The Sport Matrix: Tuesday 13 August 2013

Carragher: block foreign imports to our academy sides

Jamie Carragher has added his weight to the debate on England’s struggle to develop world-class players for Roy Hodgson’s national side by declaring that academies should be prevented from buying in any foreign players.

Top Premier League sides find foreign youngsters far cheaper to buy than the best English talent and Carragher, above, told i that clubs’ impulse to purchase them is blocking the potential development of young home-grown players.

“Academies should be for our kids and if you buy foreign players they should be for the first team,” said Carragher, a new member of the Sky Sports team of analysts for the new season. “I don’t think it should be made easy for players to get into your first team. The foreign players have been brilliant for this country. But it’s at the stage now where reserve and youth teams are full of foreign players – and what chance do young players have if they can’t get into the youth or reserve team? Let’s give them that chance to show a manager what they can do and then ask, are they ready?” MORE

Broad super show as Ashes are won

Stuart Broad inspired England to a 74-run win over Australia in the fourth Test at Chester-le-Street, clinching victory in the Ashes series. Chasing 299, Australia were on 168-2, but lost eight wickets for 56 as they collapsed to 224 all out to hand England a dramatic victory. MORE

Ohuruogu claims dramatic 400m final

Christine Ohuruogu reclaimed her world 400m title in amazing fashion in Moscow yesterday. Ohuruogu beat Botswana’s defending champion Amantle Montsho by four-thousandths of a second in dramatic finish to win Britain’s second gold medal of the championships. MORE

Westwood bites after troll abuse

Lee Westwood angrily slammed Twitter trolls who criticised his final-round 76 at the US PGA Championship on Sunday. When followers claimed the 40-year-old should “learn how to putt”, Westwood said: “You minions need to live from the inside out, rather than the outside in!” MORE

Hodgson: Rooney has England in mind

England manager Roy Hodgson said Wayne Rooney could start tomorrow’s friendly with Scotland at Wembley, and expects the striker to ignore transfer speculation and focus on the game. “Wayne can compartmentalise club and country,” said Hodgson.

Onions a doubt for fifth Ashes Test

Graham Onions, named in England’s 13-man squad for the fourth Test, broke his finger in Durham’s YB40 win against Scotland yesterday. The injury means the bowler is a doubt for the fifth Ashes Test at the Oval on 21 August.

Rodgers positive about Suarez future

Brendan Rodgers believes Liverpool’s stand-off with Luis Suarez can be “resolved amicably” following Arsenal’s bid for the striker. Rodgers suggested the relationship is repairable: “It is something we have to do everything we can to fix.”

In-form Nadal eyes top spot again

Following his Montreal Masters win on Sunday, Rafael Nadal is targeting a return to the top of the world rankings. Nadal has won eight of his last 11 events, rising to world No 3 – close behind Andy Murray and No 1 Novak Djokovic. MORE

England women fail to take control

England’s Heather Knight (85) was the only bright spark on day two of the Women’s Ashes Test as England struggled at Wormsley. Australian spinner Erin Osborne took 3-31 as England finished the day on 172-6, needing 10 more to avoid the follow-on. MORE

Medal chase hots up for Brit hopefuls

Perri Shakes-Drayton will run in the women’s 400m semi-finals in Moscow at 4.05pm BST today, while Andrew Osagie is in the men’s 800m final at 6.10pm. Hannah England competes in the 1,500m semi-final at 5.40pm.

Ian Herbert

You felt, when Luis Suarez got on to the field in Steven Gerrard’s testimonial, playing as fecklessly as he could, that he was perhaps seized with desperation about how to shake off these people.