<!–#cricinfo_inserttype: videoobject_id: 945201caption: 'Gutted I'm not going' – Plunkettsize: 3geoalt_video_object_id: 945201geoalt_video_caption: 'Gutted I'm not going' – PlunkettJason Gillespie, the Yorkshire head coach, has been left bemused by Liam Plunkett's omission from England's Test squad to tour South Africa.Despite being in the squad for the recent series against Pakistan, Plunkett has been leapfrogged by Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan and Mark Footitt for the South Africa trip, even though England will be without Steven Finn and Mark Wood due to injury.Plunkett was close to playing the final Test against Pakistan in Sharjah after Wood was ruled out due to his chronic ankle problem before the selectors opted to recall Samit Patel as a third spin-bowling allrounder. He was then added to the ODI and T20 squads when Wood was sent home for further assessment, but is still waiting for his first appearance of the UAE tour."I have only exchanged a couple of messages with Liam, I know he is bitterly disappointed,'' Gillespie said. "I will be catching up with him soon for a chat. My only hope is that he has been given a specific reason by the selectors as to why. We were left scratching our heads a little bit at Yorkshire."He has gone from almost playing to then not in the squad, in conditions that you would think suit him. Fast, bouncy wickets, he is one of the fastest bowlers in the country, so that is an interesting one."I'm sure the selectors have their reasons, as long as that has been communicated with clarity to Liam – that is my hope."Plunkett played the last of his 13 Tests against India, at Lord's, in 2014 having been recalled at the beginning of the summer following a gap in international cricket of four years – and an absence from the Test side of seven years."We've got two or three guys that have come back from injury that, at this stage, we think are in front of Liam," Trevor Bayliss, the England coach, said, "and obviously Footitt coming in gives us something different, being left arm and able to swing the ball. It is tough on someone like Liam who has been in and around the squads for the last year or so but unfortunately that's just the way the game is at the top level."He's a guy that people love having around in the team and he gives you 100% every single time he's on the training paddock and every time we pick him. He'll be disappointed I'm sure but I know he'll be doing everything he can to get back in the squad."Plunkett made his Test debut a decade ago against Pakistan, in Lahore, on the 2005-06 tour. He went onto play nine Tests by mid-2007 before being dropped as inconsistency plagued his game. It was not until a move to Yorkshire in late 2012 that his career was revived. He returned to the Test side against Sri Lanka, at Lord's, in 2014 before claiming a career-best 5 for 64 in the next match at his adopted home ground of Headingley where he took nine scalps overall.
Derbyshire have announced that the Chesterfield festival, which was due to take place this week but had to be cancelled because of continuing poor weather, has been rescheduled for early September.The re-arranged festival will begin with a Pro40 match against Durham on Tuesday, September 4 and will continue with the County Championship match against Nottinghamshire from September 6 to 9.”We are delighted that we have been able to reschedule the Chesterfield festival so quickly to give everyone the chance to make arrangements for later in the season,” Tom Sears, the county’s chief executive, said. “I would like to thank Chesterfield Borough Council, Chesterfield Cricket Club, Durham, Nottinghamshire and the ECB for their understanding and cooperation and we now look forward to a very successful festival week, albeit slightly later that planned.”
Scotland have followed Ireland’s lead by naming their World Cup squad seven months before the start of the tournament.Officials explained that the early announcement was made to allow the largely amateur squad to negotiate time off work for not only the tournament but the plethora of fixtures in the lead-in to the event.It is a largely experienced squad, although Warwickshire’s Navdeep Poonia has been picked with just one appearance for the national side under his belt. He has impressed selectors with his efforts for the county, however, and his opportunities for Scotland have been limited by those commitments. Majid Haq, the spinner, wins a recall after not playing since 2005.”The nucleus of this squad has performed consistently for Scotland over the last couple of seasons,” Peter Drinnen, the national coach, explained. “They fully deserve the opportunity to represent their country on the biggest stage in the world.”Of the Scotland squad which competed in 1999 only John Blain and Gavin Hamilton remain, although Dougie Brown returns after nine one day internationals for England.Scotland squad , Craig Wright (capt), John Blain, Dougie Brown, Gavin Hamilton, Majid Haq, Paul Hoffmann, Omer Hussain, Douglas Lockhart, Ross Lyons, Navdeep Poonia, Neil McCallum, Dewald Nel, Colin Smith, Ryan Watson, Fraser Watts.Reserves Asim Butt, Kyle Coetzer, Gordon Goudie, Gregor Maiden, Neil McRae, Qasim Sheikh, Simon Smith, Ian Stanger.
