A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Katich injury played down
CRICKET:Australia physio Alex Kountouris has played down an Ashes injury concern over opener Simon Katich, who hurt his shoulder while fielding in New South Wales' Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania yesterday.
Katich, who is making his way back from a thumb injury, did not go out to open when the Blues’ second innings got under way late on day one.
NSW team officials said this was a precautionary move and they expected him to bat at number three or four when the match resumes tomorrow.
Scans have cleared the veteran left-hander of serious injury but Kountouris does not expect to know the full extent of the damage until the morning.
“He dived in the field and jarred up his shoulder,” Kountouris explained. “It was quite painful, as they are. If he wakes up tomorrow morning and can’t lift his arm it would be a worry but I’m not expecting that to happen.
“I expect he will be okay.”
Niland battles through in Salzburg
TENNIS:Conor Niland squandered two match points, but still posted a first round victory in the ATP Challenger Tour event in Salzburg, yesterday.
Number eight seed Niland allowed his unseeded opponent Ivo Minar to battle back to level at deuce in the ninth game of the second set, before the Irish number one saw off the challenge of the 166th-ranked Czech player on a 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 scoreline.
An early break in the second set helped put the 156th-ranked Limerick native in the driving seat, but Minar, who was placed at 62 in the world rankings in July 2009, held to 15 in the eighth game to claw back the deficit to 3-5.
A service winner and an ace in the next game set up the two match points for Niland, but two forehand errors by the Munster man gave Minar renewed hope.
However, a down-the-middle service winner and an overhit backhand by Minar ensured that Niland would face a second round clash today against either Germany’s Mattias Bachinger or Finland’s Henri Kontinen.
England bowl out Australia A for 230
CRICKET:England's second-string seamers provided reassurance they will be ready for an Ashes call-up should it arrive after they combined to bowl out Australia A for 230 on the opening day of their final warm-up match in Hobart.
With the first-choice bowlers flying out to Brisbane in preparation for the first Test next week, Ajmal Shahzad, Chris Tremlett and Tim Bresnan impressed after Andrew Strauss opted to bowl on a spicy Bellerive Oval track.
That decision was quickly proved correct as Australia A were reduced to 66 for five before lunch with Tremlett and Bresnan sharing two wickets apiece.
Shahzad claimed the key wickets of Ashes hopefuls Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith.
Zenyatta retires to Kentucky
RACING:Zenyatta has been retired to the paddocks following her Breeders' Cup Classic defeat earlier this month.
The six-year-old, who is owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, notched up a 19-race unbeaten streak before going down by just a head to Blame at Churchill Downs.
Zenyatta landed the 2009 Classic and was thought to have been on her way to the breeding sheds after that famous win, but her owners decided to race on this term.
The Street Cry mare landed a further five Grade One successes in 2010 to take her overall career tally to 13 victories at the highest level.
Zenyatta is reported to be on her way to Lane’s End Farm in Kentucky, although breeding plans have yet to be confirmed.
Moya announces his retirement
TENNIS:Former world number one Carlos Moya fought back tears yesterday as he formally announced his retirement from tennis at the age of 34 due to a recurring foot injury.
At a news conference in Madrid attended by family, friends and former players, including Manolo Santana and Albert Costa, the 1998 French Open champion said he would play one more event, in Seville in December, before ending his 15-year career.
Bruton to chair European sports advisory body
EUROPEAN UNION:Former Taoiseach and EU Ambassador to Washington John Bruton has been appointed chairman of a European non-profit association called the EU Sports Platform, writes Johnny Watterson. The body follows EU Sports policy and "decodes the jargon" of EU-decision making.
It hopes to allow the sports world to better understand how EU institutions are becoming more important in influencing sporting structures, funding and governance.
Commenting on his new role, Bruton said: “The new sports competence in the Lisbon Treaty means it has never been more important for sports of all sizes to engage with the EU. This is a pivotal moment and we want to ensure that sports bodies at all levels can benefit from the new EU Sports Policy.”
With regard to the European Parliament’s Hearing on the EU sports policy today, Bruton observed: “This is a great opportunity for the Parliament to make its voice heard.”
