Cruel blow for James

Rowing A week after being named in the flagship men's four for the World Cup season, Tom James has been dealt a cruel blow, suffering a back injury in training that will keep him out of the first of the three World Cup regattas, starting in Munich tomorrow. James had taken Alex Partridge's seat in the four, which won 27 consecutive races before coming fourth in the World Championships last year, necessitating a rethink about the boat's make-up. The Welshman was part of the men's eight that came ninth in the Athens Olympic Games in 2004.

James's place in the boat is taken by Tom Lucy, a fellow Welshman who turned 20 last week. Last year Lucy won bronze in the eight at the World Championships, having been one of the youngest rowers to earn a senior vest. He was a world junior champion in 2006.

Stockdale's big week

Equestrianism Tim Stockdale's campaign for Olympic selection begins in earnest this week when he and Fresh Direct Corlato compete at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, the opening outdoor show of the season. The show jumping classes, beginning today, are international this year in preparation for 2009, when Windsor plays host to the European Dressage and Show Jumping Championships - the first time the two championships have been combined.

“I've staked everything on getting to Beijing,” Stockdale said. “I know I'll never have a better chance than I have now with this mare and I'm determined to give it my best shot.”

MCC gets to grips

Cricket MCC members have voted to outlaw modern carbon-fibre bat handles in favour of traditional construction methods to “preserve fair competition between batsmen and bowlers”. A rewritten Law 6, effective from Ocober 1, will stipulate that “90 per cent of the volume of bat handles should consist of cane, wood and/or twine”. Rubber to reduce vibration could make up the remaining 10 per cent.

Dick misses out

Hockey Stephen Dick, the Scotland striker and a member of Great Britain's victorious Olympic qualifying squad, has been ruled out of three matches against Germany, the world champions, because of illness. Graham Moodie, a fellow Scot and 2004 Olympian, returns after recovering from injury. The first match is in Düsseldorf today as Britain continue their preparations for the Beijing Games in August.

Double glory for Britain

Paralympics The Paralympic World Cup tipped off yesterday at Manchester Regional Arena with the first day of wheelchair basketball. The Great Britain women's team beat Brazil 51-44 in the morning session and in the afternoon the Britain men's team beat the United States 58-51 in a tight tussle.

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