Monday, December 6, 2010

Kiwi umpires threaten to go on strike over pay dispute: report

Tue, Dec 07 10 10:51 AM

Wellington, Dec 7 (PTI) As New Zealand''s national team continues to struggle in the ongoing ODI series against India, trouble is brewing in the country''s domestic cricket circuit here with umpires threatening to go on strike over a pay dispute. According to a report in ''The Dominion Post'', "New Zealand''s top umpires considered going on strike in the opening round of the domestic Twenty20 competition last week due to pay concerns." "The elite umpiring panel has run out of patience with New Zealand Cricket and discussed not standing in the HRV Cup last Thursday," the newspaper said. The umpires have since backed down a bit on their pay demands but New Zealand Cricket is in no mood to oblige. "The umpires have hired a professional negotiator to renegotiate their contracts with NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan." The elite panel comprises Gary Baxter, Barry Frost, Chris Gaffaney, Evan Gray, Phil Jones, Tim Parlane, Derek Walker, Evan Watkin and the international pair of Tony Hill and Brent Bowden. Baxter, Frost, Gaffaney, Gray, Jones, Parlane, Walker and Watkin earn around 40,000 dollars. New Zealand Cricket Players'' Association chief Heath Mills confirmed the umpires and NZC are on collision course. "I''m aware they are in discussions with NZC about their contracting environment and it''s important they are looked after given the role they have in the game," Mills said. "If they are talking about not umpiring that is not a good result for anyone and illustrates the relationship is not great and needs some work. "Hopefully, common sense prevails and NZC and the umpires get around the table and create some sort of contract or environment that everyone is happy with." PTI PM


Source: Published>

Lorgat''s comments on spot-fixing inappropriate: Mani

Tue, Dec 07 10 10:47 AM

Karachi, Dec 7 (PTI) ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat''s statement that he would be disappointed if Pakistani cricketers implicated in the spot-fixing scandal are found not guilty has miffed the governing body''s former President Ehsan Mani, who feels the remark was inappropriate. Mani said the case was yet to be heard by the ICC code of conduct tribunal and Lorgat''s statement was not required and unnecessary. "The three-member ICC tribunal will hold the hearing next month, therefore Lorgat should not have said anything on the issue, his (Lorgat''s) remarks were inappropriate and if I was the ICC president, I would surely take action against him", said Ehsan Mani told the ''News One'' channel. Lorgat has also upset the lawyers based for the three suspended players, Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamir. The trio will attend a hearing from January 6 to 11 in Doha regarding the various charges levelled against them by the ICC anti-corruption and security unit. Mani also hit out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and said the way the PCB had given a cold shoulder to the trio was inexplicable. "I would think the PCB should have stood by the three players until they were proven guilty," he said. But Tafazzul Rizvi, the legal advisor of the PCB made it clear he didn''t believe Lorgat''s statement was uncalled for or inappropriate. "One must not forget that he is also the ICC chief executive and the ICC is the party pressing the charges against the player in this case so Lorgat has every right to say he would be disappointed if the players were not found guilty," Rizvi said. He also pointed out that the PCB would not have anything to do with the case since the ICC had charged the three players individually and they had to respond themselves. "The PCB is not a party in this case and cannot be seen as getting involved with the players or supporting them in any manner," he said. Mani, meanwhile, also questioned the PCB''s policy of quietly sidelining some senior players from the national team including Kamran Akmal, Danish Kaneria and Shoaib Malik. "To me it appears as if the PCB is dancing to the tune of others," he added. "The PCB first terminated their contracts and then pulled back the legal support too, no organisation does this to it''s employees. Also the manner in which a few more players were quietly sidelined is also dubious. I feel that the PCB has no control over the issue and it is only acting on external instructions", said Mani, who headed the ICC between 2003 and 2006.


Source: Published>

Pak players named by fixer Majeed threaten legal action

Tue, Dec 07 10 10:37 AM

Karachi, Dec 7 (PTI) The four Pakistani players, who were named by alleged bookmaker Mazhar Majeed as being part of a spot-fixing racket with him, have vowed to sue him but stopped short of saying when their lawyers would file the case. Pakistan''s discarded wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal joined the trio of younger brother Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz and Imran Farhat in stating that he has decided to sue Majeed who is in London. Majeed, in a new video leaked last week, named the four players as being involved with him along with the suspended trio of Salman Butt, Muhammad Aamir and Muhammad Asif in the spot-fixing racket. "Majeed was just my agent and nothing more and for him to try to taint my name and reputation is not acceptable to me. I have consulted with my family and friends and they all support a legal suit against Majeed," Kamran told the media. Earlier Umar, Wahab and Imran had also announced they would be soon sending legal notices to Majeed for defaming them and trying to damage their reputations. "It is the same with me I feel he has tried to damage my reputation which I have built over the years playing for Pakistan," Kamran said. "I have started consultations with my lawyers and pretty soon we will be sending him a notice. Either he has to apologise unconditionally and withdraw his statement or face a suit," Kamran said. The senior player, who has been ignored by the selectors for the coming tour to New Zealand after being sidelined for the recent series against South Africa, said Pakistan cricket has been rocked by baseless allegations. "Such statements by Majeed have already caused great damage to the image of Pakistan cricket and the players and we need to do something about it now," he said. However, none of the four players have given a definite time frame for when they would be sending notices to Majeed whose whereabouts remain a mystery after he told the News of the World newspaper in August that the trio of Butt, Aamir and Asif had been bribed to deliberately bowl no-balls in the fourth Test against England at Lord''s.


Source: Published>

Lorgat''s comments on spot-fixing inappropriate: Mani

Tue, Dec 07 10 10:21 AM

Karachi, Dec 7 (PTI) ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat''s statement that he would be disappointed if Pakistani cricketers implicated in the spot-fixing scandal are found not guilty has miffed the governing body''s former President Ehsan Mani, who feels the remark was inappropriate. Mani said the case was yet to be heard by the ICC code of conduct tribunal and Lorgat''s statement was not required and unnecessary. "The three-member ICC tribunal will hold the hearing next month, therefore Lorgat should not have said anything on the issue, his (Lorgat''s) remarks were inappropriate and if I was the ICC president, I would surely take action against him", said Ehsan Mani told the ''News One'' channel. Lorgat has also upset the lawyers based for the three suspended players, Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamir. The trio will attend a hearing from January 6 to 11 in Doha regarding the various charges levelled against them by the ICC anti-corruption and security unit. Mani also hit out at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and said the way the PCB had given a cold shoulder to the trio was inexplicable. "I would think the PCB should have stood by the three players until they were proven guilty," he said. But Tafazzul Rizvi, the legal advisor of the PCB made it clear he didn''t believe Lorgat''s statement was uncalled for or inappropriate. "One must not forget that he is also the ICC chief executive and the ICC is the party pressing the charges against the player in this case so Lorgat has every right to say he would be disappointed if the players were not found guilty," Rizvi said. He also pointed out that the PCB would not have anything to do with the case since the ICC had charged the three players individually and they had to respond themselves. "The PCB is not a party in this case and cannot be seen as getting involved with the players or supporting them in any manner," he said. Mani, meanwhile, also questioned the PCB''s policy of quietly sidelining some senior players from the national team including Kamran Akmal, Danish Kaneria and Shoaib Malik. "To me it appears as if the PCB is dancing to the tune of others," he added. "The PCB first terminated their contracts and then pulled back the legal support too, no organisation does this to it''s employees. Also the manner in which a few more players were quietly sidelined is also dubious. I feel that the PCB has no control over the issue and it is only acting on external instructions", said Mani, who headed the ICC between 2003 and 2006.


Source: Published>

England win second Ashes test to lead series

Published>Tue, Dec 07 10 09:47 AM

England won the second Ashes test by an innings and 71 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after dismissing Australia's last six batsmen for 66 runs in the first session of the final day on Tuesday.

Graeme Swann completed a five-wicket haul and James Anderson took two wickets in two balls as the tourists' took their first test victory on Australian soil since the 2002-03 tour and a first series lead in Australia since 1986-87.

"We never gave them a look in in the game," England captain Andrew Strauss told reporters.

"We need to enjoy this and savour it, because it was a special victory for us ... but it's important that we don't let the Australians back in the series now.

"We know the game of cricket and we know it has a way of biting you if you start patting yourself on the back too much."

Australia resumed on 238 for four, having lost the key wicket of Michael Clarke to part-time spinner Kevin Pietersen on the last ball of day four.

With Clarke, his team's best player of spin, back in the pavilion, the Australians were always going to struggle on a fifth-day pitch providing turn for Swann.

Any hopes of a gritty fight back to salvage a draw were extinguished quickly when Mike Hussey, who had been the pick of Australia's batsman in the series to date, attempted a rash pull shot off the bowling of England quick Steve Finn.

Anderson took the easiest of catches at mid-on to remove Hussey for 52, then struck with his own bowling, dispensing with Brad Haddin courtesy of an outside edge for 12.

