Malik dropped from first Test against Australia

KARACHI – Pakistan has dropped former captain Shoaib Malik from its

playing eleven for the first Test against Australia starting Tuesday at Lord’s after the experienced all-rounder skipped a few practice sessions to be with his wife Sania Mirza.
Sources in the Pakistan team management said the officials were irked by Malik’s non-serious approach in the … Original article on : Malik dropped from first Test against Australia.

Countering Afridi would be the key in Test series: Ponting

LONDON – Stopping Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi would be the key in the two match Test series starting at Lord’s today (Tuesday), Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes.

Ponting said Afridi plays an important role in the young Pakistani squad and it was important that the maverick all rounder is kept in control in order …. Source article  : Countering Afridi would be the key in Test series: Ponting.

Jats threaten to disrupt Delhi Commonwealth Games over jobs reservation demand

NEW DELHI – Scores of Jats have gathered under the banner of the Akhil Bharatiya Jat Aarakshana Samiti (ABJASS) – All India Jats Protection Forum gathered in the national capital on Monday to voice their demand for reservation in government jobs.

Later, elder functionaries of the forum issued a warning to the government that if their …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

One Billion Seconds to a heartbreak / Heartbreak in Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM – I didn’t expect the day to end this way. I knew there would be a winner and a loser, that the Netherlands had as much a chance of losing as winning the World Cup, but I wasn’t ready for anything like this.

Preparations for the big day had started over the weekend. Amsterdam …. Read the original article  : One Billion Seconds to a heartbreak / Heartbreak in Amsterdam.

Dad Ronaldo now honing his feeding and nappy-changing skills!

LONDON – Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has been honing his fathering skills by feeding and changing his newborn baby’s nappy.

Ronaldo, 25, who has not named the mother of the month-old baby, named after him, revealed that he is “very happy” to be a father.

“He’s been feeding him, changing his nappy, everything,” the Sun quoted a … Original source on Gaea Times at : Dad Ronaldo now honing his feeding and nappy-changing skills!.

Ex-star Cruyff blasts ‘vulgar’ Dutch

LONDON – Holland football legend Johan Cruyff has branded the current lot of Dutch football stars as ‘vulgar’ after their defeat in this year’s World Cup final in South Africa.

“It was lamentable, sad, they played dirty and deserved to be down to nine players very early. There were two tackles so ugly and dirty that …. Source  : Ex-star Cruyff blasts ‘vulgar’ Dutch.

Webb says WC final left him ‘physically and emotionally drained’

LONDON – Referee Howard Webb has admitted that the World Cup final left him ‘physically and emotionally drained’.

“It was the most difficult two hours of my career. I am physically and emotionally drained but FIFA have been very supportive – not just about the final but our performances throughout the whole tournament,” The Sun … Read more : Webb says WC final left him ‘physically and emotionally drained’.

Smith has shown he can handle the heat

LONDON – Debutant Australian leg-spinning all-rounder Steven Smith has shown that he can handle the heat of playing top flight cricket.

At least that is what his father, Peter, and a lot of others in Australian cricketing circles think.he first time Peter Smith thought his son, Steven, was destined to become more than just a handy …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Best time to defeat ‘less dangerous’ Australia: Afridi

LONDON – Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi is confident that his young squad can surprise Australia in the first Test here at the Lord’s starting today (Tuesday), as he believes that the Kangaroos are not that dangerous a team that they used to be a couple of years back.

Afridi told media persons here that if …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Clarke takes over Hussey’s No.4 slot in Oz Test batting line-up

LONDON – Vice captain Michael Clarke has been rewarded for becoming Australia’s most reliable middle-order batsman by being bumped up to No.4 in the Test lineup.

Regular No.5 Clarke will swap places with Mike Hussey, starting from the opening Test against Pakistan at Lord’s that begins on Tuesday, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Captain Ricky … Original article on : Clarke takes over Hussey’s No.4 slot in Oz Test batting line-up.

