AUSTRALIAN captain Ricky Ponting admits he returned too early from surgery and could play in pain for the rest of his career as he battles with a severe wrist ailment.

GREG Bird has been granted an unexpected stay of execution thanks to an 11th-hour curve ball that left Cronulla with no choice but to defer a verdict on his future.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: FOR the first time, jockey Chris Munce reveals how he coped with 20 months of hell in prison and his plans to return to racing's big time.

GUN young NSW opener Phillip Hughes says he is trying not to think about playing for Australia. But that will be difficult if he keeps topping Sir Donald Bradman's marks.

EARLIER this year, retiring motor racing legend Mark Skaife found himself gazing into the mirror - and the 41-year-old didn't like what he was looking at.

RUGBY boss John O'Neill says league rival Colin Love and World Cup organisers must have "alzheimers" to compare the stagnant tournament with union's first World Cup.

DWIGHT Yorke has warned Australia it faces a "desperate fight" to host the 2018 World Cup - but believes a tournament here would be an unqualified huge success.

GEOFF Ogilvy didn't need to be told he'd blown a special round when he opened his assault on the storm-disrupted Australian PGA Championship with a 67.

THIS is the picture that proves Mark Winterbottom has not given up on winning the V8 Supercars championship despite facing an uphill battle to claim the title.

SIX of the top ten ranked women's players and five of the men's top 20 stars are confirmed to play in next month's Sydney International, organisers said today.