CRICKET: International cricket bosses have refused to commit to future Super Series following Australia's demolition of the World XI over the past fortnight.
Despite announcing it was "expected to become a regular feature on the international cricket calendar and is planned to be played every fourth year" when the concept was first revealed in 2004, the International Cricket Council have backtracked somewhat following the Australians' clean sweep in three one-dayers and a six-day Test.
Australia beat a disappointing World XI by 210 runs yesterday to complete a 4-0 sweep. They wrapped up the six-day super Test with two and a half days to spare after the World XI collapsed to be all out for just 144 chasing 355 for victory.
Australia's leg spinners Shane Warne (3-48) and Stuart MacGill (5-43) wreaked havoc on a Sydney Cricket Ground pitch turning at alarming angles but their fine performances could not hide the lacklustre effort from a world team that had vowed to improve on last week's three one-day defeats in Melbourne.
Although the event is thought to have raised considerable finance for the global cricket community through television rights and sponsorship, the crowds at both the Telstra Dome and SCG have been disappointing, and the appeal of seeing Australia challenged was diluted by England's Ashes victory that preceded it.
"When we set this series up we asked: 'Can a team of champions beat a champion team?' and we saw the answer comprehensively both in Melbourne and Sydney," said ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed. "As for the future, we don't know about that.
"We need to go away and assess the concept, see what we can improve and whether we want to do it again. We've never actually said how often the series will be held."
Rest of the World coach John Wright proposed the top two sides playing off for the title over the same time frame.
"That has to be considered," Wright said. "There are other options possibly that the ICC can look at.
"Finals are attractive where the winner takes all after four years. It is an attractive package but it has got to produce the quality of cricket to match."
ATHLETICS: The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said yesterday it needed more time to consider the cases of Greek sprinters Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou.
A panel sat for 10 hours in Lausanne on both Friday and Saturday hearing evidence as Kenteris and Thanou sought irreversible acquittals on three missed doping tests.
But CAS said yesterday that there had been insufficient time to hear all witnesses.
"The arbitration was adjourned and a second hearing will be scheduled soon by CAS in order to terminate the evidentiary proceedings and to hear closing arguments," a CAS statement read.
The two sprinters caused the biggest doping scandal since Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson tested positive for steroids at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, when they failed to turn up for a doping test on the eve of the Athens Games last year.
Still banned pending the CAS ruling, the sprinters were initially cleared by the Greek athletics federation (SEGAS) of any wrongdoing in March.
EQUESTRIAN: Details of proposed changes to the selection procedure for the international show jumping team were not released after a two-hour meeting of the selectors in Co Kildare last night, writes Grania Willis.
Speaking after the meeting, chairman of selectors Taylor Vard said there would be no comment until the issue had been discussed and ratified at a meeting of the Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) executive next Monday night.
The appointment of a permanent chef d'equipe was made at last night's meeting, but no information was given about the outcome of the vote. Robert Splaine and John Ledingham had both been nominated by the international riders for the post.
Last night's meeting, which was called to discuss proposals put forward at a meeting between senior SJAI representatives and the international riders in Dublin last Monday, was attended by the full selection panel.
Dan Butler, secretary general of the Equestrian Federation, was the only person missing from the meeting. He was at an International Equestrian Federation meeting in Germany.
