Sport News Update, what you need to know

SOCCER - Australia's path to the next stage of qualifying is a lot clearer thanks to a Tim Cahill hat-trick in a 4-0 thumping of Bangladesh coupled with Jordan's shock 1-0 loss to Kyrgyzstan.

CRICKET - Skipper Steve Smith says Mitchell Starc is ready to embrace the responsibility of being Australia's new pace spearhead in the wake of Mitchell Johnson's retirement from international cricket.

RUGBY UNION - Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has emerged as the hot favourite to take over the vacant England job after one British bookmaker stopped taking bets on who would get the role after his odds plummeted on the back of money pouring in for the Australian.

SOCCER - A friendly international between Germany and the Netherlands was called off some 90 minutes before the planned kick-off after warnings of a possible attack targeting the game, just days after Germany's clash with France was halted due to the Paris terrorist attacks.

CRICKET - James Taylor made an unbeaten 67 to lead England to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Pakistan in Sharjah and a 2-1 lead in the four-match one-day international series.

TENNIS - Kei Nishikori shook off an opening day drubbing by Novak Djokovic to beat Tomas Berdych 7-5 3-6 6-3 at the ATP World Tour Finals.