register to 888sport
888sport time:

General Sports News

Vaughan ends playing days

Author: Craig Williams
Date: 01/07/2009

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has confirmed his retirement from first-class cricket.

The 34-year-old Yorkshire right-hander failed to make the squad for the first Ashes Test against Australia and decided that that was the signal to end his illustrious playing career.

Vaughan played in 82 Test matches for England and racked up 5,719 runs at an average of 41.44.

His captaincy record was even more impressive, leading the side 51 times and securing 26 victories, an England record, peaking in the Ashes success of 2005.

Vaughan told the ECB's official website: "It's been an enormous privilege to have played for and captained my country and this is one of the hardest decisions I've had to make."

Can England win the Ashes without Vaughan? - Latest Cricket Betting

Meanwhile, Kent have agreed a deal to bring rising South Africa star Wayne Parnell back to the county.

The 19-year-old left-arm quickie impressed in the opening weeks of the campaign, before heading off for international duty at the ICC World Twenty20. However, Parnell will rejoin Kent on July 10 for another five-week stint.

Essex have snapped up South Africa batsman Hashim Amla as a replacement overseas player for Danish Kaneria.

Leg-spinner Kaneria is set to head off for international duty with Pakistan, with Amla having initially agreed a deal running until the end of July, which still needs to be cleared by Cricket South Africa.

In rugby union, South Africa head coach Peter de Villiers has apologised for defending Schalk Burger in the wake of the eye-gouging incident which marred Saturday's second Test with the British & Irish Lions.

Burger received an eight-week ban after being found guilty of gouging the eyes of Lions wing Luke Fitzgerald in the first minute of Saturday's match.

Meanwhile, the Springboks will appeal against the suspension handed to Bakkies Botha for a dangerous charge.

Botha was given the ban for a breakdown challenge on Adam Jones in the Pretoria clash, with the Lions prop and centre Brian O'Driscoll (concussion) both ruled out of the remainder of the tour.

Confusion surrounds Manchester City's hopes of signing Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o after the Cameroon international's agent confirmed that the 28-year-old had been offered the chance to extend his stay at the Camp Nou.

City reportedly offered Barca £25million for Eto'o who they are keen to land on a lucrative two-year contract.

However, according to Eto'o's agent, Josep Maria Mesalles, the Champions League winners have now offered his client a new contract.

Wolves have wrapped up the signing of Reading's Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year-old has signed a four-year contract at Molineux, with the fee confirmed as a club record sale for the Royals.

Doyle scored 56 goals in 163 appearances for Reading and had been linked with a number of Premier League clubs already this summer.

Burnley have continued their preparations for life in the Premier League by snapping up Derby County defender Tyrone Mears on a three-year deal.

The 26-year-old, who spent most of last term on loan at Marseille, joins the Clarets for a fee in the region of £500,000.

online betting