Sports News – Newsletter for December 31, 2010

Hewitt perfectly tuned for 2011 Hopman Cup start

PERTH – Lleyton Hewitt has pulled up fit and pleased with what he calls an uninterrupted spell of training after last getting onto a court in September and suffering an elbow injury in the Davis Cup.

But the 29-year-old Friday was not giving anyway secrets as he prepared to lead Australia into the Hopman Cup … Original article on : Hewitt perfectly tuned for 2011 Hopman Cup start.

Moores sacking came at the right time: Pietersen

SYDNEY – England batsman Kevin Pietersen Friday said his team would not have retained the Ashes had he not been in the forefront of a campaign to remove former coach Peter Moores.

The star player also said that his stepping down from England captaincy that time also helped the team.
Pietersen said there was no … Original source on Gaea Times at : Moores sacking came at the right time: Pietersen.

Ferguson recalls Man U players on loan to Preston after son’s sacking

LONDON – Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has recalled three of his players on loan to Preston after they sacked his son, Darren.

Preston has put first-team coach David Unsworth in charge for the next three matches after sacking Darren Ferguson on Wednesday.

The Deepdale club is furious at Manchester United recalling their players in …. Read the original article  : Ferguson recalls Man U players on loan to Preston after son’s sacking.

Mourinho to personally convince Fabregas to join Real Madrid

LONDON – Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is to make a direct appeal to Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas to join him at the Spanish club next summer.

But the former Chelsea boss has his work cut out because the Arsenal skipper was a youth player with Real’s archrivals Barcelona.

According to sources, European champs Barcelona are favourites …. Original article  : Mourinho to personally convince Fabregas to join Real Madrid.

Chelsea turns down chance to sign star midfielder Van der Vaart

LONDON – Chelsea has turned down the chance to sign star midfielder Rafael van der Vaart in the summer on the grounds that he was not good enough.

The club hey rejected a 10 million pounds deal and instead spent 24 million pounds on Yossi Benayoun and Ramires.

Van der Vaart instead joined Tottenham for eight million …. Original article  : Chelsea turns down chance to sign star midfielder Van der Vaart.

Clarke brushes off public sentiments against his appointment

SYDNEY – Michael Clarke brushed off the strong public sentiment against his appointment as the captain and said he would use lessons learned from several years under Ricky Ponting’s tutelage to re-ignite the bumbling Australian team.

Reacting to a poll conducted by The Age, Clarke said: “I think it’s part and parcel of what we … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Clarke brushes off public sentiments against his appointment.

Ponting’s absence big loss for Australia, says Anderson

SYDNEY – England pacer James Anderson Friday said Ricky Ponting’s absence in the fifth Ashes cricket Test in Sydney will be a “big loss” for the struggling Australian side.

Anderson said despite the Australian captain’s poor form, Ponting remains a threat to the opposition because of the wealth of experience he possesses.
“He has been …. Source article  : Ponting’s absence big loss for Australia, says Anderson.

Clarke describes appointment as Sydney Test captain as temporary

SYDNEY – Stand-in Australian captain Michael Clarke has said he will refuse to captain a Test side containing Ricky Ponting.

When asked if he would captain Ponting in the Test side if asked to do so by the selectors, Clarke said: “No, I’ve always said from day one Ricky Ponting is my leader, my captain, and … Read more >>.

Team needs discipline in batting, bowling and fielding to beat Proteas: Dhoni

DURBAN – Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said India still needs to be disciplined in batting, bowling and fielding to win the Test aeries against South Africa.

India levelled the series in Durban beating South Africa by 87 runs after the hosts won the first Test by an innings and 25 runs at SuperSport Park, Centurion, …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Team needs discipline in batting, bowling and fielding to beat Proteas: Dhoni.

Flower lauds England bowlers for successfully utilising Kookaburra balls

SYDNEY – England coach Andy Flower has lauded his bowlers for turning the unfamiliar Kookaburra cricket balls, which was forecasted to be the team’s major weakness in Australia, into a significant strength in the ongoing Ashes series.

The ability of England’s bowling attack to move the Kookaburra ball both in the air and off the pitch … Read : Flower lauds England bowlers for successfully utilising Kookaburra balls.

