Athletics: The Irish women's team started well in the first day of their European Cup Second League competition in Riga, Latvia, yesterday and lie in second place going into today's concluding events. Four individual victories have left the Irish on 67 points, trailing leaders Norway, who totalled 74.

Emily Maher was a close winner of the 100 metres when clocking 11.84 seconds, but Karen Shinkins had almost two seconds to spare when winning the 400 metres in a convincing 52.14 - her best of the season. Maher was then part of the winning 4x100 metre relay which set a new Irish record of 44.92 seconds.

Also performing positively yesterday was Tania Robinson-Scanlon, who improved her Irish triple jump record to 12.60 metres when finishing fourth, as well as Breda Dennehy-Willis, who took a close second to Gelana Porkopcuka of Latvia over 3,000 metres, clocking 9:04.21.

Adrian McIvor was also the winner of the 400 metre hurdles in 58.02. Two countries among the nine competing will gain promotion to the first league but with Denmark in third on 67 points, the Irish will need another strong team effort this afternoon. The men start their First League competition in Vaasa, Finland today.

Cricket: Australia captain Steve Waugh yesterday announced three changes to his side for the triangular series final against Pakistan at Lord's today. Opener Matthew Hayden, all-rounder Andrew Symonds and pace bowler Damiem Fleming are omitted. In come middle order batsman Damien Martyn, leg-spinner Shane Warne and fast bowler Jason Gillespie.

Meanwhile, England bowler Andrew Caddick's place in the first Test against Australia next month could be under threat due a hairline fracture of his left knuckle. Caddick sustained the injury while batting in England's one-day defeat by Australia at the Oval on Thursday.

Drugs In Sport: A German scientist said yesterday he had shown a link between dietary supplements and positive tests for the anabolic steroid nandrolone, possibly explaining a recent spate of high-profile doping incidents. A study by Dr Wilhelm Schaenzer of the Institute of Biochemistry at the German Sports University in Cologne connects ingredients of some popular supplements and the internationally banned substance nandrolone, which strengthens muscle and bone.