GOUGH TRICK IS OZ-SOME.

HAT-TRICK hero Darren Gough sparked an amazing England fightback yesterday in Sydney on day one of the final Test to keep the outcome of the Ashes cricket series in the balance.

Australia were cruising to a major total at 311 for five before Gough took over.

And the stunned home side slumped to 322 all out as Gough became only the ninth England player ever to take a Test threesome.

Australia lost their last five wickets for just three runs in 15 balls. Gough dismissed Ian Healy, Stuart MacGill and Colin Miller with successive deliveries. He said: "I was pleased to just get one wicket but to get three in three balls is the sort of stuff you dream of."

Dominic Cork was the last England bowler to achieve the feat - against West Indies four years ago at Old Trafford.

WORLD tennis No.1 Pete Sampras has withdrawn from this month's Australian Open claiming he is mentally and physically shattered.

HILDE GERG edged out fellow German Martina Ertl in the women's Super G race in Maribor to take top spot in the skiing World Cup .

GERMAN ski-jumping champ Martin Schmitt soared to a record leap of 123 metres at Oberstdorf, Germany, to capture the second of the Four Hills Tour World Cup events.