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Jofra Archer has been named in England’s provisional squad for the 2026 T20I World Cup despite still nursing a left side strain that ruled him out of the Ashes after the third Test.The 15-man squad also includes Josh Tongue, uncapped in international limited-overs cricket. Tongue has been drafted in by head coach Brendon McCullum and white-ball captain skipper Harry Brook as a strike bowler they believe will thrive on the flatter pitches expected for the tournament in India and Sri Lanka.Jamie Smith has been axed completely from the limited-overs set-up, which begins the new year with a pre-tournament tour of Sri Lanka, after a failed experiment at the top of the order. He has endured a tough Ashes tour – averaging 19.85 – which followed on from a torrid white ball run, which included four ducks in his last 10 ODI innings. He last played a T20I for England in June having been moved to open across both codes at the start of the year. Ben Duckett returns after missing the three T20Is in New Zealand ahead of the ongoing tour of Australia.Related

• Archer out of Ashes tour, Bethell replaces Pope for Boxing Day Test

Archer was England’s standout player of the Ashes before he picked up his injury during the third Test in Adelaide, which Australia won to secure the urn in just 11 days. The fast bowler registered nine wickets at 27.11, including 5 for 53 – his fourth five-wicket haul – in the first innings at Adelaide Oval. He also contributed with the bat, striking a maiden half-century in the same game as part of 102 runs at 25.50.Archer left Australia on Boxing Day evening, after day one of the fourth Test in Melbourne, and is currently recovering in Barbados under the supervision of the ECB’s medial team. He will miss the three ODIs and three T20Is in Sri Lanka, which starts from January 22, with Brydon Carse staying on after the 50-over matches to fill in. Archer is likely to join the squad in India ahead of their opening Group C match against Nepal in Mumbai on February 8.

England’s T20 WC group fixtures

• vs Nepal, February 8, Mumbai

• vs West Indies, February 11, Mumbai

• vs Bangladesh, February 14, Kolkata

• vs Italy, February 16, Kolkata

Tongue, though relatively inexperienced in T20 cricket with just 21 matches under his belt, has come to the fore with a string of impressive performances this year. He was the leading wicket-taker in this year’s men’s Hundred with 14 wickets and has impressed in the two Ashes Tests, with 12 at 18.58. That includes 5 for 45 at the MCG, as part of match figures of 7 for 89 which earned him the Mullagh Medal as Player of the Match in England’s first Test win in Australia since January 2011.Meanwhile, allrounder Will Jacks is back in both squads after missing the New Zealand tour, and Zak Crawley returns to the ODI set-up for the first time since 2023, looking to add to his eight caps. There is no place for Jordan Cox, or seamer Saqib Mahmood, who is still recovering from a knee injury that required minor surgery at the end of the 2025 home season.

England’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka

• 1st ODI: January 22, Colombo

• 2nd ODI: January 24, Colombo

• 3rd ODI: January 27, Colombo

• 1st T20I: January 30, Kandy

• 2nd T20I: February 1, Kandy

• 3rd T20I: February 3, Kandy

Despite the tight turnaround after the Ashes – the group will leave the UK for Sri Lanka on January 18, ten days after the scheduled finish of the fifth Test in Sydney – England have decided not to rest their Test stars. Seven of the ODI squad have been out in Australia for the duration, including Joe Root, who turned 35 on Tuesday.Leaning on experience speaks to the importance of correcting England’s ailing white-ball fortunes, and the need for McCullum to restate his worth after a demoralising Ashes tour.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Since assuming control of the limited-overs team at the start of 2025 alongside his Test head coach role, McCullum has overseen six wins and five defeats in 13 T20Is – he skipped the Ireland tour which England won 2-0 – and lost 11 of 15 ODI matches in charge. The latter means automatic qualification for 2027’s 50-over World Cup is not a foregone conclusion, with the top-eight-ranked sides progressing to the main tournament. England are eighth as it stands, ahead of West Indies and Bangladesh.Success in the T20 World Cup would no doubt ease the pressure on McCullum. England finished as semi-finalists in 2024’s edition, losing to eventual winners India, which ultimately cost former white-ball coach Matthew Mott his job as head coach. England previously won the tournament in 2010 and 2022.

