SCOREBOARD.

(From Turkish Daily News)

CRICKET Aussies get ready for long nights watching the Ashes on TV: Australians were preparing for their Ashes cricket ritual yesterday, stacking the fridge, stoking the armchair fire for the long nights ahead of the five Test-series against England. News bulletins were hyping up the "most eagerly anticipated" series for years as Ricky Ponting's team set out to avoid not becoming the Australian team that lost the Ashes after eight consecutive winning series against the traditional enemy. The Australians are hot favorites to return home with the Ashes in September, but are mindful that England has their best chance in 15 years to retrieve the tiny urn that represents Ashes supremacy. Local bookmakers have Australia raging odds-on favorites to retain the Ashes, with England rated around a 3-1 chance to win the series.

GOLF Rain delays start of Players Championship of Europe: Heavy rain delayed the start of the opening round at the Players Championship of Europe yesterday. With the Gut Kaden course waterlogged in parts and rain continuing to fall, organizers expected a minimum stoppage of two hours on the scheduled 7:30 a.m. (5:30 GMT) start time.

TENNIS Swiss Schnyder reaches quarterfinals at Cincinnati event: Top seed Patty Schnyder advanced to the quarterfinals by rallying for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Aiko Nakamura of Japan at the $170,000 WTA Cincinnati tournament. …