Sports News – Newsletter for January 1, 2011

Listening to SuBo before a game relaxes me: Rooney

LONDON – Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has revealed that listening to Susan Boyle gives him relaxation before his big matches.

The England striker likes nothing better than a vigorous rubdown while listening to the singer belt out her hits.

Wayne even rejects harder R and B tunes favored by his teammates such as Frenchman Patrice Evra.

The … Read more >>>.

Injured Ryder withdraws from tour match against Pakistan

AUCKLAND – New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder will miss the three-day tour match against Pakistan due to a shoulder injury.

Ryder was part of the initial New Zealand 11 named on Friday, but has withdrawn on medical advice.

The match, starting in Whangarei on Sunday, is a warm-up for the two-Test series beginning in Hamilton on January … Read more >>.

Redknapp wants to sign Beckham on three-month deal

LONDON – Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has revealed that he would try to bring midfielder David Beckham to White Hart Lane during this month’s transfer window.

“We’ll contact the Los Angeles Galaxy to see if they will let him go out on loan Turn to and if David is up for a three-month deal then … Read more >>.

‘Top-level consistency’ will lead Arsenal to Premier League glory: Wenger

LONDON – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels that this season’s Premier League will be won by the team that copes best with defeat as well as victory.

Wenger said that the current season is the most open the league has been for some time, and insisted that four or five teams can win it.

“It could be …. Original article  : ‘Top-level consistency’ will lead Arsenal to Premier League glory: Wenger.

Booze-bender leaves England stars with hangovers after Melbourne Test win

SYDNEY – Several England players have admitted that they celebrated victory in the fourth Ashes Test into the early hours of Thursday morning.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann posted a message on his Twitter page saying that he had a “headache and ropey guts” after the festivities.

The 31-year-old also praised England’s Barmy Army for the support provided to … Read more : Booze-bender leaves England stars with hangovers after Melbourne Test win.

Australia’s decision to omit Hauritz helped England in Ashes series: Swann

SYDNEY – England off-spinner Graeme Swann reckons that Australia’s decision to dump off-spinner Nathan Hauritz from the ongoing Ashes series has helped his team.

Swann believes that leaving out Hauritz for the Ashes opener in Brisbane was one of the best things Australia could have done for the visitors.

“I genuinely feel sorry for him because I … Read more : Australia’s decision to omit Hauritz helped England in Ashes series: Swann.

Paine plays down suggestions of becoming Oz captain

PERTH – Australian wicketkeeper Tim Paine has shrugged off former captain Steve Waugh’s suggestion that he could be a captain-in-waiting for the Test team.

With doubts surrounding the future of current skipper Ricky Ponting, Waugh had earlier discussed the possibility of including two wicketkeeper-batsmen in the team with a view towards grooming either Paine or Brad … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Paine plays down suggestions of becoming Oz captain.

Oz selector Hilditch, coach Nielsen should be sacked over Ashes loss: Slater

SYDNEY – Former Australian batsman Michael Slater has said that chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch and coach Tim Nielsen should be sacked following the national team’s failure to regain the Ashes from England.

“I’ve reached the point where I’ve lost faith in the decision-makers and there needs to be a big shake-up,” Slater wrote in an … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Oz selector Hilditch, coach Nielsen should be sacked over Ashes loss: Slater.

Clarke needs to be tougher batsman to win over Oz fans: Dean Jones

SYDNEY – Australian stand-in captain Michael Clarke must start making runs to win the hearts of Australian fans again, according to former batsman Dean Jones.

Clarke was named captain after Ricky Ponting was ruled out of the match after x-rays on his broken finger showed that the fracture had moved during this week’s fourth Test loss …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Honour sought for Malaysian Indian football coach

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s national football coach, K. Rajagopal, under whom the country won the AFF Suzuki Cup, should be honoured with Datukship, the traditional knighthood, the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has urged.

Under Rajagopal, the country won the recent SEA Games in Laos and on Wednesday clinched the AFF Suzuki Cup for the …. Read the original article  : Honour sought for Malaysian Indian football coach.

Bollinger eyeing big impact in Sydney Ashes Test to hit back at critics

SYDNEY – Australian fast bowler Doug Bollinger has said that he would make a big impact if included in the final eleven for the fifth and final Test against England, starting in Sydney on Sunday.

Dumped after a tired display in Australia’s innings and 71 run loss in the second Test in Adelaide, Bollinger has been …. Source  : Bollinger eyeing big impact in Sydney Ashes Test to hit back at critics.

McGrath rules out Oz bowling coach job

SYDNEY – Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has said that he is not interested in taking over the fast bowling coach’s role being vacated by Troy Cooley.

Cooley will step down after the fifth Test against England in Sydney to take up a role at Australia’s Centre of Excellence.

McGrath said that he is happy to … Read more »»».

Aussies can’t shy away from disappointing Ashes series performance: Haddin

SYDNEY – Australian stand-in vice-captain Brad Haddin reckons that his team’s Ashes performance will be considered unacceptable even if they win the fifth and final Test against England in Sydney to level the series.

When asked whether a win would atone for the series results so far, Haddin replied: “No it doesn’t.”

“I don’t think we can …. Source  : Aussies can’t shy away from disappointing Ashes series performance: Haddin.

Rio unveils Olympics logo for 2016

RIO DE JANEIRO – The organisers of the 2016 Olympic Games unveiled the official logo for the event at a glittering celebration New Year’s Eve.

The unveiling was staged at the legendary Copacabana beach, where 1.5 million people gathered to celebrate the arrival of the new year.
The logo shows three stylized human forms who …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Dhoni wants India to be disciplined in all three areas

DURBAN – India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels the team has to be disciplined in all three areas if they want to win the third Test against South Africa starting January 2 in Cape Town.

“Our bowling, our batting and our fielding have to be at their best if we hope to win the …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Dhoni wants India to be disciplined in all three areas.

Cricket World Cup tickets will be affordable

DUBAI – Tickets for the 2011 cricket World Cup will be available at affordable prices, tournament director Ratnakar Shetty said Friday.

The World Cup, beginning Feb 19, 2011 will be co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
“The Central Organising Committee (COC), which is headed by ICC president Sharad Pawar, has taken several … Original source on Gaea Times at : Cricket World Cup tickets will be affordable.

England can replace ageing India as top Test side: Vaughan

LONDON – Former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has tipped England to take over the position of No.1 Test side as India are an ageing side.

Vaughan feels the other top teams India, Sri Lanka and South Africa will lose players in the near future paving the way for England to claim the top Test … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : England can replace ageing India as top Test side: Vaughan.

Bollinger backed for a successful return

SYDNEY – Australian left-arm quick Doug Bollinger has been backed to make a successful return to Test cricket in the fifth and final Ashes Test against England starting Monday.

Dumped after a tired display in Australia’s big loss to England in Adelaide, Bollinger has been called back into the Test squad in place of injured …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Controlling spot-fixing “almost impossible” for PCB, ICC: Ijaz Butt

KARACHI – Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt believes it is impossible to completely eradicate spot-fixing, not only for the board but also for the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“To control the spot-fixing, especially prior to its happening, is almost impossible not only for the … Read more »».

No complaint made against drunk Steve Davis, says ICC

DURBAN – The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rubbished reports that Cricket South Africa (CSA) lodged a protest against umpire Steve Davis, who was allegedly found drunk by South African cricketers on the eve of the second Test match here against India.

Colin Gibson, ICC’s head of media and communications, reportedly said that the …. Read the original article  : No complaint made against drunk Steve Davis, says ICC.