NO EXTRA MEDALS FOR CITY

tHe Premier League have turned down a request from Manchester City for extra winners’ medals. Pep Guardiola’s champions were originally given 40 — one for the manager and the rest for those who played more than five matches, along with other players and officials as the club saw fit. And while the Premier League declined to comment, they believe that was sufficient. Guardiola has attacked the five-match rule in the past. Last May, after his side had cruised to the title, City’s manager claimed it was ‘ridiculous’ that some of the club’s young players would not receive a winners’ medal. Six youngsters had regularly trained with the City squad and Guardiola said: ‘It looks ridiculous to me. If they want my medal, I will give them my medal. ‘they are champions. they worked from day one to the last one, in the locker room and training. they didn’t play

we have got to try to capitalise on this opportunity. ‘It’s very unfortunate on their part but we had the challenge of Jimmy going down four overs into a Test match and had to manage that without a replacement.’ Archer terrorised Australia’s batsmen during the drawn second Test at Lord’s, striking a dozen blows of one kind or other on their bodies on his way to match figures of 44-13-91-5. And Root was almost certainly opting for understatement when he spoke of looking forward to seeing how his new attack leader would go at Headingley. ‘I’m intrigued to see how he kicks on from that start, and how the rest of the guys work around him,’ he said. England have not won any of their last eight Tests against Australia, home or away, but Root remains ‘very confident’ that his team can become the first to win an Ashes from behind since 2005. ‘Not much has to change from the last game,’ he said. ‘We just need two extra days’ cricket, which we lost to the weather.’ Marnus Labuschagne came in for Smith and scored 59 in the second innings to help secure a draw, but Australia captain Tim Paine believes others will have to step up this week. ‘Clearly they are huge shoes to fill and we don’t put all that pressure on Marnus,’ said Paine. ‘Marnus comes in to play a role in our team and it’s up to everyone else, particularly our senior players, to make sure we give that little bit more and cover Steve as best we can.’ Meanwhile, the debate surrounding concussion continued after it emerged that England had called up Surrey batsman Ollie Pope as cover in case opener Jason Roy has a delayed reaction this morning after being hit on the head in the nets on Tuesday. England expect Roy to be fit but, in case he isn’t, Pope — who yesterday completed an unbeaten 221 against Hampshire at the Oval — will slot in at No 4, with Joe Denly moving up to open alongside Rory Burns. Root said: ‘Jason’s been monitored quite closely, as you’d expect. But as it stands I fully expect him to be fit and ready to go.’