The 27-year-old announced in September she would come out of retirement in 2010 after less than two years away from the game, following in the footsteps of fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters.
Trash talk won’t unsettle Froch
BOXING: Carl Froch insists he is unfazed by Andre Dirrell’s trash talk ahead of their WBC super-middleweight showdown on Saturday night.
Unbeaten Dirrell said he would expose champion Froch “like a Page Three pin-up” at the Trent FM Arena, but Froch, who launches his Super Six campaign against the American, retorted: “I think it’s a case of his mouth writing cheques that his butt can’t cash.”
He added: “I think all the big talk is just to mask his own insecurities that he’s not ready for this level. He’d sooner take me on at baseball then step into a ring with me.”
Noble set for Crusaders role
RUGBY LEAGUE: Former Great Britain boss Brian Noble is set to be unveiled as the new coach of ambitious Celtic Crusaders tomorrow.
The former Wigan coach is set to succeed John Dixon as coach of the Super League’s bottom club as part of an exciting coaching set-up including Jon Sharp and maybe dual-code legend Iestyn Harris.