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Hoggard to captain Foxes

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 11/11/2009
Cricket betting

Leicestershire have confirmed that the former England bowler Matthew Hoggard has accepted the offer of a three-year contract with the county as well as the captaincy at Grace Road.

Hoggard, who played a key role in England's Ashes success of 2005, will remain with the Foxes until the end of the 2012 season and there is also the option to stay with the county in 2013.

He is the fourth new arrival at the county following the captures of Andrew McDonald, Will Jefferson and James Benning.

Meanwhile, veteran seamer Steffan Jones has signed a two-year contract with Derbyshire.

The 35-year-old ended last season on loan with Derbys, having slipped down the pecking order at Somerset and will also help out with coaching at the County Ground.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is likely to be without the services of Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun for several weeks after both players tore hamstrings in Monday's 2-2 draw with Birmingham City.

Steven Gerrard came on for Riera just before half-time to make his first Premier League appearance since last month's 2-0 defeat at Chelsea but Fernando Torres was absent. However, Benitez insists the Spanish striker has not had an operation.

Can Liverpool recover from their poor start to the season and clinch a top-four place? - Latest Football Betting

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has revealed that the club made record pre-tax profits of more than £33million in the year ending June 30 2009.

The impressive results were helped by player sales, including those of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane to Manchester United and Liverpool respectively, which brought in £56.5million.

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner fears that he will have to endure surgery on his groin injury that will sideline him for several weeks.

The 21-year-old, who was named as Denmark's Player of the Year for 2009, limped out of last month's north London derby victory against Tottenham Hotspur with the problem.

Reports linking Robinho with a transfer to Barcelona have once again been rubbished by Manchester City manager Mark Hughes.

The Brazil international has been linked with the Catalan giants for several weeks, with Hughes and the player himself often having to deny a January transfer window switch is on the cards.

In rugby union, New Zealand number ten Dan Carter has been handed a one-week ban for his high tackle on Martin Roberts during the 19-12 victory over Wales at the weekend.

IRB judicial officer Jeff Blackett handed down the punishment on Tuesday, so Carter misses the clash with Italy in Milan on Saturday, a game which New Zealand are overwhelming online favourites to win.

Carter was likely to have sat out that game in any case due to a slight calf injury.

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