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Cycling: British Olympic track cycling gold medallists Laura Trott (picture) and Jason Kenny are to tie the knot. “Merry Christmas everyone. I’ve had the most amazing couple of days thanks to @JasonKenny107 and the whole family #engaged”, Trott wrote on Twitter. Trott, 22, took two golds at London 2012 in the team pursuit and omnium while 26-year-old Kenny also topped the podium in team sprint and individual sprint. Both are expected to be part of the British team for the Rio Olympics in 2016.
Cricket: Young captain Steven Smith compiled a watchful half-century to guide Australia to 259 for five at stumps and leave the third test against India delicately poised after an attritional opening day in Melbourne yesterday. Smith won the toss and put his team in to bat but the hosts were on the back foot for much of a mild, sunny day in front of a festive Boxing Day crowd of 70,000. Continuing a stellar run of form, Smith was unbeaten on 72 at stumps, with Brad Haddin surviving a couple of body blows from India’s pacemen and clutching to a scratchy 23. Australia are bidding to seal the four-match series 3-0 after winning the opening tests in Adelaide and Brisbane.
Formula One: Switzerland’s Sebastien Buemi will start his fifth year as Red Bull reserve driver next season. Former Toro Rosso racer Buemi won the world endurance championship for Toyota this season, with Britain’s Anthony Davidson, and has also raced in the new Formula E electric series. “He’s been closely associated with the team for some years now, we value his skills very highly and we have a great working relationship with him,” said team principal Christian Horner in a statement confirming Buemi’s continuation. Australian Daniel Ricciardo and Russian Daniil Kvyat are the team’s race drivers next year following the departure of Sebastian Vettel to Ferrari.
Rugby Union: Northampton’s England hooker Dylan Hartley has been suspended for three weeks for elbowing Leicester’s Matt Smith in a Premiership match, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said. Hartley, who was sent off after 17 minutes following the off-the-ball incident, is banned until Jan. 11 which means he can play in England’s Six Nations campaign which starts against Wales on Feb. 6 as they build up for the World Cup. England’s Six Nations campaign runs from February through March as they prepare for September and October’s home World Cup.
Golf: Steve Stricker, a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, has undergone back surgery the American golfer said in a statement this week. Stricker had the procedure at a Wisconsin hospital on Wednesday after being hampered by a compressed nerve in his lower back that has caused problems in his hips and legs. “I’m very excited to get back to practising and competing in 2015 and expect to be 100 per cent physically which really excites me,” Stricker said in a statement. The 47-year-old does not have a specific target date for a return to competition. Stricker, who reached as high as second in the world rankings, is currently ranked 41st.
Basket, NBA: Miami Heat got the better of LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers with a 101-91 victory in the Christmas Day return of the two-time NBA champion to his former team. James scored 30 points on nine of 16 shooting. He returned to Cleveland in July, reuniting with the team where he made his name before moving to Miami in 2010. There were a few boos mixed in with cheers when James’s name was announced before the opening tip-off but the true sentiment of the crowd was evident after a first quarter time-out when the Heat showed a highlight reel of his achievements during his four years in Miami. The crowd stood to applaud and James acknowledged by waving to all four sides of the court.