What the back pages of the papers say - July 21

England were ground into the Headingley dust yesterday, South Africa having inflicted another two days of punishment on an attack already battle-weary after their toil at Lord's and then striking two huge blows with the ball. Only an escape act to surpass South Africa's in the first Test can save them now.

Also: Mark Cavendish starts gearing up for the Olympics today after pulling out of the Tour de France to protect his fitness.

Padraig Harrington is celebrating joining a ‘special club’ after becoming the first European for more than a century to successfully defend The Open.

This German Grand Prix will go down as the race Lewis Hamilton won twice. First, he beat his rivals into submission with a drive of monotonous authority.

Fresh start: Makelele

THE TIMES

Padraig Harrington did what so few have done before when he successfully held on to his Open Championship crown at Royal Birkdale yesterday with a run to the line worthy of the great champion he has become.

Also: England are among four countries to give warning that weakened teams may be sent to the ICC Champions Trophy in September unless the tournament is shifted from Pakistan.

THE GUARDIAN

Lewis Hamilton produced another stunning drive to win the German Grand Prix and open up a four-point gap over Felipe Massa in the Formula One World Championship. Having led from pole for all bar three of the first 50 laps the British driver has to fight his way back to the front after his McLaren team mistimed their pit stop following an appearance by the safety car.

Also: Cristiano Ronaldo says he is still to make a firm decision on his future at
Manchester United, despite last week's meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson which led
to the manager saying the winger would not be leaving Old Trafford for Real
Madrid.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Padraig Harrington, who started the week with an injured wrist, was last night holding aloft the Open Championship's Claret Jug for a second successive year. Two shots off the lead overnight he came home in a breathtaking 32 over the wind-torn Birkdale links to finish on  three-over par, four ahead of Ian Poulter.

Also: Germany are being linked up to replace Ukraine as co-hosts for Euro 2012 amid fears inside UEFA that the Eastern European country will not be ready to stage the event.

THE INDEPENDENT

The Luiz Felipe Scolari revolution at Chelsea continued yesterday when it emerged that Claude Makelele is to leave the club this week in a deal that will take him to Paris Saint-Germain while Didier Drogba was also left behind as the club embarked on their pre-season tour of the Far East.

Also: Alexander Hleb has hinted that his former Arsenal team-mate and good friend Cesc Fabregas could join him at Barcelona.

DAILY EXPRESS

Padraig Harrington created golfing history yesterday by becoming the first European to defend his open title in 102 years.

Also: Frank Lampard will arrive in China today planning further talks on his future with Chelsea while in the depths of the Orient - but he remains trapped in deadlock with the club.

DAILY STAR

Ian Poulter paid tribute to Padraig Harrington after he just failed in a smash-and-grab bid to snatch the Open crown from the Irishman and vowed to get his own taste of major success as well.

Also: Pele has warned Wayne Rooney he must wise up and channel his aggression if he is to fulfil his world-class potential after the United striker was booked and then substituted in the first match of Manchester United's tour of South Africa.

DAILY MIRROR

England's last eight batsmen face a desperate two-day battle to avoid a humiliating defeat in the Second Test against South Africa at Headingley. AB de Villiers laid the foundations with a special 174 before Makhaya Ntini got rid of Andrew Strauss and Michael Vaughan to leave England 269 runs short of making the Proteas bat again.

Also: Real Madrid president Roman Calderon was adamant again yesterday that Cristiano Ronaldo will join the club before the beginning of the Spanish season.

THE SUN

Dwain Chambers has ruled out any return to rugby league after his Olympic ban. The drug-cheat sprinter made a shock appearance to watch his old team Castleford at Harlequins raising belief he might be considering a return to the sport.

Also: Michael Vaughan's torture with the bat continued yesterday and now England look doomed to a crushing defeat in the second Test at Headingley.