Sports News – Newsletter for December 9, 2010

Clive Rice tips India to win Test series

JOHANNESBURG – Former South Africa captain Clive Rice finds India a more balanced side than the current Proteas team and has picked the visitors to win the Test series beginning Dec 16.

Rice feels that India’s variety in bowling makes them favourites for the three Test series.
“The Indians have a well-balanced … Read : Clive Rice tips India to win Test series.

England reacted like “bad losers” after failing to win WC bid: Blatter

LONDON – Rejecting allegations of corruption at soccer’s governing body, FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said that England reacted like “bad losers” after failing to win the bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

Russia and Qatar won the right to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups

“To be honest, I was surprised by all … Read more »».

Swann fails to get drink-drive charge dismissed in court

LONDON – England spinner Graeme Swann has failed in a bid to have a drink-drive charge dismissed in the court.

Swann’s lawyer tried to have the case dismissed on a legal technicality, but a judge ruled that it should go ahead.

An earlier hearing was told police stopped the cricketer in the early hours near …. Original article  : Swann fails to get drink-drive charge dismissed in court.

Flower gambles by allowing Anderson to return home for childbirth

LONDON – England head coach Andy Flower has admitted that allowing Jimmy Anderson to return home for the birth of his child is a big gamble.

Flower said Anderson might be affected by two round-the-world flights in five days.

Stuart Broad, England’s other new-ball bowler, has already been ruled out of the Ashes series with …. Read the original article  : here.

Defiant Ponting vows to fight on past World Cup

SYDNEY – Ricky Ponting has defiantly vowed to fight on as Australia’s Test cricket captain despite facing the possibility of his third Ashes drubbing since taking over from Steve Waugh.

Once an almost immovable force in the Australian batting line-up, Ponting has scored just one century in his past 33 Test innings and registered single figures … Read more >>>.

Pak team “must improve in fielding and fitness”: Intikhab

KARACHI – Fielding and physical fitness are the key areas that Pakistan cricket team needs to be improve upon, team manager Intikhab Alam has said.

“What we witnessed during the last series against South Africa was not up to par…we would like to focus on those areas,” the Dawn quoted Intikhab, as saying to a news …. Read the original article  : here.

Warnie looks after me in Melbourne, just as Sachin and Ganguly do in India: Pietersen

MELBOURNE – England batsman Kevin Pietersen has said that he is looked after by former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne in Melbourne, in the same way as Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar does in Mumbai or former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly does in Kolkata.

Pietersen’s comments come after he was fined 239 dollars for being busted speeding … Read : Warnie looks after me in Melbourne, just as Sachin and Ganguly do in India: Pietersen.

Pietersen fined 239 dollars for speeding in Lamborghini organised by Warne

MELBOURNE – England batsman Kevin Pietersen has been fined 239 dollars after being busted speeding in a 475,000 dollar Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, organised by former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, in Melbourne.

Pietersen was nabbed by a police officer using a laser speed detector.

According to the Herald Sun, the 30-year-old was allegedly travelling at 121km/h in a …. Read the original article  : here.

Bowlers’ fitness will be key to our success, says Dravid

CAPE TOWN – India’s premier batsman Rahul Dravid believes his team’s pace attack, provided they remain fit, will give the visitors a good chance of winning its maiden Test series on South Africa soil.

The battle between top-ranked India and number two South Africa kicks off with the first Test at the … Read : Bowlers’ fitness will be key to our success, says Dravid.

Ashes 2010: Surrey manager backs ’softie’ Tremlett to rough up Australia

SURREY – Surrey cricket team manager Chris Adams is backing fast bowler Chris Tremlett, labelled a “gentle giant” and a “softie” to rough up Australia during the remaining three Tests of the Ashes series.

Adams said Tremlett should not be underestimated simply because he is not the type to shout in batsmen’s faces.

Adams is backing … Read more >>>.

