Reuters Sports Schedule at 1530 GMT on Wednesday, Dec 25
Reuters sports schedule at 1530 GMT on Wednesday: - - - - CRICKET Kallis to quit tests after second match against India South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis will retire from test and first-class cricket after the Boxing Day test against India in Durban, the country's cricket board said. (CRICKET-SAFRICA/KALLIS, moved, 500 words) South Africa hope for better fortune in Durban South Africa will seek to arrest a dismal Durban run of four straight defeats when they host India in the second and final test on Thursday, four days after the epic draw in Johannesburg. (CRICKET-INDIA/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Nick Said, 550 words) - - Australia aiming for Ashes sweep MELBOURNE - Confident Australia look to exploit England's troubles and extend their lead to 4-0 in the five-match Ashes series with victory in the fourth test that starts on Thursday. (CRICKET-ASHES/ (PREVIEW), moved, by Ian Ransom, 500 words) - - Cook wants England to come out fighting on Boxing Day England captain Alastair Cook believes the fourth Ashes test starting in Melbourne on Thursday is the perfect stage for his battered side to salvage some pride and work towards ending what has been a miserable series on a high. (CRICKET-ASHES/COOK, moved, 400 words) - - Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi, fourth ODI Copy on merit - - - - NBA Injury-hit Lakers face tough task at home against potent Heat LOS ANGELES - In a game ambitiously billed before the start of the season as 'LeBron James versus Kobe Bryant' and 'Dwyane Wade versus Steve Nash', the NBA champion Miami Heat (21-6) are expected to heavily outgun the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers, who will take to their home court without their leading two point guards due to injury. (NBA-LAKERS/ (PIX), expect by 0200 GMT/9 PM ET, by Jahmal Corner, 400 words) - - Heat visit Lakers in Christmas Day clash LeBron James and the defending champion Miami Heat, who improved to 21-6 for the season with a pulsating 121-119 overtime win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, take on the Lakers (13-15) in downtown Los Angeles in one of five games on the NBA's Christmas Day schedule. (NBA-HIGHLIGHTS/ (PIX), expect by 0400 GMT/11 PM ET, by The Sports Xchange, 450 words) (London Duty Editor: Pritha Sarkar)
