Glee’s Matthew Morrison is busy with two very special charity initiatives at the moment – one will see him perform an acoustic set in New York and the other could see your own Glee Club open for his up-coming tour.

Beginning on May 1st, the Contradictions Auction presented by Starburst will launch online to benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. The auction will occur in three phases, each surrounding one of the events in the Foundation’s Songwriters Music Series, which will feature acoustic sets by Matthew Morrison in New York City on May 16th, The Band Perry in Nashville on June 2nd and a soon to be announced artist in Los Angeles. The first leg of the auction, which will run from May 1st-May 31st, will include a curated series of items and experiences that celebrate the contradictions that make life more interesting, in harmony with Starburst contradictions campaign.

Items in the May auction include: “Get There Fast and Take It Slow” which includes an all inclusive trip to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana, “Feels So Good It Must Be Bad,” a Mychael Darwin .925 Sterling Silver Jeans VIP experience package, and “Day & Night,” that features lunch at Rockography and an evening at Lucky Strike bowling in NYC. The auction will be run through leading charity auction site charitybuzz and fans are invited to view the entire collection and bid at CharityBuzz.com.

“We are extremely excited about the Contradictions Auction and the Songwriters Music Series,” said Paul Cothran, Executive Director of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. “Through our wonderful partnership with Starburst and our continued relationship with CharityBuzz, we are able to give our supporters a chance to bid on one of a kind experiences all while supporting a great cause and helping us to continue to raise awareness about the importance of a musical education in a child’s life, ensuring that additional children have access to the benefits of music study.”

Songwriters Music Series benefits the VH1 Save The Music Foundation in their mission to provide all children with access to a complete education that includes music. Presented by Starburst, each event will be unique to its host city, held at an exclusive venue and feature today’s most celebrated artists/bands performing their hit songs and sharing their personal stories behind the music. As an added bonus, each artist/band will also perform a special song that is contradictory to their normal genre in spirit of Starburst candy’s contradictory taste – solid, yet juicy like a liquid.

Meanwhile, Gleeks and Glee Club members everywhere are grabbing up tickets for Matthew’s 6-week, 22-city summer tour, which will feature songs from his album along with many Glee fan favorites. In conjunction with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, the tour will offer regional Glee Clubs the chance to compete for the ‘opening act’ performance slot. The VH1 Save The Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in our nation’s schools, is a proud partner in the competition. Entries can be submitted at www.matthewmorrison.com/gleeclubcontest.

Matthew Morrison is best known to millions as the eternally optimistic high school teacher – and de facto glee club director – Will Schuester, on the FOX television network’s runaway hit comedy series Glee. Morrison is no stranger to musical theatre, vocal performance and dance, which he studied at New York University’s renowned Tisch School of the Arts. He has been nominated for Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe awards, and shared the 2009 SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical, for “Glee”. Morrison’s first big Broadway break came as heartthrob Link Larkin in the hit Hairspray, he later went on to star in The Light in the Piazza, 10 Million Miles and the Tony Award-winning revival of South Pacific at New York’s Lincoln Center Theater.

Related past articles

• Music Therapy Hits A Chord With Celebrities
• Glee's Matthew Morrison To Host Plant Model Fashion Show On Earth Day
• Little Black Dress Wines Launch Annual Celebrity Charity Auction
• Darren Criss Busy With Charity Shows
• Meet Taylor Swift With Celebrity Charity Auction

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Tom Cafaro of G-form is fast getting a reputation for being the world’s worst technology vandal. Last month he showcased the G-Form case for the iPad 2 by launching a bowling ball at it and…

Macbook Pro Survives 20 foot Balcony Drop due to G-Form Case is a post from: Gadgets and gizmos

Section: Mac Software, Miscellaneous / Other

Macintosh product updates and announcements for May 2-3, 2011:

