Sydney  - Oil from a damaged ship has washed up on 60 kilometres of beaches on Australia's east coast in what officials declared an environmental disaster.

Oil gushed from the Hong Kong-owned Pacific Adventurer on Wednesday when it was lashed by a storm in international waters near Brisbane.

The 180-metre vessel also lost 31 containers overboard that contained the fertilizer ingredient ammonium nitrate.

Queensland Premier Anna Blight said the spill was much bigger than the captain reported and the damage much greater than anticipated.

Melbourne, Mar 12 : Australian pace bowler Peter Siddle has said that a sore foot won't stop him from playing against South Africa next week, dashing hopes of Doug Bollinger to make a Test recall.

Siddle produced a heroic performance in second Test in Durban, taking match figures of 5-81 from 41.3 overs despite going into the game with a foot injury.

Skipper Ricky Ponting praised the heroic efforts of Siddle, and said the Victorian will be rested from next month's one-day series in South Africa.

Melbourne, Mar 12 : Injured fast bowler Brett Lee's place in the Ashes 2009 squad is under serious threat after the unexpected success of Australia's pace attack against South Africa.

Lee is slipping further down the queue with each impressive performance from the trio of Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus in the on going series against the Proteas.

Only five months ago, Lee was Australia's main attack bowler, but at present he is arguably the fourth or fifth best fast bowling option, The Herald Sun reported.

Melbourne, Mar 12 : Australia's two most exciting prospects for Ashes 2009 series, Mitchell Johnson and Phillip Hughes, have made big impressions in the latest ICC player rankings.

Johnson, the new pace spearhead in the absence of injured duo Stuart Clark and Brett Lee, has climbed to the second spot in the bowling rankings alongside South African rival Dale Steyn on 811 points.

Melbourne, March 12 : If there's one man Zac Efron looks up to, then it's the World's Sexiest Man Hugh Jackman.

The `High School Musical' actor revealed he would love to hop the path treaded by Jackman who was a role model for him.

"I aspire be where he''s at some day - to have that drive. It gives me hope a little bit," News. com. au quoted him as saying.

Melbourne, Mar 12 : Athletes buying pricey sneakers might just be wasting their money, for researchers have found no scientific evidence supporting the safety of these running shoes.

Scientists at the University of Newcastle revealed that they didn't find any evidence supporting claims that sophisticated cushioning or heel supports prevent injury.