Sports News – Newsletter for December 30, 2010

Warne urges Aussies to ‘make rational judgment calls’ to regain No.1 Test spot

SYDNEY – Australia have performed poorly over the past couple of years, and the authorities have to look at the top all the way down and work out what they need to do better, according to leg-spin legend Shane Warne.

“After Sydney, there is half a … Original source on Gaea Times at : Warne urges Aussies to ‘make rational judgment calls’ to regain No.1 Test spot.

Nicolas Kiefer hangs up his tennis racket

HANOVER – Nicolas Kiefer is retiring from tennis with immediate effect, the former world number four player from Germany said in an interview published Thursday.

Kiefer, 32, told Die Welt that he wants to spend more time with his baby daughter. He said he plans to continue in sports as an over-32 player at football … Original article on : Nicolas Kiefer hangs up his tennis racket.

Ponting ‘devastated’ at having to sit out in Sydney Test

SYDNEY – Australian captain Ricky Ponting Thursday said he was “devastated” after being ruled out from the fifth Ashes Test due to a broken finger.

Ponting suffered the injury during the Perth Test but the x-ray reports after the Melbourne game revealed that the under-fire captain aggravated the injury. Michael Clarke will captain the side …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Saker hails Anderson as world’s best fast bowler

MELBOURNE – England’s bowling coach David Saker has rated James Anderson as the world’s best fast bowler following his successful campaign in the ongoing Ashes series.

Anderson has claimed a series-leading 17 wickets, with a Test to be played in Sydney from January 2.

Saker said that the 28-year-old’s … Read : Saker hails Anderson as world’s best fast bowler.

Spot-fixing case: Aamir may lodge protest with ICC over statement leakage

KARACHI – Suspended Pakistan pacer Mohammad Aamir intends to lodge a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the continued leakage of confidential information relating to the spot-fixing scandal.

Aamir’s lawyer Shahid Karim said the fresh leak of the statements given to the ICC on the case …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Flower says England not satisfied, wants series victory in fifth Ashes Test

MELBOURNE – England coach Andy Flower has said his team is not satisfied with just retaining the Ashes urn and will be determined to claim a series victory in the fifth Test in Sydney.

A day after making history with their innings and 157-run demolition of Australia at the MCG, Flower said it was vital … Read more >>>.

Axe Afridi from captaincy, reshuffle Pak team: Sarfraz Nawaz

ISLAMABAD – In the wake of Pakistan suffering six consecutive defeats in Twenty20 internationals, former fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz has called for a major reshuffle in the Pakistan squad and the axing of Shahid Afridi as captain.

Pakistan have lost the third consecutive Twenty20 series in last four months against England, South Africa and New … Read more >>>.

England didn’t ’specifically target’ Ponting, Clarke: Strauss

SYDNEY – England captain Andrew Strauss has said that his team had not specifically targeted Australian captain Ricky Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke in the ongoing Ashes series.

Cutting down the opposition’s captains had been one of the strategies of both teams in previous battles.

“Clearly, Ponting and Clarke are Australia’s best players, their records …. Source  : England didn’t ’specifically target’ Ponting, Clarke: Strauss.

Strauss urges mates to aim for ‘The Holy Grail’ of English cricket

MELBOURNE – England cricket captain has urged his mates to strive to win “The Holy Grail” of cricket – The Ashes series – by emerging victorious in the Sydney cricket Test against Australia, which begins from January 2.

Though England is understandably elated at being 2-1 in the series, Strauss believes that the icing on the …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Dean Jones says Haddin not Clarke should lead Aussies in Sydney Test

SYDNEY – Former Australian batsman Dean Jones has said that wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and not vice-captain Michael Clarke should lead Australia in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.

Ricky Ponting has been ruled out of the match after x-rays on his broken little finger showed that the fracture had moved during this week’s fourth Test loss … Read : Dean Jones says Haddin not Clarke should lead Aussies in Sydney Test.