Anderson then trapped Ryan Harris lbw for his second golden duck of the match on the next ball, though he was denied a hat-trick when Xavier Doherty fended off a short-pitched delivery on the first ball of his next over.

In between Swann had accounted for the out-of-form Marcus North with a plum lbw, although he was forced to call for the TV umpire after his appeal was refused, to give England three wickets in four deliveries.

The spinner then delivered the coup de grace, clinching a comprehensive victory by bowling both Doherty for five and Peter Siddle for six to finish with five for 91 and the Australians all out for 304.

The final dismissal prompted wild celebrations on the pitch as the players rushed to embrace as England's "Barmy Army" of cricket fans roared with delight.

"It's better this year for the English, I watched it on TV last time and it's nice to reverse fortunes," Swann said, referring to their match at Adelaide four years ago when the English batsmen were skittled for 129 runs in the second innings on the way to defeat.

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting, who was dismissed for a golden duck and nine runs in his 150th test match, paid tribute to the quality of England's performance.

"No doubt it's a bad loss for us, there's no hiding that fact, an innings and 70 runs having won the toss on a good Adelaide wicket, probably just about says it all," he said.

"They've outbatted us, outbowled us, and outfielded us this entire game ... We're going to have to be at our very best if we're going to work our way back into this series."

England suffered a blow before play commenced with the news that fast bowler Stuart Broad had been ruled out of the rest of the series with a torn abdominal muscle.

"He's distraught and we're distraught that he's going to be leaving us because he's a big part of our team both on and off the field," Strauss said.

"He's been one of the mainstays of our bowling attack for quite a while now and he's got all the ingredients to bowl well in Australia. We're devastated for him."

Australian batsman Simon Katich is also likely out for the series with an Achilles injury, the Australian team said shortly before England wrapped up the victory.

"It's a big loss for us, no doubt," said Ponting. "He's been one of the leading openers in test cricket since he forced his way back into the team. He's an experienced player and a great character to have around the team."


Source: Web Search

Barca trio Iniesta, Messi, Xavi in race for Ballon d'Or award

Published>Tue, Dec 07 10 09:37 AM

Paris, Dec 7 (DPA) Spanish midfielders Andres Iniesta and Xavi and Argentina's Lionel Messi have been chosen as the candidates for the 2010 Ballon d'Or award as best player of the year.

The trio - all from Spanish champions Barcelona - were announced Monday at the headquarters of the sports daily L'Equipe in Paris after being selected from a shortlist of 23 chosen by football's world governing body FIFA and France Football.

The Ballon d'Or award will for the first time be a combination of the FIFA World Player of the Year award and the France Football Ballon d'Or.

Messi is the current world player of the year after winning the award in late 2009.

The contenders for the women's world player of the year award are Germany's Fatmire Bajramaj and Birgit Prinz and the Brazilian Marta.

The candidates for men's coach of the year are Vicente del Bosque (Spain/Spanish national team), Pep Guardiola (Spain/Barcelona) and Jose Mourinho (Portugal/Inter Milan and Real Madrid).

In the women's coaching category, Maren Meinert (Germany/German U-20 national team) Silvia Neid (Germany/German national team) and Pia Sundhage (Sweden/US national team) are on the final shortlist.

The nominees were confirmed after a poll by the captains and head coaches of the men's and women's national teams as well as by international media representatives selected by France Football.

The winners will be announced at the first FIFA Ballon d'Or gala as part of a televised ceremony at the Zurich Kongresshaus Jan 10.


Source: Web Search

England win second Ashes test to lead series

Published>Tue, Dec 07 10 07:27 AM

England won the second Ashes test by an innings and 71 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after dismissing Australia's last six batsmen cheaply in the first session on Tuesday.

Graeme Swann completed a five-wicket haul and James Anderson took two wickets in two balls as the tourists' took their first test victory on Australian soil since the 2002-03 tour and a first series lead in Australia since 1986-87.

Mike Hussey, who has been Australia's best batsman in the series so far, was the first to go for 52 attempting a pull shot off the bowling of England quick Steve Finn and Anderson took the catch at mid-on.

Anderson then struck with his bowling, dispensing with Brad Haddin courtesy of an outside edge for 12 then trapping Ryan Harris lbw for his second golden duck of the match on the next ball.

He missed the hat-trick but Swann accounted for Marcus North after an appeal to the TV umpire when his lbw appeal was refused.

Swann then delivered the coup de grace, clinching a comprehensive victory by bowling both Xavier Doherty for five and Peter Siddle for six.

England suffered a blow before play commenced with the news that Stuart Broad had been ruled out of the rest of the series with a torn abdominal muscle.

Australian batsman Simon Katich is also likely out for the series with an Achilles injury, the Australian team said shortly before England wrapped up the victory.


Source: Web Search

Injured England bowler Broad ruled out of Ashes

Published>Tue, Dec 07 10 07:07 AM

England fast bowler Stuart Broad was "devastated" after being ruled out on Tuesday of the rest of the Ashes series against Australia with a torn abdominal muscle.

The 24-year-old was expected to be one of England's most influential players on the tour and his loss is a blow to the tourists' hopes of winning an Ashes series on Australian soil for the first time in 24 years.

"Stuart has a torn abdominal muscle and as such will take no further part in the current Ashes tour of Australia. Given the nature of the injury Stuart has been ruled out of the forthcoming ODI series against Australia as well," England's medical officer Nick Peirce said in a statement.

"Stuart will return to England shortly to commence a rehabilitation programme and we expect him to make a full recovery in time for the World Cup next year."

Broad, who played a key role in England winning the Asheson home soil last year, managed to bowl just 11 overs in Australia's second innings of the second test on Monday.

"Playing for England in an Ashes series in Australia has been something I've dreamed of for a long time so to have that cut short by injury is devastating," he said.

"So far the series has been everything I had anticipated and knowing I'll play no further part is quite hard to take," he added.

"Given the way we had started the series I was looking forward to playing a leading role in England retaining the Ashes but that's not to be.

"Injuries happen and there's nothing I can do about it other than make sure I get stuck into rehabilitation and come back stronger in time for the World Cup next year."

England are likely to call Chris Tremlett into the team as replacement for Broad for the third test in Perth but will be a bowler short as they try and bowl Australia out on Tuesday to win the second match in Adelaide.


Source: Web Search

Injured England bowler Broad ruled out of Ashes series

Tue, Dec 07 10 06:07 AM

England fast bowler Stuart Broad has been ruled out of the rest of the Ashes series against Australia with a torn abdominal muscle, the England team said on Tuesday.

Broad was absent from the field for much of the fourth day of the second test, which concludes on Tuesday with England in a strong position to take a 1-0 lead in the series.


Source: Published>

What Australian media are saying about the Ashes

Tue, Dec 07 10 05:47 AM

Kevin Pietersen's dismissal of Michael Clarke with the final ball on day four left Australia on the ropes on 238-4 going into the final day's play in the second test at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Rain may disrupt play but Australia still need 137 runs to make England bat again with their last two recognised batsmen, Michael Hussey and Marcus North, already at the crease.

Here is a sample of the Australian media's reaction to the state of play.

"Supporters are not sanguine. It's been a long time since as many of them spent as much time scanning the heavens or examining meteorology reports online. Better than anything else, that summed up the state of play. Australia is down and almost out" - Peter Roebuck, the Age.

"Aussies showed a lot of character today !!! Well done boys ... Tomorrow = Draw...." - Shane Warne, Twitter.

"Burn the bails. Australia showed fight and grit and determination but the truth of the matter is that England can still retain the urn before Christmas ... Forget the weather. It can never be relied upon. There are confidence problems, form issues, batting dramas, bowling concerns, fielding woes and selection troubles for Australia. Apart from that, all is well," Will Swanton, Daily Telegraph.

"The pressure on Australia is immense but it is also building up on England. They have gone for two decades without winning a test in Australia.

"History is a ball and chain they must somehow discard, but they are having trouble cutting the cord. Andrew Strauss' decision to bat on yesterday morning was a sign of a conservative heart." - Robert Craddock, Herald Sun.

"The modern version of The Invincibles, who won a record 16 successive tests under Steve Waugh's captaincy then did it again with Ponting as skipper, have become The Terribles. Just like in the mid 80s, suddenly smirking Poms are trotting out that tired old line: can't bat, can't bowl, can't field." - Malcolm Conn, The Australian.

"Anychance (sic) the Aussie press can say how well England are playing rather than how bad the Aussies are please... Cheers" - former England captain Michael Vaughan, Twitter.


Source: Published>

Liverpool cruise past Villa on Houllier's return

Tue, Dec 07 10 05:27 AM

Liverpool ensured it was an unhappy return for former manager Gerard Houllier with a comfortable 3-0 Premier League win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Monday.

David Ngog and Ryan Babel's first-half strikes and a tidy Maxi Rodriguez goal sealed victory for Roy Hodgson's side and lifted them to eighth in the league table. Villa stayed 16th.

