Sydney, Jan. 27 : Australia's cricketers have made a hash of their performances in both the Test and the one-day series against South Africa, believes cricket columnist Peter Roebuck.

In an article for the Sydney Morning Herald, Roebuck says Australia's 50-over batting is ripe for reconstruction.

"Apart from Shaun Marsh and his captain (Ricky Ponting), none of the incumbents have batted with conviction," he says.

Melbourne, Jan 27 : Rumours are abuzz that tennis star Mark Philippoussis, who recently broke-up with Irish-Indian model Siobhan Parekh, has a new women in his life.

Philippoussis had a new beauty cheering on his comeback at Melbourne Park, reports the Daily Telegraph.

He was supported by stunning Melbourne hairdresser Chantelle Theos, who was sitting courtside with the Poo''s posse.

Watching Philippoussis play in the Legends series, Theos then accompanied the tennis ace to Melbourne hot spot Eve, where they were snapped dancing and drinking.

Melbourne, Jan. 27 : Jelena Dokic''s fairytale Australian Open campaign could still be derailed should her tyrant father Damir choose to land up.

As she prepares for her quarter-final against world No. 3 Dinara Safina tonight, there are fears Dokic''s estranged father Damir - and his sniping from 15,000 km away in Serbia - could affect her renowned mental strength ahead of a match that will stop the nation.

The 25-year-old has made it clear she wants nothing to do with the man who forced her to leave Australia in 2001.

Melbourne, Jan. 27 : Cricket Australia has charged controversial Australian all rounder Andrew Symonds with a Code of Conduct breach following his abusive radio rant against Kiwi batsman Brendon McCullum.

Symonds, who called McCullum "a lump of shit", has been charged with breaching the Code of Behaviour provisions relating to detrimental public comment.

According to the Courier Mail, he will face a hearing presided over by CA Code of Conduct Senior Commissioner Gordon Lewis in Melbourne on Thursday.

It is likely he will give evidence by phone and could face a possible suspension or a fine, the paper said.

Lond

Melbourne - Vera Zvonareva booked the first of the semi-final places at the Australian Open on Tuesday as the Russian moved towards a breakthrough top five ranking with a 6-3, 6-0 defeat of Marion Bartoli.

Zvonareva is the forgotten figure among her more prominent Russian colleagues, her low-key profile assuring she remains in the shadows of the sport.

But the 24-year-old took her biggest step at a major with the victory over France's 2007 Wimbledon finalist.