Sydney, Dec 21: Former Australian fast-bowling great Glenn McGrath has described as "premature" the suggestion that pace spearhead Brett Lee is on the way out.

McGrath hailed the arrival of left-armer Mitchell Johnson as great news, saying he was disappointed Australia's new pace ace missed out on a nine-wicket haul in the first innings of the Test underway in Perth.

Lee has been heavily scrutinised since Australia's ill-fated tour of India and the findings haven't painted a bright picture, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

London, Dec 21: English midfielder David Beckham has said that it was a dream to join AC Milan, and admitted that it will be tough to leave the club after the Italian giants insisted that he could stay as long as he wants.

Beckham was unveiled to the world's media - watched by wife Victoria - after joining on loan from LA Galaxy until March 9, The Sun reported.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani claimed: "The doors will be open for all the periods he wants to come back and maybe who knows even remain in Milan."

Los Angeles  - LeBron James may put an end to all of the speculation about his free agency in 2010.

The superstar swingman of the Cleveland Cavaliers told the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Saturday that he would consider signing a contract extension after this season, which would take him off the most anticipated free agent market in years.

"You play out this season, of course; I will consider it," James told the newspaper before the Cavaliers practiced at the Pepsi Center in Denver. "The direction we are headed is everything I expected and more."

Cleveland is 22-4, the second-best record in the NBA behind the defending champion Boston Celtics (25-2). The Cavaliers have won 13 of their last 14 games.

Los Angeles  - All of a sudden, the Los Angeles Lakers are slumping.

The Lakers wasted a season-high 41 points from Kobe Bryant and dropped consecutive games for the first time this season with Saturday's 106-103 loss to the host Orlando Magic.

Jameer Nelson scored 27 points and Rashard Lewis added 22 for the Magic, who won their fourth straight game as they survived Dwight Howard's foul trouble and a last-second shot by Bryant, who missed at the buzzer for the second straight night.

Madrid  - Atletico Madrid moved up to joint second in the Spanish Liga on Saturday with an important 3-2 win away to lowly Espanyol.

Maxi Rodriguez scored twice for Atletico, fellow Argentine Sergio Aguero netted the other goal.

They now have 30 points from 16 games, the same as Sevilla and Valencia, who lost 1-0 away to fifth-placed Real Madrid earlier on Saturday.

"It was really important for us to win tonight, but we had to work hard for it," said Aguero.

Lahore, Dec. 20 : Former Pakistan test cricketer Shafqat Rana has termed the cancellation of Indian cricket team's tour to Pakistan as `very unfortunate'

He said that the decision of the Indian government will prove very damaging for cricket.

"The Indian government has deprived millions of cricket fans around the globe from top class cricket," The Daily Times quoted Rana as saying.

Rana said that India-Pakistan cricket has millions of fan following.

He said that sports and politics should not be mixed.