DARREN BENT has eight Premier League games left to persuade England boss Fabio Capello he is worth a seat on the plane to the World Cup finals.

NINE goals and Robbie Keane sat and watched it all. If ever there was a day not to admit to post-international weekend fatigue, this, perhaps, was it.

IRELAND coach Phil Simmons admits he would be “very disappointed” if his team do not make the quarter-finals of the World Twenty20.

IRELAND will have one eye on the Nairobi skies over the next four days as they seek to beat Kenya and secure a place in the InterContinental Cup final for a third successive time.

The Irish Cricket Union have announced a squad of 12 for their opening game against Scotland in the InterContinental Cup. Ireland, the holders, begin the defence of their trophy with a home tie with Scotland at Stormont in Belfast from August 9-12.

Andre Botha and Dave Langford-Smith return to the Ireland squad for the forthcoming quadrangular one-day international series featuring West Indies, Scotland and Holland.

Wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien has called on the Irish Cricket Union to be patient with newly-appointed coach Phil Simmons after Ireland’s latest loss.

21 year old left arm spinner Gary Kidd has been drafted in to the Ireland squad for their Friends Provident Trophy clash with Sussex tomorrow.

The Irish Cricket Union this morning announced a 13-man squad for their Friends Provident games with Somerset and Hampshire, which take place in England this weekend.

Ireland have named a squad of 12 for their final C&G game with Somerset at Stormont on Sunday June 25.

Three firms were bidding today for all or part of Golden Wonder after interest in the collapsed crisp maker was whittled down from 60 parties.