London, Dec. 31: Liverpool have extended full support to captain Steven Gerrard, days after he was charged with assault and affray during a late-night bar brawl.

Gerrard was charged with two other men after spending 24 hours in custody following the incident at Southport''s Lounge Inn.

A club statement read: "Steven has been an outstanding servant to Liverpool for the last 10 years and the club will give him all the support he needs at this time."

Melbourne, Dec. 31: Australia's cricket selectors continues to face flak in the wake of the national team's two-nil series defeat to South Africa.

The Andrew Hilditch-led committee is being accused of muddled thinking that has contributed in a large measure to the end of a sustained period of world domination in the sport.

London, Dec. 31: England and Liverpool soccer star Steven Gerrard has reportedly received texts of support from top players, including David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, days after being charged with assault and affray.

The Sun reports that the four players, all senior figures in the England team, told Gerrard to "keep your chin up" after hearing he must appear before a magistrate''s court next month in connection with a bar brawl.

London, Dec.

Melbourne, Dec. 30 : The world is celebrating the fall of former cricket superpower Australia.

Today''s home series loss is Australia''s first in 16 years and the world''s media are enjoying seeing the Australians endure what they had dished out over the past two decades.

"The speed with which Australia have fallen from their pre-eminent position in world cricket has been startling," South Africa''s Super Sport website reported.

Even before the loss was official the new era was being heralded on international cricket website cricinfo. com.

Peter English wrote that captain Ricky Ponting was the only Australian great playing like one.

Melbourne, Dec. 30 : Australian cricket''s chief selector Andrew Hilditch has said that following the team''s series defeat against South Africa, the sport in the country faces challenging times.

"It''s a challenging time for Australian cricket, we have seen lots of positive signs from our young players and we are looking forward to the process of rebuilding Australian cricket," Fox Sports quoted Hilditch, as saying.

Hilditch''s statement came after the selectors named three uncapped players in their squad of twelve for the third Test against South Africa in Sydney, which starts on Saturday.