FORMULA ONE: Dutch driver Jos Verstappen booked his return to Formula One yesterday with a move to hard-up Minardi after a year on the sidelines.

The long-awaited deal, taking him to his sixth team in a decade, will see the experienced Verstappen, who turns 31 on March 4th, partner British newcomer Justin Wilson at the Ford-powered team. "I am very pleased to be back in F1 and to have signed to drive for Minardi," Verstappen said. "I am really impressed with (principal) Paul Stoddart's plans for the team and by this year's technical package."

Meanwhile, Scot Allan McNish ensured his continuing presence in Formula One when he was named as Renault's test and reserve driver yesterday. "Obviously I would prefer to be racing but this is the best situation I could have apart from a race seat," said the 33-year-old.

CRICKET: England cricket chief Tim Lamb attacked the British government yesterday for its belated opposition to England's World Cup fixture in Zimbabwe. Speaking after a meeting with Sports Minister Tessa Jowell, Lamb said that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had failed to reach an agreement with the government over England's participation in the February 13th match. The ECB could face a fine from the International Cricket Council if it boycotts the match, as the government wishes, but Jowell ruled out any form of compensation. "I think we've been put in a difficult situation . . . only at the 59th minute of the 11th hour have they told us their view," said Lamb.

ATHLETICS: Olivera Jevtic of Yugoslavia, the third-place finisher in the 2002 New York City Marathon, has been disqualified and stripped of her $45,000 prize money after testing positive for a banned drug. Race organisers, the New York Road Runners, said Jevtic (25) was found guilty of using ephedrine by the Yugoslavian federation.