Ferrari mull Vettel protest

F1: Ferrari are reportedly considering an appeal against the result of Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix that could alter the outcome of this year's drivers' world championship.

The Scuderia are said to be "evaluating footage" which appears to show Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel overtaking a rival on a part of the circuit where yellow caution lights are being shown. Vettel finished sixth in Sunday's season-finale at Interlagos, enough to see him end the year three points ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and with it claim his third drivers' title in succession.

Were Ferrari to successfully appeal, governing body the FIA would have the power to add 20 seconds to Vettel's race time, a punishment which would drop the German to eighth place and lose him sufficient world championship points to hand the title to rival Alonso.

Ponting's fairytale

CRICKET: Ricky Ponting has set his sights on a fairytale finish to his Australia career after announcing he will retire at the end of the third Test against South Africa in Perth.

Ponting, 37, will call time on a storied international career as the second highest run-scorer in Test history and the most successful captain of all time with 48 Test wins. Victory for the hosts would see them return to first place in the ICC rankings.

"It's a decision I thought long and hard about but at the end of the day it's based on my results and my output in this series so far," said Ponting.

Irish fight begins

BOXING: Ireland has been handed a competitive draw at the AIBA World Youth Championships in Armenia.

Chris Nevin and Thomas Waites were set to get Ireland's campaign under way with preliminary rounds bouts against Croatia and Lithuania today as the 71-nation tournament begins at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex in Yerevan.

Keith Flavin, Hugh Nevin, Stephen Mulholland and John Joe McDonagh have all received byes, with Hughie Nevin awaiting the winner of the Bulgaria versus Mongolia clash. Flavin will meet Russian champion Pavel Gunchenko on Saturday, while Mulholland is in against China's Zhidi Zhang on the same day.

NBA: Washington 84 Portland 82, Orlando 89 San Antonio 110, Boston 83 Brooklyn 95, Atlanta 94 Charlotte 91, Detriot 117 Phoenix 77, Chicago 101 Dallas 78, Milwaukee 88 NY Knicks 102, Memphis 103 Toronto 82, New Orleans 84 Utah 96, Oklahoma City 120 Houston 98, LA Clippers 101 Minnesota 95.