England squad for Sri Lanka T20Is and provisional squad for T20 World Cup

Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer (World Cup only), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse (Sri Lanka tour only), Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

England ODI squad for Sri Lanka tour

Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Luke Wood

Sunderland played out their final game of a jaw-dropping 2025 when drawing 1-1 with Leeds United.

It really has been a dream year from a Black Cats perspective, with promotion finally achieved back up to the Premier League.

Yet, the Wearside giants were only getting started with that stunning feat, looking back, with four defeats from 18 top-flight games to date, seeing Regis Le Bris’ men enter into 2026 in a more than healthy seventh spot.

Sunderland fans would have been content if their team had stumbled to a 17th-place finish come the end of their first season back in the big time, as the hardened Stadium of Light masses leap into the New Year firmly in dreamland.

However, it isn’t all entirely rosy on Wearside, with Chris Rigg struggling to adapt to the pressures of the Premier League after a breakout campaign under Le Bris.

Rigg's struggles at Sunderland

For an 18-year-old still learning the ropes, it does feel as if Rigg has been in and around the senior picture at Sunderland for some time now

Indeed, he was only 15 years of age when Tony Mowbray would hand him his first-ever senior shot in the FA Cup.

But, while he had been gifted opportunities here and there to shine, it was last season, under Le Bris’ watchful eye, where the homegrown talent really came into his own as a consistent first-team presence.

Rigg would amazingly line up for 45 Championship clashes under the Frenchman, having only been afforded 21 league appearances the campaign before, and it would prove to be a masterstroke to make him a guaranteed starter.

The 12-time England U19 international would pick up four goals and one assist as his team were crowned playoff winners, with commentator Ian Darke stating that he will “obviously play in the Premier League”, even if Sunderland didn’t secure a passage up to the promised land.

He was also dubbed a “phenomenal” talent by scout Ben Mattinson, with the playoff final further seeing him bravely win two tackles and three duels for his boyhood employers.

Unfortunately for the teenage sensation, he is yet to look comfortable on such a grand stage, despite once being tipped to move to Manchester United, with zero goals or assists coming his way from only 253 minutes of action.

With Sunderland reportedly set to go after Ayyoub Bouaddi to enhance their midfield personnel, Rigg could slide down the pecking order even more.

But, with Le Bris’ track record evident with Rigg, they might well be better bumping up another academy gem to bolster his options, instead of forking out more major cash on the Arsenal-linked starlet.

Sunderland are already brewing a homegrown Bouaddi

Bouaddi really is the talk of the town in the Premier League heading into what will surely be a chaotic January window, with the 18-year-old – who has already been dubbed “world-class” by scout Jacek Kulig – on the shopping list of the likes of Chelsea and Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, away from the ultra-ambitious Black Cats.

Comfortable lining up as a defensive option centrally, or further forward, the Lille golden boy has four assists next to his name from 74 senior appearances, leading to the much-talked-about number 32 having an audacious £52m valuation slapped above his head.

Bouaddi is clearly heading for a major move in January, off the back of already being a Champions League-level star at the tender age of 18, with Sunderland hopeful they can compete with their mega-rich rivals in attempting to land his coveted signature.

But, if they realistically fall short, they won’t feel too downbeat, with Harrison Jones sticking out as a similarly silky performer from the middle of the park for the Black Cats at U21 level.

Jones’ numbers for Sunderland

Stat

Jones

Games played

74

Senior appearances

7

Goals scored

16

Assists

14

Sourced by Transfermarkt

Equally capable of playing as a midfield anchor or further up the pitch as a number ten, much like Bouaddi, Jones can also boast a seriously impressive haul of 16 goals and 14 assists from 67 youth appearances and counting.

