NEW Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori has sparked a tense Trans-Tasman series by naming Ricky Ponting,Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds as cricket's most aggressive nigglers.

JOHN Daly, the controversial golfer cum sideshow, will play in the Australian Masters at Huntingdale next week.

NEWLY appointed Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson has declared he will clean up the Eels' poor discipline and give them an attitude adjustment for the 2009 NRL season.

EXHILARATING full-back Billy Slater is the Rugby League International Federation's (RLIF) inaugural player of the year, with Melbourne Storm dominating the Team of the Year named on Monday night.

FIVE-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb recorded the eighth-fastest time of the day while driving a Red Bull car at a Formula One testing session in Barcelona on Monday.

AUSTRALIA winger Brent Tate refuses to concede a hip flexor injury received in the semi-final win over Fiji had ended his hopes of lining up in the World Cup final.

PREMIERS Manly are preparing to make the gut-wrenching decision to sack one of their Grand Final wing heroes.

THE New Zealand squad is being kept on its toes with coach John Bracewell suggesting the XI who played against NSW this week should be worried about their places.

VICTORIA held a first-innings lead of 266 runs at lunch on day three of their Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at the MCG, with Damien Wright the last man out for 84.

YUVRAJ Singh scored a second successive century and claimed four wickets as India thrashed England by 54 runs in the second one-day international.

ENGLAND'S rugby chief has sent an apology to Australia's high commissioner in London after Australia's goal-kickers were booed and jeered during their 28-14 win at Twickenham.

AUSTRALIA prop Petero Civoniceva says former mentor Wayne Bennett shapes as the greatest threat to the Kangaroos' seemingly vice-like grip on the World Cup.

IVAN Henjak started work Monday in a job where the man who is his most influential ally is also seen by some as his eventual replacement.

DANIEL Anderson hasn't exactly inherited a basket-case. But lifting Parramatta to their first premiership in 23 years will be a huge challenge for the new Eels coach.

GOOD or bad, sane or hopping mad, Andrew Symonds is once again Australian cricket's problem child leading into the first Test.

ROBBIE Deans has challenged his high-flying Australia side to prove they're no flash in the pan in this Sunday's (AEDT) showdown with the unpredictable French in Paris.

FORMER Austraila off-spinner Greg Matthews says it would be madness for the Aussies to drop off-spinner Jason Krejza after his stunning Test debut in India.

CONTROVERSIAL umpire Steve Bucknor's surprise return to Australia has been cancelled because of what the International Cricket Council (ICC) describes as "travel difficulties".

BRETT Lee has revealed his Indian tour was undermined by a horror bout of food poisoning but has declared himself rejuvenated and ready to fire against New Zealand.

NEW South Wales will play eight of their opening 10 games of next season's Super 14 campaign in Australia after being handed a dream draw.