Melbourne, Feb. 3 : Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is likely to be the top choice for this year's Allan Border Medal.

According to Fox Sports and the Courier-Mail, Johnson may get the nod ahead of skipper Ricky Ponting, batsman Mike Hussey and vice-captain Michael Clarke for the medal.

Despite a slow start to the Test season in the West Indies last year - and picking up relatively few votes in one-day matches - Johnson''s incredible performances in Tests this summer have propelled him into the top spot.

Melbourne, Feb. 3: Some senior Cricket Australia officials are likely to tell the board of directors that they should not consider all rounder Andrew Symonds for selection for the tour of South Africa, given his alleged disturbed psychological state.

According to Fox Sports, a meeting of CA board officials here is expected to hear a recommendation from senior staff that Symonds be effectively barred from representing Australia in next month''s South African tour.

Melbourne, Feb. 3 : Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh has urged Cricket Australia not to be desperate to include all rounder Andrew Symonds in the squad for the tour to South Africa.

Waugh, who will be the 30th cricketer to be inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Melbourne tonight, was quoted by Fox Sports as saying: "I personally don''t think he''s ready. He hasn''t really proved that his form justifies a place in the side right now."

Melbourne, Feb. 2: Uncapped South Australia batsman Callum Ferguson and Western Australia batsman Adam Voges were called into the Australian squad on Monday to replace captain Ricky Ponting and opener Shaun Marsh respectively.

Ponting has been rested while Marsh sustained a hamstring injury in game one in Perth, Fox Sports reports.

Melbourne, Feb. 2 : Former national captain Steve Waugh has been inducted into Australian cricket''s Hall Of Fame.

The 43-year-old is the most-capped Test player in history with 168, 12 clear of Allan Border and Sachin Tendulkar.

He made his international debut in the mid-1980s, when the Australian team was at one of their lowest ebbs, and helped transform the side into a cricket powerhouse.

Waugh, the 30th inductee, is Test cricket''s most successful captain with a winning percentage of 71.92, reports Fox Sports.

Melbourne, Feb. 2 : Spaniard Rafael Nadal is using his Australian Open triumph to call for a shorter ATP Tour season.

Expressing major concerns for player welfare and the tour itself, the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Nadal as saying on Monday: "I worry about the tour more than I worry about myself because the life after tennis continues."