Sports News

Rowdy fans will face ejection, fine for Boxing Day Test

Melbourne, Dec 23 : Cricket fans behaving badly at the Boxing Day Test will face ejection and hefty fines, police have warned.

Police numbers will be beefed up during the Test and on-the-spot fines will be handed out for troublemakers ejected from the ground.

The Age reported that 227 dollars penalty notices would also be issued for using obscene language, threatening or insulting words, and poor behaviour.

Victoria Police Superintendent Stephen Leane urged people planning to drink alcohol to leave their cars at home.

"We want people to enjoy themselves and have a good time, but we don't want people drinking in excess and spoiling the day for others," Superintendent Leane said.

Ponting still remains Australia’s most marketable star

Melbourne, Dec 23 : Skipper Ricky Ponting, who has been termed Captain Pout for not supporting his young pace attack when it was flayed all over at WACA, has been termed as Australian sport's most marketable star.

Ponting, who might have lost his gloss, should sign up for every luxury watch, vitamin pill and car oil endorsement he can get his hands on, the Courier Mail has said.

The 33-year-old Tasmanian, who took the title from Ian Thorpe last winter, pipped retired swimmer Grant Hackett (No. 2) at the top of a list which includes no fewer than seven retired sports stars in its top 10.

That's seemingly an honour reserved for whoever sits in the Australian cricket team captain's chair.

Oz selectors tell seniors to ship up or shape up

Sydney, Dec 23: Australian selectors have spared pace bowler Brett Lee and out of form opener Mathew Hayden for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, but the senior players of the team have been told they are letting down a side in transition.

Two fresh faces have been drafted into a Test squad of 13, with NSW spinner Nathan Hauritz replacing Jason Krejza and Tasmania's Ben Hilfenhaus to be measured alongside Victorian Peter Siddle for the third fast-bowling position.

Selectors' patience is wearing thinner with every passing Test in this period of rebuilding as the roles played by Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist has been revealed fully by their absence, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Sourav Ganguly Bids Farewell To First Class Cricket

Sourav GangulyAce cricketer and former Indian Captian Sourav Ganguly bid farewell to first-class cricket a month after retiring from international cricket.

Ganguly had volunteered to play for Bengal in the Ranji Plate semifinal against Goa at the Karnail Singh Stadium here to help the team return to the elite division of domestic cricket.

Akshay Kumar Runs For Special Athletes, Carries 'Flame of Hope'

Akshay Kumar, the charismatic Bollywood actor ran from the ramparts of the Red Fort to the narrow, spruced-up lanes of Chandni Chowk as the torch bearer of the 2009 Special Olympics Flame of Hope, to be held in Idaho, USA, next February.

Becks’ AC Milan arrival turns out to be ‘embarrassing’

David BeckhamLondon, Dec 22 : `Goldenballs' David Beckham's welcome by the AC Milan fans turned out to be rather "embarrassing", as not many people came to cheer for the club's latest signing.

When the red and black carpet was rolled out for the Former England captain in almost half-filled San Siro stadium, the fans of the seven-times European Cup winners stayed silent.

The club had planned a big launch for Beckham in Milan- what with the ace footballer walking the carpet while fifty kids lined his path to the centre circle, all wearing shirts with `Beckham 32' on the back.

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