The match was a first competitive return to Anfield for Frenchman Houllier who left Liverpool in 2004 after six years as manager having won five trophies in 2001.

It was not to be a memorable one, though, as Liverpool raced into an early lead with two quickfire goals.

The first came from a corner on 14 minutes when Ngog dived on to a Martin Skrtel header to beat goalkeeper Brad Friedel from close range and the hosts were two up minutes later.

Babel, replacing the absent Fernando Torres whose wife had juat gone into labour, latched on to a Lucas throughball on the edge of the box before swivelling to finish sweetly from an angle.

Liverpool, also without injured defender Jamie Carragher and captain Steven Gerrard, added a third 10 minutes after the break when Rodriguez calmly swept home an incisive counter-attack.

The defeat prolonged a poor spell for Villa who have won just once in 10 league matches and hardly created a clear-cut goalscoring chance at Anfield.

Defenders Glen Johnson and Sotirios Kyrgiakos went close to stretching Liverpool's lead, the latter having a header cleared off the line.

Houllier, who has also managed France and Ligue 1 sides Paris Saint Germain and Olympique Lyon, was appointed Villa boss in September.


Source: Published>

Jol resigns as Ajax manager

Published>Tue, Dec 07 10 03:27 AM

Martin Jol has resigned as coach of Ajax Amsterdam, the Dutch club said on their website (www.ajax.nl) on Monday.

The 54-year-old Jol joined Ajax in 2009 from German club SV Hamburg and they finished second in the league in his first season, won the Dutch Cup and qualified for the Champions League group stage.

Jol, linked with the new vacancy at English Premier League Newcastle United, started his coaching career with Dutch clubs Roda JC Kerkrade and RKC Waalwijk before joining England's Tottenham Hotspur as manager.

Former Dutch international Frank de Boer, an assistant to Netherlands coach Bert Van Marwijk, will take charge of Ajax on a provisional basis until the winter break starting on Dec. 24.

Ajax play away at AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday and need a win to secure a place in the Europa League.

They lie fourth in the Dutch League midway the season, five points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven and Twente Enschede.

Newcastle fired Chris Hughton as their manager on Monday. Hughton worked as Jol's assistant at Tottenham.


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Xavi, Iniesta and Messi on Ballon d'Or shortlist

Published>Tue, Dec 07 10 03:07 AM

Spain's World Cup winners Xavi and Andres Iniesta were joined by holder Lionel Messi on an all-Barcelona shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or announced on Monday.

Iniesta, 26, scored the winning goal in Spain's World Cup final victory over the Netherlands in Johannesburg in July and, along with his 30-year-old midfield partner Xavi and Argentina forward Messi, helped Barcelona to the Spanish league title.

Messi, 23, had a disappointing World Cup by his own high standards, failing to score in the tournament as Argentina, coached by Diego Maradona, crashed out after a 4-0 defeat by Germany in the quarter-finals.

"It's an honour to be one of the three finalists for the Ballon d'Or, and even more so to be there with Xavi and Leo," Iniesta wrote on his Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AndresIniesta).

"It's a marvellous prize for the cantera", he added, referring to the club's "La Masia" youth academy where all three trained.

Spain's Vicente del Bosque, a former Real Madrid manager who masterminded Spain's first World Cup success, made the shortlist for the Coach of the Year award.

He was joined by Barca's Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho, who won the Champions League and Italian league and cup with Inter Milan last season.

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke told a media conference that Spanish soccer had been "really ahead of the rest" since 2008 and was also dominating at club level.

"They are crushing world football at the moment," he said. "Barcelona's match against Madrid last week was a brilliant display of football."

HISTORIC DAY

Guardiola, also a product of the "Masia" academy, said the "tremendous success" of Iniesta and Xavi should be shared with Del Bosque and his predecessor as Spain coach Luis Aragones, who led Spain to victory at Euro 2008.

"I am also happy for Leo, who is the greatest, although he did not have much luck at the World Cup," the former midfielder told a news conference before the club's Champions League Group D match at home to Rubin Kazan on Tuesday.

"The most important thing is that the one that wins shares it with his team mates.

"It will be an historic day and I want everyone who works at this club to feel it is theirs."

It was the third time that three players from the same team had been named on the three-man Ballon d'Or shortlist. In 1988 and 1989, AC Milan monopolised the first three spots, with Dutch striker Marco Van Basten winning both times.

This year's winners will be announced on Jan. 10 in Zurich.

The honour was formerly organised solely by France Football magazine but has now merged with FIFA's World Player of the Year award. Messi won both in 2009.


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UEFA cuts Mourinho ban to one match and reduces fine

Tue, Dec 07 10 12:47 AM

UEFA has reduced on appeal a fine and two-match ban given to coach Jose Mourinho after allegations that two of his Real Madrid players engineered deliberate red cards in last month's Champions League game with Ajax Amsterdam.

European soccer's governing body, which originally ruled Mourinho, the club and four players guilty of "improper conduct", cut the Portuguese's fine to 30,000 euros ($39,780) from 40,000 and Real's to 100,000 euros from 120,000.

It also reduced the coach's suspension to one match -- Wednesday's Group G game at home to Auxerre -- from the initial punishment of a one-game suspension and a second game deferred for a probationary period of three years.

Fines of 20,000 euros and one-match suspensions for Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos, who were shown second yellow cards near the end of the match for wasting time, will stand, UEFA said in a statement on its website (www.uefa.com).

Captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas and reserve keeper Jerzy Dudek, who appeared to relay messages from Mourinho to Alonso and Ramos, were fined 10,000 and 5,000 euros respectively and those sanctions will also stand.

Spain internationals Ramos and Alonso will serve their bans against Auxerre -- a 'dead' game as Real are already assured of first place in Group G and qualification for the last 16.

Both players had accumulated two yellow cards in the group stage before they were sent off and a further caution in a subsequent game would have meant a one-match suspension during the knockout rounds.

The pair will start the knockout stage with one yellow card each against their names as the cautions picked up before the Ajax game still stand.

Mourinho last week called UEFA's decision a "medal" and not a punishment and complained there was one rule for him and another for other coaches.


Source: Published>

Impatient Newcastle sack Hughton as manager

Published>Tue, Dec 07 10 12:27 AM

Newcastle United sacked Chris Hughton as manager on Monday after only 14 months in the job saying the club needed someone with more experience to take them forward.

Hughton, appointed full-time manager in October 2009, led Newcastle back to the Premier League last season and although they have enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, speculation about his future has swirled around St James' Park for months.

Newcastle lost 3-1 at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday to slip to 11th in the standings, prompting Hughton's dismissal and the start of the search for the club's 12th manager in 13 years.

"Newcastle United have today parted company with manager Chris Hughton. Goalkeeping coach Paul Barron also leaves the club today," the club said in a statement on their website (www.nufc.co.uk).

"The board would like to place on record their thanks to Chris for his considerable efforts during the club's transition from Championship to Premier League football. Chris has shown exceptional character and commitment since being appointed.

"Regrettably the board now feels that an individual with more managerial experience is needed to take the club forward.

Reserve team manager Peter Beardsley, a former Newcastle forward and England international, was put in temporary charge of the team.

Former West Ham United manager Alan Pardew has been linked with the job. He was scheduled to fly to Newcastle on Tuesday morning, sources in the north-eastern city said.

The next manager will have the task of trying to revive the north-east club's glory days, they won the last of their four top-flight league titles in 1927, and their long-suffering fans were quick to voice their anger.

GENERAL MOOD

Website forums were flooded with comments, one on the local Evening Chronicle site reading: "Disgusted, disgraceful, shameful, cowardly," summing up the general mood.

Chairman Mike Ashley, who tried to sell the club two years ago and who has endured a rocky relationship with the fans, also came in for widespread criticism while Hughton was praised for his honesty, decency and recognised for the progress he had made operating with limited resources.

Midfielder Kevin Nolan told Sky Sports News that he was "Gutted, surprised and shocked."

Hughton, a former Tottenham Hotspur and Ireland fullback, spent 14 years as a coach at Spurs before joining Newcastle in 2008.

After former striker Alan Shearer was drafted in and failed to prevent the club's relegation from the Premier League in 2009, Hughton took charge as a caretaker before getting the job on a permanent basis three months into the season.

Having secured promotion as champions and with strong backing from fans and players, he made a decent start to the Premier League campaign.

Newcastle thrashed Aston Villa 6-0 in their second game, beat local rivals Sunderland 5-1, had impressive wins at Arsenal and Everton and a home draw with champions Chelsea.

Although the club's home form has generally been poor, with three defeats and three draws from eight games, they are still above the likes of Everton, Liverpool and Villa who all finished in the top eight last season.

Hughton has also had a hand in developing striker Andy Carroll into an England international and his calm approach has helped midfielders Joey Barton and Nolan to blossom.


