Sergio Aguero scored five times in 20 minutes including an eight-minute hat-trick as Manchester City came from behind to thrash Newcastle United 6-1 and go back to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday.

Eoin Morgan and David Willey shone as England held their nerve to beat Australia by three wickets in a tense fourth one-day international at Headingley on Friday and level the series at 2-2.

Aston Villa were crushed 6-1 by Southampton but joined Leicester City in celebrating Premier League survival on Saturday while Steven Gerrard's farewell party was spoiled as Liverpool lost 3-1 to Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace left Manchester City's hopes of retaining their Premier League crown in tatters after a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park on Monday to leave Manuel Pellegrini's side trailing a distant fourth in the title race.

There's been no place like home for Australia and New Zealand on their respective paths to the World Cup final but just one of the co-hosts will enjoy that particular advantage when they meet in Sunday's title decider.

Former Australian coach John Buchanan has backed Michael Clarke's side to beat India.

With the Sydney Cricket Ground wicket known for assisting spinners, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell says he is ready to play the role of frontline spinner in World Cup semi-final against India.

A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup.

Wayne Rooney ended his eight-game Premier League scoring drought with a 2-0 victory against a dogged Sunderland.

'It is in the interest of both sides that the visit of the US President is seen as being successful. Both sides have invested considerable political capital in it. This rapid exchange of visits and the decisions taken have to be justified, beyond the symbolism, which is no doubt important in itself. This opportunity to impart a fresh momentum to ties should not be missed,' says former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal.

Rohit Sharma's sizzling century went in vain as Australia survived a few anxious moments before pulling off a tense four-wicket win over India in a cricket tri-series ODI match in Melbourne.

'We have a common way of looking at the world, a common way of thinking, and a common set of values that predispose us to be partners. And our interests overlap greatly,' Dr Ashton B Carter, America's next defence secretary, told Aziz Haniffa/Rediff.com in an exclusive interview.

Australia bid an emotional farewell to cricketer Phillip Hughes at a funeral in his hometown on Wednesday with a live coast-to-coast broadcast allowing a nation to unite in celebration and remembrance of the life of a sportsman cut down in his prime.

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq equalled Viv Richards's record for the fasTest Test century while his team stood six wickets away from a memorable 2-0 series win against Australia on Sunday.

Andy Coulson, a former aide of British Prime Minister David Cameron, was on Friday sentenced to 18 months in jail for his involvement in the highly controversial phone-hacking scandal that rocked Rupert Murdoch's media empire here and brought down his popular tabloid.

India's shaky defence conceded a goal 15 seconds from the hooter to go down 2-3 against Belgium in their opening game of hockey World Cup at the Kyocera Stadium on Saturday.

Australia have cut opening batsman Ed Cowan and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade from their list of 18 centrally-contracted players, but handed opener Phillip Hughes another chance to establish himself in the national set-up.

The 86th Annual Academy Awards have been announced. Here's a quick glance at the winners.

A look at the squads for the seventh season of the Indian Premier League at the conclusion of the two-day auction in Bangalore.

Australia have opted for experience over youth in an attempt to win a maiden World Twenty20 title by selecting veterans Brad Hogg, Brad Hodge and Brad Haddin in their 15-man squad for the tournament in Bangladesh next month.

Overall, India enjoy a wonderful against the Kiwis in Tests, having won 18 matches out of 52, but have clinched victory in only five games out of 21 in New Zealand.

Injured fast bowler James Pattinson has returned to the Australia set-up when he was named on Tuesday for the One-day series against England in January.

A high-ranking US Navy official has been charged with accepting prostitutes, luxury travel and USD 100,000 in cash from a foreign defence contractor in exchange for classified and internal navy information.

Pakistan-born Fawad Ahmed is likely to make his full Australia debut over the next month after being named as the specialist spinner in the squad for six one-day and two Twenty20 internationals against England on Thursday.

Australia recalled all-rounder Mitchell Marsh to the squad for their Champions Trophy defence and named George Bailey as vice-captain on Wednesday.

Cricket Australia (CA) has released the list of contracted players for the 2013-14 season, including two Ashes series, and has awarded 20 contracts, with six new faces from the last season.

Australia's chief selector John Inverarity admitted they were struggling for batting depth ahead of this year's Ashes as he announced the list of centrally contracted players for the 2013-14 season on Wednesday.

Amid accusations of gamesmanship, Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has called for the stadium roof to be left open for Friday's World Cup qualifier in Sweden.

Australia's national selector John Inverarity hinted at all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, the only million-dollar buy at this year's IPL players' auction, could be picked for the first Test in Chennai.

He is all of 19 and has an accumulated experience of just two first-class matches but teen spinner Ashton Agar could get a Test debut for Australia in the upcoming four-match series against India starting February 22 in Chennai.

Australia made five changes for next week's one-off Twenty20 international against the West Indies in Brisbane.

Ahead of the four-Test series against India, Cricket Australia has decided to send an advance group of eight players to the subcontinent on Thursday to get acclimatised to the conditions.

With the four-Test series against India around the corner, Shane Watson will look to touch up his batting skills at international level following his inclusion in Australia's 13-member One-Day side for the next two matches against the West Indies.

Australia have named uncapped all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Moises Henriques along with spinner Xavier Doherty in their 17-man squad for their four-Test tour of India.

Australia captain Michael Clarke is one of three big names to return to the squad for the third and fourth one-day internationals against Sri Lanka after a disappointing showing by stand-ins on Sunday.

Golden Globe Winners 2013: At A Glance.

Mike Hussey's retirement from international cricket is likely to come sooner than he thought after he was omitted from Australia's squad for the first two matches of their one day series against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

Take a look at this year's deserving nominees.

Usman Khawaja will have an opportunity to audition for Ricky Ponting's spot in the Test team after the left-hander was named captain of the Australia Chairman's XI to take on Sri Lanka in Canberra next week.

Phillip Hughes's hopes of breaking back into Australia's Test side for the series against South Africa suffered a blow on Friday after the opening batsman was named in an Australian A team to take on the Proteas in a tour match in Sydney.