Olivier Giroud has been restricted to the role of substitute in the Premier League this season and while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger knows the striker is far from happy with the situation he is channelling his anger in the right way.

A call for "patience" from Australia selectors for the radically changed squad that emerged from the Hobart wreckage struck a discordant note for some former players after Callum Ferguson and Joe Mennie were barely given a chance to impress.

Spin-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Santner has been included in New Zealand's squad for the second and final Test against Pakistan after making a quick recovery from a broken wrist.

Former Costa Rica international Gabriel Badilla has died aged 32, the Costa Rica Star reported on Sunday, the newspaper saying the defender collapsed near the finish of a 10km race in Santa Ana.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq is highly unlikely to be available for his country's second Test against New Zealand in Hamilton on Friday after having to return to Pakistan due to a family illness.

Striker Robbie Keane will leave LA Galaxy after his contract expires in December, the Major League Soccer (MLS) club have announced.

All-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin struck a crucial half-century before England bowled out India for 455 in the afternoon session on day two of the second Test in Visakhapatnam on Friday.

Brazilian police fired percussion grenades at rioting Internacional fans on Thursday after a 1-1 draw at home to Ponte Preta left the Porto Alegre club in danger of relegation for the first time in their history.

The English Premier League has sold its television rights in China to streaming service PPTV for around $700 million, a source familiar with the matter said, several times the size of past deals as it cashes in on a growing enthusiasm for soccer.

An anti-Mafia official at Milan's city council called on Wednesday for the Chinese buyers of soccer club AC Milan to reveal their identities, saying town hall would notify anti-money laundering authorities if there was not full disclosure.

Director of England cricket Andrew Strauss expects Alastair Cook to carry on as the Test captain well into the summer of 2017, saying the 31-year-old is comfortable with the responsibility.

Persistent rain forced the abandonment of the first day's play of the first cricket Test between New Zealand and Pakistan at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday.

India's much-hyped spin attack are under pressure to deliver in the second Test at Visakhapatnam starting Thursday against an England side high on confidence and boasting new teenage sensation Haseeb Hameed.

Cricketers suspected of corruption could be forced to hand over their mobile phones under new plans to curb match-fixing, head of the game's anti-corruption unit has said.

Rod Marsh has resigned as Australia's chairman of selectors in the wake of the test team's 2-0 series loss to South Africa.

The United States face an uphill battle to qualify for their eighth consecutive World Cup Finals after being demolished 4-0 by a rampant Costa Rica in San Jose.

Isco scores in the sixth minute of stoppage time as Spain launch an improbable fightback to snatch a 2-2 friendly draw against England with both their goals coming after the 89th minute at Wembley.

An outstanding performance from Gabriel Jesus helps Brazil to a 2-0 win over Peru and move the five times World Cup winners four points clear at the top of the South American qualifying group for Russia 2018.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman has tipped the Merseyside club's fierce rivals Liverpool to be among the sides fighting for the Premier League title this season.

West Ham United are determined to keep hold of Dimitri Payet, co-chairman David Sullivan has said, after media reports suggested several clubs across Europe have registered an interest in the French midfielder.