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Westwood hits out at McIlroy snub for PGA Tour rookie award

Mon, Dec 06 10 11:27 PM

World number one Lee Westwood has criticised the U.S. PGA Tour for voting American Rickie Fowler as rookie of the year ahead of Britain's Rory McIlroy.

"Sorry 140 letters is not going to be enough for this rant," Westwood said on his Twitter account on Monday. "Just seen Rickie Fowler has been given rookie of the year.

"Yes he's had a good year but Rory McIlroy was third in two majors and (produced) an absolute demolition of the field at Quail Hollow...oh yes and he was on the winning Ryder Cup team."

Westwood was referring to the 21-year-old Northern Irishman's third-place finishes at the British Open and U.S. PGA Championship and his four-stroke victory over a top-class field at the Quail Hollow Championship in North Carolina in May.

"Is this another case of protectionism by the PGA Tour or are they so desperate to win something?," added the 37-year-old Briton after he romped to an eight-shot victory at the Sun City Challenge in South Africa on Sunday.

"Wouldn't have something to do with Rory not joining the tour next year? Maybe the PGA Tour just employs the same voting process as FIFA," said Westwood, referring to the controversial choices of Russia and Qatar as World Cup soccer hosts in 2018 and 2022 respectively.

Westwood, McIlroy and Germany's Martin Kaymer, all members of the triumphant Ryder Cup team against United States in October, have declined to take up PGA Tour membership in 2011.

Fowler, who featured in the losing U.S. team at Celtic Manor in Wales two months ago, failed to win on the PGA Tour this year but was a runner-up at the Phoenix Open and at the Memorial Tournament.

The 21-year-old also finished in the top 10 seven times.


Source: Published>

Rested United to field strongest side against Valencia

Published>Mon, Dec 06 10 11:07 PM

Manchester United will field their strongest side against Valencia in Tuesday's Champions League game despite having already reached the next round, manager Alex Ferguson said on Monday.

Ferguson, whose team's next two Premier League matches are against leaders Arsenal and champions Chelsea, could have rested players for the final Group C match but after 10 days without a game is keen to use his best ones to seal top spot.

The English side lead the group with 13 points from five matches, while Valencia have 10 and could snatch first place -- and a better chance of avoiding the big guns in the next round -- with a win at Old Trafford due to a better goal difference.

Teams who finish top will be drawn against group runners-up in the Dec. 17 draw for the knockout stages.

"The sensible approach is to avoid the bigger hitters like Real Madrid and Barcelona and Bayern Munich, they are the teams that are number one in their groups at the moment," Ferguson told a news conference.

"We can only do that if we finish top of our group and that's what we want to do."

United's players have had extra rest after their weekend league fixture at Blackpool was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

Many first-team players have not played since the 7-1 demolition of Blackburn Rovers on Nov. 27, with a second-string side thrashed 4-0 by West Ham United in the League Cup quarter-finals last week.

"We'd have preferred to have played a game on Saturday. The only advantage we've got is that no one gets injured," said Ferguson. "They haven't played for 10 days.

"I will play my strongest side tomorrow and then we have six days to prepare for the Arsenal game so it's OK."

Ferguson has this season experimented with some of his younger players in Champions League games and it has paid off as United stand on the verge of becoming the first team to get through all their group matches without conceding a goal.

It has, however, been a different story domestically and some of those young players were involved in the West Ham humiliation which ended the team's 29-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

"In European games, they realise that maybe concentration has got to be 100 percent," Ferguson said.

"It's a different atmosphere and a different challenge. All players like to be involved in the European cup. You know that if you win your group you are into that stage of the tournament where it becomes very interesting."

Ferguson has no new injury concerns but said he would not risk playing striker Michael Owen, who returned to first team training last week following a hamstring problem.


Source: Web Search

I don''t want the team to mess up this time: Afridi

Mon, Dec 06 10 10:37 PM

Karachi, Dec 6 (PTI) Pakistan''s ODI skipper Shahid Afridi today endorsed former captain Wasim Akram''s views that the PCB must announce the World Cup squad or at least make a short-list of players as soon as possible. "We need to start working soon with the bunch of players who make the World Cup, as it is a very important tournament and I don''t want the team to mess up this time," Afridi said. Pakistan were eliminated in the first round of the last two World Cups, in 2003 and 2007. In a bid to overcome his recent run of inconsistent form with both bat and ball, Afridi is also spending a lot of time in the nets these days. "Yes, I am worried about my form for the past one year and I am personally not satisfied with the way I have batted or bowled for the national team," Afridi said. Afridi, who will lead Pakistan in the coming one-day series in New Zealand, and is also tipped to captain the side in the world cup, said he was more concerned about his form because of the upcoming extravaganza. "It has not been an easy year for anyone of us and I think these constant scandals and controversies have affected us. They certainly affected my form and performances," he said. "No matter what you say but these things do affect you and the team. And then the added responsibility of leading the team also affected my own performances," Afridi stated. The all-rounder said that he is concentrating and working hard on his batting and bowling. "The best thing to get out of a bad run is to go back to the basics and keep practising. I am doing that because, being the captain, I know how important it is for me to perform consistently with bat and ball," he said.


Source: Published>

India-New Zealand 4th ODI in Bangalore on Tuesday

Published>Mon, Dec 06 10 10:07 PM

Bangalore, Dec.6 (ANI): The fourth match of the One-Day International series between India and New Zealand will be played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Tuesday.

The hosts have already clinched the five-match series obtaining an unassailable 3-0 lead by winning the matches held at Guwahati, Jaipur and Vododara.

On Saturday, Indian skipper Gautam Gambhir hit a second consecutive unbeaten century to lead India to a nine-wicket win and ODI series victory against the New Zealand side at Vadodara.

The left-handed Gambhir hit 126 not out, his ninth century in ODIs.

The last match of the ODI will be played at Chennai on Friday. (ANI)


Source: Web Search

Legal team part ways with untraceable Haider

Mon, Dec 06 10 09:53 PM

Karachi, Dec 6 (PTI) Pakistan refugee wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider''s problems deepened with his legal team now parting ways with him in London. Natasha Malik, one of the lawyers whose firm was representing Zulqarnain said from London that they would no longer be representing the Pakistani player. "The reason is simple we have tried unsuccessfully to get in touch with him for the past few days, left him messages and so on and yet he has not contacted us at all. He was supposed to come in for some important meetings pertaining to his asylum case with the UK authorities but he didn''t show up for these meetings and in such circumstances we see no point in continuing to represent him any longer," she said. Zulqarnain, who fled the team hotel in Dubai last month hours before the final ODI against South Africa to reach London and claim asylum, has issued a fresh threat to expose the corrupt in Pakistan cricket. But since issuing the threat on his facebook page he has been untraceable by anyone with his London numbers also on an answering machine all the time. UK authorities are also set to decide on his asylum application this week and sources said the legal firm A and D was fed up after the keeper failed to get in touch with them despite reminders. "Zulqarnain is now in trouble and no one knows where he is because presently he is staying on a temporary one month visa in the UK which expires this week," one source added. The wicketkeeper claims that he fled to London after being threatened by people who wanted him to fix matches of the one-day series against South Africa. "I hate corruption and I can''t stay silent for long," Haider told PTI yesterday. "I just want the government to assure security for my family. All the people who are questioning my integrity and intention right now they will know the truth soon," he had said. Haider''s constant threats to "tell the truth" has also got the PCB officials worried who are wondering if a new pandora''s box is going to be opened soon. Sources said that PCB Chairman, Ijaz Butt had met with the board lawyers today to discuss the Zulqarnain case and number of options were discussed in it including sending him a legal notice to respond to the board''s charges of indiscipline.


Source: Published>

South Africa capable of hosting Olympics says Rogge

Published>Mon, Dec 06 10 09:47 PM

South Africa has the ability to host a summer Olympic Games following the success of this year's soccer World Cup, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge said on Monday.

Rogge, who is attending an international sports conference, said the World Cup showed the country's ability to host a major sporting event.

"I would like to emphasise that South Africa is capable of organising a very good Games. There is no doubt about that," Rogge told a news conference.

Rio de Janeiro will host South America's first Olympic Games in 2016 which will leave Africa as the only continent which has not hosted the world's largest sports event.

Rogge said he would be pleased to see Africa hold its first Olympics but also sounded a note of caution.

"The IOC would be delighted to award the Games to Africa because it is the only continent that has not organised a Games.

"But I want to be clear that we would only award the Games on quality not on location. The bottom line is, is that the athletes deserve good Games. That will be the defining factor.

"Rio got the Games mostly based on quality, not just because we wanted to award the Games to Brazil. It would be the same for any South African, or African, bid," he said.

In a separate interview with Reuters, Rogge added: "We would love to come to Africa as a continent or South Africa as a country.

"Africa is indeed the last continent not to have hosted the Games. We would welcome a candidate from South Africa or indeed an African candidate."

South African IOC executive board member Sam Ramsamy hinted that his country would bid for the 2020 Games.

