Image source, PA

Professor Stephen Hawking and his team have spent time working out 'The Ideal Conditions for England Success'.

Temperature: Temperate climates are best. A 5C rise in temperature is expected to reduce England's chances of winning by 59%.

Altitude: England are twice as likely to win when playing below 500m above sea level.

Distance from home: England are 22% more likely to win when travelling short haul. Cultural differences and jet lag take their toll.

Kick-off: England are creatures of habit and their chances of winning could improve by a third when starting at 15.00 local time. The evening kick-off against Italy is bad news.

Formation: A confident 4-3-3 has a success rate of 58% compared to 48% when playing 4-4-2.

Shirt colour: Wear red. England's success rate has been 20% higher in coloured shirts. Red makes teams feel more confident and can lead them to being perceived as more aggressive and dominant.

Nationality of referee: European referees give England the best chance of success. 63% of games are won with a European referee compared to 38% when the referee is from elsewhere.

The County Championship Division Two match between Essex and Surrey ended in a draw after rain washed out the final day of play in Chelmsford before a ball could be bowled.

There could be a familiar pattern across the country.

Image source, Getty Images

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni ordered his players to have two days of fun before they depart for their World Cup camp in Florida after they struggled to beat Cyprus 1-0 in a final home tune-up.

"Enjoy yourselves for two days and after that focus wholly on training and games,"

The British Touring Car series is to introduce mandatory pre-race alcohol breath-tests for all drivers and officials in a first for British motorsport.

"Any drivers or officials who fail the zero tolerance test will not be allowed to participate until such time as they pass the test," the BTCC said in a statement on Wednesday.

Sunderland sign Billy Jones, external on a free transfer after his contract expires at West Brom.

Jones agrees a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light and becomes a Sunderland player from July 1.

The 27-year-old said: "I'm really happy to be here and I'm looking forward to getting back for pre-season and kicking on. I've played at the Stadium of Light a number of times so I know what it's about and what great backing the club has.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at the French Open

Image source, AP

Andy Murray will enjoy a rest today before resuming his campaign against Marinko Matosevic on Thursday, meanwhile speculation over his next coach continues.

Former French Open and Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo was a notable spectator, external during the Scot's opening match on Tuesday, and he has previously indicated that he would be open to the idea of a female coach.

Mauresmo joins a growing list of potential employees, with Bob Brett, Larry Stefanki, Jonas Bjorkman and Darren Cahill just some of the names thrown up in recent days.

Murray remains tight-lipped and poker-faced, saying on Tuesday: "It's not something that's distracting me right now. It's not been a problem for me so far."

Charlton have appointed former Belgium international Bob Peeters as manager.

The 40-year-old has succeeded compatriot Jose Riga, who helped the Addicks avoid relegation from the Championship.

A transfer deal you might have seen or not is Manchester United striker Federico Macheda moving to Cardiff City on a free transfer.

Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer coached Macheda in the reserve side at United before he broke into the Reds first team as a 17-year-old.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina admits he is not sure where he will play next season after completing his one-year loan spell with Napoli.

"Right now I'm only thinking of La Roja [Spain's national team]," Reina said to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.

"With regards to a new club, I will first have to speak to Liverpool.

"My season on loan at Napoli has been very positive and I thank the Napoli people and the club."

We have been asking for your thoughts on Mauricio Pochettino's appointment as Tottenham boss.

Alex Robertson:, external Pochettino is the right man, but for the wrong club. Could see him gone before Xmas.

Iain Dawson:, external Poch has a good record bringing in youth players which is now the way Levy wants to run spurs so he should be the right man.

Ryan Hooper:, external Pochettino was really clever; he knew Southampton's starts would be sold in the summer so he jumped ship early.

Tweet #bbcsportsday or text 81111 (UK users only).

Italy is to ban clubs from co-owning players, saying the practice is out of line with the rest of Europe.

"From the next transfer window onwards, the co-ownership of players will no longer be possible," Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Giancarlo Abete said on the organisation's website., external

The Independent reports Uruguay striker Luis Suarez texted, external his Liverpool team-mates in the England camp to say he expects to be fit to play in the countries' World Cup meeting in Sao Paulo on 19 June, despite having just undergone knee surgery.

The Southampton Daily Echo reports, external the Saints face a battle to prevent key summer departures from St Mary's as increasing unease spreads in the dressing room following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino.

The Daily Echo claims that a number of senior players are upset over Pochettino's decision to quit Saints for Tottenham, which was confirmed last night, and are considering their own futures at the club as a result.

Image source, AFP

Australia are waved off from Sydney airport as they begin their World Cup adventures. The Socceroos will face Spain, Netherlands and Chile in Group B.

Now then. A report in the AS newspaper, external states that, wait for it, Spain coach Vicente del Bosque was offered the Manchester United job in April. He turned it down.

Radio Leeds' Adam Pope:

"Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has agreed to sell his Italian club Cagliari to an unnamed American group fronted by Luca Silverstrone.

"Cellino had told BBC Leeds the deal will involve an initial 10m euros payment plus a further 67m euros on approval of the project to develop the club's stadium. Cellino hopes to sign the deal on Friday.

"The Italian who is currently at home in Miami recently rejected a 40m euros bid for the club from former Inter Milan director Tommaso Giulini. Cellino says he does not need to sell Cagliari to fund Leeds Utd which is losing more than £1m per month."

Image source, PA

There's a World Cup story to watch on the website - some of you reading this might have even been born by the time Paolo Rossi dazzled in Spain.

That's right World Cup 1982 - a vintage.

BBC Radio 5 live

Former Tottenham defender John Scales: "It chops and changes too much. Where is Spurs? They're sort of on the fringes of Champions League football and I think that is a difficulty for Spurs. Are they a big, big club or are they trying to get in there? Or are they just that slight second tier?"

As expected, there are a lot of Tottenham/Southampton related stories in the papers today:

Pochettino is ready to make his former Southampton captain Adam Lallana, 26, his first signing at White Hart Lane.

Full story: The Guardian, external

Pochettino may target Southampton players - Dejan Lovren, Callum Chambers, Nathaniel Clyne, Morgan Schneiderlin and James Ward-Prowse could be on the radar.

Full story: Daily Mail, external

Read more rumours in today's Gossip Column.

crobs: , externalWe now need a new manager who will take saints on to another level, not downgrade- Rafa Benitez maybe?

Charlie Smith:, external Don't envy Pochettino. With current competition top 4 is verging on impossible but expectations at Spurs don't reflect this