England’s ”Barmy Army” of travelling cricket fans helped boost the Australian economy by -million during the Ashes and one-day series, Cricket Australia said on Tuesday. An Economic Impact Study released by CA and the Australian government found that the Ashes and subsequent one-day series helped attract 37 000 international visitors to Australia.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has ordered the country’s national cricket team to cancel their planned tour of Zimbabwe later this year. The Australian government had previously outlined its determination to scrap the tour in protest over Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s regime.

Serena Williams destroyed Russian top seed Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-2 in the Australian Open final on Saturday to clinch her eighth Grand Slam title. Unseeded after a year plagued by injury, Williams made a mockery of the rankings by tearing the United States Open champion apart in just 63 minutes on the Rod Laver Arena.

Top seed Roger Federer put on a virtuoso display to blow away Andy Roddick 6-4 6-0 6-2 to reach the Australian Open final on Thursday. The Swiss defending champion unleashed an unstoppable barrage of winners to shatter the American sixth seed and book a place in a record-equalling seventh consecutive Grand Slam final.

Defending champion Amelie Mauresmo suffered a stunning 6-4, 6-3 defeat by unseeded Czech Lucie Safarova in the Australian Open fourth round on Sunday. The French second seed imploded after taking a 4-1 first-set lead, losing seven straight games before the 19-year-old Safarova completed victory in 89 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.