Football news 

Ronaldo vows to join Real revolution

Manchester United forward's agent has reached verbal agreement to join Real Madrid next season, according to reports in Spain

• Ronaldo to go home to find missing spark

• Ronaldo writes off Ferrari in Manchester crash

Hughes finds clubs adding 'City premium'

Manchester City prepare to up bid for Roque Santa Cruz to £18m as Blackburn dig heels in for maximum possible fee

• Hughes makes his move for Santa Cruz

• City offer Johnson in bid to sign Parker

Defoe and Diarra last to leave Portsmouth

Portsmouth have claimed that Jermain Defoe and Lassana Diarra will be the last big names to leave Fratton Park this month

• Tony Adams facing up to his two toughest tests

• Defoe's return sparks Spurs win

Gallas joins Silvestre on the sidelines

Arsene Wenger is likely to be without his first-choice centre-back pairing for the visit of Bolton Wanderers on Saturday

• Wenger will only sign top class players

• Arsenal heading for trophyless season

Cricket News 

Strauss has case for one-day captaincy

England have no real alternative to appointing the man entrusted with the Test job - and it may prove a profitable move

• Strauss asked to pick up the pieces

• Strauss offers a safe pair of hands

Miller unaware of ‘deep-rooted problems’

National selector defends actions of ECB after row that led to the departures of both Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores

• Ashes bid in chaos as big gamble fails

• County chiefs tip Moores to return

Snape: Ashes will be a psychological battle

Former English spinner says the Australians may be in transition, but they will come back as mentally tough as ever

• Australia show signs of a new breed emerging

• Australia's dynasty episode ends in farce

Pietersen gets armed guard on return

Former captain is swamped by photographers as he returns to England from his holiday in South Africa

Rugby Union news 

Wilkinson on his way to boot camp

The England fly half will travel to see a knee specialist in Vermont in a race to be fit in time for the RBS Six Nations

Robinson faces Williams again

The former England and Scotland coaches lock horns once more as Edinburgh meet Ulster in the Magners League

Call for Glasgow to keep battling

Sean Lineen, the coach, has warned his side they must maintain their current form when they face Newport Gwent Dragons

Drink-drive ban for Tindall

England centre admits he was on a binge the day before being tested and has been banned from driving for three years

More Sport news  

DeGale set to make professional debut

Olympic middleweight gold medallist will feature on a busy card at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham on February 28

Murray reaps benefits of early start

The Scot, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer win at Qatar Open but Novak Djokovic pays price for late arrival in Australia

Darts being used to encourage maths

Debate has raged over whether darts is really a sport but there is no doubt it is, at least, a branch of applied mathematics

Bird set for Wigan move after Phelps exchange

Wigan Warriors hope to complete signing of the Australia stand-off , who was suspended by Cronulla Sharks, within a week

Racing and Betting News 

Richards well placed to capitalise

Trainer hopes to make most of turf meetings resuming in the North and will target Monet's Garden, pictured, at Ascot Chase

Denman team play waiting game

Ruby Walsh looks like staying loyal to Kauto Star but that does not mean Sam Thomas is certain to ride Gold Cup winner

Ascot flourishing despite harsh economic climate

Prize-money for the royal meeting in June has increased by £450,000, while the track is also buoyed by recent ticket sales