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Six of those goal contributions have come just this season in Premier League 2 action, as the Sunderland-born “diamond” – as he was once labelled by youth coach John Hewitson – continues to stick out as a classy youngster centrally, like his £52m counterpart.

He wouldn’t cost a single penny to bump into the first team picture, unlike the bank having to be broken to land Bouaddi, with Sunderland more than vindicated in the past when bumping up the likes of Rigg to the men’s side, even if he has disappointingly fallen to the wayside since promotion was sealed.

Of course, Bouaddi has already been exposed to the difficult pressures of stages such as the Premier League to justify such a lavish price tag, with nine Champions League outings even under his belt.

Still, it feels far-fetched that Le Bris and Co. will be able to tempt him to Wearside, with Jones more than a standout alternative, having regularly been named on the bench by the Frenchman this season.

Related Sunderland plot move to sign Serie A forward who wants Premier League switch

The Black Cats could turn to the transfer market once again.

Posts ByTom Cunningham

	Cameron White and Simon Katich with the prize both teams are desperate to secure © Getty Images

On paper it looks like a done deal. New South Wales should win the 2007-08 Pura Cup and they ought to do it comfortably. The Blues are hosting the final at the SCG, they need only a draw to secure the title, and seven members of their starting line-up have Test experience. Victoria have one man with a baggy green in his cupboard, although it’s only been worn five times and has not been dusted off in more than two years.But the script is not always followed in cricket, as Australia know after their unexpected defeat in the CB Series. The presence of the current and former internationals Brett Lee, Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Stuart MacGill, Nathan Bracken, Phil Jaques, Simon Katich and Brad Haddin only increases the expectation on New South Wales, and according to the Victoria batsman David Hussey, that plays into the visitors’ hands.”It’s looking very positive for the New South Wales team, full of stars,” Hussey said. “But I think it’s a good thing. All the pressure is basically on them. The whole of the Victorian squad, if we can prepare well, can sort of glide into Sydney like a shark. We’re such a tight-knit group I know we’ll all be playing for each other.”It’s as close to a Test match as you can possibly get. Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Nathan Bracken – they’re all Test quality so for myself as a batsman I’m really looking forward to that challenge. We really can’t wait to take on their team because it really is going to be like a Test match experience.”It has been almost impossible to split the two sides all season, so much so that a first-innings tie in their previous match secured both their places in the decider with two rounds remaining. The sudden influx of international experience tilts things in the Blues’ favour, with Brad Hodge the only Victorian who has played Test cricket.The availability of the stars is a stroke of scheduling luck for New South Wales. Not since 1991-92 has the state final been blessed with the presence of so many current Australia players, and on that occasion the benefits were shared between New South Wales and Western Australia. Only in 1995-96 could the national representatives of the day appear in the decider but neither of the finalists, South Australia or Western Australia, had any internationals to call on.To make room for the returning men the Blues have been forced to squeeze out several men who have been integral in helping them get so close to the triumph: Matthew Nicholson, Peter Forrest and probably Grant Lambert and Mark Cameron, who are in the 13-man squad. Bracken has played five Pura Cup games this summer but has been in ODI mode for two months, and he said it was an awkward but inevitable situation.

