Sydney, Jan 2 : There is good news for Cricket Australia after all. Andrew Symonds and Stuart Clark, who are currently injured, are expected to play again this summer after undergoing surgery.

Surgeons removed loose cartilage in Symonds' right knee on Wednesday, and the all-rounder could return for the latter stages of Australia's limited-over series.

Clark, meanwhile, hopes to make his comeback from elbow surgery in a grade game for Sydney University on January 25, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

He will then endeavour to play in NSW's Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Newcastle from January 30.

London, Jan. 2: Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed fresh speculation linking him with the Spanish football club Real Madrid.

The Manchester United ace came close to joining the Spanish giants last summer.

Ronaldo insisted that he is happy with life at Old Trafford and has no intention of turning his back on boss Alex Ferguson.

Perth, Australia  - Dinara Safina will get a rare chance to team with her big brother Marat Safin as the pair lead favourite Russia into play at the Hopman Cup.

The eight-nation team event begins on Saturday with title prospect France (Gilles Simon, Alize Cornet) facing Taiwan. Russia goes into action on Sunday - pending Marat's last-minute arrival - with an opening tie against Italy.

Safina, ranked a career-high number four on the WTA, won four titles last season and played three other finals including the French Open against Ana Ivanovic and the Beijing Olympics against Elena Dementieva.

Sydney, Jan. 2: New South Wales left-arm pacer Doug Bollinger has won his first cap after being preferred to Tasmanian seamer Ben Hilfenhaus for the third Test against South Africa.

In an apparent horse for courses selection the Australian selectors have opted for Bollinger''s knowledge and success at his home ground - the SCG - which hosts the Test starting tomorrow.

It will mean Australia will play two left-arm pacers for the first time in nearly 20 years, The Australian reports.

London, Jan. 2: Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo has dismissed fresh speculation linking him with the Spanish football club Real Madrid.

The Manchester United ace came close to joining the Spanish giants last summer.

Ronaldo insisted that he is happy with life at Old Trafford and has no intention of turning his back on boss Alex Ferguson.

London, Jan. 2 : Troubled former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has revealed that he probably has one last chance to avoid death after years of binging on liquor and drugs.

"This is my last chance. My mate Jimmy Five Bellies says I've got more lives than a cat and he's right. But this is my last one," Gazaa told the Sun.

The former soccer idol has been sectioned twice after booze and drug binges. He admits that 2008 was a terrible time for him.

"The drink and drugs nearly killed me, not once but a few times. And getting sectioned was the worst thing ever. A little bit of me died when I went in there and I am never going back," he said.