Sports News – Newsletter for December 22, 2010

Ryan Leaf Autobiography Coming Soon

SAN FRANCISCO (GaeaTimes.com)- Former Washington State and NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf plans to write an autobiography soon. This is the latest venture that the controversial ex footballer has planned to take up. What is more interesting to this news is that Ryan Leaf will not be penning his life story in one single book. Instead … Read more »»».

Verbal confrontations with Aussies ‘normal Ashes banter’: Pietersen

MELBOURNE – England batsman Kevin Pietersen has said that the verbal confrontations with the Australian team during the Ashes were nothing out of the ordinary.

Pietersen said he had faced some “pretty big verbal contests” from Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath during England’s previous Ashes tour four years ago.

Australian pace bowler Peter Siddle clashed verbally with …. Original article  : Verbal confrontations with Aussies ‘normal Ashes banter’: Pietersen.

Watson amazed at ‘night-watchman’ Anderson’s ’selfish’ behaviour in Perth Test

SYDNEY – Australian all rounder Shane Watson has accused England pacer James Anderson of being selfish by failing to take the strike from Paul Collingwood for the last ball of day three in Perth Test.

Watson described the decisive wicket of Collingwood as one of the best moments he had experienced in a cricket match because …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Watson amazed at ‘night-watchman’ Anderson’s ’selfish’ behaviour in Perth Test.

Pak cricketers to miss IPL again following omission from fourth edition auction list

NEW DELHI – Pakistan cricketers continue to miss out on the Indian Premier League (IPL) bonanza, as none of them were included in the auction list for next year’s mega event, according to organisers.

No Pakistan player featured in a list of 416 players, whose services will be auctioned in Bangalore on January 8 and 9 … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Pak cricketers to miss IPL again following omission from fourth edition auction list.

NZ cricket teams named for Pakistan series, World Cup

WELLINGTON – New Zealand’s cricket selectors have included three new faces in the 14-man squad for the Twenty20 international clash against Pakistan.

They have rested incumbent skipper Daniel Vettori.

According to stuff.co.nz, Australian-born Canterbury batsman Dean Brownlie, 18-year-old Central Districts quick Adam Milne and Wellington all-rounder Luke Woodcock have all been included in the squad that will …. Read the original article  : NZ cricket teams named for Pakistan series, World Cup.

Leading Black Caps eye another hefty IPL payday in 2011

WELLINGTON – Leading Black Cap players Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor look set for another massive payday from the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after being named among the 21 players with the highest reserve price of 400,000 dollars for next year’s auction.

The auction will be held in Bangalore on …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Johnson opts out of IPL gravy train

MELBOURNE – Australian left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has opted out of the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he could have got a 1.5 million dollar payday.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Johnson, skipper Ricky Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke are not among the 416 names released yesterday for next month’s … Original source on Gaea Times at : Johnson opts out of IPL gravy train.

Ashes 2010: Dependable Tim Bresnan to lead England fight back

MELBOURNE – Yorkshire fast bowler Tim Bresnan is strongly expected to play in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG as England plan how best to respond to their 267-run defeat at the WACA.

Bresnan’s all-round reliability has become increasingly attractive to England with Steve Finn beginning to show the effects of an exhausting debut season … Read : Ashes 2010: Dependable Tim Bresnan to lead England fight back.

UK’s Haye offers Ukraine’s Klitschko a 50-50 split for match-up

LONDON – British boxer David Haye’s trainer and manager Adam Booth has claimed he has agreed a 50-50 split in an attempt to make a match with Ukrainian rival Wladimir Klitschko next year.

“We are now perfectly positioned to get together and make this fight with Wladimir Klitschko and are ready to sign the deal both … Original source on Gaea Times at : UK’s Haye offers Ukraine’s Klitschko a 50-50 split for match-up.

England will be Melbourne marvels: Flower

MELBOURNE – Coach Andy Flower is confident that England will put up a marvelous performance during the Boxing Day Test that begins here from Sunday.

Rubbishing suggestions and reports that England had become complacent after winning the Ashes Test in Adelaide and losing the one in Perth, Flower said England have forged a strong team spirit …. Original article  : England will be Melbourne marvels: Flower.