Software

• Old Jewel Software has introduced Clean Slate 1.0, its new Mac OS X utility for developers, presenters and the messy. Clean Slate will let anyone quickly clean up their desktop by hiding all the icons that normally junk it up using either a menu bar extra, a keyboard combination, or a Dock icon. It’s useful for taking screenshots, giving presentations, or just making a Mac’s desktop look more organized. Clean Slate is available on the Mac App Store for free until May 8, 2011.
• Before Dawn Solutions has released skEdit Express 4.1.5 to the Mac App Store. With a focus on web development, skEdit Text/HTML editor includes features to assist in the editing of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Perl, Python, ASP, Ruby/Rails, SQL, ActionScript and ColdFusion. skEdit includes a Project View, as well as remote file management via ftp/SFTP and WebDav. Version 4.1.5 includes bug fixes to the language scanner and preference management.
• This week’s Weekly Specials at TheMacBundles are CuteClips and RingtoneStudio. CuteClips is being offered for 53% off and RingtoneStudio for 50% off! Users who order a Weekly Special and order the May bundle, or create their own bundle in one of TheMacBundles’ innovative Build Your Own Bundle stores, will receive an immediate discount off of the already exceptionally low price of the bundle. Users who buy software on TheMacBundles’ site are protected by TheMacBundles’ no-fine-print policy.
• Spot Documents has announced the availability of a free 5GB storage plan. Spot Documents solves a problem in today’s distributed businesses, where workers need access to vital documents and files wherever they are. Any kind of file can be stored using the system, which provides previews and full content searching with iPad, iPhone, Mac and web clients. A single account can host multiple repositories, each of which can hold hundreds of thousands of files.
• Melbourne based Whoopee Games has introduced Molecular Deuce X 1.0, their new brain-teasing puzzle game for Mac OS X. Using the mouse, the player has to slide atoms around a screen in an attempt to build a molecule in as few moves as possible and as fast as possible. Each level has a unique playing field and a target molecule that the player has to put back together. Both challenging and satisfying to play, Molecular Deuce X features 60 levels and caters for gamers of all levels of ability.
• Virginia based GroupLogic has announced MassTransit 7.2, a significant upgrade to its award-winning managed file transfer solution, designed to ease electronic transfers of large files in business environments. Version 7.2 adds an optional plug-in for Microsoft Outlook, substantially improving the end-user experience by allowing them to invoke MassTransit seamlessly from their existing email client in order to securely send large files.
• Mergemill Pro is a versatile data processing, transformation, and migration tool. It works essentially by merging templates with data feeds to generate the desired output, such as webpages. The current version 4 release has been entirely redesigned and rewritten. It supports any PC running Windows XP or above, and a Mac running OS X 10.4 or above. Mergemill Pro is available today worldwide at the retail price of USD 99. The upgrade is free for registered users of earlier versions.
• In The Book of CSS3, Peter Gasston, a longtime writer for CSS3.info, the Web’s premier CSS3 destination, shows readers how to transform ordinary markup into stunning, richly styled web pages fit for any browser. Rather than starting from scratch, Gasston focuses on the groundbreaking new possibilities that CSS3 brings to web design. Readers learn about the amazing tools CSS3 already puts at their disposal, like multi-column layouts, text and box effects, and even animation in 2D and 3D space.
• QUByte Interactive has announced Plush Wars 1.0.0, their new 3D-style tower defense game for Mac App Store. Plush Wars features 3 challenging worlds that are full of nasty ZomBears with different kinds of cannons to wipe them off the map. Plush Wars utilizes beautifully rendered 3D environments and uniquely responsive controls to create a fully engaging gaming experience. Players will have a very intense graphics experience in this new version.
• Ilium Software is pleased to announce the release of eWallet GO! for Mac OS X. This adds another platform to the popular new password app, already available for iPhone, iPod touch, Android, Windows Phone 7 and Windows PC. eWallet GO! lets you store and easily access all your important information. You’ll never have to stop and second guess where you saved a password or account when you’re in a hurry - your info is at your fingertips and accessible quickly when you’re on the go.
• Experience learning made easy—and quickly teach yourself how to organize your email, arrange your calendar, and manage tasks with Microsoft Outlook for Mac 2011 Step by Step. With Step by Step, you set the pace—building and practicing the skills you need, just when you need them.
• BeiZ Ltd has announced the release of Lola’s Magic Cube 1.0 for Mac. Lola’s Magic Cube is a new kind of kids’ puzzle game that can be played with Mac computers. The game comes with 3 difficulty levels and the easiest level can be played even by 3 year old kids with some help from an adult. The hard level provides challenge all the way up to 7-8 year old kids. More stunning patterns will be available soon for the harder levels.
• Aspyr’s game of the months is Sid Meier’s Civilization V. Save 10% using the coupon code GOTMCivV.

Hardware

• Newer Technology, Inc. announced that it has expanded its line of accessories for the Apple Mac mini with the introduction of the new $4.99 MSRP NewerTech NuPad Base for the 2010 Mac mini. The NuPad Base provides a flat, formfitting, non-skid rubber foot that eliminates the sliding and skidding that can occur from day to day use and access of a 2010 Mac mini.
• G-Form, an athletic gear company recently known for the Extreme Sleeve for iPad that has sustained a 500-foot drop from an airplane and a 12-pound bowling ball, is proud to introduce the Extreme Sleeve for Laptop.  Designed for the laptop user who is always on-the-go, the Extreme Sleeve™ can easily be placed in your bag, backpack or suitcase and protect your laptop from impact unlike any other sleeve on the market. 

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

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• Notts contemplate first White Rose double for 120 years
• Lancs turn to captaincy rookie Steven Croft for visit to Warks

Yorkshire's captain Andrew Gale has warned his struggling young team that they face a "massive week" as they prepare for a rematch against a Nottinghamshire side who made a mockery of their championship pretensions only two weeks ago.