I’m not here to fill Ponting’s shoes, says Usman Khawaja

SYDNEY – New South Wales batsman Usman Khawaja, who has been included in Australia’s 12-man squad for the fifth Ashes Test, has steered clear of suggestions that he may replace injured captain Ricky Ponting permanently.

Khawaja will be Ponting’s replacement in the match, starting in Sydney on Sunday.

Ponting has been ruled out of the match after … Read more >>.

English celebrations must wait until Sydney Ashes Test win: Fletcher

LONDON – Former England coach Duncan Fletcher insists the team should not be content by just retaining the Ashes, and said they must complete a 3-1 series triumph by defeating Australia in the fifth Test.

England took an unassailable 2-1 lead after crushing Australia by an innings and 157 runs in Melbourne to retain the …. Original article  : English celebrations must wait until Sydney Ashes Test win: Fletcher.

Ponting’s career is not over yet: Nielsen

LONDON – Australia coach Tim Nielsen has said skipper Ricky Ponting’s Test career is not over after injury ended his Ashes series.

Ponting will miss the final Test in Sydney after X-rays showed his broken finger was worse than thought.

Nielsen said: “I wouldn’t have thought he has captained his last match for Australia. He is …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

‘Black Eyed Peas’ to rock Chelsea owner’s New Year’s Eve bash

LONDON – Do you know who is going to perform at the New Year’s Eve bash of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich – singer Fergie and her band ‘Black Eyed Peas’.

The Russian tycoon, girlfriend Dasha Zhukova, 29, and friends will watch the US hip-hop band rocking at his 58-million-dollar estate on the Caribbean island St Barts, …. Read the original article  : ‘Black Eyed Peas’ to rock Chelsea owner’s New Year’s Eve bash.

Oz players should be contractually bound to play in Sheffield Shield: Jones

MELBOURNE – Former Australian batsman Dean Jones reckons Australian players should be contractually required to play at least one Sheffield Shield match a season to strengthen the competition.

Jones said that the absence of national players from the domestic scene was coming at a cost to the quality of the shield competition.

“I think all Australian players … Read : Oz players should be contractually bound to play in Sheffield Shield: Jones.

Clarke will smash doubts about his leadership credentials: Nielsen

MELBOURNE – Australia’s coach Tim Nielsen has said Michael Clarke is a natural leader and will smash doubts about his leadership credentials.

Former Test great Steve Waugh noted a perceived indifference towards Clarke as successor to injured Ricky Ponting, also floating new vice-captain Brad Haddin and Tim Paine as the men to take Australia forward from …. Original source  : Clarke will smash doubts about his leadership credentials: Nielsen.

Ponting survives axe, CA endorses him as skipper

MELBOURNE – Despite calls for his sack getting louder everyday, Ricky Ponting looks certain to survive the axe as his deputy Michael Clarke and Cricket Australia (CA) have endorsed him as the Australian skipper after he returns from injury.

CA’s chief executive James Sutherland also endorsed Ponting’s continuation as skipper upon return from his injury …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Ponting survives axe, CA endorses him as skipper.

‘Bend it Like Beckham’ – first Western-made film to air in North Korea

LONDON – North Koreans got a break from the regular TV programmes this week, when British football film ‘Bend it Like Beckham’ was aired in the country.

The 2002 film stars Keira Knightley, Jonathan Rhys Myers and Parminder Nagra.

The people regularly get to see news, documentaries and soap operas, while western films are largely …. Read the original article  : ‘Bend it Like Beckham’ – first Western-made film to air in North Korea.

Performing Flower may revolutionise England cricket

SYDNEY – Having secured the Ashes at least for the next two years, coach Andy Flower believes he is now in a stronger position to convince the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to abandon the defective system of delivering international players for England.

For Flower, the key point on his mind seems to be whether …. Source  : Performing Flower may revolutionise England cricket.

Ponting’s absence in Sydney Test will be ‘huge loss’ for Aussies: Anderson

SYDNEY – England fast bowler James Anderson reckons the absence of injured Ricky Ponting will be a “huge loss” for Australia during the fifth Ashes Test, starting in Sydney on Sunday.

Anderson said that though Ponting was in a form slump, he remains an integral part of the Australian side.

“He (Ponting) has been out of form, …. Source  : Ponting’s absence in Sydney Test will be ‘huge loss’ for Aussies: Anderson.