The Sport Matrix: Thursday 9 October 2014

Pietersen attacks ECB “dinosaurs”

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has criticised the ECB over the leaked dossier regarding his conduct on last winter’s Ashes tour. “There are times where you shoot yourselves in the foot and I don’t think the ECB helped themselves,” he said. “It’s embarrassing. When you’re dealing with dinosaurs that don’t understand social media they are going to shoot themselves in the foot and they’ve done it.”

Ramsey: Wales must take chance

Aaron Ramsey insists Wales are determined to make the most of the increased opportunity to reach a first European Championship. “This would be one of our best opportunities to qualify,” the midfielder said ahead of tomorrow’s visit of Bosnia & Herzegovina. “It’s important now we have got off to a good start. Now we have two [winnable] home games. If we do then we’ve got nine points.”

Cockerill: Wasps could struggle

The Leicester director of rugby, Richard Cockerill, has cast doubt over whether Wasps’ impending move to Coventry will be a success. “It’s an interesting one,” Cockerill said. “I’m from Coventry: I played there and I know the area. It is in the middle of a difficult demographic [for] newcomers. Supporters have gone elsewhere to watch rugby: to us, Northampton, Worcester. I am pretty sure we’ll hold on to our share.”

Police search for athletes on the run

Police are searching for seven athletes who have gone missing from their Asian Games delegations and are thought to be looking for work illegally in South Korea. Incheon police are looking for athletes from Nepal, Sri Lanka Bangladesh and Palestine, after the delegations reported the athletes missing. The Asian Games ended on 4 October.

“We believe they’ve the intention of finding work in South Korea,” Incheon police said. “There must be brokers or people they know helping.”

Police said the athletes’ visas would expire next week and that they would be treated as illegal aliens and deported if apprehended after that date.

Murray not a fan of ATP slam ruling

Andy Murray is not impressed that his place in the World Tour finals could be taken by US Open champion Marin Cilic. “I’m not saying that’s wrong,” the Scot said. “But to protect your own tour you need to make sure the tournaments we are playing are seen as just as important.”