MELBOURNE: Test captain Ricky Ponting on Monday backed Nathan Hauritz as Australia`s number one spinner for the coming Indian tour and the home Ashes series against England.The off-spinner, who has snared 57 wickets at 31.82 in 15 Tests, is returning to full fitness after a foot injury

SYDNEY: Australian paceman Shaun Tait said Monday he will not be available to play in the Ashes Test series against England.Tait, who has just returned home after playing Twenty20 cricket for Welsh county Glamorgan, confirmed he will no longer play in the longer forms of the game, even if

SHEBOYGAN: Tiger Woods` final major of 2010 is in the books and what turned into a frustrating day at the office Sunday has added up to a disappointing 2010 season for the world number one."Disappointed, certainly," said Woods. "In order for it to be a great year you have to win a major

SHEBOYGAN: Germany`s Martin Kaymer took the slow steady route to his first major championship title.Tied with American Bubba Watson going into the final playoff hole at 92nd PGA Championship on Sunday, Kaymer decided to play it safe out of the rough and just punch his ball back onto the

KINGSTON: Double sprint world record-holder Usain Bolt says his loss to American rival Tyson Gay will not play on his mind.Bolt, who cut his 2010 season short after losing his first 100m race in two seasons to Gay in Stockholm earlier this the month, returned home last week saying he

CINCINNATI: Belgian fourth seed Kim Clijsters saved three match points just before a 74-minute rain break and rallied to beat Russia`s Maria Sharapova 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 in the WTA Cincinnati Open final.Clijsters won her third crown of the year at the same two million-dollar hardcourt

TORONTO: Andy Murray humbled Roger Federer 7-5 7-5 to defend his Toronto Masters title on Sunday, confirming the Briton as one of the favourites for the U.S. Open.Murray was in imperious form on the Canadian hardcourts, sweeping aside world number one Rafa Nadal and Federer to claim his

LIVERPOOL, August 16, 2010 (AFP) - Spanish goalkeepers Pepe Reina and Manuel Almunia came under fire as Liverpool and Arsenal fought out a 1-1 draw at Anfield.Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher refused to blame Reina for the late goal which gave Arsenal a point while Gunners boss Arsene

COLOMBO: Yuvraj Singh has been ruled out of India`s one-day international against Sri Lanka Monday after coming down with dengue fever, India media reported on Sunday. "Yuvraj Singh is not available for this game. He has dengue. But he is out of danger," the Press Trust of India quoted

LONDON: Argentine football legend Diego Maradona would not rule out coming to England to take over Aston Villa, according to a newspaper report Sunday.Maradona is currently out of work after being sacked as Argentina manager last month, while Premier League side Villa are currently

MADRID: Sevilla came back from one goal down to defeat league champions Barcelona 3-1 in the Spanish Super Cup first leg on Saturday.Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Barca the lead after 20 minutes after being set-up by Maxwell.But Sevilla dominated the second half with

LOS ANGELES: At least eight people were killed and 12 others were injured after a vehicle plowed into a crowd of spectators at a popular off-road race in Southern California, MSNBC television reported.The accident occurred Saturday at 7:40 pm (0240 GMT Sunday) at a race called the

KOHLER Wisconsin: American Nick Watney broke free of the chasing pack to open up a three-stroke lead after the third round of the U.S. PGA Championship at Whistling Straits Saturday. Watney made eight birdies and two bogeys in a superb round of 66 to head into the final day leading at

NEW DELHI: India`s prime minister promised a successful Delhi Commonwealth Games Sunday, a day after he intervened to rescue the troubled event that has been beset by delays and allegations of corruption."The successful organisation of the Commonwealth Games would be another signal to the

LONDON: The Royal Bank of Scotland is preparing to take over Liverpool Football Club as the search for a buyer looks increasingly likely to end in failure, a newspaper reported Sunday.Negotiations last week, including with Chinese sports tycoon Kenny Huang and the Syrian businessman Yahya

MANCHESTER: Manchester United will open their Premier League season against Newcastle United with manager Sir Alex Ferguson claiming the Champions League will be his priority this season.In a break from his usual stance, the Old Trafford boss has outlined his desperation to make up for

CINCINNATI: Reigning US Open champion Kim Clijsters and Russian beauty Maria Sharapova advanced to the WTA Cincinnati Open final in very different fashion on Saturday.Belgian fourth seed Clijsters needed only 12 minutes to reach Sunday`s title match of the two million-dollar hardcourt

LONDON: England named the same XI on Sunday that had put them 2-0 up in their four-match series against Pakistan for the third Test starting at The Oval on Wednesday.Tim Bresnan, left out from a 12-man squad in the sides that won the first Test at Trent Bridge by 354 runs and the second

WORCESTER: Pakistan batsman Mohammad Yousuf has admitted he is far from being match-fit for next week`s third Test against England at The Oval.The former Pakistan captain was unable to add to his overnight 40 as rain washed out the second and final day of the tourists` match against

TORONTO: Roger Federer will return to world number two after reaching the ATP Toronto Masters final by dodging a bullet for the second night in a row, beating Novak Djokovic 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 on Saturday.The dramatic victory sets up a final against fourth-seeded Scot Andy Murray, who put out