Sports Digest

Cricket: No room has been found in Ireland's squads for the match against Australia and the Triple Crown tournament for Decker Curry (Limavady), who left the team during the recent ICC Trophy tournament in Toronto in controversial circumstances, writes Karl Johnston.

The Irish Cricket Union's (ICU) disciplinary committee has written to Curry, and is awaiting a reply.

Ed Joyce, Gary Neely and Mark Patterson were not available for selection for the Australian match, to be played at Ormeau on Sunday week, August 12th.

John Mooney (North County) and Jordan McGonigle (Donemana) are the only uncapped players named in the Triple Crown squad.

Meanwhile, Matt Dwyer is said to be contemplating retirement from representative cricket after the match against Australia. He retired after Ireland's disastrous home Triple Crown campaign in 1999, but returned to the national side last year.

Ireland's Triple Crown matches are against Wales at Horsham on Tuesday, August 14th, against England at Stirlands on Wednesday, August 15th and against Scotland at East Grinstead on Thursday, August 16th.

Rugby: Percy Montgomery has been axed from the 26-man Springbok squad for the overseas leg of the Tri-Nations series.

The Springboks, fresh from a morale-boosting 20-15 victory over world champions Australia last Saturday, have dispensed with the services of Montgomery.

A poor display against New Zealand in the opening Tri-Nations match, which included some crucial missed penalties, led to Montgomery falling out of favour with Springbok coach Harry Viljoen.

Viljoen has made two other surprise changes. He has recalled centre Andre Snyman after an absence of more two years.

Snyman's last appearance for South Africa was against New Zealand in Pretoria in August 1999 when he broke his ankle while scoring a try.

The 27-year-old has won 33 Test caps and scored nine tries for his country.

Towering second row Albert van den Berg is also recalled after recovering from a sternum injury sustained in the second Test against France in June.

Meanwhile, Stephen Larkham and Ben Tune have been recalled to the Australia squad for the Tri-Nations game with New Zealand in Dunedin on August 11th. Larkham has been out of action since injuring an arm in the second Test match with the British and Irish Lions.

Justin Harrison and James Holbeck rejoin the squad after missing the trip to South Africa.

Tennis: Defending champion Marat Safin was booed off court on Monday after quitting with a knee injury when trailing Nicolas Escude 6-4 5-2 in the first round of the Montreal Masters. The Russian second seed said there was no point carrying on with the problem he reaggravated last week in Los Angeles. "It hurt when I had to serve and I couldn't run," the 21-year-old said.