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.
Taiwan kept their hopes of advancing to next year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Saturday, backed by solid pitching. Taiwan last night played against Nicaragua. As of press time, Nicaragua was leading 6-0. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan on Saturday kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen struck out one and allowed no hits, except for a hit-by-pitch over
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tonight for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome on Sunday. The home team’s loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finish first in the qualifier round in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to next year’s finals. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with
Team Taiwan avoided missing the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the first time by defeating Spain 6-3 in a do-or-die game in Taipei last night. After narrowly escaping a mercy-rule loss to Spain in the WBC Qualifiers opener on Friday last week, the home team — winner of last year's WBSC Premier12 title three months ago — got their revenge against the 2023 European champions at Taipei Dome. "It felt quite different from when we won the Premier12," Taiwan captain Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) said after the game, recalling the ups and downs the team has experienced over the past few days. Unlike in
Team Taiwan are set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match tomorrow for the final berth at next year's World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier at the Taipei Dome yesterday. The home team's loss means that Nicaragua finishes No. 1 in the qualifier round held in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to the games. After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier yesterday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record. With a 1-2 record, Taiwan, competing under the name Chinese Taipei, finished third, while South Africa placed at the bottom
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