John Wright will be the coach of the Rest of the World in the forthcoming Super Series in Australia, it has been realiably learnt. The series, to be held in October, will include one six-day Test and three one-day internationals between Australia and the Rest of the World. A formal announcement on the appointment is expected on Monday.Wright was coach of the Indian team from 2000-01 to 2004-05, and helped them achieve some famous victories, including series wins against Australia and Pakistan, and a drawn Test series in Australia. Wright’s tenure ended in disappointing fashion, though, with a drawn Test series and defeat in the one-dayers at home against Pakistan, after which Greg Chappell took over as coach of the side.Meanwhile, reported that the players participating in the series would each get US$100,000, a figure which includes appearance money.
Simon Jones has been dealt a double snub by club and country. After being overlooked for the second Test against West Indies at Edgbaston, Jones has been deemed surplus to requirements for Glamorgan’s Championship match against Hampshire at Cardiff.”We had a message from Duncan Fletcher last night,” explained John Derrick, Glamorgan’s coach, “saying that Simon was available to us. But the situation at the club is that there was no room for him in the side.”Jones was omitted from the Test side in favour of James Anderson, and now Glamorgan’s seam combination of Michael Kasprowicz, Alex Wharf and David Harrison have left him kicking his heels for the week.”We are playing on a used pitch which meant we played two spinners andthree seamers,” added Derrick. “Kasprowicz has come back after taking seven wickets in a Test for Australia, David Harrison is our leading wicket-taker and Alex Wharf has put in some good allround performances.”So there was no room for Simon. You can only pick 11 players.” Derrick added that there had been no pressure from above for Jones’s inclusion. “David Graveney said it was our call. He told me: ‘We need him to play but it’s your club – I can’t come down and demand he plays’.””Simon Jones is fit for selection for Glamorgan,” confirmed Graveney, England’s chairman of selectors. “It was up to them whether they picked him or not. We don’t put pressure on counties about who to play. We are not in the business of arm-twisting.”Nevertheless, if Jones is to figure in England’s plans for the third Test at Old Trafford, he will almost certainly have to play in Glamorgan’s next match against Somerset. “The only way Simon is going to get back in the Test team isby playing,” admitted Derrick. “We will have to monitor the situation after this match and talk about it.”
The Somerset pace attack gave just a hint of what lies in store for their supporters when they reduced Loughborough UCCE to 90 for 6 at the County Ground before the students recovered to 132 for 7 to hang on for a draw in their three day match that ended today.Resuming on their overnight total of 160 without loss, Peter Bowler and Rob Turner moved comfortably onto 191 before Bowler was dismissed for 84.Skipper Mike Burns joined Turner and took the score onto 307 before the wicket-keeper retired hurt on 139, which brought Ian Blackwell to the crease.The second wicket pair of Burns and Blackwell added 120 in just 13 overs before Somerset declared on 427 for 1 at 2.25 pm. By the time the innings closed Burns had reached 118, whilst Blackwell had blasted his way to an unbeaten 75, from 46 balls which included 3 x 6’s and 10 x 4’s.Facing a daunting 496 for victory Nixon McLean quickly made inroads into the Loughborough students second innings when he removed Rob White in his second over as the Northants youngster gave a catch to Richard Johnson at mid off, to give the West Indian his first wicket for his new county.The students moved onto 35 before McLean struck again a few overs later, when he tempted Jimmy Adams into edging a catch to Rob Turner.Simon Francis was looking equally as dangerous, but bowling without much luck, until the seventeenth over when with the score on 60 he claimed his