The Sports Matrix: Monday 1 August 2011

Capello refuses to get carried away

Fabio Capello says England will not be complacent in their 2014 World Cup qualification, after being drawn with Montanegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and San Marino in Group H on Saturday. “It will not be easy,” insisted the manager. MORE

Dyson hoovers up to win Irish Open

England’s Simon Dyson completed a month to remember by winning the Irish Open in Killarney. Dyson, 33, from York, prevailed a fortnight after finishing ninth in The Open – an event he went into as fifth reserve less than a week before it started. MORE

Crusaders have last laugh with win

Crusaders beat Wakefield 40-6 to end a troubling week. Wakefield’s league status had been saved by Crusaders’ withdrawal of their licence application before coach John Kear said he would leave at the end of the season. MORE

Arsenal draw with MLS side Red Bulls

The home support at the Emirates Stadium booed Arsenal off the field yesterday after New York Red Bulls held the hosts to a 1-1 draw and won the Emirates Cup. Robin van Persie gave Arsenal the lead before Kyle Bartley’s own goal made it all square. MORE

Ennis strides on in the long jump

Jessica Ennis produced a season’s best in the long jump on the final day of the Aviva Trials and UK Championships in Birmingham yesterday. A fifth-round 6.44m earned Ennis a national bronze medal and a 7cm advance on her 2011 best in the event. MORE

Silva the star as City ease past Inter

Manchester Citywon the Dublin Super Cup yesterday, beating Internazionale 3-0. Mario Balotelli opened the scoring and Edin Dzeko fired in a second, after being set-up by the superb David Silva, before England’s Adam Johnson claimed the third. MORE

Tancock wins 50m backstroke gold

Liam Tancock won the 50m backstroke by seven-hundredths of a second yesterday on the final day of the Swimming Championships in Shanghai. Hannah Miley, meanwhile, won silver in the individual medley as Britain finished sixth in the medals table. MORE

Opinion: James Lawton

What had happened when Ian Bell was initially given run-out at tea was a burst of sentimental cricket illiteracy. Laws are not there to be pushed aside when it suits the prejudices of any particular audience. MORE

England dominant after Bell given run-out reprieve

Ian Bell was given an astonishing reprieve during a superb innings of 159 as England moved into a commanding position in the second Test against India at Trent Bridge yesterday. Bell – well-supported by Kevin Pietersen (63), Eoin Morgan (70) and Matt Prior, with an undefeated 64 – helped England to an impressive 417 runs on the third day as they reached 441 for 6 – a lead of 374. But the day will doubtless be remembered for the drama that ensued in the moments leading up to tea. After believing a shot by Morgan had gone for four, Bell, on 137, abandoned his crease and started talking to Morgan, when Abhinav Mukund removed the bails. As the batsmen headed to the pavilion for the interval, India appealed for a run-out, which was upheld by the umpires. Both sides then held talks and India’s captain M S Dhoni agreed to withdraw the appeal. Bell re-emerged after the break to score 22 more runs before falling to Yuvraj Singh. After losing Morgan and Jonathan Trott, an unbroken stand of 102 between Prior and Tim Bresnan (47 not out) put England in control. MORE

Struggling Strauss needs to improve

Andrew Strauss, England’s double Ashes-winning captain, is struggling to make his presence felt as a batsman. Yesterday, the 34-year-old edged a catch behind and there was nothing exceptional about the delivery from India’s Sree Sreesanth. MORE

Button savours Hungary victory

Jenson Button claimed his second win of the season in a compelling Hungarian Grand Prix. The race was won and lost on tyre strategy as championship leader Sebastian Vettel finished second, with Button’s McLaren team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, fourth. MORE