The Week in Review: Sport

NEW YEAR, new era (1): Brian Lara comes of age in Sydney, saving the West Indies in the third Test against Australia with a magnificent 277, the fourth-best Test score by a Caribbean batsman and the third highest ever made against the baggy green caps. Allan Border does his bit for the number- crunchers as the second man to reach 10,000 Test runs.

New year, new era (2): a slim, dark, teenaged, Northern Irish winger enchants Old Trafford as Keith Gillespie, 18, makes his debut for Manchester United in the 2-0 FA Cup win over Bury.

New year, new gear: Nigel Mansell makes his IndyCar bow for Paul Newman's team in Arizona. Rain is flown in specially just to make Birmingham's most charismatic driver feel at home.

New year, old dog (1): Jeff Probyn, the 36-year-old veteran prop, is recalled to the England XV to play France alongside Ian Hunter, the multi-talented Northampton back, selected to take wing on his Five Nations debut. New year, old dog (2): ever the soul of decisiveness, the International Cricket Council gets into a lather over whether a century by Graham Gooch during his rebellious days in South Africa should count as first-class or second- rate.

In the other two Tests showing at cricket's multiplex, New Zealand, chasing a piffling 127, are Waqared out for 93 in Hamilton while South Africa seal victory in their first post-exile series against India, the teams transforming Cape Town into Cape Fear in a bloodless draw.

At the Highbury home for retired gentlefolk, the Arsenal manager, George Graham, is fined pounds 500 for misconduct by the FA and Ian Wright escapes with a three-game ban for displaying too much punch up front.

Notable farewells as the Oilers are ambushed on the road to the Super Bowl, the Buffalo Bills overhauling a 35-3 deficit in Houston to win 41-38, the greatest comeback in NFL post-season history, while another game for real men, rugby union, loses its most defiant, unswerving presence with the death of Dr Danie Craven.