Notts turned the game in spectacular fashion at Headingley, winning by 58 runs after trailing by 193 on first innings. If they repeat the result at Trent Bridge it would give them a first championship double over Yorkshire since 1891.

The stand-out bowler then as Notts won by an innings on each occasion was Frank Shacklock, who along with his bowling partner Mordecai Sherwin gave Arthur Conan Doyle inspiration for the name of Sherlock Holmes.

While Gale, who made an unbeaten 145 in the Division One match against Notts last month, hopes to settle Yorkshire's early-season blues with the conventional perseverance of Inspector Lestrade, talking of rolling up sleeves and keeping heads up, Yorkshire's coach Martyn Moxon dons the deerstalker for a snoop around Yorkshire's 2nd XI in Barnsley to see if he can find any answers.

The answer to their unease lies largely in South Africa. Jacques Rudolph returned there at the end of last season and an inexperienced batting line-up now have nobody to lean on. They tried leaning on Anthony McGrath but it has given him sciatica and he misses the Trent Bridge game.

As for the rest of the top order, Adam Lyth has been subdued after his breakthrough year and much has been asked of Joe Root in his debut season. Andre Adams, the Notts pace bowler who is two short of 500 first-class wickets, will imagine that he might not be overly detained.

Last month's Notts' victory knocked Yorkshire's confidence so much that two worrying CB40 defeats have followed – against the Netherlands and Derbyshire. "We haven't batted well enough collectively in any of our three championship games so far," Moxon said. "It's still early days, but it's a worrying trend we need to address. I think we're better than we batted against Nottinghamshire and better than we've batted since the start of the season."

Lancashire's visit to Warwickshire is notable for Jimmy Anderson's first first-class match since England won the Ashes and the fast bowler, exhausted, immediately curled up in the dressing room and had a nap. Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott are back for Warwickshire, also beginning their warm-ups for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Cardiff.

In the absence of Glen Chapple, Lancashire are led by Steven Croft, who has gone from uncapped batsman to stand-in captain in less than a year. Croft, who was their leading run-scorer in the championship last season despite not making a hundred, went on a captaincy course at Loughborough in the winter and is the likely successor when Chapple, 37, calls it a day.

Sussex meet Hampshire buoyed by their remarkable escape against Lancashire, when the Pakistani pace bowler Naved Arif scored his maiden first-class century in a last-wicket stand of 90 with Monty Panesar. Michael Yardy, who returned from the World Cup suffering from clinical depression, is not expected to take part despite playing in his side's CB40 win against the Netherlands.

Just like Barnes Wallis's original idea, this documentary was pretty daft

A two-hour documentary about the bouncing bomb? A little second world war background, a potted biography of the inventor, Barnes Wallis, graphics explaining the engineering, lots of footage from The Dam Busters and some CGI demonstrations of what happens if the bomb goes wrong . . .

Dambusters: Building the Bouncing Bomb (C4) had all that, but it also had Hugh Hunt, a Cambridge professor of engineering with a plan to recreate the 1943 attack on the Möhne dam, on a smaller (but hardly small) scale. It was, in many ways, as daft a project as the original idea, which Bomber Harris called "tripe of the wildest description".

Wallis began his experiments with marbles and a washtub. Professor Hunt used a cricket bowling machine and a swimming pool, which gave one a very clear understanding of how hard it is to make a bomb bounce on water. It works if the angle is shallow enough, but if the plane flies too low the bomb is liable to bounce up and hit it, as was shown in archive footage of Wallis's tests.

The solution, as you may well know, is to put some serious backspin on your bomb. A bowling machine turned on its side does this rather obligingly.

There isn't a country on earth, apparently, where it's legal to drop bombs out of planes onto dams, but in the wilds of northwestern Canada they'll let you get away with a pretty close approximation. Hunt commissioned a temporary dam by the edge of a lake, and a foul-mouthed pilot called Arnie to fly at it armed with a dummy bomb.

A tension between Arnie and the professor made this more enjoyable that it might have been, and the possibility of failure made it quite involving, even over two hours. As much goes wrong as goes right: the bombs don't release properly; they don't spin fast enough; the dam is leaking ("It's washing out?" said Arnie. "Holy fuck!"). But the whole thing was a testament to the power of calculation, experimentation and recalculation. And if you made it to the end you got to see a pretty cool explosion.

Charlie Zailer, played by Olivia Williams, is the second female detective (after Vera) to turn up on ITV in as many nights. Case Sensitive (ITV1) is very much in the Prime Suspect mould, a mould someone clearly forgot to break. DS Zailer is grumpy, chilly, even a bit of a cow. Her male colleagues are sexist and patronising. It's her first day, and she's already letting her personal life interfere with her work. But she's good.

And Case Sensitive is also good: gritty and spare, with a few genuinely startling turns. A seemingly open-and-shut murder-suicide (mother and daughter, overflowing bathtub) started to unravel straight away. The husband's alibi wasn't as airtight as first appeared, and it seemed his previous wife also drowned. Plus there was this woman who'd had a one-night stand with him, and decided to get in touch. Bad idea, obviously, but her own motivations were potentially suspect.

