Sydney, Feb 7 : The Australian selectors in a surprise move have recalled Ricky Ponting for the February 8 ODI at the SCG against New Zealand, despite giving him a two-game break after the opening loss in Perth last weekend.

Ponting's mid-season holiday has been cut short in an effort to end Australia's horrible one-day campaign, which threatens to include a Chappell-Hadlee Series loss to an under-strength New Zealand.

The Kiwis, given little hope of beating Australia, hold a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series, FOX Sports reported.

Sydney - A private concert by ABBA tribute band Bjorn Again for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was entirely believable, the band's Australian co-founder said Saturday.

"We've played private gigs for Rowan Atkinson, we did Russell Crowe's wedding, we've done a show for Bill Gates where we played Money, Money, Money," John Tyrrell told the The Australian newspaper.

The Kremlin has denied reports that the London-based Bjorn Again foursome was flown to Russia to perform for Putin.

Melbourne, Feb 7: Former Australian cricket players claim the leakage of the ugly dressing room spat between Michael Clarke-Simon Katich, is a sign of a disintegrating Australian cricket team.

Former pacer Mike Whitney insisted there had been similar physical spats like the Clarke- Katich clash in the past, but said there had always been a private pact to keep blow-ups behind closed dressing room doors.

Sydney - Residents of Australia's biggest city woke up Saturday to the smell of smoke from forests set ablaze by arsonists making the most of the tinder-box conditions plaguing Sydney and other south-coast cities.

The fire in a national park north of the harbour city is just one of dozens in the south-east corner of the continent powered by record temperatures and strong winds.

Sydney is set to break an all-time record of three consecutive days of plus-40-degree-Celsius heat.

Melbourne, Feb. 6 : Australia on Friday lost its second placed ranking among one-day international teams to India after being defeated by New Zealand in their second one-day international on the trot at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Melbourne, Feb 6 : While it is often said that money can''t buy love, an Australian psychologist has cautioned that cash act as a major bonding material when it comes to keeping couples together in difficult times.

Dr Matthew Bambling of the Queensland University of Technology has revealed that many couples are parting ways owing to the recent credit crunch, as they face job insecurity, redundancy or worries about making ends meet.

Thus, Bambling has asked families to pull together amid the economic slump, and warned them to trim their financial "dreams."

He says that tough times like these ask for good communication within couples.