Butt wants ICC hearing ‘put off’ to allow him to deal with possible criminal proceedings

KARACHI – Suspended Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt has said that he has asked the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption tribunal to put off next month’s hearing so that he can deal with any possible criminal proceedings in London.

“I have requested the hearing to be put off so that I can settle the possible case in …. Source  : Butt wants ICC hearing ‘put off’ to allow him to deal with possible criminal proceedings.

Toned down aggression following ‘Bhajjigate’ has hit Australia’s performance: Marsh

SYDNEY – Fears of a backlash from Cricket Australia and the public following the bitter Sydney Test against India in 2008 has been exploited by rival teams touring Down Under, according to the Australian Cricketers’ Association.

Australia claimed a dramatic final-day victory against India at the SCG in 2008, but the result was quickly forgotten as … Read : Toned down aggression following ‘Bhajjigate’ has hit Australia’s performance: Marsh.

Amir “very confident” of coming out clean in spot-fixing case, says lawyer

KARACHI – Suspended Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has been hit hard emotionally and financially after being implicated in the spot-fixing scandal, but is “very confident” of coming out clean, his lawyer Shahid Karim has said.

“Amir has been hit hard emotionally and financially. So early in his career, he’s been hit by this huge scandal. This …. Original article  : Amir “very confident” of coming out clean in spot-fixing case, says lawyer.

MCG Ashes pitch should be prepared in favour of Aussies: Thommo

MELBOURNE – Former Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson has called for MCG curator Cameron Hodgkins to unashamedly doctor his pitch to suit Australia’s fast bowlers and negate the influence of England spinner Graeme Swann.sked if Hodgkins should deliver a green top after the success of Australia’s pace attack in Perth, the former Australian pacer said: …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

England can no longer afford to ‘carry’ Collingwood after Perth loss: Warne

MELBOURNE – Legendary bowler Shane Warne has said that batsman Paul Collingwood is England’s weak link as they fight to retain the Ashes in Melbourne.

In an exclusive live blog, Warne said England could no longer afford to “carry” players after losing the third Test in Perth, The Herald Sun reports.

“When a team is winning, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : England can no longer afford to ‘carry’ Collingwood after Perth loss: Warne.

Love-rat Wayne Rooney named UK’s Celebrity Villain Of The Year

LONDON – Love-rat Wayne Rooney has been named UK’s Celebrity Villain Of The Year.

The Manchester United striker’s fall from grace follows his disastrous World Cup appearance for England and revelations that he cheated on his pregnant wife Coleen, 24, with a hooker.

The 25-year-old footballer polled 24 percent of the total vote, reports the Daily Star.

Meanwhile, … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Love-rat Wayne Rooney named UK’s Celebrity Villain Of The Year.

Desperate Ponting ready to risk long-term injury to play Boxing Day Test

MELBOURNE – Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting is in immense pain, but is quite desperate to play in the Boxing Day Ashes Test that begins from December 26.

According to the Herald Sun, Ponting, 36, will consider risking long-term damage if he feels capable of making a contribution when the fourth Test starts at the MCG …. Original source  : Desperate Ponting ready to risk long-term injury to play Boxing Day Test.

Pak cricketers must get players’ association for ‘welfare from one common platform’

LAHORE – Former Pakistan first class cricketer Aamir Bashir’s untimely death due to cancer has led to a call from former national captains and players for the establishment of a players’ association in the country.

“I think the way and the conditions in which Aamir Bashir passed away is sad, and there are many other players … Original article on : Pak cricketers must get players’ association for ‘welfare from one common platform’.

Injured Anderson in doubt for Boxing Day Test

MELBOURNE – England’s chances of taking a decisive lead in the Ashes series have taken a hit with the news that main strike bowler James Anderson is carrying a side injury.

England coach Andy Flower confirmed that his most experienced seamer had pulled up stiff after Perth.

With Stuart Broad out of the tour with injury and …. Read the original article  : here.

Katich hopes to recover in time for fifth Ashes Test in Sydney

MELBOURNE – Australian opener Simon Katich is hopeful of recovering from an Achilles injury in time for the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney in early January.

Katich hobbled through much of the fourth day of the Adelaide Test after partially tearing his Achilles tendon, an injury many suspected would be series ending.

But after enduring daily …. Original source  : Katich hopes to recover in time for fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.