Sports News – Newsletter for December 29, 2010

Ponting to review future with Australian cricket

MELBOURNE – Ricky Ponting will be reviewing his future with Australian cricket after the team lost the fourth Ashes Test by an innings and 157 runs here Wednesday, with England retaining the urn.

After Australia lost another chance to win back the Ashes, Ponting was gracious and forthcoming after the defeat that saw England taking … Original article on : Ponting to review future with Australian cricket.

Losing Ashes on Australian soil feels ‘horrendous’: Watson

MELBOURNE – Opener Shane Watson has said that the enormity of losing the Ashes on Australian soil for the first time in 24 years has not been lost on him and his teammates.

Admitting the prospect of winning the urn was gone, he said: “Its horrendous, to be totally honest. Going into this Ashes series …. Source  : Losing Ashes on Australian soil feels ‘horrendous’: Watson.

Ponting should give up captaincy to rediscover batting form: Blewett

MELBOURNE – Ricky Ponting may need to hand over the captaincy at the end of the Ashes series to rediscover his batting touch, according to former Australia batsman Greg Blewett.

Australia lost the fourth Test by an innings and 157 runs to go 2-1 down in the five-match series, and Ricky Ponting returned scores of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Ponting should give up captaincy to rediscover batting form: Blewett.

We want to win Ashes outright by beating Australia in Sydney Test: Swann

LONDON – England spinner Graeme Swann has said the team is still not satisfied after retaining the Ashes urn, but wants to win the series outright by beating Australia in fifth and final Test in Sydney.

Australia lost the fourth Test by an innings and 157 runs to go 2-1 down in the five-match series, and … Original source on Gaea Times at : We want to win Ashes outright by beating Australia in Sydney Test: Swann.

Ankle injury puts Harris out of action for three months

MELBOURNE – Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris will be out of action for at least three months due to an ankle injury.

Harris suffered the injury during the fourth Test, in which England thrashed Australia by an innings and 157 runs Wednesday to retain the Ashes on away tour after 24 years.
Harris will … Read more : Ankle injury puts Harris out of action for three months.

Brit Asian player seeks to change face of UK football

LONDON – One of only three professional British Asian footballers is calling for more to be done to encourage others into the sport.

Zesh Rehman, 27, was the first British Asian to play in the Premier League, the FA Cup and the Carling Cup.

Now, according to Sky Sports, the former Bradford City defender has launched a … Original source on Gaea Times at : Brit Asian player seeks to change face of UK football.

Twitter users blame Ponting for a multitude of sins.

SYDNEY – Not only does he have to contend with becoming the first Australian cricket captain to lose the Ashes three times, but now Ricky Ponting is being blamed for everything from bad coffee and Justin Bieber to Queensland floods and climate change.

At lunch time today the Twitter hashtag #itspontingsfault was the social networking site’s … Original source on Gaea Times at : Twitter users blame Ponting for a multitude of sins..

Warne asks Oz selectors not to panic and make wholesale changes

SYDNEY – Legendary spinner Shane Warne has asked the Australian selectors not to panic and make large scale changes after the team lost the Ashes series to England.

Australia lost the fourth Test by an innings and 157 runs to go 2-1 down in the five-match series, and Ponting returned scores of 10 and 20 to … Read : Warne asks Oz selectors not to panic and make wholesale changes.

Bresnan says he needed cricket’s biggest stage to play his best

MELBOURNE – Having played only six Tests so far, England’s right-arm fast bowler Tim Bresnan said he needed the Ashes campaign platform to play his best.

Bresnan is so laid back he needed a Boxing Day blockbuster to get up for the display that shattered Australia’s Ashes campaign.

While most six-Test novices might freeze on cricket’s …. Original source  : Bresnan says he needed cricket’s biggest stage to play his best.

I have not dropped my pace, says Shoaib Akhtar

KARACHI – Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who recently made a return to Pakistan squad against South Africa after almost two years’ gap, said he has not dropped his pace and is looking to play a match-winner’s role for Pakistan in the World Cup February-April.

Shoaib, who was once discarded as a spent force, said he …. Source article  : I have not dropped my pace, says Shoaib Akhtar.

