Cricket: South Africa doggedly batted out the final day to draw the second Test against Australia in Adelaide and leave the three-Test series all square yesterday. Faf du Plessis, playing in his debut Test, was the hero with an unbeaten century as the Proteas finished on 248 for eight ahead of Friday’s final Test in Perth. When stumps were drawn, Du Plessis, who needed physio treatment for cramp late in the day, was unconquered on 110 with Morne Morkel not out eight.
Golf: Luke Donald is planning to have an operation in the off-season in an attempt to cure a lingering problem with his sinuses. “My sinuses are all completely clogged up and every time I get a little bit run down they turn into infections,” the 34-year-old Briton said after finishing in a tie for third place at the DP World Tour Championship Sunday. “Hope-fully the surgery will fix it. It’s a pretty quick and easy operation.”
Rugby Union: Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper (picture) yesterday put his rugby union career on hold as he prepares to make his debut as a boxer on the same card as former All Black Sonny Bill Williams. The 24-year-old Queensland Reds player is under contract until the end of the year but said talks on extending it beyond that have stalled. Cooper said he had been boxing for months as part of his rehabilitation following knee surgery and was preparing for a fight on February 8.
Horse Racing: The Grand National has joined a growing sporting scramble for corporate cash after Heineken’s John Smith’s beer said it would end its title sponsorship of the world famous steeplechase next year. The Grand National race at Aintree is one of the highlights of the racing calendar but its image has been marred by the deaths of 33 horses since 1973, leading to calls for smaller fields and more changes to the gruelling course.
American Football: Quarterback Ricky Ray tossed a pair of touchdown passes on Sunday as the Toronto Argonauts defeated the Calgary Stampeders 35-22 to capture the historic 100th Grey Cup. Ray completed 18-of-30 passes for 231 yards and an interception for the Argonauts, who won their first Grey Cup in eight years. “This is unbelievable,” said Ray, a three-time Grey Cup winner. “To win 100th Grey Cup in front of your fans is fantastic. It’s just great to be part of this team.”