Adelaide, Jan. 26: Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has said that he will seek an explanation from all-rounder Andrew Symonds on why he labelled New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum a "lump of shit" in a radio interview late last week.

Melbourne, Jan. 25 : Damir Dokic, the father of tennis player Jelena Dokic has apologised for derailing his daughter''s life and spurning Australia at the height of her career.

According to the Sunday Herald Sun, the shamed father has offered an olive branch to his daughter and the Australian public by finally saying sorry for years of outrageous public behaviour.

Dokic''s return to the top of world sport is set to continue today at Melbourne Park in the fourth round of the Australian Open against 29th seed Russian Alisa Kleybanova.

Melbourne, Jan. 25 : Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke is set to land a massive 1.7 million dollar deal by making himself available for the Indian Premier League.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, Australian players have become the primary recruitment target for the IPL''s eight franchises, which will fork out more than 11 million dollars collectively for 32 local products ahead of the second season starting on April 10.

Adelaide, Jan. 25 : Pace bowler Ben Hilfenhaus and leg-spinning all-rounder Cameron White will play for Australia in the fourth one-day match against South Africa at the Adelaide Oval on Monday.

According to Fox Sports, they will replace Nathan Bracken and Nathan Hauritz.

Bracken withdrew from the squad with a calf problem, while Hauritz was excluded after being subjected to some heavy punishment during the match at the SCG on Friday night.

Melbourne, Jan 25, : Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi has entered the quarterfinals of the mixed doubles at the Australian Open here today.

Unseeded Sania-Bhupathi pair thrased Australia''s Anastasia Rodionova and Stephen Huss with straight sets 6-1 6-2 in 54 minutes.

The Indian pair will now face the winners of the match between the Canadian pair of Aleksandra Wozniak and Daniel Nestor and second seed Chinese-Bahamian duo of Zi Yan and Mark Knowles.

The Indians took just 23 minutes to pocket the opening set.

Sydney, Jan. 25 : Australian fast bowler Stuart Clark believes that he still has about three to four years of cricket left in him, and has dismissed claims thathe is a spent force at the international level.

Outlining his plans to play Test cricket until 2013, Clark, who has recovered from elbow surgery, took the most significant step in his bid to tour South Africa when he turned out for grade side Sydney University against Sutherland on Saturday.

Clark''s comeback coincided with that of Andrew Symonds, who appeared for Gold Coast Dolphins after undergoing knee surgery following the Boxing Day Test.