"Everyone has talked how successful the World Cup was and they have seduced us into trying to put a bid forward," Ramsamy told the news conference.

"But we will have to discuss it with our African and our Olympic colleagues before making our decision. According to IOC regulations it's too premature (to announce a bid) at this stage. We are having discussions with the government on that particular point."

The IOC will hold its general assembly in Durban in July next year where the winner of the 2018 Winter Olympic bid will be announced.

The three cities in the running are Munich in Germany, Annecy in France and Pyeongchang in South Korea.

The bidding process for 2020 will begin after the announcement.


Source: Web Search

FIFA not considering reform of voting system

Mon, Dec 06 10 09:27 PM

FIFA are not considering reforms of their voting system for choosing World Cup hosts despite the controversy which surrounded the decision on the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, general secretary Jerome Valcke said on Monday.

"We just voted last Thursday. We have not sat down to discuss a reform of the voting system. It is not part of our discussions at the moment", Valcke told the media.

On Thursday, the body's executive committee voted to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 tournament to Qatar, prompting complaints that politics had played too large a part in the process.

The committee had been cut to 22 members from the usual 24 after two were suspended by the ethics committee following an investigation into corruption allegations made by a British newspaper.

"We reacted well to the situation. The members were suspended. There is no need to be ashamed", Valcke added.

The next bidding process to chose who would stage the 2026 tournament would not take place before 2018, he added.


Source: Published>

Navratilova embarks on her climb to Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mon, Dec 06 10 08:51 PM

Kilmanjaro, Dec 6 (PTI) Tennis legend Martina Navratilova today embarks on her climb to the summit of Africa''s highest Mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Martina is joined on the challenge by a team of 27, including German Paralympic cyclist Michael Teuber and British Olympic badminton star Gail Emms and a host of international fundraisers. It will take the climbers six days to reach the summit. Martina, who battled breast cancer earlier this year, is raising funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a charity which supports community sports projects around the world. Speaking as the team were about to depart on their expedition, Martina said: "I''ve been planning to climb Mt Kilimanjaro since early this year, even before my breast cancer diagnosis, so it feels really great to finally be underway." "I''m feeling well prepared for the challenge, and although I''m sure we''ll all be in for a tough few days of climbing, I am determined to reach the summit," she said. Before the climb Martina visited the Laureus-supported Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) project in Nairobi, the kind of project which will benefit from funds raised from the Kilimanjaro challenge.


Source: Published>

Croatian police charge 21 in match-fixing case

Mon, Dec 06 10 08:47 PM

Croatian police have charged 21 people, including three former top-flight players, for involvement in a match-fixing and betting scam, a police statement said on Monday.

The players were identified in the statement only by initials.

The statement said three people had been charged as organisers of the scam. Of the 21 people charged, 19 were Croatians and two Slovenians, the statement said.

"We have charged three persons for organising several players, coaches and managers in Croatia's first soccer league, who were promised and then given certain amounts of money for fixing soccer games," the statement said.

The police detained 22 people in June for questioning in the case.

Croatia recently stepped up the fight against corruption and organised crime -- a key condition for EU accession talks that it hopes to complete next year -- and some top managers and former government officials have been sentenced for graft or are under investigation.

Last year police in Germany, Britain, Austria and Switzerland cracked down on a match-fixing ring in what UEFA called the biggest betting scandal in Europe.


Source: Published>

Karnataka XI, Punjab enter Beighton hockey quarters

Mon, Dec 06 10 07:53 PM

Kolkata, Dec 6 (PTI) Karnataka XI and Punjab Sports today stormed into the quarter-finals of the Coal India 115th All India Beighton Cup hockey tournament here. While Karnataka XI blanked Eastern Railway Sports Association (ERSA) 4-0, Punjab Sports thrashed BNR 3-0 in their respective matches at the Sports Authority of India artificial turf here. Nitin struck back-to-back goals in the 64th and 68th minutes, while M B Aiyappa (12th) and Muddappa (61st) slammed scored one each for Karnataka. In the other match of the day, Gagandeep Singh scored as early as in the first minute and then doubled his account, converting a penalty corner in the 56th minute in Punjab''s win over BNR. Pawan Bassi (8th) was the other goalscorer for Punjab. Two more teams will make the last eight round tomorrow. Mumbai XI will face SAI (Eastern Zone), while Eastern Railway will lock horns with Port Trust in tomorrow''s fixtures. Reigning champions Indian Oil, runners-up South-Central Railway, CESC and Air India have been given direct entry into the quarterfinal round, which will be a league format with eight teams divided into two groups.


Source: Published>

Suazo brace inspires Monterrey to Mexican title

Mon, Dec 06 10 07:47 PM

Chile striker Humberto "Lollipop" Suazo scored twice as Monterrey beat Santos Laguna 3-0 to win the Mexican Apertura championship final 5-3 on aggregate.

Argentine Jose Basanta also scored for the "Stripes", who lifted their fourth title at their Tecnologico stadium on Sunday, having gone down 3-2 in the first leg on Thursday.

It was a second successive defeat in the final for Santos, nicknamed the "Warriors", who lost the 2009/2010 Clausura final on penalties to Toluca in May.

The shaven-headed Suazo, a member of Chile's 2010 World Cup squad, hit the bar early on before opening the scoring with a shot from outside the box in the 23rd minute.

Basanta headed the second from a corner in the 72nd and Suazo added the final touch with a solo goal after weaving past three defenders to beat goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez from close range.

The third goal sparked wild celebrations by the Monterrey bench who doused coach Manuel Vucetich with water.

Celebrating fans later swarmed into Monterrey's Macroplaza, one of the biggest squares in the world at 400,000 square metres.

The match was the last for Mexican referee Armando Archundia, who officiated at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. He equalled the record of French referee Joel Quiniou by taking charge of eight World Cup matches.


Source: Published>

JCT looking to overcome poor I-League start against Churchill

Published>Mon, Dec 06 10 07:37 PM

Gurgaon, Dec 6 (IANS) After a surprise defeat against newly-promoted HAL, JCT will aim to come back to winning ways against Churchill Brothers in their second round match of I-League football at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here Tuesday.

JCT have happy memories from their last encounter against Churchill Brothers, having beaten the Goan team 1-0 last month to make the Durand Cup final. But in their last I-League meeting, Churchill humiliated JCT 6-0 to finish runners-up in the league.

While JCT made a poor start in the league, Churchill were held 1-1 in their opening match against title-holders Dempo.

Churchill coach Vincent Subramanium, a former Singapore national coach, knows that a good start is important as the race can become close at the end.

'The I-League is a 26-game marathon and this is just the second game. But the title race can become very tight, so we need a good start,' said Subramaniam.

With only one foreign import, in captain Odafe Onyeka Okolie of Nigeria, in the side, Subramaniam is confident of winning the league.

'We have a good attack. But we want to recruit good foreigners and are looking out for a striker and a midfielder who shall be joining us next week hopefully,' said the Singaporean, who had also coached Home United.

JCT coach Parminder Singh will be drawing inspiration from the team's win in the Durand Cup.

'We played well in the Durand and our defenders were successful in marking Odafe. We will have an interesting and a good match tomorrow,' he said.


Source: Web Search

Former cricketer T E Srinivasan passes away

Mon, Dec 06 10 07:07 PM

Chennai, Dec 6 (PTI) Former Tamil Nadu cricketer T E Srinivasan died here today after a prolonged battle against brain cancer. Srinivasan, who played for India in one Test and two one-dayers in 1980-81, was 60 and is survived by wife and a daughter, family sources said. He was suffering from the dreaded disease for a long time and breathed his last at a city hospital this morning. Srinivasan, a key player for Tamil Nadu in the 70s, totalled 48 runs in his debut Test, against New Zealand in March 1981. During his first class career, he had played 75 matches, including 45 in Ranji Trophy, and scored 3,487 runs at an average of 34.18 with five centuries. An occasional leg-spinner, he represented Woodhouse in the Yorkshire League for some years, and also played Grade cricket in New South Wales. Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) president N Srinivasan expressed grief over the death of the former cricketer.


Source: Published>

Arsenal's Belgian defender Vermaelen out until New Year

Mon, Dec 06 10 06:47 PM

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen will not make his comeback from injury until at least January, manager Arsene Wenger said on Monday.

The Belgium centre-back has not played since damaging his Achilles on international duty against Turkey in September.

He was not expected to be out for more than a week at the time, but three months on Wenger said there was still no definite return date.

"Vermaelen is in a (protective) boot," Wenger said on the club website (www.arsenal.com). "We want him back and I hope he will be back soon, but not before January."

Arsenal are top of the Premier League but have conceded nine goals in their last six games in all competitions prompting questions about their defensive solidity.


