SHORTS

SNOOKER RONNIE O’SULLIVAN is looking forward to a birthday showdown against Ding Junhui.

‘The Rocket’ is 44 and is expected to shrug off a foot injury for the last-16 clash against China’s No.1 in the UK Championship.

Ding has endured a slump and O’Sullivan said: “He doesn’t relish the new model of snooker, where you have to just get in and do your qualifiers on tables where no one is watching you.”

■ CRICKET GRAHAM THORPE has warned England’s Test squad they must be honest about their shortcomings after losing in New Zealand.

There is only an eight-day turnaround before most of the players fly to South Africa ahead of the first Test on Boxing Day.

England coach Thorpe said: “It is up to our players to be honest and for us to be honest with them.”