Cricket: Chris Tremlett, who had to withdraw from the England tour to Pakistan, has told the ECB that he will not be fit to join the trip to India in the new year. He fears that, after surgery on the tendinitis in his right knee, he will not be able to bowl properly for at least four months. “I do not want to rush things and risk another injury,” he said.

Rod Bransgrove, the Hampshire chairman, hopes that Tremlett will be fit for the start of next season. The 24-year-old fast-medium bowler will undertake light training with Paddy Farhart, the county’s physiotherapist, in Sydney after Christmas.

Perkins shines

Boxing: Neil Perkins, a welterweight from Liverpool, has become only the third England boxer to win a medal at the World Amateur Championships. Perkins, 25, beat Matevosyan Samvel, of Armenia, 35-17 in Mainyang, China, to reach the semi-finals and guarantee a bronze medal.

Davis misses out

Snooker: Steve Davis, a victim of administrative confusion, did not show up for the final qualifying round of the China Open in Prestatyn, yesterday. It is the first time in 27 years as a professional that Davis has unintentionally missed a match in a world-ranking event.

Salvador in sight

Sailing: Ellen MacArthur and Roland Jourdain, on Sill, were fighting for every knot of boatspeed as they chased Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron, on Virbac, to the finish of the Transat Jacques Vabre. With 92 miles left to Salvador, Brazil, Virbac was 15 miles ahead of Sill.

Top marks

Cricket: Mark Ramprakash and Mark Butcher have agreed two-year contract extensions with Surrey. Ramprakash led the team in the county championship last season, with 1,568 runs at 74.66. Jonathan Batty, Tim Murtagh and Jade Dernbach have also agreed new deals.

Indoor incentive

Rowing: Almost 3,000 competitors, ranging in age from 10 to 95, will race in the British Indoor Championships at Birmingham tomorrow. The event, featuring 130 rowing machines, is a selection requirement for Great Britain. Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race crews are competing.

Lyons bares teeth

Real tennis: Andrew Lyons, the unseeded Queen’s Club professional, continued his giant-killing run when he thrashed the seeded David Woodman, of Cambridge, for the loss of only three games to reach the semi-finals of the British Land National Open Championship.