Ashes 2010: Prior warns Poms not to peak too early

MELBOURNE – England wicketkeeper Matt Prior has warned the Poms not to peak too early in their push for the Ashes in Australia.

Prior appealed to his teammates to avoid premature back slapping, and maintain the present work ethic to ensure that the urn stayed with England.

England has a 1-0 lead in the five-match series with …. Read the original article  : here.

PCB to hold anti-corruption seminars and workshops as part of reform process

LAHORE – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will hold anti-corruption seminars and workshops this month to educate players and officials belonging to the regional and departmental teams about the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption code of conduct.

“The move is a part of the reforms being carried out by the PCB to improve the enforcement …. Source  : PCB to hold anti-corruption seminars and workshops as part of reform process.

‘Good to have Miandad back’: Intikhab

LAHORE – Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director General Javed Miandad will fulfil his new role as the national team’s batting consultant with “enthusiasm and passion”, team manager Intikhab Alam has said.

“It is good to have him back. He has been given a job and I am sure he will fulfil it with enthusiasm and passion,” …. Read the original article  : ‘Good to have Miandad back’: Intikhab.

ICC interrogates Waqar, Afridi as part of evidence building process in spot-fixing case

LAHORE – The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption and Security Unit has recorded the statements of Pakistan coach Waqar Younis, One-day International captain Shahid Afridi and team security manager Colonel Khawaja Najam as part of its evidence building process in the spot-fixing case.

“The statements of these three Pakistan team members are part of the evidence … Read more >>.

Oz young brigade unfit for challenges of big stage cricket: Roebuck

SYDNEY – Noted cricket commentator Peter Roebuck believes that the ‘next generation’ of cricketers in Australia have ‘fluffed its lines’ and are not worthy of inclusion in the Ashes squad.

“Australia cannot afford the luxury of putting potential ahead of achievement. Among the proven, Shaun Marsh has been scoring runs at the top of the order … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Oz young brigade unfit for challenges of big stage cricket: Roebuck.

Swann better than Warne at this stage of his career

LONDON – England spinner Graeme Swann has a better start to his Test career than Aussie legend Shane Warne with 122 wickets from his first 26 Tests compared to the great man’s 116 at the same stage.

England head coach Andy Flower, who used to play against Swann, had no idea at that point of time … Read more »»».

Australia’s lost ‘aura’ would return if Warne comes out of retirement: Flintoff

MELBOURNE – Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has said Australia is not in a position to win a Test without the help of Shane Warne, and has asked the legendary leg-spinner to consider coming out of retirement.

Assessing his one-time Ashes rivals, Flintoff said that the Australian cricket side is in “disarray” and won’t recover unless …. Original article  : Australia’s lost ‘aura’ would return if Warne comes out of retirement: Flintoff.

Miandad formally takes up ‘Pak team batting consultant’ role

LAHORE – Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director General Javed Miandad has joined the national cricket team’s training camp, which started on December 8 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, in preparation for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

With his joining, Miandad has accepted the PCB’s offer to work as a batting and fielding consultant with the … Read more : Miandad formally takes up ‘Pak team batting consultant’ role.

Ashes 2010: England has power, poise to win series 3-0, says Fletcher

CHENNAI – Former England cricket team coach Duncan Fletcher, who is currently attached with the New Zealand squad as a consultant, has said England has the power and poise to nail Australia three games to nil in the ongoing Ashes series.

In an article for The Guardian, Fletcher said that after going up one nil at … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Ashes 2010: England has power, poise to win series 3-0, says Fletcher.

Marsh, not Hughes should open for Australia in Perth Test: Arthur

SYDNEY – Former South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has said that talented batsman Shaun Marsh should open the batting for Australia in the third Test ahead of the out-of-form Phillip Hughes.

Arthur, now coaching Weatern Australia, said Marsh was the equal of South African batsman A.B. de Villiers, who is ranked fifth in the International Cricket …. Source article  : Marsh, not Hughes should open for Australia in Perth Test: Arthur.