	Nathan Bracken: “We are used to being put in crunch situations” © Getty Images

“It’s never nice to walk in and basically take somebody’s spot but you’ve got to realise that a lot of the guys [coming back] were in the same boat,” Bracken said. “I know Stuart Clark was in the same position when he started, he’d be out depending on the Australian players.”We are used to being put in crunch situations where you basically do have to walk into something, sometimes a little bit cold and get ready to play. With Australian commitments you can go overseas and play over there when you haven’t done anything for what could be two or three months.”It means a very different looking New South Wales side to the one that lost last year’s final to Tasmania – only four men from that team are likely to be used in this decider. One of those players is Katich, the captain, who is the competition’s leading scorer with 1328 runs at 94.85 and needs a further 137 to break the all-time record.”I couldn’t have asked for anything better, except for perhaps a better showing from us in the one-dayers,” Katich said of his personal success and his team’s impressive 2007-08. “If we can win one of the three titles we can walk away pretty content with where we’re at.”For Victoria, one out of three is not enough. They already have the Twenty20 prize and lost the FR Cup to Tasmania, and they are desperate to secure the last Pura Cup before the competition changes names – the milk company is ending its sponsorship after this game. “It’s a great achievement for the whole of the Victorian Bushrangers squad of reaching three finals but there’s no point being in the finals unless you’re going to win it,” Hussey said. “Last year we played in two finals so we’re definitely improving.”The odds might be stacked against Victoria but they have reasons to be optimistic. Hussey is second only to Katich on the run tally, Hodge has had another strong season and Cameron White has found batting form at the right time. Peter Siddle’s bowling has improved immensely, Bryce McGain is one of the country’s top two spinners and Andrew McDonald’s all-round efforts have again been important. Win or lose, the Bushrangers can at least hope that by this time next year they, like their esteemed opponents, will have more than one Test player on their books.New South Wales squad Phil Jaques, Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich (capt), Michael Clarke, Dominic Thornely, Brad Haddin (wk), Grant Lambert, Beau Casson, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Stuart MacGill, Mark Cameron.Victoria squad Nick Jewell, Rob Quiney, Lloyd Mash, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Cameron White (capt), Andrew McDonald, Adam Crosthwaite (wk), Shane Harwood, Peter Siddle, Clint McKay, Bryce McGain, Dirk Nannes.

Cathryn Fitzpatrick has been appointed Australia’s acting head coach © Getty Images

She was one of the few women to pierce the consciousness of the average cricket follower. Australia, in particular, will miss her on-field prowess. So, how do you solve a problem like finding the new Cathryn Fitzpatrick? The answer – make her your coach.Australia have just appointed her as their acting head, two months after she retired following 16 years as the world’s fastest female bowler. And in the next few weeks, she could be offered the lead roles for both Australia and England, after registering her interest for the two jobs.”I have a passion for coaching and am happy to see where the journey takes me,” she says. She thought her first stop would be Ireland, where she was all set to take on a playing/coaching role in the country, but she had to change her plans at the last minute after Mark Sorrell’s resignation.As for passion, if she’s half as fired-up in the coaching arena then whoever wins her services will be thanking their lucky stars – whichever team misses out had better watch out for their bails. She hasn’t ruled out taking on Australia’s men, or indeed any other men’s team, one day. “I don’t intend my coaching to be gender specific.”In the meantime she will hopefully be able to concentrate on developing the next Fitzpatrick. “There are certainly some fantastic bowlers around the world. India’s Jhulan Goswami will only get better, as will Katherine Brunt, of England, as long as she remains injury-free.”But is there someone to replace her in the Australian camp? “I thought Emma Sampson competed well in her first outing and as she develops a fast bowler’s body she will pick up a yard or two of pace. I think it all looks very exciting.”She won’t be drawn on which job she would prefer – “I haven’t even thought about having to make such a decision” – but she had no doubts that she would ever play for her country. “I always knew I’d play for Australia,” she says, following the Aussie rite of passage of playing in the backyard and then progressing, “but I didn’t realise how hard it was going to be.”

Fitzpatrick: “I have a passion for coaching and am happy to see where the journey takes me” © Getty Images

Over the years she’s had to learn to toughen herself up, particularly when receiving criticism from unexpected quarters. Two years ago, as part of her training to be an Academy coach, she was seconded to assist with the Australia men’s team for the Super Tests. It was widely reported that Geoff Lawson took exception, dismissing the involvement of a female as “a symptom of too many peripheral and left-field coaching ideas.”She shrugs it off. “I think Geoff’s comments were uninformed and I was disappointed that he didn’t explore the situation before making the comments. No hard feelings, though.”Lawson, a coach of elite women’s cricket, was disappointed at the reporting of his comments, and he told Cricinfo they were misconstrued. “The Australian team did not even have any sort of bowling coach at the time, and they needed one. I had been a big fan of her bowling, attitude and discipline and wish her all the best in her coaching career.”Fitzpatrick turned the whole situation into a positive – “I was overwhelmed by the support shown to me from the playing group.”Besides which, now the apprentice has turned sorcerer. She has said that whoever receives her services – and it’s a fair assumption that she’ll get at least one of the two jobs – she may just have a few secret weapons to bringto coaching. “My playing experience and the opportunity to work alongside coaches of Troy Cooley’s calibre has enabled me to add to my bag of tricks.”But like a good magician, she’s keeping the secrets secret. She will, however, explain how she conjured so many wickets: and she exclusively revealed to Cricinfo the secret of fast, accurate bowling. “Genetics – and a very strong work ethic.” Ah.So what’s it like working with Cooley? “Ace!” she grins. “Such a great guy who challenges players to strive to next the level. It doesn’t matter if you’ve played 100 games or three, you’ll learn something from Troy.” Just another thing for England’s men to kick themselves over.Fitzpatrick’s not had time to miss playing, having just recovered from a knee operation by cycling and going hard at the gym. Besides which it’s off season in Australia, “so I haven’t had to deal with it just yet.” That will come – unless, as is likely, she sweeps into a coaching role and keeps the women’s show sparkling.

Zimbabwe 72 for 2 v West Indies 263 for 6 (Morton 109, Sarwan 54, Chanderpaul 51*) – Match abandoned
Scorecard
How they were out

Runako Morton on the attack on his way to his second ODI hundred © T&T Express

It was rain which set up the opportunity for Zimbabwe to snatch an improbable victory in the sixth ODI at Trinidad’s Queen’s Park Oval, but it also ultimately washed out that hope. It also rendered an excellent hundred from Runako Morton earlier in the day redundant.When West Indies set Zimbabwe a target of 264, even with a very scratchy bowling attack, few doubted they would win. But two overs into the Zimbabwe innings the heavens opened, and when play resumed Duckworth/Lewis presented them with a much more appealing ask of 184 off 28 overs with all their wickets intact.Vusi Sibanda started briskly, but it was clear that attacking was alien to Terry Duffin, and after a few swiches – a couple of which were successful – he perished when he deflected a reverse sweep straight into the wicketkeeper’s hands. He was soon followed by Piet Rinke, who must be desperate for this series to end. When you are out of form little goes right, and he was left high and dry by a call from Sibanda and a good one-handed pick-up from Brian Lara.Brendan Taylor signalled his intent by lofting Chris Gayle for a straight six, and with the bowlers gifting wides – 13 in 12 overs – the unthinkable was becoming a possibility. Then, with Zimbabwe requiring 119 from almost 18 overs, the rain returned, only heavier, and that was that. Given their inability to chase anything over 200, this probably represented Zimbabwe’s best chance of a win on this tour.The first innings had been dominated by Morton’s a start-stop hundred and some late hitting from the lower-middle order which enabled West Indies to post a respectable 263 for 6. The final score was good enough, but it was for long periods fairly unimpressive batting.For a time Morton and Ramnaresh Sarwan appeared to be building another daunting total as Zimbabwe’s pop-gun seamers haemorrhaged runs. The only surprise in the first 30 overs was that Gayle, who had been in such deadly form on Wednesday, missed out, playing round a straight ball from Tawanda Mupariwa early on. That aside, it was once again not so much a challenge for the West Indies batsmen as a glorified net.Mupariwa apart, Zimbabwe’s seamers were poor and lacked any threat, and their fielding, so good in the first three games, completely fell apart. Morton batted with authority, clipping the ball confidently off his legs and driving powerfully down the ground. Sarwan, content to play second fiddle, nevertheless found it easy to keep the scoreboard ticking over.But the introduction of spin in the form of the increasingly impressive Prosper Utseya along with Ryan Higgins not only stemmed the flow, but also put the skids under the innings. Higgins removed Sarwan and a subdued Lara in quick succession, and with Morton becalmed as his hundred neared, West Indies almost ground to a halt. Between them, Higgins and Utseya only conceded one boundary in their 20 overs; there were 25 in the other 30.The return of the seamers restored order and brought a enthusiastic crowd to light, but not before another hiccough or two. Morton brought up his hundred with a straight drive and briefly threatened to cut lose before he holed out to long on, and then Marlon Samuels was run out without facing a ball and Dwayne Smith was airily bowled by Mupariwa. At 206 for 6 there were few smiles.But Rinke and Keegan Meth are almost certainly the two least-able death bowlers in the world game – and possibly outside it – and Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Carlton Baugh showed no mercy, pulling and driving at will. The shots of the innings came when Chanderpaul twice smacked one-handed sixes over midwicket.Even though Mupariwa was brought back to try to restore sanity, the horse had bolted and his otherwise excellent figures were ruined as his final two over went for 24 and Zimbabwe’s last seven for 70.The series finishes tomorrow, assuming that the rains relent. But when you schedule matches at a time when rain is far from abnormal, what can you expect. The Indians, who are here in a fortnight for two more ODIs, better bring wet-weather clothes and some good books.

How they were out

West IndiesChris Gayle b Mupariwa 2 (15 for 1)
Played round straight one attempting drive Ramnaresh Sarwan c Taylor b Higgins 54 (149 for 2)
Thin outside edge to attempted cutBrian Lara c Taylor b Higgins 2 (164 for 3)
Thin outside edge trying to run ball to third man Runako Morton c Mupariwa b Ireland 109 (193 for 4)
Driven to long on, good running catchMarlon Samuels run out (Chigumbura/Taylor) 0 (193 for 5)
Good pick-up, keeper did well to gather throw, well short Dwayne Smith b Mupariwa 3 (206 for 6)
Came down pitch and played all round straight one

ZimbabweTerry Duffin c Baugh b Samuels 14 (33 for 1)
Reverse swept into keeper’s handsPiet Rinke run out (Lara/Baugh) 4 (42 for 2)
Crazy call from Sibanda, a yard short

Ravi Shah: out of action © Getty Images

Ravi Shah, Kenya’s quality opening batsman, will be out action for six months due to a knee injury, according to Tom Tikolo, the chairman of selectors.”We have just received a letter from his doctor saying his knee injury will take six months to heal,” Tikolo told reporters, although Shah himself was less pessimistic. “I am still on the bench and have been asked to rest by a specialist for a couple of months,” he said. “With physiotherapy, I should be back to full strength in a couple of months.”Either way, Shah will miss Kenya’s crucial Intercontinental Cup decider in Namibia starting on June 3, although the semi-finals are not until October by which time he should be back in action.

Umpire Venkat: bowing out after the second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka © Getty Images

Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, known universally as Venkat, is to retire from the elite panel of international umpires during the forthcoming Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia. Venkat’s final match in charge will be the second Test at Kandy, which starts on March 16.Venkat, whose involvement in international cricket spans nearly 40 years, made his umpiring debut in India’s 1992-93 home series against England, and will have stood in 75 Tests and 52 ODIs by the time he finally bows out. Prior to that, he played 57 Tests and 15 ODIs as a member of India’s famous quartet of spinners, alongside the likes of Bishan Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar.He played his first Test aged 19, against New Zealand in 1964-65, and after an on-off career, finally bowed out at the age of 38 against Pakistan in 1983-84. He was India’s captain for five matches, including four on the 1979 tour of England.Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the ICC, said that Venkat would be recognised as one of the outstanding umpires to have stood in international cricket. “Venkat came to umpiring after a terrific career as a player, administrator and media commentator,” said Speed. “He has stood the test of time in an exceptionally demanding profession.”He has seen international cricket and international cricket umpiring undergo extraordinary change,” Speed added, “and has stood up to the scrutiny that now comes with being involved in the game at the elite level. His integrity and passion for cricket are of the highest order and he has helped ensure that the spirit of the game remains intact for those that will follow.”Under the two-tiered panel system used to appoint international umpires, Venkat may yet be able to move back to the secondary panel of umpires, from which the respective boards choose who stands in home ODIs. But he has yet to confirm whether he wishes to make himself available.In Venkat’s career, he has also taken on the roles of Indian team manager, secretary of the Tamil Nadu cricket association, national selector, newspaper and magazine columnist and expert TV commentator, as well as acting as an international match referee in both Test and ODI matches.

Somerset all rounder Ian Blackwell just missed out on a place in the final Ashes Test, but at the end of the second day’s play at Sydney he reflected on the memorable year that he had just enjoyedHe told me: "A lot has happened for me in 2002 and it only feels likeyesterday since I was working in the office at the County Ground last winter answering the telephones and helping to sort out the membership forms."At the start of the year `Blackie’ set himself the tough target of playing for England and to help him to achieve this he embarked upon a pretty strict dietary and training regime.He continued: "Half of my goals have come true, a one day birth and I am delighted at my progress and achievements to date. To get selected for the World Cup in February in South Africa has really topped off a very successful year for me personally."Before he sets off for Africa with the rest of the squad of fifteen, England have the remaining matches of the triangular one day series to complete, with the next game being against Australia in Hobart on January 11th.`Blackie’ who has turned in some impressive performances with both bat and ball told me: "I’m hoping to achieve similar things in the second half of the VB series and help England get to the finals which is almost on now. Fingers crossed during the World Cup and I think we should do quite well in South Africa."He concluded: "I was very close to playing at Sydney but it didn’t materialise unfortunately but still it now gives me something extra to strive for, along with getting promotion for Somerset in 2003."

Glamorgan beat Essex by eight wickets with a magnificent batting display as they successfully chased a daunting target of 254 under the Duckworth/Lewis system with 13 deliveries to spare.Keith Newell played the lead role, hitting a belligerent 97 from just 53 deliveries that included five sixes and 10 boundaries as he destroyed the home attack with a series of pulls and drives that tilted the balance firmly in favour of his side after Essex had reached a formidable 243-6 in 34 overs despite three rain interruptions.Newell ensured the perfect start for his side as the first 50 took less than seven overs and then he maintained the momentum with his continued onslaught of the hapless bowlers on a batting paradise. Although Jimmy Maher was dismissed with the score on 59, Newell continued his savage assault showing a particular liking for Mark Ilott from whom he thrashed 27 from one over.Matthew Maynard accompanied Newell in a forceful second wicket stand that produced 100 runs in 10 overs before Newell was caught driving to mid-off. By that time, his side had utilised only 17 overs and upon his departure, Maynard took control in a perfectly executed display of timing that saw him reach his half-century from 45 deliveries before continuing to oversee the victory with an unbeaten 87.Earlier, Ronnie Irani had delighted the crowd with a superlative, scintillating unbeaten 108 having faced only 61 balls with 17 boundaries that included four sixes, an innings that appeared to have put his side on the winning path but then came Newell’s display to upstage the Essex captain.

Newcastle have beaten Atromitos 1-0 on Thursday night to progress in the Europa League.

Alan Pardew rested some of his big names for the clash against the Greek minnows, but Haris Vuckic scored the decisive strike to send the Tyneside outfit through to the next round.

The Sports Direct Arena team did suffer an injury blow however, as Ryan Taylor hobbled off after 11 minutes, with Pardew now considering a move in the transfer window to replace the crocked man.

“We took a bit of a risk with our selection. But we did enough,” The Guardian quote Pardew as saying.

“Ryan Taylor’s injury will make me think about whether we need another defender and I am hoping that is not that case and we have a good enough squad.

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“The squad has depth and we will need it,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight