Sport in Brief: 09/04/09

Symonds and Lee revive Ashes aspirations with recall to Australia squad

Andrew Symonds, 33, and Brett Lee, 32, have had their international careers and Ashes aspirations revived with selection in Australia's one-day squad to play Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates later this month. Disciplinary issues and a knee injury have kept Symonds out in recent months, while Lee missed a large chunk of the Australian summer with a left foot injury.

Lee's position in the squad is less certain and he needs to prove he is match-fit in the coming weeks. Andrew Hilditch, National selection panel chief, said it was going to be "touch and go" but added the selectors wanted him around the squad "sooner rather than later".

The squad: Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Nathan Bracken, Callum Ferguson, Brett Geeves, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, David Hussey, Ben Laughlin, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson.

Top seeds Blake and Fish make early exit

Top-seeded Americans James Blake and Mardy Fish were eliminated in the first round of the US Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday. Blake, the No 1 seed, fell to Guillermo Canas, of Argentina, 6-4, 6-4 after the second-seeded Fish was beaten by Germany's Bjorn Phau 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. Canas, ranked 113 in the world, made good on four of five break-point opportunities to defeat the world No 17 for the first time in three meetings. Phau, ranked 177, dropped just four points on serve in his victory over No 28-ranked Fish.

Early puncture puts an end to Cavendish hopes

Mark Cavendish's hopes of following up his win in the Milan-San Remo, with a victory in the prestigious Ghent-Wevelgem Classic in Belgium yesterday, were foiled by bad luck after he punctured during the first hour of racing. In atrocious conditions, which induced more than half the field to abandon, Cavendish finished 55th, more than 11 minutes after his 21-year-old Columbia-Highroad team-mate Edvald Boasson Hagen had won the race. .........  Alasdair Fotheringham

Clark named in GB team for European contest

The former gold medallist Sarah Clark has been named in the Great Britain team for the European Championships in Georgia this month. Clark, who was champion in 2006 and recently moved down from the under 63kg category to the under 57kg category, was given the nod after winning gold at the Belgium Open and bronze at the Prague World Cup. Euan Burton is the only other former European medallist in an inexperienced squad, having won bronze in 2007.