Ponting promises to maintain Oz aggression against Windies

November 28th, 2009 more images more imagesMELBOURNE - Australia have defeated West Indies by an innings and 65 runs in the first Test in Brisbane within three days. The Windies lost 15 wickets in all on Saturday to lose by an innings and 65 runs, as Australia cruised to their sixth straight win at the Gabba.

November 27th, 2009 TORONTO - Having sex the night before a big match has no effect whatsoever on an athlete's physical performance, according to a new research. The research was conducted by Ian Shrier, a sport-medicine physician at the Jewish General Hospital at McGill University.

November 25th, 2009 more images more imagesBRISBANE - Australian captain Ricky Ponting has confirmed that off-spinner Nathan Hauritz will be a part of the first Test squad taking on the West Indies at the Gabba in Brisbane on Thursday. Pacer Doug Bollinger will be the 12th man, while the other quicks featuring in the team would be Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

November 24th, 2009 more images more images more images BRISBANE - West Indies batting star Shivnarain Chanderpaul can expect " chin music" from the Australians when the two sides begin their Test series clash at the Gabba here from Thursday. The Australians have revealed that they plan to give Chanderpaul Kookaburra-seam haircuts with a barrage of bouncers this summer.

November 22nd, 2009 more images more imagesBRISBANE - West Indian cricket team coach David Williams has warned the Australians that the visitors will not to wilt under pressure from the hosts this summer, even as former players Shane Warne and Dennis Lillee have come up with doomsday predictions. The West Indies has declared they will not lose their composure if things turn awry during the series.

November 20th, 2009 BRISBANE - West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach has said that his side will be ready to compete on equal terms with Australia when the first Test begins at the Gabba from November 26. Speaking to media persons on the second day of a four-day clash against an under strength Queensland side, after the hosts posted an impressive 384 for the loss of four wickets, The Age quoted Roach, as saying: "It was the first day for most of the guys, to run it out, so come the first Test the guys will be on, we'll be ready." The Windies bowlers suffered the same misery as their batsmen endured a day earlier, but the visitors vowed to give Australia a fight.

November 18th, 2009 MELBOURNE - West Indies captain Chris Gayle is likely to miss the entire Australian tour because he is returning to the Caribbean to take care of a seriously ill mother. The opening batsman was scheduled to play in the opening tour match against Queensland at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane today, but will leave for home immediately.

November 16th, 2009 more images more imagesSYDNEY - Australian fast bowler Brett Lee is unlikely to be considered for the first Test against West Indies starting November 26 after failing to recover from an elbow injury. Lee aggravated his troublesome right elbow in New South Wales (NSW)'s Ford Ranger Cup loss to the Tigers on Sunday, robbing him of the chance to impress national selectors ahead of the first Test.

November 6th, 2009 HYDERABAD - Australian skipper Ricky Ponting and former captain Mark Taylor have said that New South opener Phillip Hughes could re-ignite his Test career during the series against West Indies. The endorsements follow support from chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch ahead of the first Test against the West Indies at the Gabba on November 26.

November 2nd, 2009 more images more imagesMOHALI - Australian skipper Ricky Ponting's decision to open the batting in the third ODI of the seven game series against India may develop into something more lasting. Ponting has indicated that he would maintain the spot for the rest of the series, starting with the fourth game in Mohali.

October 7th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - One of Australia's brightest young batsmen, Callum Ferguson, has torn his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) for the second time in five years, and has flown home to Adelaide to have the severity of it assessed. Earlier, Ferguson was ruled out of the under-19 World Cup in 2004 after being involved in a collision with his batting partner during a warm-up game in Bangladesh.

September 15th, 2009 LONDON - Australian middle-order batsman Michael Hussey has revealed that skipper Ricky Ponting has told the team not ease off against England in the ongoing one-day series despite taking a series-winning 4-0 lead. "Ricky's been on our hammer already basically about trying to maintain our momentum.

September 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Dutch winger Ryan Babel has accused Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez of breaking promises which could wreck his World Cup dream. Babel now wants to join Ajax on loan after claiming he was made a scapegoat for last month's 2-1 defeat at Spurs.

August 10th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australia is keen to keep fast bowler Mitchell Johnson bubbling along before the deciding fifth Ashes Test to be played at The Oval. Australia waited 10 weeks on tour for the left-arm paceman to hit form and is wary of allowing him too much time off before the final Test.

June 26th, 2009 SYDNEY - Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson has promised to maintain his newfound aggression and will be aiming for the badge just above the ribcage England batsman Kevin Pietersen. Johnson's aggression grew with his career-defining performances against South Africa last summer, when he twice broke the hand of Proteas captain Graeme Smith and also wounded Jacques Kallis.