Friday 11 January 2013
Wednesday 20 June 2012
BBC Sport - Kevin Pietersen reminds me of Muhammad Ali - Sir Viv Richards
Kevin Pietersen reminds me of Muhammad Ali - Sir Viv Richards
England's 2-0 Test series victory largely reflected the gulf in class between Andrew Strauss's top-ranked side and the West Indies, who have slipped to seventh in the International Cricket Council rankings table.
But the hosts did not have things all their own way. There were moments when players such as Marlon Samuels, Darren Sammy, Kemar Roach and Tino Best offered glimpses of the joyful genre Caribbean cricket that used to light up English summers.
Former Windies captain Sir Viv Richards covered the series as a pundit for BBC Test Match Special. Here he delivers his end-of-term report.
Viv on the West Indies
It was amazing to see the transformation in the way the West Indies played here at Edgbaston. They played really well, amassed their highest total of the series so far and players like Denesh Ramdin finally came to the party.
The team found its form after losing the series and unfortunately this has become a familiar story.
Pace bowler Kemar Roach, left, made his Test debut on 9 July 2009 against Bangladesh
The biggest challenge for this team is to create that intensity from the beginning and hit their straps from the start of a series. When you go 1-0 or 2-0 down there is no coming back.
On Windies captain Darren Sammy
I was thrilled to see Sammy score a century at Trent Bridge. All of a sudden there was this new-found confidence.
You need to have a leader who can come out to the middle and make some sort of contribution. He has done enough and should not feel he has one foot in and one foot out as far as the leadership in concerned. He has done his bit to provide a winning environment.
On fast bowler Kemar Roach
Roach is one of the quickest bowlers in world cricket today and can be an inspiration for young fast bowlers coming through like Shannon Gabriel. He has pace and is the only one with that aggression who can take wickets at regular periods. In a team that was struggling anyway he was a huge loss.
Ravi Rampaul has been steady, but you need someone like Kemar at the other end to keep constant pressure. We saw against Australia recently that they have a habit of blasting out the first four or five batsmen, then running out of steam.
On spinner Sunil Narine
Edgbaston was Narine's first Test match and conditions were not conducive to his style of bowling. When and if he gets the opportunity in his own conditions he will be better. This is just a learning trip for him and he certainly has the ingredients to be successful in future.
Did you know?
The West Indies have not won a series in this country since Viv Richards led his side to a 4-0 victory in 1988
On England
England are well led by Andrew Strauss and this is a team that has the potential to create a legacy. They have done their homework and found a solid wicket-taking bowling unit which is of vital importance at this level.
You have guys in the wings who are just waiting for an opportunity and their competitive edge is as good as any. Whatever happened in the past you have proven through hard work and investment that you can become very successful.
It is up to the individuals but in order for this to be accomplished one must be able to win in all conditions. This is how you become legendary and great. It is not getting it done just at home, it is going to places like India and Pakistan and getting a result.
On the challenge of facing South Africa
England are at home so they are going to be favourites, but I'm not going to predict this one. The South Africa attack is one of the best you can face in world cricket.
They have some guys with serious wheels, like Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel and the leg-spinner Imran Tahir can offer variety too.
So you are going to have a much more difficult series. This series will determine where England should go and where they can end up.
Kevin Pietersen announced his retirement from international limited-overs cricket in May
On England's top order
Alastair Cook has been solid and when he gets in he goes on and makes big hundreds. Strauss has been out of nick for some time, but has found some form back in this particular series.
I'm impressed with Ian Bell - he has come on in leaps and bounds. He looks to have both feet on solid ground as far as performing at this level is concerned.
On Kevin Pietersen
Pietersen reminds me of a Muhammad Ali. Folks came to see Ali get beaten because he had said one or two things that had upset people, but at the end of the day they just marvelled at what he achieved.
Some people love him and some people hate him but Kevin Pietersen puts bums on seats - he is that talented. If he is firing well, he can take any attack apart and that is what great batsmanship is about. If he can do that against South Africa, England are in with a great chance.
