Sports News – Newsletter for February 1, 2011

‘We won’t be considered as underdogs’: Dhoni

MUMBAI – Indian cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said eam India won’t be considered underdogs in the 2011 World Cup, as it has reacted to pressure more responsibly over the last few years.

“We won’t be considered as underdogs this time. The team has learnt to perform under pressure and we have done so in … Read this article on Gaea Times at : ‘We won’t be considered as underdogs’: Dhoni.

World champion Vettel unveils new Red Bull F1 car

VALENCIA – World champion Sebastian Vettel and team-mate Mark Webber unveiled the Red Bull car for the 2011 Formula One season Tuesday in a low-key ceremony.

Vettel and Webber took a blue cover off the RB7 model in the pit lane of the Valencia track before the start of pre-season testing.
The German Vettel became … Read : World champion Vettel unveils new Red Bull F1 car.

Australia’s Thorpe set for London Olympics comeback

SYDNEY – Five times Olympic champion Ian Thorpe is expected to announce his return to competitive swimming and a bid to make the Australian team for next year’s London Games, news reports said Tuesday.

The 28-year-old, who retired in November 2006 but has been training hard in Sydney pools, will speak to the media Wednesday.
… Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Australia’s Thorpe set for London Olympics comeback.

Chelsea to meet Uefa’s 2013 ’solvency eligibility’ rules despite 70.9 million pounds loss

LONDON – After announcing huge losses of 70.9 million pounds despite winning the Double last season, Chelsea has announced that it is on course to meet the Uefa Financial Fair Play rules which come into effect in 2013.

The rules state that all clubs … Original source on Gaea Times at : Chelsea to meet Uefa’s 2013 ’solvency eligibility’ rules despite 70.9 million pounds loss.

Murray says he is no choker

LONDON – Andy Murray, who again failed to end Britain’s 75-year wait for a men’s Grand Slam champion, has said that he is not a choker.

Murray knows what the nation went through as Novak Djokovic destroyed his Australian Open dream, and knows that … Read more »»».

Chelsea buys Benfica defender David Luiz for 21.5 million pounds

LONDON – After buying ace striker Fernando Torres in a record deal, Chelsea wrapped up the 21.5 million pounds signing of Benfica defender David Luiz just minutes before the transfer window closed.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti feared over collapse of the deal as the Brazilian defender failed to board …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Liverpool boss Dalglish warns Torres ‘clubs will always be bigger than superstars’

LONDON – Delivering a stinging message to Fernando Torres, Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish said that anyone who thinks they are bigger than Liverpool is stupid and irresponsible.

Torres stunned Liverpool fans by demanding a transfer on Friday as Chelsea lined up their British record deal for him.

It immediately led to …. Read the original article  : Liverpool boss Dalglish warns Torres ‘clubs will always be bigger than superstars’.

Rotation taking a toll of Black Caps: Vettori

WELLINGTON – New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori and coach John Wright don’t appear to be on the same page as far as the rotation policy being applied to the Black Caps is concerned.

The left arm spinner said that he believed that …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Rotation taking a toll of Black Caps: Vettori.

Ryder now more circumspect with his tweets

WELLINGTON – New Zealand middle order batsman Jesse Ryder will continue to use Twitter, but with a difference. He has decided not to use it during games.

Ryder caused a minor stir on Sunday when he tweeted immediately after being run out in a mix-up with teammate Stephen Murdoch during the domestic one-day match between Wellington …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Ryder now more circumspect with his tweets.

Tiger Woods’ signature golf course project in Dubai suspended

LONDON – Ace golfer Tiger Woods’ 700 million pounds signature golf course project in Dubai has been suspended indefinitely.

Woods’ rocky start to 2011 continued when his signature golf course project in Dubai was suspended indefinitely, leaving major doubts as to whether it will ever be completed.

Woods has been left embarrassed by a funding crisis …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Tiger Woods’ signature golf course project in Dubai suspended.

CA plans city-based T20 to reduce dependence on Indian finances

SYDNEY – Cricket Australia will do an extensive review of the national team’s failure to be competitive for most of the Ashes series next Tuesday and is also expected to endorse detailed plans for next summer’s expansive city-based Twenty20 competition.

