Sports News – Newsletter for December 28, 2010

Feeble Australian fightback delays England’s Ashes victory

MELBOURNE – Australia’s 6 for 169 at stumps on the third day’s play here delayed an inevitable victory for England in the fourth Ashes cricket Test.

To reach the 246 needed to make England bat again, captain Ricky Ponting would need his tail-enders to each score more than half a century over the remaining two … Read : Feeble Australian fightback delays England’s Ashes victory.

Ponting had no reason for his ugly altercation with umpire: Trott

LONDON – England batsman Jonathan Trott has said that Australian skipper Ricky Ponting had no reason for his ugly altercation with umpire Aleem Dar.

Trott made an unbeaten 141 alongside half-centuries from Matt Prior (75 not out) and Pietersen (51) to see England reach 444 … Read more »».

Pak will bounce back in series despite struggling to adjust to NZ conditions: Intikhab

HAMILTON – The Pakistan team, presently facing difficulty in adjusting to the weather and pitch conditions in New Zealand, will bounce back in the remaining two matches of the Twenty20 international series, team manager Intikhab Alam has said.

Pakistan were beaten by five wickets in …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Pak will bounce back in series despite struggling to adjust to NZ conditions: Intikhab.

Pace bowler Sohail Tanvir included in Pakistan squad for New Zealand tour

LAHORE – Pakistan cricket selectors have included injury-blighted paceman Sohail Tanvir in the national squad that is currently on the tour of New Zealand.

Just two weeks after he was ruled out of the New Zealand tour owing to a knee problem, Tanvir has been given the …. Read the original article  : Pace bowler Sohail Tanvir included in Pakistan squad for New Zealand tour.

England a sniff away from retaining Ashes at MCG

MELBOURNE – England has moved closer to retaining the Ashes for the first time in 24 years following another dominant display against Australia on day three of the fourth Test being played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia ended the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Ryan Harris may undergo surgery for ankle injury

MELBOURNE – Australia’s nightmare in the Ashes continued as fast bowler Ryan Harris Tuesday was detected with a stress facture on his left ankle and is likely to undergo a surgery.

The 31-year-old fast bowler limped out of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Monday on the third day of the fourth Ashes …. Source article  : Ryan Harris may undergo surgery for ankle injury.

Waugh blames Oz batsmen’s cheap limited overs tricks for Ashes failure

MELBOURNE – Former skipper Steve Waugh has said that the Australian batsmen are employing cheap limited overs tricks when a back to basics approach is desperately needed in the Test series.

He hit out at the flimsy batting techniques for sabotaging Australia’s Ashes campaign while noting the fluctuating focus of successor Ricky Ponting.

The flaws in opener …. Original article  : Waugh blames Oz batsmen’s cheap limited overs tricks for Ashes failure.

NZ mobile company registers Intikhab Alam as ‘Indian’ cricket team manager!

KARACHI – Pakistan cricket team manager Intikhab Alam, who is currently on the New Zealand tour with the national team, was in for a rude shock when the voice recorder of his mobile phone attributed him to be an Indian.

The Pakistani media and others were left stunned when they called Intikhab in New Zealand, as … Read more »».

Harris out of Ashes series with ankle fracture

MELBOURNE – Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris has suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle and will take no further part in the Ashes series.

Harris, who was one of Australia’s heroes with a nine-wicket haul in the third Test in Perth, is set to miss next week’s fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney.

The …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Chappell wants Ponting’s suspension for arguing with umpires

MELBOURNE – Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has demanded the suspension of skipper Ricky Ponting.

Ponting was fined 40 per cent of his match fee for his finger-pointing rant at umpires following the rejected referral of an appeal for caught behind against Kevin Pietersen.

Chappell felt Ponting was let off lightly. “If I was adjudicating, I’d think … Read more >>.

Ponting apologises for showing dissent towards umpires

MELBOURNE – Australian captain Ricky Ponting Tuesday apologised for arguing with on-field umpires after England batsman Kevin Pietersen was given not out following a video referral on the second day of the fourth Ashes Test.