first scalp when he held on to a caught and bowled chance from his brother John who had made 20.The game appeared to be slipping towards an inevitable draw when Francis suddenly brought it back to life when he struck again in the twentieth over taking a hat trick toreduce Loughborough from 90 for 3 to 90 for 6 in the space of just three balls.McLean claimed another wicket with the score on 107, when he had David Wigley caught by Rob Turner, but the Loughborough eighth wicket pair held on bravely to reach 132 for 7 at the close, by which time Vikram Atri had reached an unbeaten 57.The Somerset pace duo claimed all of the wickets to fall, with Francis ending with 4 for 47, whilst McLean took 3 for 49.At the end of the day Somerset captain Mike Burns said: "This has been a very useful run out for us against one of the strongest university sides. Simon Francis bowled well, and has probably bowled his way into the team for Friday, whilst Nixon McLean had a good spell and took wickets."West Indian Test star McLean said: "I just wanted to get some more overs under my belt and I was pleased with the way that it went for me today. Towards the end there was a bit more in the wicket for me, but it was just nice to register my first wickets for my new county."Meanwhile due to a cancellation the Centre of Excellence at the County Ground is able to offer individual coaching at at special discount price over the next three days.Somerset Cricket Development Oficer Andrew Moulding told me: “In view of the last minute cancellation we can now offer individual coaching at the bargain price of £20 for one hour , which discounts further to £18 for Somerset members.”These sessions are only available during the daytime this week and anyone interested in taking advantage of the offer should contact the Centre of Excellence on 01823 352266.
Glen Chapple hit a brilliant career-best 155 to rescue Lancashire in theirtop three Cricinfo Championship clash against Somerset at Old Trafford.Lancashire were in deep trouble at 82 for six after choosing to bat firstwhen Chapple joined Chris Schofield.But thanks to Chapple’s century – his second in first-class cricketalthough the first came against Glamorgan joke bowlers in 1993 – theyreached 324 all out, with Somerset scoring 77 for the loss of PiranHolloway in reply.Chapple was supported superbly by Gary Keedy in a last-wicket stand of 129in 28 overs which secured three batting points for Lancashire.The 27-year-old’s 155 came from 164 balls with 15 fours and six sixes – twohooked off Steffan Jones, and four off the Somerset spinners.Yet the first session had belonged conclusively to Somerset.Richard Johnson trapped Mark Chilton lbw and had Jamie Haynes caughtbehind. Then Matthew Bulbeck, making his return from a series of back problems, had John Crawley lbw playing no shot, and Andy Flintoff snapped up by Rob Turner in consecutive overs.Somerset skipper Jamie Cox then turned to Michael Burns with immediatedividends as Warren Hegg was deceived by his first ball and lost his middlestump.And when Burns took a brilliant catch to dismiss Neil Fairbrother and giveJones the first of his three wickets, Lancashire were in danger of anembarrassing collapse.But Schofield and Chapple steadied the ship, with Schofield seizing onlyhis second Championship appearance of the season to score an impressive58-ball half-century with 10 fours.The former England leg-spinner was furious himself when he was bowled for58 as he was confused by a Keith Dutch full toss, and Jones then fired outPeter Martin and John Wood in consecutive overs to leave Lancashire on 195for nine.But Keedy, who had shared a last-wicket stand of 98 with Neil Fairbrotherwhen these counties met at Taunton in April, frustrated Somerset again toundermine all their earlier good work – although Cox and Burns ended the dayin more positive fashion with an unbroken second-wicket stand of 65.Lancashire’s joy was tempered with Crawley leaving the ground immediatelyafter his dismissal because of a family bereavement, with Hegg taking overthe captaincy.