Sehwag out of ODI series with sore shoulder

NEW DELHI – Indian opener Virender Sehwag has been rested from the One-day series against South Africa with a sore shoulder.

Rohit Sharma will replace Sehwag for the five-match series, starting January 12.
Murali Vijay, who is in the Test squad, has been asked to stay back as a back-up opener.
“Sehwag has been …. Source article  : Sehwag out of ODI series with sore shoulder.

Ponting backs Usman Khawaja to bat No.3 in Sydney Test

MELBOURNE – Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, who has been ruled out of the fifth Test of the Ashes series against England because of further damage to his broken finger, has backed Usman Khawaja to replace him at No.3 in a revamped batting order.

The skipper sang praises of Khawaja before delivering a heartfelt apology to …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Ponting backs Usman Khawaja to bat No.3 in Sydney Test.

Ponting hindering renewal of Oz team by not giving up skipper’s job: Chappell

MELBOURNE – Ricky Ponting is hindering the renewal of the Australian team after a humiliating loss in the Ashes series by not giving up his skipper’s job, according to cricket legend Ian Chappell.

Ponting vowed to help rebuild the national team after it became the first to suffer two defeats by an innings in a … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Ponting hindering renewal of Oz team by not giving up skipper’s job: Chappell.

Strauss looking to win Ashes series, then world domination

SYDNEY – England may have retained the Ashes urn, but captain Andrew Strauss insists that the “holy grail” for his team is to win a series in Australia.ngland has not won a Test series in Australia since 1986-87.

“It is reassuring to know the Ashes are going to remain in England for another couple of years, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Strauss looking to win Ashes series, then world domination.

Beckhams not moving to Manhattan

NEW YORK – Soccer star David Beckham and his wife Victoria are not moving to Manhattan, it has emerged.

The couple’s publicists said that they have no plans to become New Yorkers anytime soon.

The rumour reportedly started with England’s Now magazine, which said that while the superstar athlete had to be in California as a member … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Beckhams not moving to Manhattan.

Katich rules himself out of fifth Ashes Test

MELBOURNE – Australian batsman Simon Katich, who was training strongly in a bid to return to the squad for the fifth Ashes Test, has ruled himself out of the Sydney New Year’s Test, declaring that he has not yet recovered from an Achilles injury.

Katich hobbled through much of the fourth day of the Adelaide Test … Original article on : Katich rules himself out of fifth Ashes Test.

Chappell had urged Ponting to bat at No.4 in Ashes opener

SYDNEY – Australian captain Ricky Ponting has revealed that selector Greg Chappell had suggested that he should bat at No. 4 in the ongoing Ashes series.

“He [Chappell] mentioned something briefly about the possibility of me batting No.4 for the Brisbane Test match, with someone else coming into the squad to bat at three,” The Age … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Chappell had urged Ponting to bat at No.4 in Ashes opener.

Gatting urges England to be merciless against Australia in Sydney Test

LONDON – England legend Mike Gatting has urged the team to be merciless in their pursuit of long-term success after he passed on a 24-year-old honour to Andrew Strauss.

Gatting had been the last England captain to retain the Ashes on Australian soil until Strauss emulated the feat with victory in the fourth test in Melbourne.

The … Read : Gatting urges England to be merciless against Australia in Sydney Test.

England’s best team can beat India every day of the week: Darren Gough

LONDON – Former Three Lions fast bowler Darren Gough has stirred controversy in cricket circles by saying that India are only champions on home turf, and that he fancies England beating the M.S. Dhoni-led squad every day of the week sooner than later.

Raising a toast to England’s Ashes heroes, Gough said: “We’re now the best …. Read the original article  : England’s best team can beat India every day of the week: Darren Gough.

Ponting cites captaincy record, refusing to quit

MELBOURNE – Stating that he has played 152 Tests for Australia and the fact that 99 of them had been won, captain Ricky Ponting has refused to quit as skipper even though the team has been thrashed by England.

“I’ve played (over) 150 Tests with 99 wins and have experience of winning and am well-equipped to …. Read the original article  : here.