By the end it was clear that the murderer, whoever it was, was very weird. In her review of Vera yesterday Zoe Williams pointed out that British whodunnits invariably combine believable characters with utterly preposterous crimes. This would appear to describe Case Sensitive to a tee, but so far my only real quibble is with the title. What has this dark police drama got to do with remembering that your Facebook password contains both upper and lowercase characters? If that turns out to be the key to solving the mystery, I'm going to be very disappointed.

The guilty pleasure of property shows derives from nursing one's loathing for the real-life buyers and renovators. They invariably come across as demanding, indecisive, thick and vulgar. Young, Rich and Househunting (BBC3) seemed to want pare the property format down to this bare essence: three self-regarding rich kids waft around looking at properties and being sniffy about them. What's not to hate?

The problem was they weren't that young (Luke may have been spoiled, lazy and stupid, but at 25 he was old enough to know better) or that rich (£800k is a tremendous amount of money, but it doesn't buy you much in the way of monstrous vulgarity in central London). And there wasn't much poor judgment on show either. Luke bought a modest flat to rent out. Milly ended up with a shop. No one got what they wanted — including me.

Filed under: Performance, Chevrolet, Racing

Pahrump, Nevada is a smallish city in the acute, southern tip of Nevada. The population is roughly 70,000 and most of it, when behind the wheel, sticks to the posted speed limits of anywhere between 25 and 45 miles per hour. At any given time, however, a handful of drivers will be doing well beyond those numbers. They are the temporary residents who have shacked up at Spring Mountain Raceway for the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School.

Set up to teach drivers how to get the best out of their own driving and, if they happen to own one, the best out of America's sports car, it's one of just two official Corvette schools in the country. In fact, free tuition is just one of the many perks (including building your own engine) that comes with purchasing the most almighty of all Corvettes, the ZR1. Within one year of taking delivery of your car, either at the dealership or the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, you can seek tutelage at no additional cost from Mr. Fellows, or attend Bob Bondurant's school in Phoenix. We sought our training in Nevada.

Being Nevada, it's hot. With Corvettes to train in, it's fast. And having been developed with Ron Fellows, it's thorough. It also happens to be a lot of fun. Continue reading...



Photos copyright (C)2011 Jonathon Ramsey / AOL, courtesy of Ron Fellows Performance Driving School

Continue reading Back to School: Learning the ZR1 at the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School

Back to School: Learning the ZR1 at the Ron Fellows Performance Driving School originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 May 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hampshire 285 & 341
Somerset 513 & 114-1
Somerset win by 9 wickets

A superb, career-best 169 by Liam Dawson was not enough to deprive Somerset of their first Championship victory of the summer. Once an all-rounder – he bowled respectable left-arm spinners in his teens – Dawson now looks more convincing as a calm, correct opening batsman.

In Hampshire's second innings the 21-year-old batted with barely a blemish for six and a half hours. It was not until he was lbw, the eighth wicket to fall, that Somerset could feel confident of victory.

Dawson scored 260 runs in this match and has 420 this season in the Championship. Much more of this and he will be leapfrogging a few batsmen in the pecking order that leads to recognition with the England Lions. His technique is sound and his powers of concentration increasingly impressive.

They say that he has been flustered by the fast, short ball in the past. But this applies to many youngsters. This was certainly not the case here, partly because the pitch was so slow and also because Somerset, like most counties, lack a true express bowler.

Herein lies a problem when trying to develop Test batsmen. Where do the aspirants get their experience of extreme pace? Very rarely in county cricket. In the nets against the bowling machine? It is not the same.

Dawson gives the impression of having enough talent to adjust once exposed to pace more often.

Somerset had to work hard for their victory. The main source of hope for bowlers on this surface was low bounce and batsman error. There was just enough of both for Marcus Trescothick's side to secure victory.

The main source of wickets was a mild surprise. Peter Trego could boast many more tattoos than wickets when he began his spell. He had bowled 61 barren overs in the Championship this season when he ran up to bowl a slower ball to James Vince, who became his first victim of the summer, one of three lbws for him – including the critical wicket of Dawson.

The Hampshire batting was brittle and confusing. When their openers were at the crease (Jimmy Adams scored 147 runs in the match) batting seemed a breeze. For everyone else – except Neil McKenzie, who delivered two silky cameos – the process looked surprisingly tricky.

Somerset needed 114 to win. Friedel de Wet bowled Trescothick but Arul Suppiah and Nick Compton calmly saw their team home.

The Washington Nationals' game against the Cardinals was postponed last night in St. Louis due to an ungodly mix of gusts, driving rain and hail that left the field swamped in icy marbles. It’s the second weather delay in a week for the Nats, who played a double-header against the Brewers Sunday after heavy rain on Saturday canceled the game.

