Sports News – Newsletter for January 11, 2011

Chelsea’s Lamps says he feels like an outcast

LONDON – Chelsea mid-fielder Frank Lampard has admitted that he feels like an outcast after spending three-and-a-half-months off the playing field with a groin tendon tear.

The Sun quoted him as saying: “I’m used to being part of the team, travelling away. You feel like an outcast … Original article on : Chelsea’s Lamps says he feels like an outcast.

IPL responsible for Australia’s decline: Miandad

KARACHI – Former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad has blamed the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Australias stunning downfall saying the money-spinning Twenty20 league has left their top cricketers completely distracted.

Miandads advice to international stars, especially from Australia, is to think twice before falling in the cash trap again.
The Aussies, who till last year … Read more >>.

Liverpool deserves to be struggling: Michael Owen

LONDON – Manchester United striker Michael Owen has stuck the boot into Liverpool saying his old club deserves to be struggling.

The Sun quoted Owen, 31, as saying: “Their position reflects where they are at now – they’re in the middle of a transitional period and off the pitch they’ve had a change of ownership. They’re …. Original source  : Liverpool deserves to be struggling: Michael Owen.

Kim Hughes says Ric Charlesworth should review ailing Oz cricket system

MELBOURNE – Former Test captain Kim Hughes wants coaching guru Ric Charlesworth to do an independent review of the Australian cricket system in the wake of a demand for revamping the system, following the Ashes humiliation at the hands of England.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and spin legend Shane Warne have called for a far-reaching review … Read more »».

Hewitt to assess tennis future after 2011 grand slams

MELBOURNE – Australian tennis player Lleyton Hewitt has said that he will assess his future in the sport after seeing his performance in the grand slam tournaments of 2011.

Ranked 54 in the world, the former world No.1 says it is hard to gauge how high he can climb back up the ladder.

“It’s hard to say, …. Original article  : Hewitt to assess tennis future after 2011 grand slams.

Patience key word for Kiwi batsmen as well as public: Wright

WELLINGTON – New Zealand cricket coach John Wright has urged people to be patient as he goes about rectifying the national team’s batting fragility ahead of the second test against Pakistan at Wellington, starting on Saturday.

Wright’s first test in charge of his country ended in a cricketing disaster, New Zealand losing all 10 second innings …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Patience key word for Kiwi batsmen as well as public: Wright.

Pak chief selector refutes allegations of bookie’s presence in team hotel

LAHORE – Pakistan’s chief selector Mohsin Khan has denied allegations that a national selector was aware of the spot-fixing deals between tainted cricketers and bookie Mazhar Majeed during Pakistan’s tour of England last year.

“As far as I know, no selector was aware about the bookie’s presence in the players’ rooms,” the Nation quoted Khan, as … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Pak chief selector refutes allegations of bookie’s presence in team hotel.

Tait ready to give England some chin music in Twenty20s

ADELAIDE – South Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait believes some chin music against the Poms starting in Adelaide tomorrow night, could help Australia come out of an off-key summer.

Tait promised to deliver some short barrages to England’s Twenty20 cricketers in the two-game series.

The South Australian tearaway, who will partner fellow quick Brett Lee in Australia’s …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Tait ready to give England some chin music in Twenty20s.

Axed from Oz 20-20 squad, Haddin fears for career

SYDNEY – Australia’s cricket selectors are yet to inform wicketkeeper Brad Haddin about his axing from the national Twenty20 side, even as he fears that his cricket career may just be over sooner than later.

Selectors are yet to inform Haddin as to why he was left out of this week’s matches against England despite Andrew …. Source article  : Axed from Oz 20-20 squad, Haddin fears for career.

Waqar hopes a fresh start for Pakistan cricket after Doha hearing

KARACHI – Pakistan coach Waqar Younis hoped that his team will be able to play some controversy-free cricket once a decision is taken by an independent tribunal that has finished hearing a spot-fixing case involving Mohammad Asif, Salman Butt and Mohammed Asif in Doha.

