Cricket: Shane Warne was yesterday stripped of the Australian cricket team vice-captaincy following revelations that he had bombarded an English nurse with lewd phone messages.

The controversial leg spinner, who vowed he would bounce back, is to be replaced by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, a member of the Test team for less than 12 months, the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced.

Warne (30) had held the leadership role since early last year but despite being one of the greatest players of all time, his off-field antics proved too much for the ACB.

ACB chairman Denis Rogers, who spoke with Warne to tell him of the board's decision, said his off-field behaviour had cost him the job.

"We have counselled him over the years and he's been very honest with us but it's got to the point where we think it's time for a change," Rogers said.

The national selectors - Trevor Hohns, Allan Border and Andrew Hilditch, as well as captain Steve Waugh - all wanted Warne retained, but were overruled.

Gilchrist (28) will assume the job later this month in a one-day series against South Africa in Melbourne.

Cycling: Linda McCartney team professional Ciaran Power (25) yesterday was placed 41st in the Tour of Denmark, finishing the fourth stage in the same time as winner Marco Zanotti. He is 86th overall. Another bound for the Olympic games, Deirdre Murphy, has shown that she is coming into top form by winning the Criterium (street-race) title in the recent American Masters championship.

She will represent Ireland in the elite women's road race in Sydney, while Power will compete in the men's event.

Meanwhile, David O'Loughlin finished 37th in the European under-23 championship time-trial in Poland while Lorraine Manning was 31st in the women's event. Both compete today in the road-race championships.

Athletics: Hicham El Guerrouj will make another attempt on his own world mile record at the London Grand Prix today in what may be his last race over the imperial distance.

"If things go well it will be my last race at the distance," El Guerrouj said. "Next year I will be moving up in distance so maybe this will be my last mile race."

The Moroccan will be racing against Kenyan Noah Ngeny, who pushed him all the way to the finish line when he set the current world mark of three minutes 43.13 seconds in Rome on July 7th last year.

Olympic Games: The World Trade Organisation (WTO) may have to make the final decision on foreign television access to the Olympic Games in Sydney next month, Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile said yesterday.

His comment followed a warning by the European Union that it may soon begin proceedings against Australia in the WTO over restrictions placed on foreign television networks during the games. The US has backed the threat by the European Union.

European trade commissioner Pascal Lamy has written to Vaile to stress EU concern over restricted access to the Olympic Village in Sydney, calling it "an unprecedented restriction".

The EU has warned that the restrictions may breach Australia's obligations under a trade agreement to open the news-agency market to foreign competitors.

Rugby: David O'Neill (PBC Cork) will lead the Irish Schools' side in their fourth tour match against New South Wales Country in Nowra tomorrow. The wing forward captained Munster Schools this season and takes over the national captaincy from Gavin Duffy who is rested.

Cricket: Niall O'Brien, the young Railway Union batsman, has been selected in Leinster's 14-man squad for the Interprovincial Championship matches against the Northern Cricket Union and the North West Cricket Union at Rathmines and Malahide next weekend, August 12th and 13th.

Simon Milton, also of Railway, has been omitted from the squad. He will be replaced as wicketkeeper by Gus Joyce of Merrion.