Australia has an edge over Pak in Test series

LONDON – A new-look Australia will step onto Lord’s for the first Test of the two-match series against Pakistan on Tuesday, and statistics suggest that the former will have an edge over the latter.

Australia has enjoyed an undefeated run against Pakistan stretching back to November 1995, Fox Sports reports.

The last time Pakistan enjoyed Test …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Shane Warne back ‘in love’ with ‘foul smelling’ British Airways

MELBOURNE – Former Australian cricketer Shane Warne has changed his tune about the service British Airways provides and this time he is showering them with praise instead of a blistering attack.

According to the Herald Sun, Warne, 40, had complained about the seating plan, the captain, the breath of a fellow passenger and the crew on …. Read the original article  : Shane Warne back ‘in love’ with ‘foul smelling’ British Airways.

Kerala to have a new boat race

KAYAMKULAM – Kerala’s famed boat race at Alappuzha is set to get competition this year. A Marxist legislator and boat race enthusiast has finalised plans to launch a boat race at Kayamkulam on Aug 28.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) legislator C.K. Sadasivan has been working hard to ensure that the Kayamkulam boat race is a … Read more >>>.

Hanley Ramirez Becomes Runner-Up

ANAHEIM (GaeaTimes.com)- At the Angel Stadium on Monday night Hanley Ramirez who plays for the Florida Marlins ended up holding the position of the runner-up. The player displayed some brilliant shots in the first two rounds of the game but failed to maintain the same performance in the final round that provided a … Read more >>.

Jimenez, Price and other All-Star young guns lead baseball’s arms race in Year of the Pitcher

All-Star young guns making it Year of the Pitcher

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Tim Hudson remembers when throwing fastballs registering in the upper 80s and low 90s was considered impressive. Now, in baseball’s Year of the Pitcher, that kind of speed is almost laughable.
Youngsters like Ubaldo Jimenez and Josh Johnson are routinely blasting the strike zone with …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Jimenez, Price and other All-Star young guns lead baseball’s arms race in Year of the Pitcher.

Up in the air: Groggy golfers arrive at St. Andrews, eager for shower, shave _ and sleep

Groggy golfers arrive at St. Andrews for British
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Standing behind the 18th green, a scraggly Zach Johnson asked around for dinner recommendations.
“I hear there’s a good pizza place up the street,” he said. “Anyone know where that is?”
But Johnson actually had other things on his mind.
Like a shower, a shave … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Up in the air: Groggy golfers arrive at St. Andrews, eager for shower, shave _ and sleep.

Statistics indicate FIFA WC 2010 was England’s worst ever

LONDON – England according to FIFA statistics has probably put up its worst performance in the finals.
According to FIFA, Fabio Capello’s flops are officially ranked as 13th of the 32 teams competing in South Africa.

The previous lowest finish – apart from the three they did not qualify for in 1974, 1978 and 1994 – … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Statistics indicate FIFA WC 2010 was England’s worst ever.

Winning the World Cup is a dream come true, says Fabregas

LONDON – Spanish football star and Gunners skipper Cesc Fabregas has said that he is still pinching himself to make sure that he was a part of the world cup football winning squad.

“I will look back on the last 48 hours of my life and pinch myself to make sure it wasn’t all one big …. Read the original article  : here.

FIFA WC final referee’s mum says he should be left alone

LONDON – The mother of English referee Howard Webb has angrily called on critics to leave her son alone.

Reacting to reports that Webb had received death threats from Dutch fans, his 64-year-old mother, Sylvia, said “The match must have been a nightmare for him. I was so deflated for Howard because he was so looking … Read more >>.

Boffins advice golfers to putt with a ‘Quiet Eye’

WASHINGTON – Researchers at the University of Exeter have a piece of timely advice for pros taking that crucial putt at the upcoming British Open – keep your eye on the ball.

Research at the University’s School of Sport and Health Sciences has shown that focusing your eye on exactly the right spot at …. Original article  : Boffins advice golfers to putt with a ‘Quiet Eye’.