Broken foot may not keep
Rooney out of World Cup: Just six weeks from the
start of the World Cup, the sight of English super-striker Wayne Rooney lying on
the pitch with a broken foot was shocking to English soccer fans. Compatriot
Michael Owen suffered a similar injury on 31 December last year and is only now
showing signs of being able to play unhindered. “I’ve
been told it’s normal to feel pain. There’s no reason why I should have a
problem for the World Cup,” Owen told the BBC. But Rooney broke his fourth
metatarsal, a less serious injury than Owen’s broken fifth metatarsal. Most
agree Rooney will not play in the opening rounds of the World Cup, but he’s still a
chance to play in the knockout stages. English coach Sven-Göran Eriksson says
he’ll take Rooney to Germany regardless of the injury,
despite Rooney’s coach at Man U, Sir Alex Ferguson, labelling the idea of the
young star playing at all “a wild dream”.

Warne out of World Cup: “I must have said it 14,000 times. I have retired and
I have no aspirations to return,” Shane Warne said overnight.
Pundits have expressed surprise at Warne’s willingness to count the number of
times he has denied he’ll be at the World Cup. But we’re tipping the number
will reach 20,000 by the time the World Cup starts in March next year. Despite
rapidly approaching his 15,000th denial, there is still no compelling evidence
to suggest he won’t play at the World Cup.

More big numbers in cricket: Cricket Australia has announced who is on its list of
preferred suppliers for the coming year, and Michael Hussey appears to be the
big winner. According to the West Australian,
Hussey’s cricket earnings could triple to $750,000 next year. Other winners include
Stuart Clark, rewarded for his impressive tour of South Africa, and Phil
Jaques, who is waiting patiently for Hayden or Langer to falter. Losers include
Victorian captain Cameron White, disappointing pacemen Brett Dorey and Mick
Lewis, and all-rounder James Hopes. Ricky Ponting continues making money at the
same rate as runs, tipped to earn $1.2 million from cricket alone next year.

On yer bike: Rising
star ofAustralian cyclingCadel Evanswon the Tour de Romandie in Lausanne,
Switzerland on Sunday. Evans earned the win in the final time stage, a 20.4
kilometre time trial in which he hauled in a 24 second deficit on the yellow
jersey. Evans is the first Australian to have won the race since Phil Anderson
in 1989, and did no damage to his reputation as a potential Tour de France
winner. Jan Ullrich, winner of the 1997 Tour de France, came 115th out of 120
riders, over 50 minutes behind Evans.