“I hope all goes well and I hope the …. Source  : Waqar hopes a fresh start for Pakistan cricket after Doha hearing.

New skipper Paine feels the pain of England’s mean machine

CANBERRA – Australia’s reserve wicketkeeper Tim Paine found out on Monday how hard it has been to captain a team against England.

Handed the captaincy to give selectors a chance to assess his credentials as a possible Test skipper, Paine performed serviceably but was hamstrung by an innocuous attack and some imperious batting from the visitors, … Read more >>.

Top seed Wozniacki crashes out of Medibank International

SYDNEY – Top seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark Tuesday lost her opening match of the season at the WTA Medibank International tennis tournament.

A day of rain interruptions did little to make life easier for the 20-year-old in the second-round match, which she lost to Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 3-6, 3-6.
Third seed Kim Clijsters … Read more : Top seed Wozniacki crashes out of Medibank International.

Spinners Hauritz, Doherty to face off for World Cup spot

MELBOURNE – Test discards Nathan Hauritz and Xavier Doherty are set to duel for the role of Australia’s No.1 spinner at the World Cup after both were included in a 14-man squad for the first of seven one-day internationals against England.

Michael Clarke will captain the side against the old enemy at the MCG on Sunday …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Spinners Hauritz, Doherty to face off for World Cup spot.

Oz cricket captain uncertainty reflects Test preparation woes

MELBOURNE – Australian cricket is in a sorry state, and it is best summed up by the fact that Cricket Australia is not sure who is the best man to lead the Test side out of the doldrums brought on by consecutive Ashes series defeats.

With series against Sri Lanka, South Africa and India on the … Read more >>>.

Pak spot-fixing trial likely to conclude in Doha today

DOHA – Former Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt, and fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif, who were involved in a spot-fixing scandal, are likely to discover their fates today, when an independent International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal delivers its verdict.

It is alleged that the cricketers conspired in the bowling of deliberate no-balls during Pakistan’s [..] Read the original article: here.

Clarke is finished unless he changes his footwork: Kim Hughes

MELBOURNE – Michael Clarke, who averaged a miserable 21 in the Ashes series against England, is finished and will struggle to retain his spot in the Australian side, according to former Test captain Kim Hughes.

“Unless he changes his footwork, he will struggle to score in Test cricket, and therefore, struggle to hold his spot in … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Clarke is finished unless he changes his footwork: Kim Hughes.

Pakistan to play premier domestic final with pink balls

KARACHI – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has planned to hold the final of the countrys premier first-class tournament under floodlights and with pink balls at the National Stadium here.

While the countrys cricket bosses are hailing their own decision as a historic one, several former players have questioned the idea of carrying … Read more : Pakistan to play premier domestic final with pink balls.

Pietersen to auction Ashes shirt, bat to help Oz flood victims

ADELAIDE – England batsman Kevin Pietersen has generously offered to auction a shirt and bat he used during England’s Ashes triumph to raise money for the Queensland flood victims.

The highest bidder will also be rewarded with flights, accommodation and two tickets for the upcoming one-day international against Australia in Perth.

According to Fox Sports, Pietersen described … Read : Pietersen to auction Ashes shirt, bat to help Oz flood victims.

Low-bid Ryder succeeds in nabbing IPL pay-off

WELLINGTON – New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder and his manager Aaron Klee have succeeded in securing a spot in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League thanks to offering Ryder at a lesser price to franchise owners.

Ryder and manager Aaron Klee decided that the former’s best opportunity lay at a lesser price.

Klee was always …. Original source  : Low-bid Ryder succeeds in nabbing IPL pay-off.

Beckham ready to take pay cut for playing in Premier League

LONDON – England midfielder David Beckham is ready take a pay cut for a three-month loan move to Tottenham Hotspur.

If the deal between Beckham and Tottenham Hotspur goes through, it would be the first time that the 35-year-old will be playing for an English club since he left Manchester United to join Real Madrid in …. Source article  : Beckham ready to take pay cut for playing in Premier League.