Melbourne, Dec 24: John Bradman, son of Sir Don Bradman, is seeking damages from law firm Allens Arthur Robinson for failing to use "due care, skill and diligence" when allowing the Bradman Foundation to license the cricketer's name.

He alleged that the law firm left his father's name open to exploitation, by allowing it to be used to promote items such as chocolate-chip biscuits, aired before a full Supreme Court trial.

The family has said that, if successful, it would donate any funds it received to charity, The Australian reported.

Allens Arthur Robinson yesterday applied to the court for a summary judgment in its favour, arguing that the Bradman family had left it too long after Sir Donald's 2001 death to take action.

Melbourne, Dec 24: John Bradman, son of Sir Don Bradman, is seeking damages from law firm Allens Arthur Robinson for failing to use "due care, skill and diligence" when allowing the Bradman Foundation to license the cricketer's name.

He alleged that the law firm left his father's name open to exploitation, by allowing it to be used to promote items such as chocolate-chip biscuits, aired before a full Supreme Court trial.

The family has said that, if successful, it would donate any funds it received to charity, The Australian reported.

Allens Arthur Robinson yesterday applied to the court for a summary judgment in its favour, arguing that the Bradman family had left it too long after Sir Donald's 2001 death to take action.

Melbourne, Dec 23 : Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban's dream of having a secluded 6.5 million dollar retreat in the NSW Southern Highlands is under threat, as the area won't remain isolated for long.

Any privacy the couple had hoped for at their new rural retreat is looking unlikely with 100 motel units set to be built next door.

Melbourne, Dec 23 : The curator at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Cameron Hodgkins, has said that the pitches he prepared for the two Sheffield Shield matches staged at
the ground this season offered little for spinners and doubts that the Boxing Day Test wicket would be much different.

Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz's hopes of earning an Aussie recall have been dampened by curator Hodgkins' appraisal of how the MCG pitch will play, the Courier Mail
reported.

Melbourne, Dec 23 : Cricket fans behaving badly at the Boxing Day Test will face ejection and hefty fines, police have warned.

Police numbers will be beefed up during the Test and on-the-spot fines will be handed out for troublemakers ejected from the ground.

The Age reported that 227 dollars penalty notices would also be issued for using obscene language, threatening or insulting words, and poor behaviour.

Victoria Police Superintendent Stephen Leane urged people planning to drink alcohol to leave their cars at home.

"We want people to enjoy themselves and have a good time, but we don't want people drinking in excess and spoiling the day for others," Superintendent Leane said.

Melbourne, Dec 23 : Skipper Ricky Ponting, who has been termed Captain Pout for not supporting his young pace attack when it was flayed all over at WACA, has been termed as Australian sport's most marketable star.

Ponting, who might have lost his gloss, should sign up for every luxury watch, vitamin pill and car oil endorsement he can get his hands on, the Courier Mail has said.

The 33-year-old Tasmanian, who took the title from Ian Thorpe last winter, pipped retired swimmer Grant Hackett (No. 2) at the top of a list which includes no fewer than seven retired sports stars in its top 10.

That's seemingly an honour reserved for whoever sits in the Australian cricket team captain's chair.