Cricket-Revolving pace door no problem for Australia - Siddle

MELBOURNE, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Paceman Peter Siddle has backed Australia's attack to shrug off a glut of injuries that have hit the team's fast bowling stocks ahead of the second test against Sri Lanka starting on Wednesday.Australia, who have won just one of their past four tests, have enjoyed precious little continuity in their pace attack due to injuries and fatigue, and are set for another reshuffle...

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Cricket-Herath hopes to put Australia in a Melbourne spin

Dec 22 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan slow bowling spearhead Rangana Herath believes that Australia's limited opportunities to face quality spinners in domestic cricket will enhance his side's chances of success in next week's second test.Herath, the leading test wicket-taker in 2012 with 60 victims from nine matches, has carried the burden of leading the Sri Lankan attack since the retirement of spinning...

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Cricket-Herath hopes to put Australia in a Melbourne spin

Dec 22 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan slow bowling spearhead Rangana Herath believes that Australia's limited opportunities to face quality spinners in domestic cricket will enhance his side's chances of success in next week's second test.Herath, the leading test wicket-taker in 2012 with 60 victims from nine matches, has carried the burden of leading the Sri Lankan attack since the retirement of spinning...

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Dec 23 (Reuters) - Prolific batsman Kevin Pietersen has been left out of England's limited-overs squad for next year's New Zealand tour as part of a policy to better manage the workload of players, the country's cricket board said on Sunday. Former skipper Pietersen, who will play in the five-match one-day international series in India next month, will not be part of the three Twenty20 internationals and three ODIs in New Zealand. Meanwhile, James Anderson, Jonathan Trott and Graeme Swann were named in the ODI squad after being rested for the five-match series against India, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement. "There are a number of players who we have decided not to select... as we look to manage their workloads effectively while ensuring we remain competitive across all formats," national selector Geoff Miller said. "We feel this is the best way of keeping players as physically and mentally fresh as possible during a demanding 2013 and beyond. "Kevin Pietersen will miss the limited-overs tour of New Zealand with Graeme Swann missing the T20 leg of the tour. "This approach also provides an opportunity for talented young players to gain more international experience which will be important for their development and the development of England sides in the future." All-rounder Stuart Broad will return to lead the T20 side after missing the two-match series against India. England will also play three tests against New Zealand during their tour which starts with the first T20 match in Auckland on Feb. 9. England T20 squad: Stuart Broad (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, James Tredwell and Luke Wright.

 Sri Lankan slow bowling spearhead Rangana Herath believes that Australia's limited opportunities to face quality spinners in domestic cricket will enhance his side's chances of success in next week's second test.Herath, the leading test wicket-taker in 2012 with 60 victims from nine matches, has carried the burden of leading the Sri Lankan attack since the retirement of spinning great Muttiah...

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Cricket-England's Pietersen rested for New Zealand ODIs

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Prolific batsman Kevin Pietersen has been left out of England's limited-overs squad for next year's New Zealand tour as part of a policy to better manage the workload of players, the country's cricket board said on Sunday.Former skipper Pietersen, who will play in the five-match one-day international series in India next month, will not be part of the three Twenty20 internationals...

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"Castle" star Nathan Fillion to preside over Writers Guild Awards show

Pretend writer Nathan Fillion will help honor real writers on February 17, when he hosts the Writers Guild Awards West Coast show, the Writers Guild of America, West said Monday.Fillion, who plays a mystery novelist on ABC's "Castle," joked that he was "confused" when he was tapped for the hosting gig."When I first accepted the honor of hosting the Writers Guild Awards, I was confused and actually...

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"Best Funeral Ever" premiere delayed after Newtown school shootings

Fans of death-centric reality TV will have to wait a little longer to dig into TLC's "Best Funeral Ever."TLC has pushed back the premiere of the special to January 6 at 10/9c in light of the school shootings in Newtown, Conn. last week."Best Funeral Ever" was initially scheduled to premiere on December 26 at 8/7c."Best Funeral Ever" centers around the Golden Gate Funeral Home in Dallas, which specializes...

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Amazon adds episodes of alt-comedy show "UnCabaret"

 Amazon Instant Video has added four exclusive episodes of "UnCabaret," an alt-comedy showcase for the likes of Margaret Cho and Andy Dick, to its Prime Instant Video service.The show was created and hosted by comedian and entertainer Beth Lapides and features performances by such comedy stars as Sandra Bernhard, Garfunkle and Oates, Greg Fitzsimmons and Rob Delaney. Instead of punch-line driven...

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"The Playroom" lands distributor

Freestyle Releasing and Freestyle Digital Media have acquired the theatrical, DVD and VOD rights to "The Playroom," a drama directed by Julia Dyer ("Late Bloomers"), which stars John Hawkes ("Winter's Bone," "The Sessions") and Molly Parker ("Dexter," "The Firm").The film is slated for a day-and-date theatrical release and on DVD/VOD on February 8, 2013."The Playroom" premiered in the gala/spotlight...

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"The Office" head Greg Daniels sells tennis comedy to Fox

The Office" might be preparing to close up shop, but the series' creator is most definitely still open for business.Greg Daniels, who birthed the American version of "The Office" - which is preparing to wrap up its run at the end of this season - has sold a half-hour comedy to Fox via Universal Television and his own Deedle-Dee Productions.The project was sold through Daniels by Tom Gormican ("Are...

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