Essendon footballer Nathan Lovett-Murray has been charged with drug possession as part of an eight-month police investigation into a large drug syndicate.

A hobbling Andrew Flintoff is battling to be fit for the fourth Test, and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting believes the knee injury to England's star all-rounder became far more debilitating during the Edgbaston draw than his rivals let on.

Socceroo coach Pim Verbeek is casting his net wide in pursuit of talent ahead of the World Cup, and has called up some unheralded youngsters for the Australian squad to face Ireland in Limerick.

Senior racing officials believe that an uncertain world economy and the lack of local stayers have conspired against this year's Caulfield and Melbourne cups.

Port Adelaide's Matt Thomas has successfully challenged a rough conduct charge at the AFL tribunal.

Springboks coach Peter de Villiers has lit the fuse for an explosive Tri-Nations battle on Saturday, accusing the Wallabies scrum of milking penalties at the set piece.

The chief executive of the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA), Michael Deare, has resigned over controversial remarks he made recently about the planned Adelaide Oval redevelopment.

Three debutants will have the chance to pull on the Socceroos strip for their upcoming friendly against the Republic of Ireland next week.

Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Viewed spearheads an 11-strong team for trainer Bart Cummings who is aiming to win Australia's most famous race for the 13th time in November.

Frank Farina has blasted rival A-League coach Miron Bleiberg, calling his failure to promote Saturday's season opening derby between Brisbane Roar and Gold Coast United "disgraceful".

Essendon player Nathan Lovett-Murray has been charged with unlicensed driving and possessing a drug of dependence after being found with an ecstasy tablet.

Melbourne great Garry Lyon believes priority draft picks damaging the game "every single week" and that the AFL should expect more questions about tanking so long as it dangled such "enticing bait".

7.20am Michael Clarke produces an innings of admirable resilience to save the Edgbaston Test for Australia.

Michael Clarke and Marcus North combined for a record fifth-wicket partnership to force a draw in the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston that keeps the series well and truly alive.

Carsten Ball was born and raised in California, the scene of the ATP breakthrough that has earned the Australian Davis Cup player a career-high ranking of 145th.

Former Liverpool star Robbie Fowler holds the record for scoring the fastest hat-trick in the English Premier League, netting three times inside five minutes one famous day against Arsenal.

Robbie Farah's field goal 16 minutes from time has rescued a 19-18 victory for Wests Tigers as Manly mounted an audacious comeback at Sydney Football Stadium.

The organisers of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne say a deal has been reached to ensure all major teams now compete at next year's event.

St Kilda's Stephen Milne has escaped a striking charge from the AFL's match review panel, after being reported in the Saints' one-point win over Sydney.

The Brisbane Broncos have categorically denied reports that one of the team's star players has a major drug problem.