Victoria hold a big advantage over Queensland in the Sheffield Shield final, with a lead of 159 runs and 10 wickets in hand at the MCG.

Australia's Dale Begg-Smith joined French legend Edgar Grospiron as the greatest World Cup mogul skiing champion of all time after wrapping up his fourth season title.

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash has signed with Tennis Australia (TA) to work with its top junior players during 2010.

Tight bowling from New Zealand saw the hosts stall Australia's progress during the session after lunch on day one of the first Test at Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday.

Quade Cooper's irresistible Super 14 form has him leading the contest for Australia's chief playmaking role, according to former Wallabies inside back Rod Kafer.

Victoria picked up where it left off on Thursday, cleaning up Queensland's lower order inside the first session on day three of the Sheffield Shield final in Melbourne on Friday.

Australia's number one female tennis player Samantha Stosur is through to the semi-finals of the WTA event in Indian Wells.

After a summer of Brendan Fevola being headline "cannon fodder", Brisbane captain Jonathan Brown awaits what his new team-mate will produce in the AFL.

Controversial Gold Coast recruit Greg Bird has issued a chilling warning to South Sydney, vowing to take his frustrations out on the Rabbitohs in Friday night's NRL clash at Sydney's Olympic stadium.

Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic rallied to beat Juan Monaco 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 on Friday (AEDT) to reach the semi-finals of the Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000.

Australia reached 1 for 93 at lunch on day one of the first Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday.

The Western Bulldogs, on the eve of potentially their finest AFL season in years, will have to start their campaign without captain Brad Johnson.

Australian skier Marty Mayberry won a silver medal in the men's standing downhill skiing at the Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games.

New Zealand's newest paceman Brett Arnel put a dent in Australia's fast start on day one of the first Test at Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday.

Geoff Huegill is a shadow of the man he was just two years ago, but on Thursday night he proved he has not lost the ability to represent his country in the pool.

Unfashionable Fulham stunned mighty Juventus to reach the Europa League quarter-finals on Friday morning (AEDT) where it was joined by seasoned campaigner Liverpool.

Former world number one Jelena Jankovic reached the semi-finals of the hardcourt tournament at Indian Wells on Friday (AEDT) with a battling straight-sets victory over Alisa Kleybanova.

Australian opening batsman Shane Watson has been ruled out of Friday's first Test against New Zealand with a bruised hip.

Australian skier Bart Bunting has had a disappointing end to his comeback winter Paralympic Games, crashing out in the visually impaired men's downhill.

International Paralympic team officials will meet on Friday to consider adding snowboarding to the roster of competitions at the games.

Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals were flogged in the Indian Premier League overnight, as Royal Challengers Bangalore won their encounter by 10 wickets.

Mitchell Johnson wants the new ball back again but Ricky Ponting has told his star pace bowler his best role for the team is at first-change.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has warned that the league will not take a back step to soccer if Australia hosts the World Cup.

Socceroos defender Shannon Cole has been cleared to make his return from injury but is far from a certainty to start for Sydney in Saturday's A-League grand final against Melbourne at Docklands.

Pakistan has paid glowing tribute to its former cricket coach Bob Woolmer on the third anniversary of his death, saying his progressive coaching made a huge impact on the game.

Yolane Kukla has clearly taken her comparisons with Libby Trickett a little bit too much to heart.

Gold Coast has fielded an enquiry from Canterbury prop Ben Hannant's manager after the homesick Test star asked for a release from his contract to return to Queensland.

Football Federation Australia boss Ben Buckley has squashed any suggestion of a caretaker Socceroos coach for next January's Asia Cup finals, should incumbent Pim Verbeek not continue beyond the World Cup later this year.

Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith has moved to hose down talk young guns Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce could be the solution to NSW's State of Origin woes, calling on selectors to give them another year to prove themselves.

Geelong's aura is fading, with rival captains rating St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs as more likely AFL grand finalists than the reigning premiers.

Leg spinner Bryce McGain ended the the defiant resistance of Queensland opener Ryan Broad late on day two to earn Victoria an edge in the Sheffield Shield final at the MCG.

Brett Lee has returned to Australia from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to undergo more treatment on his elbow in a bid to make himself available for the world Twenty20 championships.

