A Northern Territory AFL draftee has been charged with assault following an incident at a New Year’s Eve party in Alice Springs.

Queensland coach Trevor Barsby has urged a discarded James Hopes to prove the national selectors wrong when he returns to the Bulls line-up on Wednesday.

Tasmania need a further 251 runs in the final session with only six wickets remaining in its Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at Bellerive Oval.

Controversial Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has made a meal of an apology for his bizarre ball-biting incident, saying every cricket side in the world tampers with the ball.

Australia coach Norma Plummer has thrown down a challenge to her young netballers, selecting six with fewer than 10 Test caps for this month’s United Kingdom tour.

Fabio Capello has vowed to remain coach of England until Euro 2012 even though he and his FA bosses can mutually cancel his contract after the World Cup in June.

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam says batsman Khalid Latif is lucky he did not suffer a serious injury after being tackled to the ground by a spectator in Sunday night’s two-wicket loss to Australia at the WACA ground in Perth.

NBL Commission member Andrew Vlahov will fly to Cairns this week to inspect the Taipans’ finances, as the club strives to remain in the competition beyond this season.

Australian selectors have given Queensland paceman Ryan Harris the chance to continue his hot form with the white ball, naming him in the squad for Friday’s Twenty20 international against Pakistan.

Tasmania needs to score 321 in two sessions to claim an outright win over Victoria on the final day of their Sheffield Shield clash at Bellerive Oval on Monday.