Sir Viv Richards was talking to BBC Sport's Sam Sheringham
Also related to this story
- England can dominate - Richards 12 Jun 2012 Cricket
- Jonathan Agnew column 11 Jun 2012 England
- We lacked intensity, says Strauss 11 Jun 2012 West Indies
- Flower backs Bell to star in ODIs 11 Jun 2012 England
- Sammy confident for one-day games 11 Jun 2012 West Indies
- Windies need county games - Gibbs 11 Jun 2012 Cricket
- Ramdin fined for Richards message 11 Jun 2012 West Indies
- Best sets record as England toil 10 Jun 2012 West Indies
- Windies greats inspired me - Best 10 Jun 2012 West Indies
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via bbc.co.uk
Interesting!
Friday 4 May 2012
Friday 27 April 2012
Friday 16 March 2012
BBC Sport - Sachin Tendulkar scores his 100th international century for India
Sachin Tendulkar scores his 100th international century for India
India's Sachin Tendulkar has become the first player to score 100 international centuries by compiling a ton in a one-day game against Bangladesh in Dhaka.
The 38-year-old completed his landmark century, his 49th in one-day cricket, with a single clipped to square leg.
After being dismissed for 114, he said: "I was not thinking about the milestone. It hasn't sunk in."
Tendulkar had twice been out in the 90s after scoring his 99th century against South Africa in March 2011.
The right-hander, who holds the record for scoring the most Test and one-day runs, has also scored 51 Test tons.
Tendulkar, whose own celebration was a little muted, was immediately congratulated by the Bangladesh players after he jogged through for the single to bring up his century, scored off Shakib Al Hasan.
The hundred was Tendulkar's first against Bangladesh in one-day cricket and he added another 14 runs before edging a Mashrafe Mortaza delivery to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.
He added: "A year ago when I got my 99th hundred no-one spoke about it during the World Cup, then I guess it was the media who began talking about it.
"Wherever I went, to a restaurant, the house keeping, the room service, whoever I met just spoke about the 100th hundred.
LEADING CENTURY MAKERS
- Sachin Tendulkar, India - 100 (51 Test, 49 ODI)
- Ricky Ponting, Australia - 71 (41, 30)
- Jacques Kallis, South Africa - 59 (42, 17)
- Brian Lara, West Indies - 53 (34, 19)
- Rahul Dravid, India - 48 (36, 12)
"It became a little difficult mentally, because I am not playing only for my 100th hundred.
"The 99 hundreds that I scored, nobody spoke about them. Everyone had their opinion but eventually I have got to do what is important for the team.
"I have lost about 50 kilos. Enjoy the game and chase your dreams. I had to wait for 22 years for one dream, the World Cup."
England Test captain Andrew Strauss was among a host of players to offer their congratulations to Tendulkar.
He told BBC Sport: "Sachin is a player by which all others are measured over the last 10-15 years, and for him to go out and get a hundred hundreds is an amazing achievement without precedent - it's unlikely to be achieved again."
International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat has also applauded the feat.
"On behalf of every cricket fan around the globe I congratulate Sachin on becoming the first person to score 100 centuries for his country," he said.
"This is indeed a magnificent feat and not likely to be easily emulated. The number 100 is special for a batsman and to record 100 centuries for your country is a massive statement.
"Like millions of others I have followed his career ever since he first played for India as a gifted 16-year-old and now, more than two decades later, his passion and personal records, which include more than 33,000 runs at international level, is a modern day wonder.
"Sachin is a true role model who will undoubtedly hold a special place in cricket's history."
Narayanaswami Srinivasan, the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India said: "Ever since he made his international debut in November 1989, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar has strode cricketing arenas the world over, like a colossus.
"He has been an inspiration to billions, and an ornament to the sport. March 16, 2012 will never be forgotten by cricket-lovers."
India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh issued a statement, adding: "He has made India proud.
Tendulkar in numbers
- Matches - 650
- Runs - 33,844
- Highest Test score - 248*
- Highest ODI score - 200
- Batting average - 49.19
- Centuries - 100
- Wickets - 200
- Bowling average - 46.33
"Tendulkar's long career has been a triumph of class, character and courage. I wish him many more innings and feats to continue inspiring the youth."
He began his Test career as a 16-year-old in 1989 against Pakistan and scored 15 in a blood-soaked shirt after being hit in the face by a Waqar Younis delivery.
The following year he scored his first Test century, against England at Old Trafford and in 1992 became Yorkshire's first overseas signing.
Tendulkar surpassed fellow India legend Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries in 2005, became the highest Test-run scorer in 2008 and scored the first double century in a one-day international in 2010.
Tendulkar has scored 15,470 Test runs and 18,260 in the one-day game.