Ponting was fined 40 percent of his match fees, $5400 approximately, by match referee Ranjan Madugalle Monday for showing dissent … Read more : Ponting apologises for showing dissent towards umpires.

Black Caps wicketkeeper McGlashan eyeing 2011 World Cup spot

AUCKLAND – Ahead of the second Twenty20 international between New Zealand and Pakistan, wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan has said that he hopes to continue impressing the new selection panel for a place in the Black Caps side for the 2011 World Cup.

McGlashan had made the most of his recall to the national side with four catches …. Read the original article  : here.

Spot-fixing case: Afridi, Waqar, Najam’s statements cast serious doubts on tainted trio

LAHORE – Pakistan’s one-day skipper Shahid Afridi, team coach Waqar Younis and former security manager of Pakistan team Major (retd) Khawaja Najam Javed have admitted that ‘bookie’ Mazhar Majeed had kept constant contact with the ‘tainted trio’ during the England tour in August, and even stayed at the team’s hotel despite several warnings.

In their …. Read the original article  : Spot-fixing case: Afridi, Waqar, Najam’s statements cast serious doubts on tainted trio.

Ponting slams policy of showing replays on big screen

MELBOURNE – Australian captain Ricky Ponting criticised the policy of showing replays on the big screen before a decision is made, and admitted that the Hot-Spot heat-camera vision had prompted his anger towards umpires Aleem Dar and Tony Hill on the second day of the fourth Ashes Test.

“I guess one flaw we’ve got in … Read : Ponting slams policy of showing replays on big screen.

Hamilton to banish ‘outside intrusions’ from his mind in 2011

LONDON – Former Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has said that he will try to banish ‘outside intrusions’ from his mind in 2011.

The 2008 Formula One champion, however, did not go into specifics.

“My plan is to make sure I’m 100 per cent clear in my mind and have no outside intrusions mentally. It’s been a …. Source  : Hamilton to banish ‘outside intrusions’ from his mind in 2011.

Boxer Mayweather filmed verbally abusing security guard at Vegas home

LAS VEGAS – Police are investigating claims that boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. verbally abused and attacked a security guard at his Las Vegas home after the guard refused to let him into the gated community.

TMZ, which posted the footage on its site, said Mayweather became angry when asked for ID as he drove up to … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Boxer Mayweather filmed verbally abusing security guard at Vegas home.

Ponting apologises for his on-field argument with umpires

MELBOURNE – Australia captain Ricky Ponting has apologised for his on-field argument with the umpires, but insisted that Engalnd batsman Kevin Pietersen was out on the second day of the Boxing Day Test.

Ponting was fined 40 per cent of his match fee on Monday night after the confrontation with umpires Aleem Dar and Tony …. Original article  : Ponting apologises for his on-field argument with umpires.

Injury-plagued Oram takes first step towards 2011 World Cup goal

AUCKLAND – New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram, who is fighting to overcome a knee injury, has taken his first small step towards playing at next year’s 50-over World Cup in the Indian subcontinent.

Central Districts’ 29-run win over Wellington Firebirds in the HRV Cup at the Basin Reserve on Monday was Oram’s first domestic game since …. Read the original article  : here.

World surfing champion Gilmore attacked outside her NSW apartment

SYDNEY – Four-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore has been bashed by a man wielding a metal pole in an attack outside her New South Wales (NSW) apartment.

Gilmore was taken to hospital after the man allegedly struck her twice with the pole before fleeing the scene on a bike around 9.30pm on Monday.

According to the …. Original article  : World surfing champion Gilmore attacked outside her NSW apartment.

Australian covers world in 52 marathons

MELBOURNE – An Australian man, who ran one marathon a week across all seven continents, has completed 52 marathons in 52 weeks.

Tristan Miller received a hero’s welcome from supporters and entered the record books when he crossed the finish line at Albert Park Lake here, the Australian news agency AAP reported Monday.
The 33-year-old … Read more »».