Having already elected to place an extra two expansion teams in NSW and Victoria, the board …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : CA plans city-based T20 to reduce dependence on Indian finances.

Boos from small minority can’t undermine Clarke’s popularity with Oz public: CA

SYDNEY – Cricket Australia has backed Michael Clarke by saying that he did not have an image problem, and dismissed the jeers the stand-in captain received at the Gabba as coming from a “small minority” who would turn once the batsman was back in form.

Clarke’s was welcomed to a smattering of applause; punctuated with derisive … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Boos from small minority can’t undermine Clarke’s popularity with Oz public: CA.

Zaheer Abbas finds it “difficult to see Pakistan among top four” in World Cup 2011

KARACHI – Pakistan will find it very hard to reach the semi-finals of the forthcoming World Cup due to the problems it faced in 2010, including the spot-fixing scandal and the subsequent suspension of its three key players, former captain Zaheer Abbas has said.

“Given the problems and issues Pakistan cricket have faced in the last … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Zaheer Abbas finds it “difficult to see Pakistan among top four” in World Cup 2011.

Thorpe must decide soon on international swimming comeback plans: Coach

MELBOURNE – The manager of Australia’s greatest Olympian, Ian Thorpe, has said that the latter will need to make up his mind about a comeback “pretty quickly” as speculation builds over a tilt at the London Olympics next year.

David Flaskas said Thorpe had not given him any indication that he would make a stunning … Original article on : Thorpe must decide soon on international swimming comeback plans: Coach.

Durham’s Plunkett called in as pace bowling cover for England

LONDON – England has called up Durham fast bowler Liam Plunkett as bowling cover for the one-day international series against Australia.

Plunkett will leave the England Lions tour of the Caribbean to join the squad ahead of the seventh and final match in Perth on Sunday, The Guardian reports.

England’s bowling stocks have been reduced with …. Original article  : Durham’s Plunkett called in as pace bowling cover for England.

Scot golfer hits two holes-in-one, in half a round

STONEHAVEN – An amateur Scottish golfer has beaten odds of 67 million to one by scoring two holes-in-one in a single round of golf.

The remarkable golfing double – four times more unlikely than winning the Lotto jackpot – was achieved by Adam Smith, a seven-handicap golfer, while playing in the winter league at Stonehaven Golf … Original article on : Scot golfer hits two holes-in-one, in half a round.

PCB most likely to retain Afridi as Pak captain for World Cup 2011

KARACHI – The Pakistan Cricket Board, will in all likelihood, retain Shahid Afridi as the team captain for the upcoming World Cup, despite some players backing Pakistan’s Test skipper Misbah-ul Haq for the position.

According to sources, PCB chief Ijaz Butt has now decided to stick with Afridi as captain although there is still a divided …. Original source  : PCB most likely to retain Afridi as Pak captain for World Cup 2011.

Watson says Tendulkar will make biggest impact on 2011 World Cup

MELBOURNE – In form Australian all rounder Shane Watson has identified master blaster Sachin Tendulkar, stylish Sri Lanka batsman Mahela Jayawardene and West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard to make the biggest impact in the 2011 World Cup.

Watson joined Inside Cricket on Monday night, and revealed the three opponents to watch in the 2011 tournament.

Watson … Read more >>.

PCB to name Pak captain for World Cup 2011 on February 4: Ijaz Butt

KARACHI – The Pakistan Cricket Board will announce the team captain for the forthcoming World Cup on February 4, a day before the final match of their ongoing one-day series against New Zealand.

“We will announce the captain on February 4, that is decided now,” the Daily Times quoted PCB chief Ijaz Butt, as telling … Read : PCB to name Pak captain for World Cup 2011 on February 4: Ijaz Butt.

Cricket minnows arrive in Dubai to hone skills ahead of World Cup

DUBAI – The four ICC associate nations, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Canada, have arrived in Dubai to sharpen their skills ahead of the World Cup at the International Cricket Council Global Cricket Academy here.

Bubbling with enthusiasm and determination, they began their hard work yesterday at the Gatorade High Performance Camp.

Ireland, who had stunned Pakistan … Read : Cricket minnows arrive in Dubai to hone skills ahead of World Cup.