From the back pages, August 12: Ian Bell century gives flailing England a fighting chance

With the glorious certainty that comes with a batsman at the peak of his power, the sort of form that can make a mockery of all that has preceded, Ian Bell, with his 20th Test match hundred, has given England a fighting chance of winning the fourth Test after Chris Rogers’ Saturday century appeared to have given Australia the upper hand. (The Guardian)
From the back pagesFrom the back pages
From the back pages

This summer England have not made 400 runs once in an innings. That tells you how poor our batting has been and how pathetic Australia’s has been at times to have not beaten us. England’s bowlers have got them out of jail so many times but it is time we started batting well. You cannot improve on anything unless you are prepared to put your hand up and admit your mistakes. That is the first priority. Our top three batsmen – Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Jonathan Trott – have not been in good form in this series. (Geoffrey Boycott in The Telegraph)

Usain Bolt held off a determined challenge from Justin Gatlin to regain his world 100 metres title in the rain in Moscow tonight. (The Times)

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Nemanja Vidic had scarcely raised the Football Association’s silver platter above his head than he was looking back down the line of his team-mates for his manager and indicating that they pass the Community Shield back down to David Moyes. (The Independent)

Robin van Persie is certain that Manchester United will compete for the Barclays Premier League title this season after his two goals won the Community Shield. (Daily Mail)

MANCHESTER UNITED boss David Moyes is preparing an increased bid for his former Everton player Leighton Baines. (The Express)

Arsenal are on the verge of agreeing a £14million deal to land Bayern ­Munich’s Brazilian international Luiz Gustavo. (The Mirror)