The Sports Matrix: Thursday 12 July 2012

Court hears Terry describe taunts against mother

Chelsea captain John Terry was forced to detail obscene insults directed by rival supporters towards his mother as his racial abuse trial continued yesterday. The England international under questioning by his own defence counsel, spoke of chants first aimed at him by Liverpool supporters.

Terry's team-mate Ashley Cole gave evidence in the centre-back's support, against claims that he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand during a match at Loftus Road last October – claims Mr Terry denies. Cole said he "could make out" Ferdinand saying "Bridgey" [a reference to Wayne Bridge, a former colleague with whose former partner Terry allegedly had an affair], "black" and "c***".

"If I repeated something I thought had been said it's totally different than [sic] saying it [without prompting]." Prosecutor Duncan Penny replied: "But if [Terry] had said f****** black c***' [as an insult]?" Cole said: "I don't think racial abuse should be tolerated." MORE

Lewis seeking to relive Open heroics

Tom Lewis heads into today's Scottish Open seeking the top-five finish that will qualify him for the British Open. The 21-year-old is in poor form as he seeks to replicate last year's heroics at Sandwich, where he shot the lowest score by an amateur in Open history. MORE

Wiggins keeps lead after first climb

Bradley Wiggins retained his yellow jersey after yesterday's 10th stage – the first Alpine section of the Tour. "It went to script; I wasn't too worried," the Briton said of an attack by Vincenzo Nibali. "There was a fair bit of flat afterwards to pull him back." MORE

AVB lays blame at Abramovich's door

Andre Villas-Boas has blamed his failure at Chelsea on broken promises by Roman Abramovich. "He was the one who also was not putting up to the things he promised," the 34-year-old Portuguese, who was yesterday unveiled as Tottenham Hotspur manager, claimed. MORE

Rodgers dampens great expectations

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has warned supporters not to expect instant improvements as he prepares for his first season in charge. "It's going to take time," he said of a concerted push for silverware. "And whether it will be in my time, I'm not so sure." MORE

Idowu denies claims of injury

Phillips Idowu has disputed claims by the head coach of UK Athletics he has been injured. "I'm good," the British triple jumper said. "I've not mentioned anything about an injury. No one's actually heard the words come out of my mouth." MORE

Gemili continues rise with 100m win

Britain's teenage sprinter Adam Gemili continued his rapid rise last night with a stunning victory in the 100m at the World Junior Championship. The 18-year-old ran 10.05sec in Barcelona, surpassing Dwain Chambers as the fastest British junior ever. MORE

Swann in race to make first Test

The England management remain optimistic that Graeme Swann will be fit for next week's first Test against South Africa. The bowler missed the final two games of the ODI series against Australia with a recurrence of an elbow injury. MORE

Strauss struggles against the tide

Andrew Strauss, the England captain, provided lone resistance to the Nottinghamshire attack, his 50 making up more than half of Middlesex's paltry total of 98 at Uxbridge. The visitors finished the opening day on 114 for 4 in reply. MORE

Opinion: Steve Bunce

Saturday's fight against Dereck Chisora, left, at Upton Park is about redemption for David Haye in a business that saw him flirt with greatness before that awful night last summer in Hamburg. MORE