Canada says athlete contracted dengue in Delhi

TORONTO – Canadian gripes against the Delhi Commonwealth Games don’t seem to be over yet even though the sports extravaganza ended more than a fortnight ago.

Swimming Canada Friday said that its swimmer Annamay Pierse contracted dengue virus during the Games and is now down with fever and related symptoms.
Swimming Canada officials said Vancouver-based … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Canada says athlete contracted dengue in Delhi.

Ponting an inspired leader and player, says ex-Victoria cricketer

MELBOURNE – Unabashed Ricky Ponting fan and former Victoria all-rounder Brendan McArdle has said that it is time for supporters to stand up and acknowledge Ponting’s contribution to the game of cricket, both as a player and a leader.

In an article for The Age, McArdle, who represented Victoria in Australian first class cricket for three … Read more >>.

‘Fired up’ Finn says will bowl to ‘Ponting just like to a club third XI player’

SYDNEY – England’s 6 feet 8 inch fast bowler Steven Finn wants to treat Australian captain Ricky Ponting like a ‘club third XI player’ during the upcoming Ashes series.

Finn, who has played eight Tests so far, insists that the prospect of facing Ponting in his own backyard is not a daunting task for him.

“It’s important …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : ‘Fired up’ Finn says will bowl to ‘Ponting just like to a club third XI player’.

Ex- Oz selector Merve Hughes has no regrets about being axed

MELBOURNE – Former Australian fast bowler Merve Hughes has said that he has no regrets about not being a member of the National Selection Panel (NSP), insisting that he would jump at the chance to rejoin the panel if a vacancy arose.

The 48-year-old was yesterday confirmed as the casualty of Cricket Australia’s introduction of a … Original source on Gaea Times at : Ex- Oz selector Merve Hughes has no regrets about being axed.

‘Class players’ make Sri Lanka one of the best Twenty20 teams: White

SYDNEY – Australian Twenty20 vice-captain Cameron White has said that undoubted ‘class players’ Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga make Sri Lanka one of the most potent teams in the world.

White’s comment comes ahead of Sunday’s Twenty20 international between the two teams in Perth.

“There’s no secrets there, they’ve (Sangakkara and Jayawardene) been great players … Read more : ‘Class players’ make Sri Lanka one of the best Twenty20 teams: White.

Muntari stars for Inter Milan in Serie A

ROME – Sulley Muntari came on from the bench to score for Serie A champions Inter Milan Friday in a 1-0 win over hosts Genoa.

The Nerazzurri moved onto 18 points from nine games and trail leaders Lazio one point adrift.
At the Luigi Ferraris, coach Rafael Benitez on 19 minutes had to replace a …. Original article  : Muntari stars for Inter Milan in Serie A.

Humiliation of 5-0 Ashes hiding still hurts: Strauss

LONDON – England cricket captain Andrew Strauss has said that the humiliation of the five-nil hiding during the disastrous 2006-07 Ashes tour still hurts, and he would his all to ensure it is not repeated.

Addressing his final news conference at Lord’s before flying out for next month’s series opener in Brisbane, Strauss said the … Read more : Humiliation of 5-0 Ashes hiding still hurts: Strauss.

Lanka less worried about Aussies sans ‘on song’ spearhead Tait

PERTH – The Sri Lanka cricket team which will take on Australia in the first of two Twenty20 internationals here ob Sunday, has said that the absence of Australian pace ace Shaun Tait has eased his team’s worries.

Tait has terrorised teams at the WACA in the past, inciting absolute fear into New Zealand’s batting line-up …. Original source  : Lanka less worried about Aussies sans ‘on song’ spearhead Tait.

Tiger Woods set to move into his 34m pound bachelor pad

LONDON – Tiger Woods is set to move into his 34-million-pound bachelor pad in Jupiter Island, Florida.

The golfer’s builders are putting the final touches to his luxury home, reports the Daily Star.

The 10,000 sq ft property is complete with pool, hot tub, tennis court, basketball court, gym and a four-hole golf course.

What’s more, Woods, …. Original source  : Tiger Woods set to move into his 34m pound bachelor pad.

Batting holds the key for Australia, says Jayawardene

SYDNEY – Sri Lankan vice-captain Mahela Jayawardene has rated the Australian team’s batting line-up as its strength ahead of Sunday’s Twenty20 international.

“The batting looks stronger, with [David] Warner and [Shane] Watson and Cameron White has been in pretty good form for the past six months,” the Age quoted Jayawardene, as saying.

Sri Lanka will play a … Original article on : Batting holds the key for Australia, says Jayawardene.

