The day in sports: 11th March

1. Struggling Reading sack McDermott:

Reading sacked manager Brian McDermott as the Premier League strugglers look to breathe new life into their bid to avoid relegation. McDermott led Reading into the top-flight as Championship winners last season, but he has paid the price for failing to lift the Royals away from the bottom three.

2. Australia Test team in crisis after axings:

Australia’s Test team has been plunged into crisis after four players were axed for not doing a self-criticism assignment during the tour in India as an Ashes double-header looms against England. Vice-captain Shane Watson, James Pattinson, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Johnson were all suspended for one Test.

3. Azarenka fights back to advance at Indian Wells:

Victoria Azarenka hits a forehand return to Kirsten Flipkens at Indian Wells on March 11, 2013. Azarenka woke up just in time, rallying for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over the Belgian, that kept her Indian Wells WTA title defence on track.

4. Federer marches into Indian Wells fourth round:

Roger Federer made quick work of Ivan Dodig, keeping his Indian Wells title defence on track with a 6-3, 6-1 third-round victory over the 60th-ranked Croatian. Federer needed just 61 minutes to seal the victory — abetted somewhat by Dodig’s six double-faults, the last of which came on match point.

5. Bolt, Ennis honored at Laureus Sports Awards:

Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt and British athletics queen Jessica Ennis won the top prizes as athletics dominated the Laureus World Sports Awards. Bolt was crowned the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the third time following his triple gold-medal winning performance at London 2012, where he won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m crowns. Ennis, who delighted her homeland with victory in the Olympic heptathlon last year, won the World Sportswoman of the Year Award.

6. San Antonio Spurs stun the OKC Thunder:

Still without Tony Parker, the San Antonio Spurs managed a huge upset. They beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 105-93. Tiago Splitter scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds and and Tim Duncan 13 points for the Spurs (49-15). Kevin Durant scored 26 points for the Thunder (47-17) and Russell Westbrook added 25 points.

7. Golden State Warriors crush the New York Knicks:

David Lee returned from a one-game injury absence to deliver 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the Golden State Warriors’ 92-63 victory against a New York Knicks. Knicks star Carmelo Anthony played after resting his sore right knee for three games and was noticeably slowed in a 14-point, 10-rebound night. Stephen Curry had a game-high 26 points for the Warriors.

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