Gough Gets Final Chance to Dazzle

In recent months, Darren Gough has told anyone who would listen that he is among the best 11 one-day players in England. The selectors have seemingly disagreed, controversially omitting him from squads to face India and Sri Lanka. But they have at least acknowledged that he is among the best 30 in the country after including him in the provisional squad for October's ICC Champions Trophy.

The inclusion of Gough, England's premier death bowler along with Andrew Flintoff, is not the only notable selection. The squad includes five uncapped players - Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Mal Loye, Graham Onions and Michael Yardy - but the man of the moment Monty Panesar is not included, and nor is Kabir Ali.

The selectors have seemingly washed their hands of Ali, who, after a promising start to his international career in which he looked like he might be Gough's successor, has bowled increasingly wretchedly. In the 5-0 humiliation at the hands of Sri Lanka earlier in the summer, he disappeared for 149 off 16 overs without taking a wicket.

Ali is the only casualty from that Sri Lanka series. "We have kept faith with the bulk of the squad who appeared against Sri Lanka as we feel there were encouraging individual performances in that series despite the disappointing results overall," said the chairman of selectors David Graveney.

"Darren Gough has been a regular member of the Essex side this season and worked hard to overcome the knee injury which limited his county appearances last summer," he added. "He is performing well for Essex and I am sure he will be seeking to further impress the selectors over the next few weeks as will all the other pace bowlers in our 30."

It shouldn't be too difficult: although Gough is past his best - he takes far more tap with the new ball than he once did - his nous, bottle and ability to bowl reverse-swinging yorkers at will during the slog overs would seem to make him a cert for England's side as they prepare for next year's World Cup.

His presence is even more likely because of injuries to the likes of Flintoff and James Anderson, although they have been included in the squad.

"We have included a number of players who are currently recovering from injury in this provisional squad: James Anderson, Ian Blackwell, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles and Liam Plunkett," said Graveney. "The medical advice we have received is that there is a good chance that they will be available for the tournament but we will need to review their progress before the squad has to be reduced to 14 on September 7."

Graveney also defended the exclusion of Panesar. ""I'll probably ring him to explain that the door is not completely shut but for him the best thing is if he concentrates on Test cricket," he said. "Let's see Monty bowl on different kinds of surfaces. He's done exceptionally well but he is the type of bloke who will keep his feet on the ground which is good because the Pakistanis still have a lot to play for."

Full squad James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Ian Blackwell (Somerset), Ravi Bopara (Essex), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Leicestershire), Glen Chapple (Lancashire), Rikki Clarke (Surrey), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Jamie Dalrymple (Middlesex), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Ashley Giles (Warwickshire), Darren Gough (Essex), Stephen Harmison (Durham), Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire), Geraint Jones (Kent), Ed Joyce (Middlesex), Jon Lewis (Gloucestershire), Alex Loudon (Warwickshire), Mal Loye (Lancashire), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Graham Onions (Durham), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Liam Plunkett (Durham), Chris Read (Nottinghamshire), Vikram Solanki (Worcestershire), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex), Marcus Trescothick (Somerset), Michael Yardy (Sussex).