SPORTS briefs

LONDON. Australia captain Ricky Ponting said he'd given no thought to resigning despite the disappointment of another Ashes series defeat on English soil. England's victory, achieved with more than a day to spare, by the huge margin of 197 runs in the fifth and final Test at the Oval here on Sunday, saw them win the series 2-1. And it gave Ponting the unwanted record of becoming only the second Australia captain to lose two Ashes series in England.

SONOMA. Owner Michael Andretti is confident Andretti Green Racing will re-sign Danica Patrick beyond this IndyCar season — and perhaps soon. Andretti said the sides are "close" to an agreement and he gave Patrick a big hug and best wishes moments before the start of Sunday's 75-lap Sonoma Grand Prix at Infineon Raceway, the final road course event of the year. Patrick was part of a multi-car crash in Lap 1 and finished 16th. She couldn't be reached for comment afterward regarding the potential deal with Andretti.

BEIJING. Lebron James is looking forward to teaming up with Shaquille O'Neal at the Cleveland Cavaliers next season, not least because it means he can play more often at power forward. The Cavaliers acquired the 37-year-old O'Neal from the Phoenix Sunsduring the off-season hoping the 15 times All-Star center would combine with last season's NBA MVP James to bring Cleveland their first title.

DILI. Some 280 cyclists from around the world pedaled out of East Timor's presidential palace on Monday, on the first leg of the inaugural Tour de Timor. The five-day race is a highlight of festivities surrounding the 10th anniversary of East Timor's vote for independence from Indonesia. Riders from about 10 countries, including 25 from East Timor, are competing in the 350-kilometre (218-mile) Tour, which promises to be one of the toughest in the world.

MIAMI.Russian Elena Dementieva, winner of the WTA tournament in Toronto at the weekend, has overtaken Serb Jelena Jankovic to move into fourth place in the WTA rankings released here on Monday. Former world number one Maria Sharapova, the beaten finalist in Toronto, moves up 19 places to 30th. Sharapova is battling to regain peak fitness after a shoulder injury.