Use accessible player and disable flyout menusArchive: Tendulkar's maiden ton helps India salvage draw (UK users only)
Also related to this story
- How Sachin became the Little Master 16 Mar 2012 India
- Tendulkar's terrific ton of tons 16 Mar 2012 India
- A letter to Sachin Tendulkar 16 Mar 2012 Cricket AV
- GallerySachin Tendulkar's career in pictures 16 Mar 2012 India
- Sachin Tendulkar: An unsurpassable record? 16 Mar 2012 India
- A fan's paean to Sachin Tendulkar 16 Mar 2012 India
- Tendulkar hits landmark 50th ton 19 Dec 2010 Cricket
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via bbc.co.uk
Glad he has done it at last!
Monday 12 March 2012
BBC Radio 4 to make The News Quiz USA | Radio Times
BBC Radio 4 to make The News Quiz USA
A pilot edition - chaired by The Daily Show's Lewis Black - will air later this month
- Comments
BBC Radio 4 is to broadcast an American version of topical comedy The News Quiz on 22 March.The pilot – to be recorded in New York - will be presented by Daily Show regular Lewis Black and will feature a panel including writer Andy Borowitz plus comedians Kathleen Madigan and Ted Alexandro.
The one-off edition, which will concentrate on the Republican primaries, could be developed into a full series if it proves to be successful.
Caroline Raphael, Radio 4’s commissioning editor comedy and entertainment, told The Guardian: “This is the first time a US version has been made of one of our flagship Radio 4 comedy programmes. We hope it will give Radio 4 listeners a slightly different take on the US elections and complement Radio 4’s other stateside election coverage.”
The domestic version of The News Quiz began in 1977 with Barry Norman as chair. It is currently presented by Sandi Toksvig and features regular appearances from the likes of Jeremy Hardy, Sue Perkins, Francis Wheen and Andy Hamilton.
via radiotimes.com
Looking forward to this!
Friday 9 March 2012
BBC News - Spider silk spun into violin strings
5 March 2012 Last updated at 00:59Spider silk spun into violin strings
By Jason Palmer Science and technology reporter, BBC NewsMore than 300 spiders were used to generate the thousands of strands of silk making up each string
Continue reading the main storyRelated Stories
A Japanese researcher has used thousands of strands of spider silk to spin a set of violin strings.
The strings are said to have a "soft and profound timbre" relative to traditional gut or steel strings.
That may arise from the way the strings are twisted, resulting in a "packing structure" that leaves practically no space between any of the strands.
The strings will be described in a forthcoming edition of the journal Physical Review Letters.
Shigeyoshi Osaki of Japan's Nara Medical University has been interested in the mechanical properties of spider silk for a number of years.
In particular, he has studied the "dragline" silk that spiders dangle from, quantifying its strength in a 2007 paper in Polymer Journal.
Dr Osaki has perfected methods of obtaining large quantities of this dragline silk from captive-bred spiders and has now turned his attention to the applications of the remarkable material.
"Bowed string instruments such as the violin have been the subject of many scientific studies," he writes.
"However, not all of the details have been clarified, as most players have been interested in the violin body rather than the properties of the bow or strings."
Dr Osaki used 300 female Nephila maculata spiders - one of the species of "golden orb-weavers" renowned for their complex webs - to provide the dragline silk.
For each string, Dr Osaki twisted between 3,000 and 5,000 individual strands of silk in one direction to form a bundle. The strings were then prepared from three of these bundles twisted together in the opposite direction.
He then set about measuring their tensile strength - a critical factor for violinists wishing to avoid breaking a string in the midst of a concerto.
The spider-silk strings withstood less tension before breaking than a traditional but rarely used gut string, but more than an aluminium-coated, nylon-core string.
An electron microscope image shows a section of the bundle just 70 millionths of a metre wide
A closer study using an electron microscope showed that, while the strings themselves were perfectly round, in cross-section the strands had been compressed into a range of different shapes that all fit snugly together, leaving no space between them.
Dr Osaki suggests that it is this feature of the strings that lends them their strength and, crucially, their unique tone.
"Several professional violinists reported that spider strings... generated a preferable timbre, being able to create a new music," he wrote.
"The violin strings are a novel practical use for spider silk as a kind of high value-added product, and offer a distinctive type of timbre for both violin players and music lovers worldwide."
via bbc.co.uk
Amazing!
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