England are the best Test Cricket team in the world thanks their unassailable 3-0 series lead over previous top dogs India.
Andrew Strauss’ side thrashed the tourists by an innings and 242 runs at Edgbaston to seal series victory with a game to spare and usurp India in the official rankings.
England’s win was built on opening batsman Alastair Cook’s career-best 294, which allowed Strauss to declare on 710 for seven. The last game of the Test series, at the Oval, starts on Thursday.
Domestically, Sussex, Durham and Essex kept up their hopes of reaching the Pro40 semi-finals with victories over Worcestershire, Leicestershire and Lancashire respectively.
Meanwhile, Glamorgan dented Somerset’s chances, Derbyshire beat Yorkshire, Kent saw off the Netherlands, Hampshire narrowly beat Scotland and Gloucestershire brushed aside the Unicorns.
The Premier League Football season began with defending champions Manchester United winning 2-1 at West Brom thanks to a late own-goal.
Shane Long equalised Wayne Rooney’s early effort but Ashley Young forced the winner via a deflection off Steven Reid. There was bad news for United, though, with defenders Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael da Silva suffering injuries.
Last season’s runners-up Chelsea were held to a goalless draw at Stoke, as were Arsenal at Newcastle. Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas was absent due to his imminent move to Barcelona.
Newcomers Queens Park Rangers were beaten 4-0 at home to Bolton but Norwich secured a 1-1 draw at Wigan. The other promoted team, Swansea, faced Manchester City on Monday evening.
Wolves won 2-1 at Blackburn, Liverpool drew 1-1 with Sunderland and Fulham played out a goalless game with Aston Villa. Tottenham’s match with Everton was postponed due to the riots.
Wales beat England 19-9 in the Rugby Union World Cup warm-up match at the Millennium Stadium. Wales centre Gavin Henson suffered a wrist injury that could rule him out of the competition in New Zealand, which begins on September 9.
France defeated Ireland 19-12 in Bordeaux in another warm-up.
In Rugby League’s Super League, the top three all won. Leaders Wigan thumped Salford 52-18, second-placed Warrington thrashed Wakefield 66-12 and St Helens beat fourth-placed Huddersfield 19-6.
The four other teams in the play-off places met with Leeds destroying Castleford 56-0 and Hull FC easing past Catalan Dragons 40-8. Hull KR defeated Bradford 43-8 and Crusaders beat Harlequins 31-12.
Finally, American rookie Keegan Bradley beat countryman Jason Dufner in a play-off to win the US PGA, Golf’s last major of the season.
