A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Top seed Murray cruises to semi-finals

TENNIS:Top seed Andy Murray cruised to the semi-finals of the Brisbane International with a 6-4 7-6 (7/3) win over Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.

Murray served three aces in taking the first set, winning his only break point and saving two on his own serve. The British No 1 served two double-faults at 3-4 in the second but kept his nerve to hold and remain on terms in the set. Istomin held after three deuces to lead 6-5 and the set continued to a tie-break with neither player facing a break point.

Istomin led 2-0 after an early point against the serve but Murray hit back to take the breaker 7/3 and set up a clash with Japan’s Kei Nishikori, who beat Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov by exactly the same scoreline.

Serena Williams will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the women’s final after top seed Victoria Azarenka withdrew due to injury today. In the other semi, between Pavlyuchenkova and Lesia Tsurenko, the former battled from a set down to win the match.

Getkate to join MCC Young Cricketers

CRICKET:Ireland "A" all-rounder Shane Getkate has been selected to join the staff of the MCC Young Cricketers next summer.

The 21-year-old all-rounder will hope to further his career at Lord's, where Ireland players William Porterfield, Kevin O'Brien and Gary Wilson are past players.

Getkate has spent time with Warwickshire in the past, playing for their under-19 side. It was during his stint there in 2011 that he suffered a heart attack during a match, only surviving thanks to swift action from ambulance staff.

He was back in action within five weeks and went on to play in his third Under-19 World Cup in Australia last summer, while also playing in a number of Ireland "A" fixtures against English county opposition.

EMMET RIORDAN