Aussies ready for Ashes niggle, says all-rounder White

PERTH – Victoria and Australian all-rounder Cameron White has predicted there will be plenty of niggle in the five-Test Ashes series after England captain Andrew Strauss declared war in an understated way.

Strauss set the tone by ordering his troops not to be too friendly with the Australians, saying: “until the end of that fifth Test, …. Read the original article  : Aussies ready for Ashes niggle, says all-rounder White.

Dementieva announces shock retirement from tennis to seek ‘big change in life’

LONDON – Russia’s Elena Dementieva has announced her surprise retirement from tennis after a loss at the WTA Championships in Qatar, ending her 13-year career.

Dementieva revealed her decision at the on-court presentation of the tournament on Saturday.

“This year is very special for me because this is my last tournament. It is so emotional. It is … Original source on Gaea Times at : Dementieva announces shock retirement from tennis to seek ‘big change in life’.

“Sick child” Pak needs help from “true friend” to pull it out of morass: Jones

SYDNEY – The “sick” Pakistan cricket team, which has “become a laughing stock in world cricket,” needs a true friend who can guide it out of its present messy situation, former Test great Dean Jones has said.

“The Pakistan cricket team is sick. World cricket’s problem child needs serious help. Everybody is calling for Pakistan to …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : “Sick child” Pak needs help from “true friend” to pull it out of morass: Jones.

Spurs defender brands Rooney as “a dirty prostitute sha**er”

LONDON – Spurs defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto has branded Manchester United’s star striker Wayne Rooney as “a dirty prostitute sha**er” in the wake of the latter two-timing his wife Coleen while she was pregnant with their child.

“The tendency in football at the moment is that as long as you’re not a prostitute sha**er then it’s OK, … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Spurs defender brands Rooney as “a dirty prostitute sha**er”.

‘Back to best’ Lee fires ODI comeback hopes

SYDNEY – Australian fast bowler Brett Lee put in an impressive domestic performance for New South Wales to suggest that a national one-day recall could be on the cards.

Lee, continuing his comeback after a six-month lay-off with an elbow injury, took 2-43 from nine overs to guide the Blues to a six-wicket win over Queensland …. Read the original article  : ‘Back to best’ Lee fires ODI comeback hopes.

Munich continue recovery with win over Freiburg in Bundesliga

MUNICH – Bayern Munich’s reserves delivered Friday as the Bundesliga champions continued their domestic recovery with a 4-2 victory over SC Freiburg.

Daniel Pranjic fed Martin Demichelis, Mario Gomez and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk for the first three goals and Toni Kroos got the other goal for the injury-plagued Munich side.
Bayern improved to a temporary … Original source on Gaea Times at : Munich continue recovery with win over Freiburg in Bundesliga.

Afridi “frustrated over struggling batting line-up” after 8-wicket rout by SA

ABU DHABI – Pakistan’s One-day International and Twenty20 skipper Shahid Afridi was again left flabbergasted by his side’s dismal batting display after they slumped to an eight-wicket defeat in the opening ODI against South Africa.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan collapsed from 140 for one to 203 all out in 49 …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Afridi “frustrated over struggling batting line-up” after 8-wicket rout by SA.

Oz players want cricket calendar changed for T20 Big Bash involvement

SYDNEY – The Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) has informed Cricket Australia that leading players want the cricket calendar for the month of January revamped in order to join the Twenty20 Big Bash tournament.

At the moment, Australia’s ODI players have no chance of playing in the Twenty20 tournament until 2013 as they have ODI matches against …. Source  : Oz players want cricket calendar changed for T20 Big Bash involvement.

Mancini calls on Manchester City stars to kick booze

LONDON – Manager Roberto Mancini has demanded that Manchester City players cut back on their consumption of alcohol, according to media reports Saturday.

The City manager was reacting to an incident earlier in the week when England and City players Gareth Barry, Joe Hart and Adam Johnson were pictured drinking alcohol in Scotland.
The three, … Read more >>>.

Bollinger bowls ‘ego bouncer’ at Pietersen to add fuel to Ashes fire

SYDNEY – Australian fast bowler Doug Bollinger has backed former coach John Buchanan’s claims that England batsman Kevin Pietersen could be a weak link for the tourists during the Ashes series.

“John Buchanan is well within his rights to voice his own point of view,” News.co.au quoted Bollinger, as saying.

“You just leave KP (Pietersen) to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Bollinger bowls ‘ego bouncer’ at Pietersen to add fuel to Ashes fire.