Swimming: Michael Bohl and Rohan Taylor have been tasked with rebuilding Australia’s tattered swimming programme after its worst Olympic return in 20 years and criticism of the team’s culture and sport’s governance. The powerhouse programme also had its funding cut by almost six per cent by the Australian Sports Commission earlier this week after a poor performance at the London Games where the team failed to win an individual gold and ended with just 10 medals. Bohl, who has coached Beijing Olympic champion Stephanie Rice, will take charge of the women’s team, while Taylor will coach the men’s squad.

Basketball: A strong first quarter propelled 2010 Euroleague champions Barcelona to the competition’s Final Four in London’s O2 Arena from May 10-12 after they engineered a 64-53 win over six-time champions Panathinaikos Athens on Thursday. The Euroleague’s all-time leading scorer Juan Carlos Navarro netted 15 points and Brazilian point guard Marcelinho Huertas added 10 to give Barca a 3-2 win in a rollercoaster best-of-five quarter-final play-off series, while forward Stephane Lasme stood out for the visitors with 16 points.

Cricket: Australia fast bowler Ryan Harris is expected to be fit for the Ashes series against England in July after his Achilles injury was deemed not serious. The 33-year-old bowler picked up the injury playing in the Indian Premier League and returned home after completing his third match on April 14. “Scans showed the injury was not serious and he will undergo intensive rehabilitation with the aim of him being available to take part in the Australia A Series and we expect he will be fit to play in the Ashes,” Cricket Australia said.