Former All Black Daniel Braid has only just landed but already he’s eying the job as Queensland’s Minister of Defence.

On a day controversy again swirled around Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson unwittingly ensured more pressure would be applied on his good mate with a stunning all-round display for Queensland.

Melbourne boss Brian Waldron has ruled out a bidding war to retain the NRL’s No.1 hooker Cameron Smith, the target of a massive Gold Coast Titans offer.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori says the Black Caps have “swallowed a little bit of pride” and brought in an extra batsman for Friday’s second Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval.

Australian cricket’s desperate search for a frontline spinner has come to this - Nathan Hauritz. Hauritz, on debut on a “bunsen burner” in Mumbai, was outbowled by part-timer Michael Clarke, who took 6-9 in a losing side against India.

Former New Zealand coach Graham Lowe says Ricky Stuart’s response to the Kiwis’ shock World Cup win has tarnished Australian sport as much as Trevor Chappell’s under-arm delivery did 27 years ago.

Sydney is likely to have no presence in the NBL following the crushing announcement that the Spirit are set to go into administration this week.

Ben Cousins’ hopes of an AFL comeback have received a major setback, with St Kilda becoming the latest club to decide against recruiting the fallen star.

Shane Watson’s axing from Australia’s squad has guaranteed rookie spinner Jason Krejza a maiden home Test which may gauge his true worth as an international spinner.

With even the rebuilding French confused about the style of play they are trying to adopt, the Wallabies admit they have little idea what to expect from Les Bleus in Saturday night’s rugby Test in Paris.

Shane Watson faces one of the unluckiest chops of the modern era with Andrew Symonds’ X-factor winning the wayward all-rounder an immediate recall to Test cricket.

New Zealand seamer Kyle Mills dug deep and found an upside to fielding a rookie team against world number one, Australia, in the two-Test series starting in Brisbane this week. “One positive is that there are not too many battle scars from playing Australia,” said Mills of the youthful Kiwis.

If anyone can relate to Shane Watson’s predicament, it must be fellow national cricket squad member Simon Katich.

Years of graft paid off when Jason Krejza detonated in India to take the second-best wicket haul by an Australian Test debutant.

First England were accused of playing mind games by failing to confirm their Rugby League World Cup semi-final team.

Record-setting opener Jamie How hoped his teammates were saving their runs for the coming Test series against Australia after he saved them from total humiliation against a depleted NSW today.

New Zealand paceman Chris Martin expects to face a hostile Australian team in the Test series beginning next week, but admits the world’s No.1 outfit isn’t playing to its usual high standards.

It may have been Brisbane’s heat getting to him but England flyer Ade Gardner wants a crack at the player called “The Beast”, Manu Vatuvei.

Andrew Symonds knows this is his last chance as an Australian cricketer, stressing he does not want an ugly end to his international career.

It was supposed to be the battle for a place in the World Cup semi-finals but instead it is a fight to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon.