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Trott secures Ashes call

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 17/08/2009

England will hand a debut to Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott in the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia at The Oval.

The 28-year-old right-hander, who was in the squad for the fourth Test loss at Headingley, is set to bat at number four, having been given the nod ahead of the likes of Kent's Robert Key and Surrey veteran Mark Ramprakash.

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National selector Geoff Miller said: "Ravi Bopara's omission means Jonathan Trott will make his Test debut.

"Having been part of the squad at Headingley, he was the next batsman in line in our view - this rewards him for the excellent form he has shown in county cricket both this summer and with England Lions over the winter.

"Ian Bell will bat at three, which is a position he has occupied for England before and we were delighted to see both him and Jonathan make centuries for Warwickshire this week."

Squad: AJ Strauss, AN Cook, IR Bell, IJL Trott, PD Collingwood, A Flintoff, MJ Prior, SCJ Broad, GP Swann, JM Anderson, SJ Harmison, RJ Sidebottom, G Onions, MS Panesar.

Sussex captain Mike Yardy was full of praise for his side after they clinched glory on Twenty20 Cup finals day with a 63-run victory over Somerset at Edgbaston.

The Sharks saw off the Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the semi-finals, before downing the Sabres in the showpiece finale.

Yardy said: "To win this competition has been an all-round team effort, with everyone chipping in with wickets and runs."

World number one Tiger Woods will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the USPGA Championship at Hazeltine.

Woods shot a third-round 71, having started the day four shots clear of the field and seeming set to clinch a 15th Major title with some ease.

The American is on eight under par, with defending champion Padraig Harrington and South Korea's YE Yang his nearest challengers two shots back.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson and US Open champion Lucas Glover are two shots further back on four under par.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has ruled out being able to sign Spain international midfielder Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal this summer.

He admitted: "Cesc will not come. He is an important player for Arsenal and they have already sold Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor.

"I believe it will not be possible this season. He is a very interesting footballer, but now he will play another year in England."

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has no intention of ending his interest in Everton defender Joleon Lescott, despite the war of words which has broken out between the two clubs in recent days.

Hughes has seen two bids for the England defender rejected by the Toffees in recent weeks, while Lescott himself had an official transfer request turned down by manager David Moyes this week.

Moyes hit out at Hughes on Friday after accusing the big-spending Eastlands clubs of 'turning the head' of the former Wolves defender.

But despite upsetting the Toffees boss with his dogged pursuit, Hughes claims he has no plans of abandoning his interest.

Speaking after Saturday's season-opening 2-0 win at Blackburn Rovers, he declared: "I am not surprised David feels a bit aggrieved with the situation. You always are when a big club comes along trying to acquire one of your better players."

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