ASHES AN ARCHER TARGET
RUGBY UNION
JUDD TRUMP dodged a bullet at the Crucible – to become the new title favourite.
The Juddernaut edged past Thailand’s dangerous Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 10-9 to set up a Betfred World Championship last-16 clash with Ding Junhui.
World No.7 Trump, 29, should be one of the main beneficiaries of Ronnie O’Sullivan’s shock exit to amateur James Cahill and a similar upset yesterday when Mark Allen crashed out against China’s Zhou Yuelong.
Trump had to dig deep from 7-4 down against Un-Nooh, the fastest player in the world. JOFRA ARCHER admits eyeing up an Ashes debut to go with a tilt at the World Cup in what could be a bumper summer for the paceman.
He is set to make his England debut next month in a limited-overs series against Pakistan, and revealed he has designs on all three forms of international cricket despite largely making his name in the T20 arena. It is the 24-year-old’s Un-Nooh, 34, missed a simple black to go 8-4 ahead – and that kept Trump’s hopes of a first success in Sheffield alive.
A superb season has seen Trump win three titles including a first Masters crown – but he started the mind games by trying to pile the pressure on rivals.
Trump said: “I feared Ronnie going out might be the worst possible thing for me. When he or other top players go out early, I normally do the same.
“And most of the titles I have won recently, I have beaten Ronnie either in the final or along the way. I don’t know about being the new title favourite. The way Neil Robertson has been playing, credentials in the likes of the IPL that made him a late addition to England’s World Cup plans, but his first-class record with Sussex is not to be sniffed at.
His switch from Barbados to the UK was as much about Test cricket as one-day and T20 thrills.
“It’s the reason I moved,” said Archer, who links up with England for the first time this weekend. “I want to play – not just T20 cricket he is definitely the favourite for me – and you have Mark Selby and John Higgins.
“I am one of those who still has a lot to prove here, a lot of the other top players still in have already won this.
“Thepchaiya plays how I used to when I started, he was potting them off the lampshades. It was a tough draw and one all the seeds wanted to avoid. He has a scary style of play. But he just started to miss a few, I battled and didn’t give it to him.”
Un-Nooh said: “I am very disappointed. The black that I missed in the 12th frame, I thought it was in when I hit it. That was a big turning point.” Legend Stephen Hendry (inset, bottom) questioned whether O’Sullivan (inset, top) can still cope with the Crucible challenge.
The Rocket, still world No.1 for at least two weeks, said he was exhausted and suffering from insomnia after his shock exit.
Hendry said: “There is a reason why Ronnie has not won this world title for seven years.
“He obviously doesn’t feel as comfortable at this event as he does at many other tournaments.
“It was an incredible result for the favourite and world No.1 to go out like that.”
World No.6 Allen followed O’Sullivan out of the tournament – going down 10-7 to Zhou.
MAKO MAKES EURO CUT
ENGLAND star Mako Vunipola and his Saracens club-mate Alex Goode have been shortlisted for European rugby’s Player of the
Year.
The pair, outstanding in Sarries’ Champions Cup semi-final win over Munster last Saturday, are nominated along with Leinster trio Tadhg Furlong, Sean Cronin and Garry Ringrose. Saracens have provided two of the previous three winners in Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell. They face Leinster in the final in Newcastle on May 11. Leone Nakarawa (left) of Racing 92 won in 2018 and his successor will be named after the final. Holders Leinster are aiming to win the Euro crown for a fifth time.