World Sport

Australian skipper Steve Waugh wants next month8217;s One-day series here against South Africa to represent a fresh start for the troubled game of cricket.

Waugh said the game was losing its integrity because of the negative publicity generated by controversies. 8220;I8217;d like to see this as almost a fresh start for cricket- over the last 12 months we8217;ve had so many bad things happen,8221; Waugh said on Friday. 8220;I think people want some positive stuff out of cricket -they8217;re sick of reading the negative stuff8221;, Waugh added.

Knee injury sidelines Ronaldinho

RIO dE JANEIRO: The knee problems that sidelined international striker Ronaldo are now plaguing his successor and namesake.

Ronaldinho Gaucho, the darling of Brazil8217;s National team, will miss Tuesday8217;s World cup qualifying game against Paraguay because of problems with the ligaments in his right knee, team officials said. Team doctor Jose Luis Runco said Ronaldinho hurt the ligament during a collision in Brazil8217;s 1-1 draw against Uruguay last month.

Hurdler lucky to be alive

SACRAMENTO: Hurdler Larry Wadenearly died on easter Sunday. Three months later, he8217;s competing for an Olympic berth.

As Wade, the World8217;s third-ranked 110-metre hurdler last year, was driving two blocks from his home in Canoga Park, California, his Mustang slammed into the other car head-on with great force but Wade appeared to get off lightly. He wound up with a cut on his head that took 15 staples to close. That was far from the end. During the next few weeks his condition deteriorated rapidly. But he said, 8220;I didn8217;t want to go again.8221;

Golfer to pay damages to injured caddie

HONG KONG: An inept Hong Kong golfer described by a judge as a danger to anyone standing in front of him has been ordered to pay compensation to a woman caddie he injured, a news report said on Friday.

Lee Chi-Ming, whose balls could have travelled in virtually any direction or height8217;, the judge noted, struck caddie Chau Fung-Yee in the mouth with a wayward shot and cut her lip. He was ordered to pay Chau, 11,500 as compensation after a high court hearing on Thursday, the South China morning post reports.