The Sport Matrix: Monday 1 December 2014

Marussia are going, going, gone...

The physical assets of the failed Marussia team, including cars and factory equipment, have been put up for auction by administrators.

Auctioneer CA Global Partners, acting for FRP Advisory, posted details on its website of an auction scheduled for 16 and 17 December following the closure of the team’s Banbury headquarters in Oxfordshire. The sale includes cars, without the engines – which have gone back to Ferrari – the team’s trucks, equipment and spare parts as well as corporate offices, machine shop and computer servers.

Marussia missed the last three races of the 2014 season after ceasing trading and making all of their 200 staff redundant.

Bopara backs Cook despite poor form

Ravi Bopara has thrown his support behind England’s under-pressure one-day captain Alastair Cook, following the team’s second straight defeat to Sri Lanka. “One thing we must remember is it’s not just Alastair Cook who hasn’t scored over the last few games,” Bopara said. “There have been a lot of us who haven’t scored. One man doesn’t lose you a game just like one man doesn’t win you a game.”

Brilliant Cipriani inspires Sale win

Danny Cipriani inspired Sale to a 18-13 defeat of Newcastle, producing a match-winning move that led to Johnny Leota’s crucial try. Sale’s coach, Steve Diamond, said: “He can see things other players can’t and if he keeps doing that he will be right on George Ford’s coat-tails.”

Van Gaal unhappy with schedule

Louis van Gaal has expressed his frustration with the Christmas schedule, following Manchester United’s comfortable victory over Hull on Saturday. “I am not happy and I don’t agree with it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s good that you play a game every two days in the month of December.” He added: “We also have families. I have a wife and kids and grandchildren and I cannot see them this Christmas.”

Superb Spieth wins Australian Open

Jordan Spieth won the Australian Open by six strokes yesterday, after playing the best round of his career with a course record eight-under-par 63. Spieth’s 72-hole total of 13-under 271 on the tough Sydney course made him the first American to win the Australian Open since Brad Faxon in 1993. “It’s the best round I have ever played especially considering the conditions,” enthused Spieth afterwards.