■ CRICKET
Brett Lee receives medal
Brett Lee's rising status in world cricket was recognized when the paceman won his first Allan Border Medal on Tuesday. Lee has blossomed since being given the opportunity to shoulder a heavier workload following the retirement of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne early last year, winning the prestigious award that recognizes the best Australian player for the previous year despite missing some play due to an ankle injury. Lee polled 125 votes to win by 18 over veteran opener Matthew Hayden. Captain Ricky Ponting was third with 64. Andrew Symonds was fourth at 54, followed by Michael Clarke, who got 52. During the period of voting, Lee picked up 70 Test and one-day wickets, including claiming 40 wickets at 21.06 in the recent Tests against Sri Lanka and India.
■ SOCCER
EPL puts plans on hold
The English Premier League (EPL) on Tuesday put plans to take matches around the world on hold, admitting they needed more time to develop a plan that has provoked fierce opposition among fans and soccer authorities. In a statement, the EPL announced that they had indefinitely postponed this week's planned visit to the headquarters of FIFA and admitted they would "need to conduct further internal studies" of the plan to play 10 matches a season overseas from 2011. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has made it clear he vehemently opposes the plan and was reportedly infuriated that the Premier League clubs announced their intentions without seeking prior approval from the world governing body. Senior English soccer figures had also expressed concerns that annoying Blatter was not the best way of helping their bid for the 2018 World Cup.
■ CRICKET
Hogg to retire from Tests
Brad Hogg plans to retire at the end of the tri-series limited-overs finals against India, leaving Australia's test spin bowling stocks in short supply. Hogg, 37, announced his decision yesterday, calling an end to a career that included seven tests and 121 limited-overs internationals as a left-arm spinner. Hogg stepped into the Test void when Stuart MacGill, the long-time heir apparent to leg-spinning great Shane Warne, was injured after Australia's Test series win over Sri Lanka late last year. He played three of the four Tests in Australia's 2-1 win over India and has been a regular fixture of Australia's limited-overs side for five years, playing a role in the World Cup wins in 2003 and last year.
■ SOCCER
Juventus draw with Torino
Juventus' battle to take second place in Serie A suffered a fresh blow on Tuesday as they were held 0-0 in the Turin derby by Torino and had former Czech international midfielder Pavel Nedved sent-off. Juventus -- who lost 2-1 to lowly Reggina on Saturday -- trail AS Roma by three points with the team from the capital due to take on leaders Inter Milan yesterday in Milan. Juventus -- still without leading scorer David Trezeguet who has sinusitis -- dominated the encounter but found a formidable obstacle in the form of Torino 'keeper Matteo Sereni. The 33-year-old was in imperious form, saving from Vincenzo Iaquinta's 27th minute header, then twice from veteran Alessandro del Piero and a header seven minutes from time by Mauro Camoranesi.
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