Two tornadoes were spotted near St. Louis, although they didn’t pass as close as the monstrous thunderstorm that hazed the then-new Busch Stadium in 2006. (Shocking videos of the twisters and the 2006 storm punishing fans follow the jump.) The evening kicked off with a severe thunderstorm warning. Then the icy precipitation moved in around 7:30 p.m. and didn’t stop for almost two hours. Although left without a game to report on, Washington Post beat writer Adam Kilgore nevertheless owned baseball coverage with hilarious observations about the night's foul weather. Here’s one:

UPDATE, 9:14: Where to start? There was hail. There is still hard rain. There were tornado warning sirens blaring, at which point I took cover in the stairwell behind the press box like the little, little man that I am. There is still no word on the start of the game. The warning track is a moat and it’s still pouring. They seem determined to play, but I think I see animals marching two-by-two in left-center.

Check out Kilgore’s Twitter feed from last night for more entertaining nuggets. My fav: “We are hearing sirens, which means a tornado warning. They told all the reporters to take cover in the stairwell. I love you, Mom.”

Those screaming sirens must’ve sent shivers down the spines of anybody who was in attendance at Busch Stadium on July 20, 2006, when a clump of powerful thunderstorms known as a derecho flew through St. Louis with winds as fast as 90 m.p.h. Fans cowered inside the stadium as the windows of the press box exploded, trees outside toppled and the field tarp ripped. Was there video of this momentous storm? You betcha.

Just look at that poor fan get tackled by what looks like a flying trashcan:

The storm caused 75 injuries at Busch Stadium and what was then the worst blackout in St. Louis’ history. While not as violent as that event, yesterday’s Midwest storm system had tremendous power. Storm chasers recorded footage of two funnel clouds whirring around St. Louis. This twister meandered through Bowling Green, Mo., about 85 northwest of the city:

And this tornado touched down near Carlinville, Ill., about 65 miles north of St. Louis:

Barring more tornadic weather, the Nats will play the Cardinals today in a day-night doubleheader. (Hat tip to former AP sports writer and Midwesterner Sarah Larimer for the video.)

We're still dealing with small sample sizes, of course, but here's a look at a few prospects who have gotten off to a fast start.
(All stats are through Sunday except where noted)

Tim Beckham, SS - The former #1 pick is off to a .308/.357/.538 start for the Biscuits including two home runs in his first ten games. He's benefited from a .400 BABIP, though, and has struck out twelve times already. The main culprit? Called third strikes. Beckham struck out looking in 7.5% of ABs last year, but it's over 14% early on. His swinging strikeout percentage is roughly the same as 2010. Small sample size, of course, and we'll have to see how things stabilize. Will the BABIP regression be cancelled out by an increase in balls in play? Mostly, I'd think. His power and walk rate are the bigger questions.

Desmond Jennings, OF - After bit of a disappointing 2010 season, Jennings has started hot this year in Durham, doing everything he was supposed to do last year. Through 11 games he's hitting .314, has drawn nine walks, hit two home runs, and stole four bases. The strikeouts (nine) are a tad high but a minor flaw on his early-season success. He's currently blocked in the majors, but should reach St. Pete over the summer, either when Sam Fuld exhausts his magic bean supply, B.J. Upton is traded, or any of the outfielders require a trip to the DL.

Alex Cobb, RHP - Through two starts, Cobb has allowed just one run while striking out 17 and walking 2 in 11 innings. His strikeout rate has risen every year since 2008 and shows no signs of slowing down at triple-A. He's flown under the radar throughout his career, but people will notice quickly with the numbers he's put up early. He doesn't have the stuff to profile as a top-of-the-rotation guy, but there's obviously value in what he brings to the table. I figured his future as a reliever (given the Rays packed rotation), a Dan Wheeler type with fewer home runs, but a big triple-A season could change that. Amazingly, he doesn't have the best start for a guy named "Alex" in the Durham rotation. That honor would go to...

Alex Torres, LHP - The short lefty has matched Cobb's 17/2 K/BB in 10.1 innings and has yet to be scored upon. He led the Southern League in both strikeouts and walks last season, and while his command is still rough around the edges, the low walks total is excellent to see. He worked some deep counts in his last start against Norfolk, but then threw just five pitches to retire the side in the 5th inning. Torres and Cobb both throw quality change-ups, but Torres' fastball and curveball are better from a pure stuff standpoint. Obviously a 1.7 BB/9 from Torres is a bit much to expect from Torres going forward (career mark: 4.9; last year: 4.5), but anything under 3.5 would be a big win.

Luke Bailey, C - The Rays' fourth-round pick in 2009, Bailey made the jump up to Bowling Green from the Gulf Coast League and so far it looks like he belongs there. He's hitting .333/.419/.593 which includes four doubles and a home run. Defensively, he's thrown out a healthy (if not eye-popping) 31% of basestealers, and it's worth noting that he had to deal with Billy Hamilton, perhaps the fastest player in the minor leagues, in the Hot Rods' first series. The Midwest League is a tough place to hit, especially early on (just ask Ty Morrison or Todd Glaesmann), so it's very encouraging to see Bailey get off to a quick start.

Injuries - They hit the minor league ranks pretty hard in the spring, so here are some updates: Hak-Ju Lee is back from his bout with chicken pox, and went 2-5 in his first game with the Stone Crabs. Jake Thompson missed a start for Charlotte but was much crisper in his return (4 ip 0 r 6 so) than his opening-day start. Albert Suarez (knee), Kyle Lobstein (?), Wilking Rodriguez (shoulder), Kirby Yates (?), Will Kline (perpetually injured) remain out.

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Some quick hits:

Matt Moore, LHP - 9.1 IP, 12 H, 7 ER, 0 BB, 12 SO. Walks are nice. .417 BABIP. Isn't it crazy that 12 strikeouts in 9.1 innings is kind of disappointing?

Alex Koronis, RHP - 11 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 15 SO. University of Tampa product looking great as a starter after striking out 100 as a reliever last season.

Jose Lobaton, C - .478/.536/.913. I guarantee that Lobaton would produce these exact numbers at the major-league level or your money back.

Brandon Gomes, RHP - 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 1 BB, 10 SO. Dominated the double-A level for two years in the Padres system, doing the same so far at triple-A as Durham's closer.

Enny Romero, LHP - (includes Monday start) 13.1 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 7 BB, 19 SO. Located his fastball extremely well in his first start, has shown some command problems since. Still a lot of swings and misses.

The best of the action from the second round of the 2011 County Championship. Updates thoughout the day and click here for scores

6.40pm: A round-up of scores before we close for the day, comments will be open over the weekend if you fancy carrying on discussing the games:

Leics 230 & 4/0 v Derbyshire 439/9d
Glamorgan 202 & 185/3 v Gloucs 188
Middlesex 277 v Essex 115 & 215 (f/o)
Kent 202 v Northants 429/7
Hampshire 218 v Notts 293/9
Warwickshire 642 v Somerset 147/6
Durham 327 & 64/3 v Yorkshire 149

5.08pm: Trent Bridge has brought some food for thought for the England selectors: a Samit Patel hundred, a somewhat slimmed-down Patel, too, yet again reviving hopes that he might address the fitness issues that have stalled his international career, writes David Hopps.
Patel's hundred had a large slice of fortune. He was dropped four times in the slips, three times by Neil McKenzie, the last of them off Friedel de Wet when he was in the 90s. He was not cowed by that in a second fifty that came at almost a run a ball and struck Danny Briggs for a straight six before hooking De Wet for another boundary and celebrating his hundred with a leap in the air that told of his new-found athleticism.
 
Cricket might never have taken root at Trent Bridge if William Clarke, who was later to become the founder of the All England XI, had not taken a shine to the widowed landlady of the Trent Bridge Inn, married her and decided that the spare land at the back of the pub would make a wonderful cricket ground.
 
Trent Bridge has become one of England's best-loved grounds, but in recent years The World Renowned Trent Bridge Inn, as it proclaims itself, had become an eyesore.  But better times lie ahead for one of cricket's most famous hostelries; it has been bought by Wetherspoons and will reopen as a cricket-themed pub in late May.
 
For once, the cries of "waiting" that could be heard on an overcast day came not just from batsmen contending with a difficult early-season pitch but from builders hauling equipment onto scaffolding. Nottinghamshire had toyed with the idea of trying to purchase the inn and demolish it, so removing a piece of history for the sake of another 1,000 on their ground's capacity. As enlightened as their development of Trent Bridge has been, William Clarke, described by John Arlott as "the first man to make a fortune out of cricket" would drink to that.

4.25pm: A (very) small amount of good news for Yorkshire: their total was revised upwards to 149, so Durham's lead was adjusted down to 178.

4.14pm: For the second time in as many Championship matches this season, Durham have earned the right to make their opponents follow on - and decided not to bother, writes Andy Wilson at Headingley. Just as at Hampshire last week, although this time under a different captain (Benkenstein rather than Mustard), they will first try to bat Yorkshire completely out of the game, and then hope to bowl them out for a second time - but this time, Durham regulars suggest, on a pitch that is already offering more help to messrs Blackwell and Borthwick than the Rose Bowl track that flattened into a shirt front.

It's funny to think that the afternoon session began with Yorkshire 93 for two, and apparently well set to make progress towards Durham's 327. But then their captain Andrew Gale played an appalling shot at Graham Onions to spark a collapse, with the last eight wickets falling for 47 - 16 of those from the last pair of Brophy and Ashraf.

Onions ended with five for 51 from 15 overs, an outstanding return after so long out, and was generously applauded to the pavilion by Yorkshire's players and members, as well as his own team-mates.

3.46pm: Warwickshire were finally dismissed for 642, 142 better than they have ever made at Taunton before, writes Mike Averis, and are now making about three appeals an over as their bowlers get the ball to do things Somerset found impossible.

With 10 on the board, Trescothick was still to score having played and missed or "left" either Woakes or Andrew Miller half a dozen times. After 21 balls the former England opener finally got off the mark with elegant boundaries either side of the wicket, before playing and missing again.

After eight overs Somerset are 31-0 with Arul Suppiah surviving a big appeal for caught behind.

2.59pm: Graham Onions has just taken his sweater with figures of four for 40, having seized the advantage for Durham in this absorbing northern battle, writes Andy Wilson at Headingley. Onions, playing his first senior game after 16 months of injury misery - full circumstances explained below, and yesterday, and in various previews over the last couple of weeks - fired out Andrew Gale, Jonathan Bairstow and Joe Root in consecutive overs as Yorkshire slipped from 100 for two to 113 for five.

It was high-class stuff in front of the watching England selector James Whitaker, especially considering Onions was obviously feeling his way back as he has so far bowled seven no-balls in his 11 overs.

He was given a big helping hand by Gale, just as he had been by Adam Lyth for his first wicket with his second ball of the season, as the Yorkshire captain top-edged a misguided pull to Ian Blackwell at mid on. But the next two scalps were earned not gifted, with Bairstow lbw and Root edging a late outswinger which the debutant wicket-keeper Michael Richardson did well to take.

Root had done more than enough to underline his promise by grafting to 45 with a couple of stylish boundaries, but Yorkshire are now looking to Gerard Brophy to rescue them for the second time in consecutive Championship matches.

2.38pm: Only 11 overs after lunch and the records keep coming, writes Mike Averis. A full toss from Mendis not only brought up Warwickshire's 600 – by 100 runs their best score at Taunton – but also the Sri Lankan spinner's worst figures in his first class career – 173 for two in 39 overs.

With Woakes making his third championship century, Trescothick's decision to ask Warwickshire to bat will take some explaining. The only good news for Somerset is that Woakes has gone for 129, mistiming a drive to mid-off.

1.57pm: Adeel Shafique, Notts' academy wicketkeeper, continues to keep wicket for Hampshire at the start of the afternoon session against Notts at Trent Bridge, writes David Hopps. This news goes under the classification of something I should have told you earlier if only I had found the time.

Hampshire's wicketkeeper Nic Pothas plays no further part after injuring a calf on the opening day and after clearance from the ECB Shafique gets a chance to step in until Hampshire's reserve keeper Michael Bates makes it to Nottingham from the south coast. Not the best time for the M1 to be closed and presumably clog up traffic in all directions.

Notts will have to negotiate a post-lunch spell from David Griffiths before they begin to feel settled. Griffiths bowled both Notts openers and had Samit Patel dropped in the slips on 0 and 9, firstly by Dominic Cork and then by Neil McKenzie. Alex Hales was also dropped by Cork, this time probably unnerved by the suggestion that McKenzie might go for the catch. That edge was forced by Freidel de Wet who then gave up the unequal struggle of bowling for slip catches and knocked out Hales's leg stump instead.

12.34pm: David Hopps writes: This is how hants_cricket told the story of the Trent Bridge morning so far on Twitter
 
BREAKING NEWS: David Griffiths has conceded a run, an Alex Hales single, after a succession of unplayable brilliance. (4-3-1-2). Notts 44-2
 
That sums it up really. Griffiths has produced an excellent morning's under thickening Trent Bridge cloud cover, bowling Nottinghamshire's experimental opening pair of Paul Franks and Mark Wagh and repeatedly passing the bat. He has also just had Samit Patel dropped at second slip by Neil McKenzie, a chance that he made look more difficult than it really was. Patel and Alex Hales are digging in for Nottinghamshire in the expectation that conditions will ease this afternoon. Griffiths' spell stands at 8-3-14-2 and Notts are 63-2 in reply to Hants' 218.

12.30pm: Ten overs into the day and Chopra went to his maiden double century, having added 26 to his overnight 174 in rapid time, writes Mike Averis at Taunton. He and Woakes were going along at just under seven an over when the opener, who managed only 409 runs in the entire championship last season, edged Hussain to third man for two.
The 200 took 330 deliveries, starting carefully but going on to add 30 boundaries, three of them sixes. Unfortunately the innings didn't last much longer.
Ajantha Mendis, so expensive and so obviously rusty yesterday, first baffled Woakes with balls that turned away from the right hander, then trapped Chopra lbw with one that came back. The stand had put on 123.

12.20pm: An unusual story from t'other side of the Pennines, in fact the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, about the Surrey opener Michael Brown taking over as chairman of Burnley CC, writes Andy Wilson at Headingley. Brown, who is one of six players in the last 15 years to make it into county cricket from the Turf Moor club - most famously James Anderson - hopes to tap into some of his former colleagues on the Stock Exchange to give the finances a boost.

