Cricket: Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is coming out of retirement to play domestic Twenty20 cricket with Lancashire, it was announced yesterday. The 36-year-old retired in 2010 after the previous year’s Ashes series success against Australia, having played 79 tests, 141 one-day internationals and seven T20 matches. He made 80 first-class appearances for Lancashire, and has been training with the county since the northern winter.

Basketball: Former Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer has agreed a deal to buy the Los Angeles Clippers in the wake of current owner Donald Sterling’s lifetime ban for racist remarks. Sterling’s wife Shelly has issued a statement saying a deal worth $2 billion has been agreed with Ballmer, although the sale could yet face complications relating to Donald Sterling’s fall into disgrace. “I am delighted that we are selling the team to Steve, who will be a terrific owner,” Shelly Sterling said in a statement.

Golf: Sir Nick Faldo will contest the Scottish Open for the first time in five years later this summer. The six-time major champion has been confirmed among a high-class field for the event at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club which runs from July 10-13. “I’m really looking forward to playing at Royal Aberdeen,” said 56-year-old Faldo, who will also be in action a week later at The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. “I’ve always enjoyed playing in Scotland and I am particularly looking forward to the test that Royal Aberdeen will present.”

Basket, NBA: Manu Ginobili and Boris Diaw were electric off the bench as the San Antonio Spurs routed the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-89 in Game Five of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday to move one win away from a berth in the NBA Finals. Ginobili scored 19 points, Diaw added 13 and veteran forward Tim Duncan contributed a team-high 22, as the Spurs made the most of home court advantage to take a 3-2.