Source: Published>

HI mulls complete reshuffle in team management

Mon, Dec 06 10 06:37 PM

Saumojyoti S Choudhury New Delhi, Dec 6 (PTI) Upset over Harendra Singh''s resignation saga during last month''s Guangzhou Asian Games, Hockey India (HI) is mulling a complete reshuffle in the team management when the officials of the national federation meets here on Saturday. A top source in HI told PTI that the manner and circumstances under which Harendra had resigned after India lost to Malaysia in the semi-finals of Asian Games, has not gone down well with some members of the federation. He also said that it would be not be a surprise if HI completely overhauls the team management of both the senior men''s as well as women''s team. "HI secretary general (Narinder Batra) at present is in Malaysia for a meeting of the Asian Hockey Federation. After his return he will be meeting other HI officials on December 11, where all the issue including that of coaches will be taken up," the source said. "It is certain that (Jose) Brasa won''t get an extension and Harendra''s chances are also slim after his resignation drama during the Asian Games. Some officials are very angry with Harendra for disclosing his resignation letter to the media. He has also irked them with his statement that he is ready to reconsider his resignation if given full authority of the team," he said. "During the meeting the officials will rethink about the whole set up, including a change in the entire support staff," he added. Incidentally, the senior men''s hockey team is without a coach after the Asian Games where they won the bronze medal. National coach Harendra had tendered his resignation immediately after India''s shocking 3-4 defeat at the hands Malaysia while chief coach Brasa''s contract has expired. To add to the saga, four other team officials -- Pradeep Datta (trainer), Shrikant (physio), Clarence Lobo (goalkeeping coach) and SK Naik (team doctor) -- were also reported to have jointly resigned from their respective posts. The source also said that the women''s team will also have an entire new support staff as interim coach Sandeep Somesh is unlikely to get another stint after Indian eves finished out of the medal bracket in Guangzhou. "Somesh will surely be replaced because he has, so far, failed to produce any result," he added.


Source: Published>

JCT, Churchill to clash in I-League tomorrow

Mon, Dec 06 10 06:23 PM

Gurgaon, Dec 6 (PTI) JCT have an uphill task on hand as they prepare to lock horns with formidable Churchill Brothers in a second round I-League match, at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium here tomorrow. The Punjab outfit were off to a shocking start, going down 0-1 to debutants Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) in their opening fixture, and they would look to make amends against the Goans, who kicked off their campaign with a 1-1 draw against defending champions Dempo at the same venue. The match would also provide Churchill with an opportunity to eye a revenge, over a month after they were knocked out of the Durand Cup by the same team. JCT backline were often troubled in their first match, and their forwards, too, couldn''t do much against a tight HAL defense. That they failed to cancel out Xavier Vijay Kumar''s 13th minute goal, gives the indication that JCT struggled upfront. "We had some problems at the start but played much better in the second half. We had created some chances but could not score," said JCT coach Parminder Singh. With the exception of Kareem Omolaja -- who played his heart out -- Parminder''s boys didn''t have much to show for against the Bangalore-based team. Churchill Brothers, on the other hand, had to come through a tough opening-round match against Dempo. The former champions were down by a goal and had it not been for Okolie Odafe''s 86th minute strike, they could have so easily lost the match. Instead of adopting a defensive approach which they did in their first match, Churchill Brothers would do well to play their usual aggressive brand of football. As a result of playing more men in the middle, Odafe, Churchill''s key man and the opponents'' biggest threat, often becomes ineffective. JCT defense did an admirable job in marking Odafe, when the two teams last clashed and Parminder is hoping for a similar outing tomorrow as well. "Churchill is a tough team and Odafe is great player, very dangerous, but our defenders marked him really well then, and hope they would be able to do it again," Parminder said. PTI AH ATK


Source: Published>

Vettori urges teammates to perform well in remaining matches

Mon, Dec 06 10 05:51 PM

Bangalore, Dec 6 (PTI) Facing the challenge of avoiding a series whitewash, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori today asked the top-order batsmen to respond to the tough situation as they face a rampaging India in the fourth ODI tomorrow. New Zealand are down 0-3 and the Kiwi skipper said it''s time that the players of his side wake up and perform. "Each individual has to stand up and perform well. It is missing. We need couple of top order batsmen coming good in the next two matches. What we have to do tomorrow is to have to be clear in our minds and perform the roles that we need to do," Vettori said on the eve of the penultimate match of the series. The Kiwi skipper blamed the flop show of batsmen for the embarrassing situation they have landed in. "Reasons for the three-match drubbing is relatively simple and unfortunate. We failed to post enough runs on the board by trying different things. We did not put pressure on the Indian batsmen. "In this part of the world you need to be harder with the ball and make it straight. It is number of things and we just trying to make improvements to give us a bit of performance," Vettori said. The left-arm spinner though was full of praise for the host batsmen especially his counterpart Gautam Gambhir, who struck back-to-back centuries to lead India to series win. "The Indian batsmen having been playing extremely well, particularly Gambhir. We got to find a way to stop him." Vettori was hopeful that Brendon McCullam, who is still not comfortable with his back, would do the duty behind the wickets. "Hope he keeps wickets. His back is still giving him a bit of trouble. It is difficult to keep wickets with a sore back. He is on for the game tomorrow morning and is progressing and getting better. I am just hoping that he keeps wickets but I am not hundred per cent sure," he said. More PTI RE AT


Source: Published>

Hussey backs North to fire on final day of Adelaide Test

Published>Mon, Dec 06 10 05:47 PM

Adelaide, Dec 6(ANI): Australian batsman Michael Hussey has defended Marcus North, saying that the under-siege batsman could become a major problem for England on day five of the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval.

North will join Hussey when Australia resumes their second innings at 238-4 on Tuesday, with 98 overs to survive.

Hussey hopes that the challenge of retaining the Ashes would be the perfect stage for North to bounce back to his best form.He's a class player and I have no doubt he'll definitely score runs," Fox Sports quoted Hussey, as saying.

"He's a champion player, a champion guy to have around the team and we want him to be part of the team, so we're behind him all the way."

"It's just about him going out there and enjoying it, trusting his game, and I'm sure he'll be fine," he added.

North has not reached double figures in nine of his past 18 Test innings. (ANI)


Source: Web Search

England's Football Association Chairman quits over 2018 World Cup bid row

Published>Mon, Dec 06 10 05:23 PM

London, Dec 6(ANI): The acting Football Association (FA) Chairman Roger Burden has said that he will quit as he no longer trusts FIFA members after the failure of England's 2018 World Cup bid.

Burden said that he was not prepared to deal with people who were "not men of their word".

"When we finished up with just one vote on top of our own - I find that very difficult to understand. Prince William was promised a number of votes and only one of those materialized, that is a disgrace," Sky Sports quoted Burden, as saying.

"I feel there are members of the FIFA Executive Committee, which is our governing body, who cannot be trusted - they are not men of their word and that's why I'm not prepared to deal with them," he added.

Burden, who was appointed in May, had applied for the position of permanent FA Chairman, but has now withdrawn from the race.

He will continue as acting chairman for the time being until a successor is appointed.

England's bid, which was called "excellent and remarkable" by FIFA President Sepp Blatter, was dumped out of the running in the first round of the vote, which was held in the international governing body's headquarters in Zurich.

Russia was eventually named as hosts, beating Spain-Portugal and the Netherlands-Belgium.

According to reports, one of England's votes came from their own executive committee member Geoff Thompson.

Thompson and the England 2018 bid team believe that African football president Issa Hayatou was their only foreign backer. (ANI)


Source: Web Search

Qatar World Cup award to kickstart construction

Published>Mon, Dec 06 10 05:11 PM

Qatar's successful bid to host the 2022 soccer World Cup will speed up its construction programme and boost property prices, with contractors expected to flock to the Gulf state to snap up projects worth billions of dollars.

The world's largest liquefied natural gas exporter will try to ease concerns about its lack of infrastructure by spending some $100 billion over the next five years, according to some estimates, as it rushes to prepare for soccer's biggest tournament, the first to be held in the Arab world.

"This will catalyse a lot of infrastructure projects that have been progressing slowly or waiting in the wings," Global Investment House said in a report. "Real estate prices are also likely to see movements in line with the venues with demand rising in certain areas more than others."

Some projects in Qatar have stalled this year due to a property market slump. In August, Qatari developer Barwa Real Estate Co said it delayed its 30 billion riyals ($8.3 billion) Al Khor project due to sluggish market conditions.

"There will be a lot of infrastructure spending, with demand for cement and steel so Qatar National Cement, Industries Qatar will benefit in the long term plus real estate companies such as Barwa," said Shakeel Sarwar, head of asset management at Securities & Investment Co (SICO) in Bahrain.

The World Cup win would also likely speed up work on the $3 billion 40-kilometre Qatar-Bahrain Causeway, Sarwar added.

Over the next five years Qatar will build a $25 billion rail network, an $11 billion new airport and a $5.5 billion new deep water seaport.

The Gulf state will also spend billions more on 12 air-conditioned soccer stadiums, boosting its need for additional power capacity in a country where summer temperatures can soar to above 50 degrees Celsius.

