Durban, Mar. 12 : Australia's new opener Phil Hughes is already being compared to Sir Donald Bradman after scoring two centuries in the Durban Test.

Though he is not the Don, the similarities are there.

According to Fox Sports, Hughes is small in height as was the Don, has shown a hunger for making runs consistently just as the Don, his technique is highly unusual as was the Don's, he comes from the bush just as the Don, and possesses the kind of unflappable temperament that fast bowlers, opposition captains, coaches and media hype can''t bring down just as the Don.

Durban, Mar. 12 : Ricky Ponting is as happy as he has ever been in his long and successful cricket life, and he credits the new kids on the block for it.

"This is as happy as I''ve been in my whole career as an Australian player," Fox Sports quoted Ponting as saying after completing a series triumph against the South Africans in Durban.

Sydney, Mar. 12 : Australia's series defeat of South Africa on the latter's home turf, has convinced former skipper Mark Taylor that Ponting''s boys will start as favourites for this year''s Ashes series.

Taylor also said that ageing stars such as Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Andrew Symonds would have a tough time breaking back into a revitalized Test line-up.

"It just shows the value of going with young players," Fox Sports quoted Taylor, as saying after Australia''s 175-run victory in the second Test at Durban.

Whistler, Canada  - Jay Vincent of France swept to a surprise win Wednesday in the men's 20-kilometre individual biathlon in Whistler, host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

He skied to victory in 49 minutes 53.9 seconds and got off four perfect shots on the marksman range.

Germany's Daniel Boehm (50 min 12.9 seconds) and Jeremy Teela of the US (50 min 17.2 seconds) followed in second and third place.

Indian Wells, California  - Jelena Dokic stumbled to another disheartening defeat six weeks after her surprise Australian Open quarter-final, crashing out in a haze in the first round of the Indian Wells Masters on Wednesday.

The Australian, whose comeback story from a career gone wrong thrilled a nation in Melbourne, was humbled by veteran American Jill Craybas 6-4, 6-2.

Dokic, ranked 80th, was playing only her second WTA match since the Open and admitted she may have gotten her scheduling badly wrong.

London  - Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his side had been stretched by Inter Milan in their Champions League meeting on Wednesday.

United won 2-0, but never achieved the sort of fluency or domination they had in the first leg - a goalless draw - in Milan a fortnight ago.

"It was a toughish kind of match," Ferguson said. "Inter played a different kind of football.

"They're a side with fantastic experience - very difficult to break down.