With a complete lack of brotherly kindness the Auckland Aces rained on the Northern Knights’ parade when the men from the big city stole a Max cricket win from under the Northern noses at Kaipara Flats this afternoon, winning with three wickets and nine balls to spare.Everything pointed to a Northland and Northern Districts triumph. ND started the move to have Max games played at the smaller centres, and the small Northland centre of Kaipara Flats turned on a lovely ground and eager crowd rather bigger, it appears, than the village population of 400.Then two Northland heroes, the brothers Michael and Neal Parlane did all the hard work as the Knights bolted to 118 in their first ten-over innings, and then less effectively to 90 in their second. Michael Parlane scored 56 and 34, Neal 22 and 45. They scored 74 together in the first innings, 78 in the second.At the same time the Aucklanders seemed to have the bit parts in the local sporting drama.Richard Morgan had the splendid bowling figures of four for 26 from four overs in the Northern first innings, and the Aucklanders gathered their first inning runs industriously, and not with the blazing big-hitting of the Parlanes – Kyle Mills’ first over cost 34.So when Auckland threw away their first three wickets while pursuing 97 for a win in their second innings, the match seemed in tune with the winning Northern Districts’ script.In 12 balls Aaron Barnes, Llorne Howell and Lou Vincent sent up lollipop catches which the gleeful Northerners gathered in easily. Auckland gained only nine runs in those two disastrous overs, and the ND men must have thought they had the game in the bag.Then up stepped two brave hitters, Andre Adams and Tama Canning, virtually the last strong batsmen in the Auckland line.They took 17 from the third over, 24 from Simon Doull in the next. At halfway they were 54 for three wickets.As a last gamble Northern bowled Grant Bradburn and his off-spinners.His one over cost 15, Northern did not have any more shots in their armoury and Adams (19 balls for his 50) and Canning (38 from 21 balls) cruised to the win, their unbeaten stand worth 90.
So Chelsea have done it. Roman Abramovich’s millions finally bought him the trophy he so desired, the Champions League. The Blues did it the hard way though, scrapping through extra time before Didier Drogba sealed the victory in the shootout with his calm and collected effort. Many people believe a shootout is a cruel way to decide a game of football, but nothing beats it in terms of drama and excitement. In recognition of Chelsea adding their names to the list of masters from twelve yards, here are the Top 10 Trophies decided by penalty shootout:
10. Arsenal – FA Cup 2005 (Beat Manchester United 5-4)
This FA Cup Final will live long in the memory for Gunners fans, mainly because it’s the last piece of silverware they picked up. After both teams failed to find the net in normal time, extra time couldn’t separate them either and down to penalties it went. Decisively, Paul Scholes missed the second spot kick and it left Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira needing to score to send the trophy back to North London. With what turned out to be his last kick in a red and white shirt, the Frenchman slotted past Roy Carroll to win the cup.
9. Manchester United – League Cup 2009 (Beat Tottenham 4-1)
Another scoreless game in a Cup Final resulted in United and Spurs facing off in a shootout at Wembley in 2009. Sir Alex Ferguson had chosen to rest regular Number One Edwin Van der Sar, picking Ben Foster in his place. Foster turned in an impressive shift in normal time before he saved from Jamie O’Hara in the shootout. After David Bentley missed his, Anderson stepped up and completed the task. However, this shootout was memorable for Foster’s use of an I-Phone to research the spot kick takers moments before the penalties began. Modern technology eh!
8. Manchester United – Champions League 2008 (Beat Chelsea 6-5)
The two rivals went head-to-head in the first all English clash and 120 minutes of football couldn’t separate them after first half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Frank Lampard cancelled each other out. Interestingly for two English sides competing in a shootout, the spot kick quality was high until Ronaldo missed his effort, leaving John Terry the chance to win the game. His unfortunate slip saw him hit the post and after a round of sudden death, Van der Sar saved from Nicolas Anelka to ensure United were Champions of Europe.
7. Czechoslovakia – European Championship 1976 (Beat West Germany 5-3)
The 1976 Final went down to spot kicks after Czechoslovakia squandered a 2-0 lead against the Germans. The first seven penalties were all successful before West Germany’s Uli Hoeness blazed his effort over the crossbar. Midfielder Antonin Panenka then wrote himself into shootout folklore, cheekily chipping his effort straight down the middle to win the tournament. It was also the first and only time the Germans have lost on penalties, a remarkable record that now stretches back 36 years.
6. Liverpool – European Cup 1984 (Beat Roma 4-2)
English team winning the European Cup at the home ground of their opposition on penalties? Sound familiar? Well, Liverpool did it first, seeing off Italian opposition Roma on their home patch at the Stadio Olimpico. The game finished 1-1 and headed to the dreaded shootout and the Reds started badly after Steve Nicol skied his effort. However, Bruce Grobbelaar immortalised himself in shootout history after his wobbly legs tactics put off the Italian takers. Two of them subsequently missed and Alan Kennedy bagged the winning effort, sending the European Cup back to Anfield for the fourth time.