Other projects include a $1 billion crossing linking the new airport with mega-projects in the northern part of the capital, Doha. It will also spend an additional $20 billion on new roads.

Doha's index surged 3.6 percent to 8,477 points on Sunday, its highest finish since Oct. 5, 2008 and biggest gain for seven months on the first day's trading since the country was chosen to host the World Cup.

OVERFLOW

International construction firms heading to Qatar for the first time will face tough competition from regional players such as Dubai's Arabtec, the United Arab Emirates' largest construction firm, which has won a series of Qatar contracts this year and is well established there.

"We are ready and our timing in Qatar was right so we can definitely contribute to the boom that is required," said Ziad Makhzoumi, Arabtec's chief financial officer.

"There will be other companies that are interested in coming to Qatar but they will be new to the market there and will not have the advantage of the infrastructure build that we already have."

Other regional construction firms likely to bid for World Cup-related contracts include Dubai's Drake & Scull, Egypt's Orascom Construction Industries and Bahrain's NASS Corporation.

With the completion of the Qatar-Bahrain Causeway, Bahrain will be the country in the Gulf Arab region likely to benefit most from the World Cup, with visitors expected to use it as a base.

"Qatar will expand its hotel capacity, but it wouldn't be sensible to create excess capacity that would be redundant after the event, so it is likely to also rely on Bahrain's hotel industry," SICO's Sarwar said.

JP Grobbelaar, Colliers International director of research, estimates Qatar has around 10,000 hotel rooms, with this figure set to rise to 17,000 by the end of 2011.

Bid leaders have promised 95,000 rooms will be available by 2022.

"Qatar could find itself in an oversupply situation. It will have to design hotels that could be used for different purposes after the tournament finishes," Grobbelaar said.


Source: Web Search

Friday, December 3, 2010

England bowlers decimate Australia on day one of Adelaide Ashes Test

Published>Fri, Dec 03 10 02:23 PM

Adelaide, Dec 3(ANI): England bowlers made a sensational start to the second Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval by bowling out Australia for 245 in their first innings on day one on Friday.

Asked to bowl first, England had a dream opening three overs when they took three quick wickets to have the hosts 3-2 after 13 balls of the Test.

Australian opening batsman Simon Katich was run out without even facing a ball by a brilliant throw from Jonathan Trott, while captain Ricky Ponting edged his first ball from Jimmy Anderson low to second slip, where Graeme Swann took an outstanding catch.

It was Ponting's fifth golden duck in Test cricket.

The dramatic start did not end there as Michael Clarke (two) never looked comfortable and quickly joined his teammates back in the dressing room.

Anderson gained his rewards for pitching the ball up on a track, when Clarke, again looking troubled by his chronic bad back, was drawn into a loose drive and also edged to Swann.

Shane Watson (51) however looked solid in the middle and scored a confident half-century, during which he shared a crucial partnership with Michael Hussey (93).

Watson and Hussey shared a 94-run partnership, before the opening batsman became the third scalp for Anderson.

Hussey fell short of a defiant century, but went on to add some stability to Australia's innings from the dramatic early batting collapse.

The left-handed batsman struck eight boundaries from his 183 deliveries, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin contributed an aggressive 56, but was the last man out as the hosts' last five wickets fell for 38 runs.

Anderson claimed 4-51, while off-spinner Swann took 2-70, his wickets coming off consecutive deliveries.

England openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook faced an over before stumps.

Brief Scorecard:

Australia:- Ist innings: 245 (Hussey 93, Haddin 56, Anderson 4-51)

England:- Ist innings: 1-0 (Strauss 0 not out, Cook 0 not out) (ANI)


Source: Web Search

Matches against Arsenal, Chelsea key to winning back Premier League: Ferguson

Published>Fri, Dec 03 10 01:57 PM

London, Dec 3 (ANI): Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has said that a six-day period later this month will be key to his team's chances of winning back the Premier League title.

Manchester United hosts rivals Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday week and then travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on December 19.

Ferguson has earmarked the back-to-back fixtures as vital to their hopes of winning the trophy back from Chelsea.

"You always want to win those games because I think they're really significant. We've managed to claw ourselves into a position two points ahead of Chelsea. So the game at Stamford Bridge and Arsenal's trip to Manchester will certainly be very important," The Sun quoted Ferguson, as saying.

United lost the crown to Chelsea on the final day of last season and Ferguson reckons the two matches against the London outfit decided it.

"We saw that last season. Some big decisions didn't go our way in the two matches against Chelsea and they ended up costing us important points," he said.

United start their December programme at Blackpool tomorrow and also face Sunderland, West Brom, Birmingham and Stoke over the Christmas period.

Ferguson admitted that he is happy enough with the run of matches and is pleased their festive travelling has been kept to a minimum.

"Of course, how you do at Christmas depends on who you've got to play. And more importantly who you have to play in away games. Over the years we always seemed to have had games in the North East but this year it's a bit more local," he said. (ANI)


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Pietersen didn't cross 'twitter line' by criticizing Adelaide curator: Strauss

Published>Fri, Dec 03 10 01:37 PM

Melbourne, Dec 3 (ANI): England captain Andrew Strauss has said that star batsman Kevin Pietersen has not crossed the line by criticizing Adelaide Oval curator Damian Hough on Twitter.

Pietersen was rebuked earlier for slamming the English selectors who dumped him from their limited-overs sides earlier this year.

Asked if Pietersen had crossed a line with his latest outburst, Strauss replied: "No, he didn't. But obviously there are degrees of everything, and we don't want anything that distracts our attention from what's important - which is getting on the cricket pitch and performing."

"I don't think he realised when he put it on there. I think he was just frustrated. But the groundsman and authorities at Adelaide have looked after us exceptionally well. We've got no qualms with them whatsoever," The Age quoted him, as saying.

Strauss added Twitter was a way for players to engage with cricket fans and express their differing personalities.

"It was just one of those situations where it was raining and they had to get the covers on. It's not something that I was particularly concerned about. I think Kevin was just frustrated because he wanted to have a long bat yesterday and he wasn't able to do that," Strauss said.

"We have a set of [Twitter] guidelines for our players - and we fully expect them to adhere to those guidelines as much as possible. I wouldn't prefer all of my players to be exactly like me. It would be a pretty boring dressing room. Everyone's different, and a lot of the guys really enjoy it," Strauss said.

Pietersen was highly annoyed when practice wickets were too wet to train on after a downpour on Wednesday.

It is understood Pietersen confronted Hough at the ground about the state of the practice nets, expressing his displeasure before filling in the rest of the world on his social media page. (ANI)


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Thursday, December 2, 2010

Becks, Posh are devotees of 'healing crystals'

Published>Fri, Dec 03 10 01:07 PM

London, Dec 3 (ANI): David Beckham and wife Victoria have become devotees of 'healing crystals' since moving to California.

The former England captain and his wife keep the colorful stones in their respective bathrooms at their 14-million-pounds Beverly Hills home-in the hope that they will improve their health and boost their energy levels.

Crystals and gemstones have been considered to have healing powers for hundreds of years across a variety of cultures, and are said to provide 'energy medicine tools'.

"We both like crystals, as in crystal energy. I have lots of pink quartz and black tourmaline in my bathroom," the Daily Mail quoted Posh as telling InStyle magazine.

"It's quite spiritual out here [in LA]; all very positive," she said,

The soccer star added, "We've been into that since moving to LA." (ANI)


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Becks is a tidy man in bathroom while Posh is 'messy'

Published>Fri, Dec 03 10 12:07 PM

London, Dec 3 (ANI): David Beckham is a tidy man in bathroom, while wife Victoria is "very messy"- these are some of the bathroom secrets of the celebrity couple.

"She always leaves her drawers open and leaves the toothpaste top off too," the Daily Mail quoted the soccer star as telling InStyle magazine.

"It's kind of her mess, though. It's her bathroom. It's not down to me," he said.

"He means like cupboard drawers, not as in knickers!' "I'm very messy. Clean, but very messy," said Posh.

"We're lucky enough to have separate bathrooms. David's is all dark wood, very masculine.

"Mine is very modern, black and white. David's products are all hidden away, whereas mine are quite on show," she said.

The designer said that her husband is pretty tidy and doesn't really have any annoying bathroom habits. (ANI)


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WikiLeaks cables portray Afghan President Karzai as paranoid and weak individual

Published>Fri, Dec 03 10 11:37 AM

London, Dec 3(ANI): Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is regularly described by diplomats and foreign statesmen as erratic, emotional and prone to believing paranoid conspiracy theories, according to classified US diplomatic cables released by whistleblower website Wikileaks.

According to the Guardian, on some occasions Karzai's own ministers accuse him of complicity in criminal activity, including ordering the physical intimidation of the top official in charge of leading negotiations with the Taliban.

In memos back to Washington, the US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, adopted a particularly weary tone when describing bizarre meetings with Karzai.

In one in 2009, Karzai argued that the U.S. intended to "divide Pakistan and weaken Afghanistan in order to pursue its fight against terrorist groups".

