Sep
30
Vaughan could join performance squad
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Michael Vaughan could tour India later this year as part of the England Performance squad, according to national selector Geoff Miller.
As expected, Vaughan was missing from England’s 15-man squad, announced on Monday, to take on India in a two-Test series in December.
Despite being awarded a central contract by the England and Wales Cricket board earlier this month, Vaughan is taking a three-month break from Test cricket after the Yorkshire batsman struggled to regain his form following his decision to step down as England captain.
It has been suggested that Vaughan might join up with the England Performance team in India or play in South Africa or Australia to try to rediscover his form that saw him become one of England’s best batsmen.
Miller has revealed the 34-year-old could be involved with England’s second-string as part of his rehabilitation.
“It is a possibility that he could link up with the Performance Squad, we could use that,” he told Sky Sports News. There’s a lot of opportunities for him to play. 
“It’s all about winning matches and sessions and we’ll look after Vaughan as much as we can. We could look at that or send him out somewhere in the world.
“We see him as an integral part of our plans. There’s lots of cricket coming up. He’s played for England for 10 years and deserves a bit of a break.”
“Andrew Strauss came back and did well after a break and Vaughan will hopefully do that as well.
“Going abroad might put his mind right. We will organise where he goes so he can try and get back in the side. We know what he is capable of.”
Miller added that Kevin Pietersen, Vaughan’s replacement as captain, was relishing the upcoming tour.
“He (Pietersen) is very competitive. He wants to win home and away,” Miller said.
“He’ll be looking forward to doing well in India. We have faith in him as much as we have in the rest of the side.”
Sep
30
Goals galore in England
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Kelvin Leong runs through the chart and picks out the top goal poachers in the Barclays premier League this season.
With the Barclays Premier League into the second month, goals have been flying in from all angles and these are the players who have covered themselves in glory so far.
Five goals
Amr Zaki (Wigan) 
Four goals
Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa)
John Carew (Aston Villa)
Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth)
Three goals
Michael Owen (Newcastle)
Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal)
Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
Mido (Middlesbrough)
Yakubu (Everton)
Kevin Davies (Bolton)
Elano (Man City)
Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
Robin Van Persie (Arsenal)
Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City)
Sep
29
Wenger: Gunners make me sick
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Arsene Wenger is ready to ring the changes in the Champions League game against FC Porto after a shock loss to Hull.
Newcomers, Hull City, stunned the title contenders at the Emirates Stadium at the weekend with a 2-1 victory after trailing to a Paul McShane own goal. 
The gunners had a string of chances in the opening half but failed to convert any of them as they once again looked for that all perfect goal.
Wenger said after the game: “There were enough ingredients to make me physically sick.
“What we delivered was not good enough and we all know that. There will certainly be changes for Tuesday.
“When you have an opportunity to go top of the Premier League, the very least expected is that you have the correct level of intensity in your concentration right from the start.
“I would say the electric level in our head was not high enough.
“What was most disappointing is that we struggled to score in the first half, finally went 1-0 up, yet still lost the game.
“That is where we were guilty. We worked so hard to get ahead and then we let it go again.”
Arsenal have already lost twice in their first six games with the other defeat coming against Fulham.
Accusations have been thrown at the young Gunners that they sometimes make one pass too many and as a result squander some easy chances to put the ball into the net.
Captain William Gallas was also quick to ring the alarm bell by warning his teammates that complacency will cause their downfall.
“I don’t think that was the case and I hope not because if we think like this we will not go anywhere.
“The players were ready to play a strong game. We were not lucky and we have to work more.
“It’s very difficult to accept. We said all the time we wanted to win every game - and then we go and lose to Hull.” said the Frenchman.
Wenger fielded a strong line-up against Hull with the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas and Denilson but still lost to a side that has taken English top flight football by storm.
Geovanni leveled the game with an absolute peach of a goal before former Rangers’ striker, Daniel Cousin outjumped William Gallas to score the all important winner.
Arsenal will play FC Porto in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Sep
29
Shah in England squad for India
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Owais Shah and wicketkeeper Matt Prior were on Monday named in England’s 15-man party for the Test tour of India.
Middlesex batsman Shah has fought off competition from long-term rival Ravi Bopara, who was named as the Young Cricketer of the Year earlier this month after a prolific summer, for the spare batting berth.
With former captain Michael Vaughan not considered due to a lack of form, Shah will get the chance to fight for a third Test cap.
His debut came in India two years ago when he stepped in for the ill Alastair Cook and struck an imperious 88 in the series-levelling victory in Mumbai.
“Our decision to pick Owais Shah was based on the fact that he is an excellent player of spin who played a superb innings in India on his Test debut two years ago,” said national selector Geoff Miller.
