A roundup of today's other sports news in brief
Four Irish bound for Australian Open
TENNIS: Irish tennis has received a massive boost for the New Year with an unprecedented number of four players set to take part in next month’s Australian Open.
Davis Cup team-mates Conor Niland and Louk Sorensen have booked their places in the qualifying round of the men’s singles in the Melbourne Park event.
And they will be joined by John Morrissey and Sam Barry who will be flying the flag in the Under-18 boys’ singles competition.
The previous highest number of Irish players participating in the first Grand Slam of the Year, for which the senior main draw runs from January 18-31, was almost 12 months ago, when Niland and Morrissey represented this country.
Niland and Sorensen clinched their places in the preliminary stages by achieving their ambition of finishing the tournament year in the top 300 of the ATP singles world rankings. Niland is ranked 288, while Sorensen is ranked 294.
Hauritz claims five-wicket haul
CRICKET:Nathan Hauritz claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket as Australia wrapped up a comprehensive 170-run victory over Pakistan in the first Test in Melbourne.
Hauritz, whose previous best was four for 86, spun Australia to victory shortly after lunch on the final day at the MCG after Mitchell Johnson had earlier set the tone with a devastating spell of pace bowling.
Hauritz finished with five for 101 to help bowl the tourists out for 251 in their second innings. Pakistan went into lunch at 249 for eight, chasing a world-record 422 for an historic victory.
But their slim hopes were dashed in the second over after lunch as Hauritz had captain Mohammad Yousuf caught by Simon Katich at short leg for 61, before Saeed Ajmal was caught at mid-wicket by Shane Watson for 10.
The comfortable victory cemented Ricky Ponting as the most successful captain in Test history with 42 wins out of the 65 matches in which he has led Australia.
Jacques Burger joins Saracens
RUGBY:English Premiership leaders Saracens have completed the signing of Namibia forward Jacques Burger. The 26-year-old backrower joins from Super 14 outfit the Bulls and spent yesterday training with his new team-mates as they prepare for Leicester's visit to Vicarage Road on Saturday.
Burger, who has won 25 caps, featured prominently at the 2007 World Cup where he was Namibia’s outstanding player and he went on to gain his contract with the Bulls on the back of some industrious displays in France.
Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter said: “Jacques is not only a quality player but he’s also a quality individual and we’re delighted he has joined us.
“I’ve worked with him before and he has the ability to play across the back row where his tenacity and work rate will add to the strength and depth of the squad.”
Kürten tots up world cup points in Belgian qualifier
EQUESTRIAN:Jessica Kürten collected valuable Rolex FEI World Cup points yesterday in Mechelen when second in the Belgian qualifier with Lady Georgina Forbes's Castle Forbes Libertina.
Germany-based Kuerten and the 13-year-old mare, which spent much of 2009 on the sidelines through injury, were one of eight combinations through to the second round of the 1.60m jump-off class from a starting field of 40.
Four of those who went forward to the timed round again went clear, with the Irish pairing’s good time of 39.31 only being bettered by Japan’s Eiken Sato, who stopped the clock on 38.83 with the stallion BV Project Cartoon Z. The winner picked up a car and €10,000, while Kürten earned €20,000 for her runner-up spot.
FEI World Cup 1.60m jump-off – 1 Japan’s BV Project Cartoon Z (Eiken Sato) 0/0, 38.82; 2, Ireland’s Castle Forbes Libertina (Jessica Kürten) 0/0, 39.31; 3 Belgium’s Ever Mury Marais Z (Patrick McEntee) 0/0, 39.78; 4 Spain’s Herald 3 (Pilar Cordon) 0/0, 42.21; 5 Germany’s Taloubet Z (Christian Ahlmann) 0/4, 39.39; 6 France’s Mylors Carthago (Penelope Leprevost) 0/4, 40.50; 40 starters.
Charvis takes on extra duties
RUGBY:Newport Gwent Dragons have announced Colin Charvis will take over as forwards coach until the end of the season.
The former Wales backrower and captain replaces Leigh Jones, who has left to take up a role with the Hong Kong Rugby Union as a coach development manager. Charvis, Wales’ most capped forward, is already the Dragons’ defence coach and will expand his role to take on the extra responsibility.
