South African test captain HASHIM AMLA announced that he will be stepping down from leading the Proteas with immediate effect.
Since his appointment as successor to GRAEME SMITH in June '14, Amla captained the Proteas in 14 tests, winning four, drawing six and losing four (Cricket South Africa). ... ManU's WAYNE ROONEY "has been named England Player of the Year for 2015, retaining the title he won in 2014."
The forward earned 37% of the votes cast by members of the England Supporters Club and "has now won it four times."
Stoke City goalkeeper JACK BUTLAND was voted U21 Player of the Year.
In the vote for the senior player of the year, Tottenham striker HARRY KANE was runner-up with 30% and Man City goalkeeper JOE HART "in third place with 19%" (BBC, 1/5). ... CHRIS GAYLE "stands to be thrown out of the Big Bash League for good if an investigation verifies that he exposed himself to an Australian woman who was working around the West Indies team in Sydney last year."
The fallout from the Jamaican's on-air comments to Channel Ten broadcaster MEL MCLAUGHLIN continued on Wednesday, "with Cricket Australia officials focusing their attention on additional claims" that stem back to last February when the West Indies were in Sydney preparing for the World Cup (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 1/6). ... Former rider MICHAEL BOOGERD has been handed a two-year suspension by the Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) for the "anti-doping rule violations he committed during his cycling career." In '13, Boogerd "admitted to doping for a 10-year period" between '97 and '07 during an interview on Dutch TV (CYCLING NEWS, 1/6). ... San Francisco 49ers running back JARRYD HAYNE "arrived back in Sydney on Wednesday after his first season in the NFL," but he is "still looking to continue his American football education during his break." The 27-year-old, who featured in eight games for the 49ers but also endured seven weeks in the practice squad, admitted that "he still has a lot to learn about the NFL and his education will continue while he enjoys the Australian summer." Hayne:
"It's going to be the task to switch off, especially with the play-offs coming up, and it's going to be fun watching that" (THE AGE, 1/6). ... Nigerian football official IBRAHIM ABUBAKAR "has been shot dead by armed robbers at his house in Abuja on Wednesday."
Abubakar "was head of protocol for the country's football federation" (BBC, 1/6). ... Golfer CHRISTY O'CONNOR JR. "died suddenly in Spain at the age of 67."
The Irishman "helped Europe retain the Ryder Cup" at the Belfry in '89 when his two-iron approach at the last sealed a singles win over FRED COUPLES.
O'Connor "won four European Tour titles including his Irish Open triumph at Woodbrook in 1975." O'Connor "passed away in his sleep while on holiday with his wife" ANN in Tenerife (BBC, 1/6).
CHELSEA VS. CARNEIRO: Former Chelsea team doctor EVA CARNEIRO's constructive dismissal case against the club "will go to a full tribunal after no settlement could be agreed at a preliminary hearing on Wednesday." Carneiro, 42, was in attendance at the London South Employment Tribunal in Croydon which was "held in private before an employment judge." She "arrived with her husband and her legal team, and made no comment to the waiting members of the press as she entered the building."
Leaving court after the three-hour hearing, MARY O'ROURKE QC, representing Carneiro, said that "no settlement had been reached and a date had been fixed for the next hearing" (PA, 1/6).
