Senior batsman Ricky Ponting plans to step up sprint work to prove his fitness from a hamstring injury ahead of Friday's opening Brisbane Test against South Africa.

Ponting withdrew during last week'

Talismanic all-rounder Shane Watson has become Australia's latest injury scare ahead of next week's Test against South Africa after pulling up with a sore calf during a Sheffield Shield clash.

Watson

Five-time Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe failed to qualify for the London Games on Sunday but said he had no regrets about returning to the pool and vowed to continue his comeback.

Thorpe lost

Australia scored 271 for six off 50 overs after winning the toss in the second tri one-day series final against Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Michael Clarke (117) and David Warner (100)

India captain M.S. Dhoni won the toss and chose to bowl in an attempt to claim a vital bonus-point win over Sri Lanka in Hobart on Tuesday and stay in the race for the tri one-day series final.

India

Australia beat Sri Lanka by five runs in the third tri-series one-day international at the WACA Ground on Friday.

Sent in to bat by Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, Australia made 231 from 49.1

Employees of an Australian bus company have been given a 15 million Australian dollars ($16 million) share of the proceeds of the business sale as a thank-you for their loyalty, an executive and a new

Captain Ross Taylor said on Wednesday that New Zealand were confident of winning their first Test in Australia for 26 years against a weakened bowling attack at the Gabba this week.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Friday invoked an Australian Aboriginal proverb which notes "we are just passing through", as she called for enduring results from a Commonwealth summit.

In an address

Australia on Wednesday announced plans to make it cheaper for migrants from Commonwealth countries working overseas to send money back home.

In some Pacific nations, like Tonga and Samoa, remittance