5. Italy – World Cup 2006 (Beat France 5-3)
Despite this clash finishing 1-1, the 2006 World Cup Final is remembered for one thing and one thing only. Zinedine Zidane’s astonishing behaviour that saw him sent off for head butting Marco Materazzi in the chest was one of the most reckless acts ever seen in the field of play. Unlike Zidane, Italy kept their nerve in the shootout, scoring all their penalties after David Trezeguet missed the second for France. Left back Fabio Grosso had the honour of delivering the match-winning strike and sending the nation into meltdown.
4. Zambia – African Cup of Nations 2012 (Beat Ivory Coast 8-7)
No one had expected Zambia to get beyond the group stage, never mind the final, but they defied all the odds to set up a clash with a strong-looking Ivory Coast side. The game was a disappointment, as the Zambians held on for a 0-0 draw, but they certainly showed everyone how to take penalty when the shootout came around. Both sides notched their first five and then the next two in sudden death before Kalaba missed to hand Manchester City’s Kolo Toure the chance to win the game. He missed though and Sunzu slotted home for Zambia, before Arsenal’s Gervinho also missed, ensuring Zambia defied all the odds to return home with the trophy.
3. Liverpool – Champions League 2005 (Beat AC Milan 3-2)
Liverpool’s truly astonishing comeback in normal time saw them recover from a three goal deficit at half time to snatch a draw and a shot at penalties. Jerzy Dudek decided he’d make up his own version of Grobbelaar’s wobbly legs and pranced around on his goal line distracting the opposition. It obviously worked. Serginho sent the ball into Heskey territory in row Z, before Dudek saved from Pirlo and Shevchenko, completing the most unlikely of victories.
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2. Olympiacos – Greek Cup 2009 (Beat AEK Athens 15-14)
The Greeks certainly know how to do crazy and the 2009 Cup Final was certainly no different. The game itself was an absolute cracker as the sides drew 4-4, with Englishman Matt Derbyshire bagging twice for Olympiacos. The shootout was on another level though and after both sides scored their first five, they also both missed the decider. They both missed the ninth spot kick each as well and with the score locked at 14-14, Agustín Pelletieri stepped up for AEK. He failed though, leaving Olympiacos goalkeeper and Captain Antonios Nikopolidis the opportunity to win the cup. The Greek legend tucked home his second of the shootout and ended one of the all-time great penalty marathons.
1. Brazil – World Cup 1994 (Beat Italy 3-2)
A drab 0-0 affair in the final in Los Angeles saw Brazil and Italy face the first penalty shootout in the history of the World Cup Final. Defenders Marcio Santos and Franco Baresi traded misses first up, before both sides scored their next two each. However, Daniele Massaro missed his effort and after Brazilian skipper Dunga converted his, it left Roberto Baggio needing to score to keep the Italians in the game. The ‘Divine Ponytail’ had been the tournament’s star player, but he fired his penalty so far into space, NASA are still looking for it today.
Chelsea are close to agreeing a deal for promising Barcelona midfielder Oriol Romeu, according to the Daily Mail.
The Blues have tabled a £5 million offer for the 19-year-old and he is now on the verge of swapping the Nou Camp for Stamford Bridge.
Big things are expected of the defensive midfielder who broke into the first team last season and made two appearances.
However with the plethora of world class midfield talent already established in Pep Guardiola’s side a move appeals to the youngster who will no doubt find it difficult to gain regular playing time.
Andre Villas-Boas is keen to bring the Spaniard to London after trying to sign him when he was at Porto. The Chelsea boss is keen to add to his midfielder after losing knee injury victim Michael Essien for six months.
The Spanish giants are prepared to sell the midfielder although they want an option to buy him back after two seasons. This comes after the success of Cesc Fabregas at Arsenal who left the Catalan club without much ceremony in 2003.
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It may prove to be a deal breaker for Chelsea as they’d obviously like to keep the player if he does go on to be a success.