Former England captain Michael Vaughan was one of several experienced players left out when a 12-man squad was announced yesterday for next week’s first Test against the West Indies at Lord’s.
Vaughan had been tipped for a return at No. 3 in the batting order, having not played international cricket since resigning from the captaincy against South Africa last year.
But not only did he fail to make it into the squad but so too did two of his leading rivals for the No. 3 role.
Owais Shah, who played in the last three Tests of this year’s England tour of the West Indies, where the visitors lost the series 1-0, was omitted as was Ian Bell.
There was also no place for fast bowler Stephen Harmison.
Essex’s Ravi Bopara, a 24-year-old all-rounder who could help balance the side in the absence of the injured Andrew Flintoff, is in line to bat at No. 3 after hitting a hundred against the West Indies in Barbados last month.
Uncapped fast bowlers Graham Onions and Tim Bresnan were included in the squad, with the duo set to provide back-up to pace duo James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
Bell, who has often flattered to deceive at Test level, pressed his claims for a recall by making the first County Championship hundred of the season, for Warwickshire against Somerset and also posting a one-day century against the west country side.
Selector Geoff Miller said Indian Premier League player Bopara, who made 104 in the last of his four Tests, against the West Indies in Barbados, had shown he had the character to succeed at international level.
“The selectors felt that Ravi Bopara deserved his chance after his performance in his single Test in the Caribbean this winter,” he said. “There was a lot of competition for that batting position but Bopara now has the opportunity to stake a claim. He showed in Barbados that he has the ability to play at Test level.”
Miller refused to call time on Vaughan’s international career.
“Michael, we need to see him get a few more runs in county cricket. Ian Bell has had a tremendous start to the season but we need him to get even more passionate about getting into the side so when he does get back in, he doesn’t lose his place again,” Miller said.
Marloon Herrera was crying — happy tears. With Cuba trailing in the fifth inning of its Little League World Series (LLWS) opener on Thursday, Herrera lined a two-run double to give his team the lead. When the Czech Republic, representing Europe-Africa, made a pitching change, he ran over to give his third base coach a hug. Cuba went on to win 4-1. It was the first game at this year’s tournament for both sides, but it was also the beginning of Cuba’s second appearance in the series ever — and it was emotional. “You breathe baseball in Cuba,” manager Everaldo Machado said on
Taiwan on Friday beat Australia 11-0 at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Taiwan are represented at the tournament by Taoyuan’s Gueishan Elementary School, who won the Asia-Pacific regional tournament to earn the trip to the US. Australia are represented by the Hills Red team from Sydney. Taiwan advanced to a game tomorrow against Santa Clara, representing Cuba, who won 4-1 against the Czech Republic’s Brno, the Europe-Africa regional qualifiers. Australian starter Sayre Howick had a tough time controlling his pitches at Volunteer Stadium, one of which allowed Taiwan to open their account. They scored six in the inning and
World Boxing, an international amateur boxing organization formed last year after a breakdown in relations between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Boxing Association (IBA), has announced the admission of Taiwan, along with four other nations, into its growing list of members. In a statement released on its Web site on Friday, the Swiss- based organization said that in addition to Taiwan, admitted as Chinese Taipei, Bhutan, Ecuador, Fiji and Pakistan have also become members. The new members all have well-rounded national and international boxing programs as well as transparency in the leadership and management of their national boxing programs,
COOLED DOWN: Du Plessis apologized after the fight for comments about his Nigerian-born opponent, after Adesanya said he planned to take the belt back to Africa South African Dricus du Plessis yesterday took a flurry of body hits across four rounds before defeating Israel Adesanya by submission to retain his middleweight championship at UFC 305. After scoring some early takedowns, Du Plessis (22-2) had to withstand a flurry of body strikes from Adesanya through the middle rounds, which appeared to be taking a toll on the 30-year-old South African as the fight progressed. However, a left hook followed by three rights helped bring Adesanya down, giving Du Plessis the opening he wanted as he swiftly got the choke hold that forced the Nigerian-born New Zealander to tap out