Rugby Union: Australia have dropped flyhalf Quade Cooper for today’s test against New Zealand at Eden Park, where the All Blacks will be going for a record 18th successive test victory. Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who delayed the naming of his team until yesterday, made four changes to the side that finished the Rugby Championship with a victory over Argentina. Standout loose forward David Pocock returns from injury to take a place on the bench with the pack unchanged from that which started the match against the Pumas at Twickenham.

Horse Racing: Dual Champion Chase winner Moscow Flyer has died aged 22, the Irish National Stud has announced. Trained by Jessica Harrington during his racing days, Moscow Flyer won 26 of 44 starts including 10 Grade One events over fences and three wins at the highest level over hurdles. Moscow Flyer bowed out of racing action after finishing fifth in the 2006 Champion Chase at Cheltenham – a race he won in 2003 and 2005 – and spent the latter half of his retirement at the Irish National Stud, in County Kildare.

Cricket: The western Indian city of Pune will stage its first test when the home side plays Australia in the opener of the four-match series starting February. The Pune test starts Feb. 23 before Australia travel to Bengaluru for the second match from March 4. Two more venues – Ranchi and Dharamshala – will also host their first tests with the third and fourth matches of the Border-Gavaskar series. The scheduling will force some Australia players, who play all three formats, to miss a three-match Twenty20 international series against Sri Lanka at home, with the first test in India starting a day after the final game against Sri Lanka.

Cycling: Ian Drake, the man who has presided over a golden era for British Cycling, will step down as chief executive in April. His decision comes after a difficult year for the organisation that saw technical director Shane Sutton quit in April after allegations of sexist and discriminatory remarks. British Cycling has also been dragged into the controversy surrounding Team Sky’s use of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs). The organisation also said this month it was “cooperating fully” with UK Anti-Doping who were investigating allegations of “wrongdoing within cycling”.

Test Cricket: Opener Tamim Iqbal led Bangladesh’s fightback with a dogged 78 after the hosts had got off to a wobbly start in reply to England’s first innings 293 on the second day of the opening test yesterday. At stumps the match was delicately poised with Bangladesh on 221 for five, trailing England by 72 runs, with all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (31) and nightwatchman Shafiul Islam (zero) at the crease. England captain Alastair Cook called on Moeen Ali, who top-scored for his side with 68, to bowl the final over of the morning and it took the bearded 29-year-old just two deliveries to break Bangladesh’s opening stand.