Today's other stories in brief
Singh slapped with slap ban
CRICKET:The Indian board have banned Harbhajan Singh for five one-day internationals for slapping another player during a domestic Twenty20 league match last month.
The ban means the 27-year-old off-spinner will miss the forthcoming tri-series in Bangladesh in June and the start of the Asia Cup in Pakistan.
Harbhajan's ban comes four months after he was involved in a row on the tour of Australia.
Deignan finishes in main group after solid ride
CYCLING:Irish rider Philip Deignan made a solid showing on yesterday's hilltop finish of the
Giro d'Italia, crossing the line in a 67-man group that contained all the race favourites, writes Shane Stokes.
These finished 31 seconds behind the day's winner, Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff Credit Systems), who was one of five riders who broke clear early on and stayed away to fight it out for the victory.
Race leader Franco Pellizotti was in the group and thus retains the pink jersey. Deignan is now 61st overall, a minute and 50 seconds back. He is 12th in the "best young rider" competition.
The race continues today with a rolling stage to Paschici.
Bolger star looks set for Curragh
HORSE RACING: Jim Bolger set punters another conundrum when coming out in favour of the Irish Oaks over the Epsom equivalent after Lush Lashes stylishly won in the Musidora Stakes at York yesterday.
Bolger ruled one-time ante-post favourite New Approach out of the Derby to head to the Curragh instead and a similar path is likely to be taken by the daughter of Galileo. The Goffs Fillies Million winner finished a staying-on sixth in the 1,000 Guineas this month and relished the step up to a mile and a quarter under Kevin Manning. Sent off 2 to 1 favourite, Lush Lashes posted a five-length victory.Bookmakers immediately made her favourite for the Oaks, but the trainer's head lad Ger Flynn said: "It will more likely be the Curragh."
Croke Park to get November friendly
SOCCER:Croke Park will host two more international soccer friendlies this year, it has emerged.
The Republic of Ireland played Brazil at Croke Park in February and will meet Serbia at the same venue on May 24th for Giovanni Trapattoni's first game in charge.
Now the GAA Central Council has given the FAI permission to bring one of the games scheduled for 2009 forward to November.
The GAA director general, Pauric Duffy, said, "Their intention is to play an additional friendly game in November, which will mean they'll have three friendlies this year and one in 2009.
"That's because they have four scheduled games in 2009 as part of World Cup qualifying . . . and Central Council approved that."
Tonight's fixtures
Under-21 friendly: Wales v England (7.30pm). English League One play-off (Semi-final, second leg) - Carlisle (2) v
Leeds (1) (7.45pm).
Irwin quits after Olympic let-down
HOCKEY: The Irish striker Mark Irwin is the latest player to retire following Ireland's failed bid in New Zealand to land a place in the Beijing Olympics later this year, writes Johnny Watterson.
Irwin made his first senior appearance for Ireland 12 years ago when he pulled on the green jersey to play against Spain in Barcelona at the Gold Cup and has since won 130 caps and scored 36 goals.
The 31-year-old steps down in what is a natural break in the hockey calendar. The next serious international tournament is not until next year when the European Championships begin.
"It has always been my dream to play in the Olympic Games," he said. "Like the rest of the squad I gave everything possible to make that dream a reality and was bitterly disappointed to miss out."
Irwin's retirement from the international game follows close on that of the Ireland captain Paddy Brown.
McCullum takes higher order
CRICKET: Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, New Zealand's most dynamic batsman, has been elevated to number five in the order for the first Test against England at Lord's starting today.
McCullum has been a sensation as an opener in one-day cricket, flaying the pace bowlers with a mix of the orthodox and the outlandish.
"He's always down at seven . . . and now we are giving him a chance to be one of the best middle-order batsmen in the world," said the New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.
New Zealand squandered a 1-0 series lead at home this year against England, losing the final two matches mainly through the frailties of their upper-order batting.
"New Zealand cricket has been crying out for a long time for a top three or four who are extremely consistent," Vettori said.
England will field the side who won the final Test of the last series in Napier, keeping faith with James Anderson ahead of Matthew Hoggard, who was dropped after the Hamilton defeat.
