The Sport Matrix: Tuesday 5 February 2013

England's first tour match washed out

England's first Twenty20 practice match against New Zealand XI was abandoned yesterday, due to rain, after only 9.1 overs were bowled in Whangarei. The sides will play the second scheduled fixture tonight.

Sturridge pulls out of England squad

Daniel Sturridge has joined Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick in pulling out of England's squad for tomorrow's friendly against Brazil at Wembley. Liverpool forward Sturridge, 22, joined up with the squad but has been ruled out with a thigh injury.

Ennis opts to stay outdoors for 2013

Jessica Ennis will not be competing indoors this year as she targets gold at this summer's World Championships. "My focus has to be attempting to win another world title and not the short-term indoor season," she said.

Ravens bask in Superbowl glory

The city of Baltimore was yesterday celebrating after their Ravens side beat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in an epic Superbowl in New Orleans on Sunday night, which included a record-equalling 108-yard kick-off by Jacoby Jones. MORE

Brook title chance delayed yet again

Kell Brook's IBF welterweight title fight with Devon Alexander will be rearranged for a second time after the American pulled out of the 23 February bout with a bicep injury. Brook had originally postponed the fight in December due to an ankle injury.

Walcott aims to go central for England

Theo Walcott is ready to replicate his club form for Arsenal as the central attacker for England, if called upon. "I didn't expect it to go as well as it did," he said of the recent change of position from out wide. "I thought it would take a few games to get used to it." MORE

Cole has earned respect – Gerrard

Steven Gerrard believes the Wembley crowd must show respect to Ashley Cole if he wins his 100th England cap against Brazil tomorrow. "It's going to be Ashley's night if he's picked," said Gerrard. "He deserves to be a 100-cap player, there's no two ways about that." MORE

Game in England part of fix probe

A Champions League tie played in England is one of 680 world matches that investigators believe were fixed. Police did not identify the match, but some 425 people, including match officials and players, are suspected of being involved in the scandal worldwide. MORE

Hamilton unveils new Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton was yesterday introduced to the Mercedes F1 W04 car that he hopes will propel him to a second drivers' championship. Hamilton and new team-mate Nico Rosberg took to the track for a brief drive prior to today's first official test at the Jerez circuit in Spain.

Opinion: James Lawton

If it is the perception, rightly or wrongly, that the desert enclave of Qatar has been able to buy football's greatest tournament, how much more shocking is it to purchase a single match? MORE