CRICKET

The Proteas will put their youngest team in the field in the last decade when they take on Australia in the final ODI of their tour at the WACA on Friday afternoon. National coach Mickey Arthur on Thursday named a starting line-up in which Herschelle Gibbs and Neil McKenzie represent the only real long-term experience and McKenzie has only just come back into the side after an absence of more than five years. The team have lost more than 700 ODI caps through the absence of the big three of Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Makhaya Ntini and, of course, Graeme Smith has not played in the series at all.

CRICKET

Zimbabwe recorded their fifth largest one-day victory after posting their highest ever total in Mombasa on Thursday, beating Kenya by 151 runs to lead 2-0 in the five-match series.

CRICKET

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has trimmed its umpiring referral system to try and avoid frivolous appeals in the final trial phase. Following feedback from players and officials, teams will now get two instead of three unsuccessful attempts per innings to have decisions by on-field officials reviewed by the television umpire, an ICC statement said.

GOLF

Teenager Rory McIlroy shot a superb eight-under-par 64 to seize the early lead on the opening day of the Dubai Desert Classic on Thursday. The 19-year-old from Northern Ireland, seeking his first win on the European Tour, made the most of the ideal conditions after fog delayed the start by more than two-and-a-half hours.

GOLF

England’s Ricky Lee took the early clubhouse lead with a four-under-par 66 in the first round of the Nashua Masters being played at the par-70 Wild Coast Sun Country Club. South Africa’s Darren Holder was one shot behind Lee, with Jon Bethwaite, Bafana Hlope and Alan Michell all grouped on two-under 68.