A wrap-up of the day's other main sports stories.
TENNIS: Pete Sampras has decided to continue playing in 2003, although he will not compete in the Australian Open in January.
The 31-year-old record 14-time grand slam winner lifted the US Open in September after two years without any kind of tournament win and there was speculation in the media that he would quit the game.
But Sampras has revealed he plans to continue playing in 2003, starting what will be his 16th year on the ATP Tour after the Australian Open in Melbourne - the first grand slam of the year.
"I'll start in February in San Jose," he told the Los Angeles Times. "And then go right from there to tournaments in Scottsdale, Indian Wells and Miami."
Sampras is opting out of the Australian Open because the timing of his decision to keep playing will not allow him to prepare for the tournament properly. He will play the three remaining grand slam events, the French Open in May, Wimbledon in June and the US Open in September - a title he won for the fifth time this year by beating fellow veteran Andre Agassi.
Sampras insists, however, that he does not want the coming season to be viewed as some sort of farewell tour. "I'm just going to see how it goes, just kind of ride the wave and see how far it takes me," he said.
CRICKET: Andrew Flintoff is to undergo an intensive rehabilitation programme in an attempt to get fit for February's World Cup.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced that the Lancashire and England all-rounder will undertake the programme in order to speed his recovery from a groin injury.
Flintoff (25), flew home from England's tour of Australia last Friday after failing to make a full recovery from a hernia operation carried out at the end of August.
Meanwhile, West Australian all-rounder Brad Hogg was yesterday the surprise replacement for the injured Shane Warne in Australia's team for Sunday's one-day match against Sri Lanka in Perth.
Hogg's call-up completes a remarkable turnaround for the 31-year-old after six years out of international cricket following his lone appearance in a Test loss to India by seven wickets in Delhi. Injured Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said postal worker Hogg deserved the chance after falling out of the national selection frame almost as soon as he arrived.
RUGBY: Graeme Cattermole has backed English RFU disciplinary chief Robert Horner's decision to launch an independent inquiry into claims of a conspiracy to prevent relegation from the English Premiership.
The 12 top-flight clubs issued a joint statement on Tuesday protesting their innocence and claiming RFU disciplinary officer Horner could find no evidence of the alleged conspiracy.
But Cattermole, chairman of the RFU's management board, has backed Horner's decision, insisting English rugby will suffer unless the issue is cleared up.
