CRICKET: Australia captain Steve Waugh is facing a race against time to be fit for next month's opening Test against New Zealand after being diagnosed with a mild form of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT).
The blood clot that was discovered in Waugh's injured calf muscle was yesterday confirmed to be DVT. But the 36-year-old, who is undergoing blood-thinning treatment, intends to be fit enough to lead his side out against the Kiwis in five weeks' time.
He told the Sydney Morning Herald: "Initially it's pretty serious when you find out about it but as long as you manage it OK there shouldn't be any problems. "I've had injections and I'm just on aspirin now. It really just needs to be monitored."
Waugh, who suffered the calf strain during Australia's Ashes tour to England this summer, believes the long flight back from Europe was almost certainly the cause of the illness.
GOLF: Paddy Gribben, back in Challenge Tour action, carded a 69 in the opening round of the San Paolo Open in Italy. It leaves the former Walker Cup man five strokes off the lead held by Sweden's Klas Eriksson.
Gribben had five birdies in his 69, while Dublin's Peter Lawrie, seeking to extend the good form he displayed in finishing sixth in last week's PGA of Austria Masters, returned 70.
The only other Irishman in the field, Gary Murphy, went round in 71, which leaves him in joint 67th place on a day when 82 players bettered par.
At the top Eriksson is a shot ahead of Denmark's Mads Vibe-Hastrup, and two strokes clear of the rest of the field.
Mark Foster, current leader of the Order of Merit, carded a six-under-par 66. Foster, with two victories to his credit this year and who has already secured his European Tour card for next year, was joined on 66 by two more Englishmen, Charles Challen from Buckinghamshire, and Spanish-based Miles Tunnicliff.
Bristol's Andrew Sherborne, who needs a high finish this week if he is to head back to the regular tour, is among a large group on 67 that also includes Yorkshire's James Herpworth, Welshman Mark Pilkington and Lee James from Dorset.
TENNIS: Former US Open champion Marat Safin overpowered Max Mirnyi 5-7 6-4 6-4 in a battle of two big-hitters in the first round of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow yesterday.
In the earlier match on centre court, top seed Martina Hingis advanced to the quarter-finals with a 7-5 6-2 win over Czech qualifier Sandra Kleinova.
The defending champion fell behind early in the match as she struggled with her usually reliable all-court game but, after drawing level at 5-5, the world number one finally broke 135th-ranked Kleinova in the 12th game.
RUGBY: Lions scrum-half Rob Howley will be on the bench for Cardiff's European Cup clash against Montferrand on Saturday. The former Wales captain has been suffering from a stomach upset this week, so ex-Swansea number nine Andy Booth makes his first start since rejoining Cardiff.