Richmond captain Chris Newman has little doubt midfield star Ben Cousins will play in the AFL season-opener against Carlton after overcoming a stomach problem.

Queensland hooker Saia Faingaa says he hopes the re-signing of he and twin brother Anthony will encourage their team-mates to remain with the Reds.

Western Force coach John Mitchell is sticking with the same side that suffered an embarrassing 50-10 Super 14 loss to Queensland last week.

Disciplined bowling by Victoria has restricted a struggling Queensland to 4 for 121 at tea on the second day of the Sheffield Shield final at the MCG.

Melbourne Victory have turned to Melbourne Storm's NRL premiership skipper Cameron Smith for advice ahead of Saturday night's A-League grand final against Sydney FC at Docklands.

Queensland coach Ewen McKenzie says he is confident of retaining the core of the current Reds squad ahead of the Melbourne Rebels' entry into the expanded Super 15 next season.

The touring England rugby squad will play two mid-week matches against an Australian Barbarians side boasting established internationals and emerging Test contenders during their visit in June.

Gold Coast Titans full-back Preston Campbell has been ruled out of Friday night's clash with South Sydney at the Olympic stadium.

The weather at Whistler has changed so frequently during the Vancouver Paralympics that it has created two countries on one hill.

Queensland was 2 for 58 at lunch in response to Victoria's 305 on day two of the Sheffield Shield final at the MCG.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting says Ryan Harris is set for his debut in Friday's first Test against New Zealand, if the pace bowler can prove he has overcome a side strain.

The Sydney Kings are set to return to the NBL next season in a revamped nine-team competition.

New Zealand is considering handing a debut to 31-year-old seamer Brent Arnel for Friday's first Test against Australia at Wellington's Basin Reserve.

Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori said the pitch appears to have a bit of grass on top and may suit a four-man pace attack, rather than including second spinner Jeetan Patel.

Victoria has been dismissed for 305 early on day two of the Sheffield Shield final against Queensland at the MCG.

David Beckham has arrived in England to start his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury that appears certain to rule him out of the World Cup finals.

Second-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic has tumbled out of the Indian Wells ATP tournament, upset 7-5, 6-3 by big-serving Croat Ivan Ljubicic in the fourth round.

The NRL has confirmed it has reached an agreement with the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) to enter into additional testing for Human Growth Hormone (hGH), Erythropoietin (EPO) and Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator (CERA).

Australian assistant coach Justin Langer says he will be "amazed" if young New South Wales all-rounder Steve Smith is handed a Test debut on Friday ahead of current number six batsman Marcus North.

Lionel Messi's brilliance has sent holders Barcelona through to the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-0 thrashing of VfB Stuttgart.

Having lost to a side expected to battle it out for this year's wooden spoon, Canterbury coach Kevin Moore claims a meeting with NRL premiership contender St George Illawarra is just the tonic for his ailing side.

Rejuvenated bad boy Todd Carney says he will not let a successful NRL return overshadow the enormity he faces in getting his life and career back on track.

Former Australian Open semi-finalist Nicole Vadisova has announced she is quitting tennis at the age of 20.

Australian WBO interim lightweight champion Michael Katsidis will defend his title against London boxer Kevin Mitchell at West Ham United's Upton Park stadium, promoter Frank Warren has confirmed.

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus confidently expects Tiger Woods to beat his record of 18 majors when his disgraced American compatriot returns to the sport in April.

Michael Jordan has become the first former NBA player to be the majority owner of a team, unanimously approved to take over the Charlotte Bobcats by the league.

Jonny Wilkinson has been dropped for England's final Six Nations game against France this weekend as manager Martin Johnson made six changes from the side that laboured to a 15-15 draw with Scotland last weekend.

Pakistan cricket authorities said seven players banned or fined for indiscipline during a disastrous tour of Australia have 30 days to appeal.

Chelsea captain John Terry accidentally struck a club security official with his car after the Champions League defeat to Inter Milan, the Premier League side revealed.

Iain Dowie has been appointed the new manager of Hull, 48 hours after Phil Brown paid the price for a run of four defeats which has left the club second-from-bottom of the English Premier League.

Sachin Tendulkar has inspired Mumbai Indians to a crushing 98-run victory over Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.