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Andre Marriner will referee the EFL Cup final between Manchester United and Southampton on 26 February. 

The 46-year-old will be assisted by Richard West and Stuart Burt, with Kevin Friend as fourth official. 

Marriner has been a Premier League official since 2004 and on Fifa's panel since 2009. He refereed the 2013 FA Cup final, when Wigan beat Manchester City.

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Alastair Cook had become "drained" as England Test captain, says England's director of cricket Andrew Strauss.

Cook stepped down on Monday after a record 59 matches in charge.

"He was getting drained by the relentlessness of being England captain," Strauss told the BBC's sports editor Dan Roan.

Strauss added that vice-captain Joe Root would be a strong candidate to take over but refused "to rule anyone in or out of the role".

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Anthony Joshua will beat Wladimir Klitschko in their heavyweight title bout at Wembley on 29 April, says former world champion Lennox Lewis.

Joshua, 27, will defend his IBF title for the third time, with the WBA belt vacated by Tyson Fury also on the line.

Klitschko, 40, lost for the first time in 11 years against Fury in 2015 - losing the IBF, WBO and WBA titles.

"I think it's perfect timing," Lewis told BBC Sport. "After a loss, there's a notch on Klitschko's armour."

Lewis, who retired in 2004 with 41 wins from 44 fights, believes unbeaten Joshua is "focused" and remains keen to prove himself after winning his title from American Charles Martin inside two rounds in April 2016.

"He got a belt given to him," Lewis added. "He didn't really earn it. So this is his time to earn that belt from the champion who had it."

Robbie Keane has been pictured training with Al-Ahli as he prepares for his next career move. 

The 36-year-old left LA Galaxy in November and, as a free agent, has been linked with a host of English sides.

But the United Arab Emirates side tweeted photographs of Keane, external training with them on Monday." 

Keane retired from international duty as the Republic of Ireland's record goalscorer with 68 in 146 matches.

Image source, Al-Ahli Club

"Alastair Cook has been a fantastic England captain. Today we want to celebrate that and then turn our attention to his replacement.

"Alastair made the decision the right way and took his time and came out with a decision which is for the good of the team.

"He has been the longest-serving captain and has done it when the team has been under enormous scrutiny and often in quite turbulent times.

"All the players are supportive of him because of his drive, character and empathy because he can appreciate when others have had tough times, And he really cared about his team-mates, which is why he will be remembered fondly by all those who played with him."

Canada's Denis Shapovalov has been fined $7,000 (£5627.00) after hitting the umpire in the face with a ball during his Davis Cup match against Kyle Edmund. 

The breakdown of the fine is as follows:

$2k (for the default)

$5k (for unsportsmanlike conduct. The maximum of $10k would only apply if it had been intentional). 

The 17-year-old said he was "incredibly ashamed and embarrassed" after striking French umpire Arnaud Gabas in the eye - a default followed.

"Luckily he was OK but obviously it's unacceptable behaviour from me," said the Wimbledon junior champion.

"I just feel awful for letting my team down, for letting my country down, for acting in a way that I would never want to act."

Johnny Sexton is in contention to return to Ireland duty in Saturday's Six Nations game against Italy after missing the opening defeat by Scotland.

Ireland team manager Paul Dean says the British & Irish Lions fly-half was "back running and will be monitored this week".

Sexton missed the Murrayfield game because of a calf injury.

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A winding-up petition against Women's Super League One club Notts County Ladies has been adjourned for 49 days.

Notts appeared in court on Monday over debts with Revenue & Customs, after a document posted on the Companies House website on 13 December had suggested the ladies team could be dissolved.

New owner Alan Hardy, who completed his takeover of the club on 11 January, attended Monday morning's hearing.

The Lady Pies finished sixth in the English top flight last season.

Local businessman Hardy posted on Twitter on Monday: "Given 49 days grace! Phew! Guess the sleepless nights start all over again."

Reading Women's captain Kirsty McGee has signed a new contract with the Women's Super League One club.

Defender McGee, 29, will now remain with Royals until June 2018.

McGee, who joined Reading from Portsmouth in 2014, made 19 appearances for the club last season.

"I'm really grateful to have been given the opportunity to continue my full-time career," McGee said. "It's a really exciting time to be at the club with the foundations laid last year."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

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Manchester City have no intention of selling Sergio Aguero this summer, despite the striker being left out of the team for the past two matches.

The 28-year-old signed a contract extension earlier this season, meaning he has three years left on his deal.

After coming off the bench in City's 2-1 win over Swansea, Aguero said: "I want to stay, of course.

"In these [next] three months I have to help the club and then they will decide if I have a place here or not."

Despite Aguero expecting a decision to be made in the summer, senior City figures indicated on Sunday that they do not expect to sell the player.

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“Knowing when to blow the whistle is the easy job of refereeing. The secret is knowing when not to blow it.”  

The words of Nigel Owens, widely regarded as one of finest and fairest rugby union referees, and Kirsty Young's guest on Desert Island Discs yesterday.

An outstandingly honest, powerful and very emotional 45 minutes. 

BBC Sport marks a year to go until the 2018 Winter Olympics by finding out what Great Britain's skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold did during her year out - past-times include but are not limited to: 

• An Open University course
• Lampshade making 
• Planning her wedding

...And now she is back and more ready than ever to defend her Olympic title.

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Colchester left-back Matt Briggs has described his nine months out of action as a "tough rollercoaster".

Briggs, 25, featured in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Blackpool - his first appearance of the season.

He was sidelined with a hip injury and also unavailable for family reasons, as his son was born prematurely.

"I had a hard time with the birth of my son and then getting this injury. It's a hard thing to go through and I wouldn't wish it on anybody," he said.

"It's good to be back. It's been a difficult time."

Canada's Denis Shapovalov said he was "incredibly ashamed and embarrassed" after he was defaulted for hitting the umpire with a ball - handing Great Britain Davis Cup victory in Ottawa.

The 17-year-old had just dropped serve to trail Kyle Edmund 6-3 6-4 2-1 when he angrily hit the ball out of court.

It struck French umpire Arnaud Gabas in the eye and a default followed.

"Luckily he was OK but obviously it's unacceptable behaviour from me," said Wimbledon junior champion Shapovalov.

"I just feel awful for letting my team down, for letting my country down, for acting in a way that I would never want to act".