Sport

After spending a few days out here in India, I can honestly say that Alastair Cook does not look like a man who's on the verge of giving up the captaincy.

The order of ceremony was comprehensive, but long. Fans kept it in as long as they could, were utterly respectful, but enthusiasm got the better of them. They forgot the silence.

MARTHA KELNER: Sir Dave Brailsford has been ordered before MPs to answer questions on cycling’s doping storm. The Team Sky principal team has been summoned to a parliamentary inquiry.

ADAM CRAFTON: Scotland winger Robert Snodgrass has stoked the fire for Friday's World Cup qualifying clash at Wembley by claiming that English fans 'don't want England to do well'.

SAMI MOKBEL and DOMINIC KING: Harry Kane is emerging as the leading candidate to replace Wayne Rooney as England's next permanent captain.

SAMI MOKBEL: Jack Wilshere insists he is strong enough to walk away from Arsenal at the end of the season. He took the initiative to leave on loan to Bournemouth on transfer deadline day.

CRAIG HOPE: David Moyes was a 14-year-old schoolboy wearing his Bay City Rollers trousers on the summer’s day at Wembley in 1977 when he found himself sitting in front of Kevin Keegan.

CRAIG HOPE: Jonjo Shelvey has been charged for misconduct in relation to Newcastle United's Championship game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, September 17.

Presnel Kimpembe's new three-year contract at Paris Saint-Germain has seen the 21-year-old central defender handed a hefty wage rise from the French giants.

Luke Shaw has been placed on an individual training regime at Carrington this week while the majority of Manchester United stars are away. Most of the squad are on international duty.

After penning a Real Madrid contract until 2021 that will see him pocket £500,000-a-week after tax, Nike have announced their own deal with the Portuguese sees him tied to the brand for 'life'.

Rangers are on the verge of reaching a deal to cut ties with 'stressed' midfielder Joey Barton. The controversial 34-year-old has not played for the club since being suspended.

Liverpool are watching Sardar Azmoun, the FC Rostov striker who has been dubbed 'the Iranian Messi'. The 21-year-old was linked with a move to Everton last season.

Eddie Jones has called upon the Polynesian muscle of Ben Te’o and Nathan Hughes as England plot to end their 10-year wait for a victory over South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday.

Farrell is destined to be recruited for another Lions tour as defence coach, after the Englishman's major role in Ireland's historic victory over the All Blacks in Chicago last Saturday.

RICHARD GIBSON: Haseeb Hameed’s Test debut came less than 11 months after he was axed from England’s U19 World Cup squad and the bearer of that bad news says his reaction sums him up.

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has no plans to leave the club despite limited first team opportunities this season. The Frenchman has made only one start this season, against Ludogorets.

Gareth Bale was presented with the Welsh player of the year award for a sixth time in seven years after lifting the Champions League and spearheading Wales to the semi finals of Euro 2016.

Real Madrid protege Martin Odegaard could be the target of a loan deal from French side Rennes during the January transfer window. The club were linked in the summer but FIFA rules halted a deal.

England lock Courtney Lawes has returned to training and will be fit to face South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday in their first Autumn game, defence coach Paul Gustard said on Monday.

UFC interim light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will serve a doping ban until next July after an arbitration panel denied his appeal of a positive test.

Essex have taken a major step in trying to ensure they remain in Division One of the county championship next season by signing Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir.

Real Madrid have suffered an injury blow after midfielder Toni Kroos fractured his metatarsal in Sunday's La Liga clash against Leganes.

The Manchester United legend believes Chris Coleman's team is benefiting from a core group coming through the ranks together and building an understanding like they would at a club.

Yet when it comes to the Ibrox icon's single biggest regret, there is zero competition. That low moment indisputably occurred playing at Wembley against England at Euro 96.

If any comparison between these two squads would see Scotland lose every time, one guy who knows what it’s like to face world-class footballers at Wembley sounds a note of encouragement.

STEPHEN McGOWAN: Reminded of some downbeat appraisals of Scotland's chances at Wembley, James McArthur's pained face told its own tale. Words were unnecessary.

Things could not be going much better in Sadio Mane's football career at the moment. But life could have worked out very differently when he travelled 500 miles to a trial in Dakar.

Messi was booked during the second half of the La Liga game for time wasting as he attempted to put his boot back on after it had come off following a challenge from Sevilla's Steven N'Zonzi.

Santa Cruz made his Paraguay debut as a 17-year-old in 1999 and 17 years on has decided to call it quits at a time when he is still considered good enough to play for his country

LAWRENCE BOOTH IN RAJKOT: Haseed Hameed is due on Wednesday morning to become the sixth teenager to win a Test cap for England after being named as opening batsman against India.

ADAM CRAFTON: Tyler Hamilton, the cycling drug-cheat-turned whistleblower, believes that Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky have questions to answer to prove that they are 'ethical'.

Australia paceman Peter Siddle has been ruled out of the second test against South Africa in Hobart with a lower back injury, Cricket Australia said on Tuesday.