“It’s a further opportunity for him to build on his success with the one-day side this year and his inclusion in the squad will create real competition for places within the batting unit.”
As expected, Nottinghamshire’s uncapped Graeme Swann has been chosen as the second spinner and Sussex wicketkeeper Matt Prior has also been recalled.
England squad: Kevin Pietersen (captain), Tim Ambrose (wkt), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Monty Panesar, Matt Prior (wkt), Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss, Graeme Swann.
Sep
29
Malan the man for England
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Middlesex’s Dawid Malan has been named in England’s 15-man Performance Programme Squad, but there is no place for James Foster.
Crusaders’ batsman Malan shot to prominence in the domestic game this summer in the Twenty20 Cup, helping his county lift the title. 
He is joined in the 15-man party to travel to India by county colleague Eoin Morgan, who played for Ireland at last year’s World Cup in the Caribbean.
Adil Rashid, another player considered in the reckoning for the two-Test series in India, is one of two spinners included, the other being Sussex’s Ollie Rayner.
Sep
28
Campbell shines at foggy Belfry
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Michael Campbell, Mikael Lundberg and Alejandro Canizares are tied for the lead at seven-under-par after a weather-shortened third day at the Quinn Insurance British Masters.
For the second successive day, fog delayed proceedings until mid-morning and it was 1.30pm before the second round had been completed.
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Organisers decided against a shotgun start, leaving the leaders unable to complete their third rounds before darkness fell at the Belfry - meaning an early resumption on Sunday.
New Zealander Campbell picked up four shots during the first 14 holes of his third round, while Lundberg of Sweden traded seven birdies with two bogeys before also being left with four holes to play.
Also at seven-under is Spain’s Canizares, who still has eight holes of his round remaining.
Sep
28
Durham win maiden title
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Durham won their first County Championship title after wrapping up victory over Kent, while Nottinghamshire and Somerset lost.
Callum Thorp finished with figures of 7 for 88 as Durham took the five wickets they required before lunch on Saturday to win by an innings and 71 runs.
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England fast bowler Steve Harmison (3 for 58) claimed three wickets on Saturday despite a cracked bone in his wrist and bowling with a lightweight cast on his non-bowling arm.
The win took Durham top of the table and with title rivals Nottinghamshire losing to Hampshire and Somerset succumbing to Lancashire, the title is Durham’s for the first time.
Notts were set the unlikely target of 442 in 76 overs by Hampshire at Trent Bridge and were bowled out for just 238, while Somerset - the only other county who could deny Durham a maiden title - lost by eight wickets to Lancashire at Taunton.
Durham - who won the title by eight points - have only been playing First Class cricket for 16 years.
Meanwhile, Kent’s defeat condemned them to relegation to the second division alongside Surrey.
Sep
28
Vaughan ‘will not’ tour India
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Michael Vaughan’s name will not be included when England announce the Test squad for the tour of India on Monday. 
England and Wales Cricket Board national selector Geoff Miller has confirmed that the former captain will be given the rest of the year to work on his game after failing to recover his form with Yorkshire.
Vaughan stepped down from the captaincy after the third Test against South Africa this summer after admitting his poor form no longer warranted a place in the side.
However, Miller said that Vaughan, who received a 12 month central contract from the ECB earlier this month, remains in the selectors’ plans with a busy schedule - including the Ashes series - coming up in 2009.
Sep
28
Arsenal 1-2 Hull
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Two goals in four second-half minutes from Geovanni and Daniel Cousin earned Hull a famous away win over Arsenal.
The home side took the lead in the 47th minute when Cesc Fabregas’s shot found the net via Paul McShane’s legs.
But Hull hit back through Geovanni’s brilliant 25-yard strike on 61 minutes before Cousin’s well-placed glancing header from Andy Dawson’s corner.
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William Gallas clattered the crossbar in the 83rd minute before a brilliant late Boaz Myhill save denied Fabregas.
The final whistle was met by stunned silence from Arsenal’s disbelieving fans, while the small contingent of travelling fans will return to East Yorkshire with the knowledge their team have climbed to sixth spot in the Premier League after their third - and most important - win of the season.
Sep
27
Keane - I won’t walk away
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Roy Keane insists there is no chance of him walking out on Sunderland.
There had been fears Keane could leave Wearside after coming in for criticism from some fans during the midweek Carling Cup clash with Northampton.
The former Manchester United star was not happy at being targeted by the boo-boys, but he is adamant he will not let the criticism drive him out of the Stadium of Light.
“There is no chance of me walking away. But I did not come here to be liked and popular,” insisted Keane.
“I came here to do a job. If I have to stir my players up and supporters I will do it.”