The Sport Matrix: Wednesday 1 April 2015

Le Tissier to appear on ‘Countdown’

Former Southampton midfielder Matt Le Tissier is to become the fourth professional footballer to appear on Channel 4’s Countdown, the 46-year-old has announced. “Hope you’ve brushed up on the numbers,” Le Tissier (above) joked to mathematician Rachel Riley, who appears on the show.

He faces stiff competition for bragging rights from his fellow ex-pros, who hold eight victories between them – former Norwich man Adrian Coote failed to secure the Countdown teapot but Clarke Carlisle won three games and Neil MacKenzie won five.

Murray earns 500th career win

Andy Murray secured his 500th career victory last night when defeating Kevin Anderson 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the last eight of the Miami Open. Third seed Murray became the first Briton to reach the landmark but needed all three sets to dispatch South Africa’s Anderson, seeded 15. Murray becomes the 46th man to reach 500 wins since the open era began. Of those, only nine are still playing.

Hamilton proud of brother’s drive

Lewis Hamilton believes his brother will impress in his races in the British Touring Car Championship this season. Nicolas, who suffers from cerebral palsy, will take part in five rounds. “It’s a huge thing,” Lewis said. “I’ll take a lot of inspiration from him. He is competing in a class where no one else has the same difficulty, so it’s twice as hard.”

Selby wins despite pain in the neck

World No 1 Mark Selby booked his place in the second round of the China Open after beating Mark Joyce 5-3 yesterday, despite suffering from neck pain.

The 31-year-old world champion, who had suffered neck problems three years ago, he persevered, having raced into a three-frame lead over Joyce.

His opponent won three of the next four before Selby sealed the win with a 90 break in frame eight.

Hawk-Eye to have final say in Canada

Fifa will use Hawk-Eye to rule on goal-line decisions at this summer’s World Cup in Canada. The British camera-based system is used in the Premier League, after being developed in tennis and cricket. The device will be tested at the six stadiums staging the tournament. Hawk-Eye was used at the Club World Cup in 2012, before Fifa went for the rival GoalControl system from Germany for the 2014 World Cup.