He also believed that the U.S. and Iran were working together to support his main political rival in the presidential elections.

Eikenberry concluded that it was unlikely Karzai would ever break his habit of blaming the U.S. and its allies for Afghanistan's troubles and not addressing his own shortcomings.

"Indeed his inability to grasp the most rudimentary principles of state-building and his deep seated insecurity as a leader combine to make any admission of fault unlikely, in turn confounding our best efforts to find in Karzai a responsible partner," a cable said.

Eikenberry also identified two competing personalities in Karzai.

"The first is a paranoid and weak individual unfamiliar with the basics of nation-building and overly self-conscious that his time in the spotlight of glowing reviews from the international community has passed," a cable said.

"The other is that of an ever-shrewd politician who sees himself as a nationalist hero who can save the country from being divided by the decentralization-focused agenda of Abdullah [Karzai's main rival in the 2009 election]," it added. (ANI)


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England maintain upper hand in Adelaide

Published>Fri, Dec 03 10 11:27 AM

England ripped through Australia's top order in a stunning start to the second Ashes test on Friday, taking three wickets in the first 10 minutes before the hosts were able to find their feet in the contest.

Australian opener Simon Katich and captain Ricky Ponting went for ducks in the first over and vice captain Michael Clarke was dismissed for two in the third.

The other opener, Shane Watson, made 51 before joining them in the dressing room soon after lunch and the fifth wicket fell when Marcus North departed just before tea.

Mike Hussey (71) and Brad Haddin (2), who enjoyed a partnership of 307 at the Gabba in the drawn first test, had been reunited by North's dismissal with Australia on 159-5 at tea.

Having lost the toss at a ground which is traditionally batting-friendly and where huge first innings totals are the norm, England were expected to spend a long, hot day toiling in the field with little return.

Paceman James Anderson had other ideas, however, but although he did most of the damage for England, the first wicket came courtesy of Australian confusion and a fine throw by Jonathan Trott.

The match was just four deliveries old when Watson set off for a single off his pads but Katich, who had not faced a ball, failed to react and was left fuming as Trott fired a direct hit from midwicket.

The next ball took the key wicket of Ponting for a golden duck, the Australian skipper getting an outside edge to a James Anderson delivery and Graeme Swann swooping to catch it at second slip.

Vice captain Clarke, who again looked out of sorts, lasted just seven minutes before Anderson and Swann combined to dismiss him for two runs.

Anderson thought he had added Watson to his list of victims soon afterwards but his loud lbw appeal was ignored and the tv review showed the ball to be going over the stumps.

The impressive English quick also dropped a difficult return catch off Hussey, a let-off which the Australian mid-order batsman looked to determined to exploit.

Anderson finally got Watson two overs after lunch when he managed to find some swing which fooled the batsman into a shot which ended up in the hands of Kevin Pietersen at gully.

Steve Finn had a poor day with the ball in hand but finally got a return for his efforts in the baking sun when North was caught behind by Matt Prior for 26.

Australia had replaced two thirds of their strike bowling line-up after taking just one wicket in England's second innings in Brisbane.

Doug Bollinger came in for Mitchell Johnson, while fast bowler Ryan Harris replaced Ben Hilfenhaus. England were unchanged.


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England make stunning start to second test

Published>Fri, Dec 03 10 08:27 AM

England made a stunning start to the second Ashes test on Friday, reducing Australia to two wickets for no runs in the first over and three for two in the third before the hosts staged a recovery.

Australian opener Simon Katich, captain Ricky Ponting and vice captain Michael Clarke were all dismissed in the first 10 minutes of play on a hot, sunny day at the Adelaide Oval.

Shane Watson, unbeaten on 50, and Mike Hussey, who had made 36 not out, survived scares of their own before steadying the innings and taking Australia to lunch at 94 for three.

Having lost the toss at a ground which is traditionally batting-friendly and where huge first innings totals are the norm, England were expected to spend a long, hot day toiling in the field.

The first breakthrough came, however, as early as the fourth delivery when Katich, who had not faced a ball, was run out by a superb direct hit from England's Jonathan Trott after Watson had set off for a single without his opening partner.

The next ball took the key wicket of Australia captain Ponting -- the most prolific test run scorer at the ground -- for a golden duck when Ponting got an outside edge from a James Anderson delivery that Graeme Swann swooped to catch at second slip.

Vice captain Clarke, who again looked out of sorts, lasted just seven minutes before Anderson and Swann combined to dismiss him for two runs.

Anderson thought he had added Watson to his list of victims soon afterwards but his loud lbw appeal was ignored and the tv review showed the ball to be going over the stumps.

The impressive English quick later dropped a difficult return catch off Hussey, a let-off which the Australian mid-order batsman will be keen to exploit after making 195 in the drawn first test at the Gabba.

Australia replaced two thirds of their strike bowling line-up after taking just one wicket in England's second innings in Brisbane.

Doug Bollinger came in for Mitchell Johnson, while fast bowler Ryan Harris replaced Ben Hilfenhaus. England were unchanged.


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England take three wickets in first three overs

Published>Fri, Dec 03 10 07:27 AM

England made a stunning start to the second Ashes test on Friday, removing Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke to leave Australia struggling at 2-3 in the third over.

Having lost the toss at a ground which is traditionally batting-friendly and where huge first innings totals are the norm, England were expected to spend a long, hot day in the field.

The first breakthrough was made on the fourth ball when Katich, who had not faced a delivery, was run out by a superb direct hit from England fielder Jonathan Trott after Shane Watson had set off for a single without his opening partner.

On the next ball Australia captain Ponting, the most prolific test run scorer at the ground, went for a golden duck, caught at second slip by Graeme Swann off the bowling of James Anderson.

Vice captain Clarke then lasted just seven minutes before Anderson and Swann again combined to dismiss him for two runs.

Anderson could have had two more wickets.

England had a huge lbw appeal on Watson ignored but demanded a tv review only for that to be turned down as the ball appeared to be going over the stumps.

Anderson then dropped a difficult return catch off Mike Hussey. Australia had recovered to 31-3 at the end of the 10th over.


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Woods takes charge in pursuit of first 2010 win

Published>Fri, Dec 03 10 07:07 AM

Tiger Woods put himself in position to end a forgettable year on a triumphant note by charging one shot clear in the Chevron World Challenge first round on Thursday.

Seeking his first victory of 2010 in his own tournament after becoming engulfed in a torrid sex scandal at the end of last season, Woods fired a sparkling seven-under-par 65 at Sherwood Country Club.

Although he recorded his only bogey at the par-four last after pushing his tee shot behind a tree, Woods matched his lowest score of the year to finish one shot ahead of Britons Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in the elite field of 18.

Woods, whose last tournament victory came at the 2009 Australian Masters, opened with a 65 at the PGA Tour's Barclays tournament in August and fired another 65 in the second round of the Deutsche Bank Championship the following week.

He also recorded a 65 in the final round of last month's Australian Masters.

"I played good today," Woods told reporters after recording birdies on each of the five par-fives. "I really striped it. I hit a lot of good shots.

"It's not too often I can say I shot 65 and only made one putt, but that's kind of what I did today," added the world number two who totalled 32 putts on smooth-running greens.

"I only made one putt and it was on (hole) nine. The rest were either two putts or kick-ins. It was a good ball-striking day."

Asked if he was back to his best after struggling on and off the course since his private life unravelled at the end of last season amid sordid revelations of serial philandering, Woods replied: "It's a process.

"I was putting together streaks of holes -- two, three, four, five holes of this -- and then I'd lose it for a little bit. I needed to get to a full round and then eventually a full tournament. Today was a full round, so that's a good start."

SWING CHANGE

Woods took a five-month break from the game going into this season in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to repair his marriage and embarked on the fourth swing change of his career in August.

Playing in his own charity event for the first time in three years, the four-times champion rattled up four birdies in bright sunshine to reach the turn in four-under 32.

His birdie at the par-four seventh, where he struck a superb nine-iron approach to three feet, sparked roars of "Tiger" and "Whoah" from a gallery numbering less than 200.

As Woods approached the seventh green, a fan shouted out: "Great shot, buddy" and the 14-times major champion responded by turning his head with a smile.

He picked up further shots at the 10th, 11th, 13th and 16th to lead by one before his cushion was doubled when U.S. Open champion McDowell bogeyed the tricky 18th.

Woods then pushed his tee shot well right at the last, hacked out on to the fairway with his second and struck his third on to the bottom tier of the green before two-putting for a five.

"It was a lack of commitment," Woods said of his tee shot on 18. "I couldn't really commit to hitting a low fade off the tee there and hit a pop-up."

Long-hitting Dustin Johnson eagled the par-five fifth on the way to a 69 to end a surprisingly warm day in a tie for fourth with fellow American Stewart Cink.

American world number six Jim Furyk, who clinched last year's title by one shot over Northern Irishman McDowell, opened with a 72.


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