Afridi should not criticise players in public: Moin Khan

KARACHI – Former Pakistan captain Moin Khan has advised current skipper Shahid Afridi to stop criticising his own players in public.

Afridi rapped his batsmen for Pakistans defeat in their opening Twenty20 International against New Zealand in Auckland last Sunday and then turned his guns on his bowlers after the tourists crashed to a 39-run …. Read the original article  : here.

England are deserving Ashes winner: Warne

MELBOURNE – Former Australian leg spinner Shane Warne on Wednesday hailed England’s Ashes heroes by saying that: “They deserve to win the series.”

Admitting that Andrew Strauss’ side had outplayed Australia in Melbourne, Warne said: “I have been impressed with England. They have played the better cricket and deserve to win the series.”

“They have probably …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : England are deserving Ashes winner: Warne.

Ponting to meet selectors to decide on future

MELBOURNE – Losing Australian cricket team captain Ricky Ponting will be meeting the National Selection Panel on Wednesday to determine his future as skipper and as a member of the team in the wake of the Ashes defeat at Melbourne.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, while Ponting insists he still has plenty to offer as …. Original source  : Ponting to meet selectors to decide on future.

Injured Ryan Harris most likely to miss 2011 World Cup

MELBOURNE – Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris, who suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle, is all set to miss the World Cup after coach Tim Nielsen said he will be out for eight weeks.

The 31-year-old fast bowler pulled up during his run-up midway through the third day of the fourth Ashes Test at …. Original article  : Injured Ryan Harris most likely to miss 2011 World Cup.

‘Would love for Strauss to take my Ashes series winning skipper title,’ says Gatting

LONDON – Mike Gatting has nothing but praise for Andrew Strauss, the current England captain, who he believes has delivered on the promise he showed as a youngster.

Their paths first crossed in 1996 when Strauss was a 19-year-old on a summer contract at Middlesex. And while he had come from posh Radley School, his … Original article on : ‘Would love for Strauss to take my Ashes series winning skipper title,’ says Gatting.

England’s sustained excellence in Ashes praiseworthy: Roebuck

SYDNEY – England deserves enormous credit for the sustained excellence of their cricket in this series. It has been a team without heroes or egos, a hard-working, tough, thoughtful and committed outfit that has avoided bleating and inexorably crushed a shaky opponent, said noted cricket columnist Peter Roebuck.

In a syndicated column for the Sydney Morning … Read : England’s sustained excellence in Ashes praiseworthy: Roebuck.

Clarke most likely to succeed Ricky Ponting despite form slump

SYDNEY – Michael Clarke, who has failed to handle the responsibility of batting at No.4, remains the man most likely to succeed Ricky Ponting should the captain leave following another almost certain the Ashes defeat.

Clarke’s lean batting form stretches back six months over three series and just as many continents.

Significantly, his slump has coincided … Original article on : Clarke most likely to succeed Ricky Ponting despite form slump.

Australia bereft after England’s Ashes victory

SYDNEY – The English cricket team retained the Ashes trophy for the first time in 24 years Wednesday with an innings-and-157-run victory over Australia in the fourth Test in Melbourne.

The home side closed its second-innings account at 9 for 258 after injured Ryan Harris declared himself unable to bat.
With a 2-1 lead in …. Source article  : Australia bereft after England’s Ashes victory.

Ponting promises to review his Test future, says still has lot to offer

MELBOURNE – Beleaguered Australia’s skipper Ricky Ponting has said that he still has lot to offer the team after suffering his third Ashes series defeat today at the MCG.

Australia lost the fourth Test by an innings and 157 runs to go 2-1 down in the five-match series, and Ponting returned scores of 10 and 20 …. Read the original article  : here.

If we lose again, will probably be looking for another job: Ponting

MELBOURNE – Losing Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting said on Wednesday that he would probably be reviewing his future as skipper and could be looking for a new job if the team lost the Sydney Ashes Test.

Fox Sports quoted an honest Ponting, as saying: “It’s as simple as that.”

Ponting accepted his recent failures after England …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : If we lose again, will probably be looking for another job: Ponting.