"We are not talking a lot of money in the general scheme of things," said Brown. "But it is difficult for all clubs, not just cricket clubs. The culture is changing. People don't drink in the clubs any more and even the players' attitudes are changing. When I was coming through the ranks the players used to go into the bar after nets and have a couple of pints - you look now and the club is not even open. There needs to be a change, clubs need to be multi-purpose, not just a bar. You look at the likes of Rawtenstall where they have the clubhouse and the functions. You can't just rely on people to come in."

He has already sent Anderson advance notice that he'll be mithering for some practical support.

Yorkshire 46-2 here, Plunkett has taken over from Onions whose figures of 6-1-25-1 included six no-balls, which cost a total of 16 runs, for reasons explained by the anoraks who lurk below the line. Elsewhere Alastair Cook gone for 19 to Corey Collymore as Essex have slumped to 63-4 against Middlesex at Lord's, with no wickets yet for Steven Finn.

12.17pm: David Hopps has some news on New Zealand's latest appointment:

John Buchanan, a cricket coach variously described in his time as a genius or a charlatan. Buchanan has been confirmed as New Zealand's director of cricket and will take over the role in May. This new post puts him in charge of New Zealand's high-performance programme and he will also oversee the selection panel and implement a new system to identify emerging talent.

This is Buchanan's first major international job since he resigned as Australia's coach following the 2007 World Cup win, although he did have an unsuccessful stint in the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders where he decided to implement a whole series of captains because of the fast nature of Twenty20. Suggesting to Soarav Ganguly, Lord High Everything in Kolkata, that he might like to limit his captaincy input to, say, setting the field in the first 10 overs, did not go down well. Shane Warne was among those who treated him with derision and that is putting it kindly.

 Despite this, nobody can question his record. He was in charge of a great Australian side that during his eight years that brought them three World Cups and a record 16 consecutive Test victories. He also coached Queensland to their first Sheffield Shield title.
"John's appointment is an exciting one for New Zealand Cricket," NZC's chief executive Justin Vaughan said. "He has a great cricketing pedigree and will provide outstanding leadership as NZC look to move forward."

One thing is certain: the ECB will no longer be calling up Buchanan for a summer brainstorming session.

11.52am: Day two started only 16 minutes late and with Somerset in an obvious hurry, writes Mike Averis at Taunton. Otherwise, how do you explain Marcus Trescothick helping to push the covers from the wicket and Craig Kieswetter driving the ground-staff tractor. Unfortunately Chopra had a similar mind set, taking nine off Charl Willoughby's first over - two off the first ball and a sweet cover-driven four to round things off.

Woakes twice played and missed against the South Africa, then after warming up with a few fours to third man off Gemaal Hussain, belted Willoughby through the covers to go to 50 from 46 balls with eight boundaries. The first seven overs have produced 40.

11.28am:Ten minutes before the start of the second day at Taunton the covers were back on and it's spitting with rain, writes Mike Averis. There was some heavy stuff early on, but we seemed set until the clouds rolled in. However, the umpires and the ground staff are in the middle suggesting that if there is a delay it will be a short and that Varun Chopra and Chris Woakes will soon be adding to the overnight score of 416 for six - 174 of them to Chopra.

11.26am: A dream return for Graham Onions, writes Andy Wilson at Headingley. He was given the new ball from the Kirkstall Lane end by the acting Durham captain, Dale Benkenstein, and after a sight-setter angled harmlessly across Yorkshire's left-handed opener Adam Lyth, the Whitby dasher tried to pull the next ball, got a bit tucked up, and picked out Ben Stokes just in front of square on the leg side. Joy unconfined for Onions and his team-mates. Yorkshire, replaying to Durham's total of 327, were 0-1.

Anthony McGrath has joined Joe Root, Yorkshire's bright batting hope for 2011 - aiming to replicate the impact Lyth made last year, no doubt - and Callum Thorp is sharing the new ball with Onions, leaving Liam Plunkett to come on first change.

10.51am: Another prompt start here, with the clouds a little higher than they were yesterday, writes Andy Wilson at Headingley, and Yorkshire and Durham staging some lengthy pre-match entertainment before Leeds face Huddersfield in the Super League on the other side of the Rugby Stand tonight. Graham Onions will start the day with his pads on, having picked up for Durham where he left off for England as a stubborn No11 as if the last 16 miserable months had never happened, but there will be much more interest in how he bowls. Talking of Durham seamers, and a quick word for Liam Plunkett – the new edition of Wisden provides a handy reminder of how badly his batting form fell away last season, but he's rediscovered his all-round ability with an excellent unbeaten 64 here.

Durham's overnight total of 326 for nine represents a fine recovery after their slipped to 134 for six shortly after lunch, and as well as Plunkett, their debutant wicket-keeper Michael Richardson deserves the lion's share of the credit. Richardson, the 24-year-old son of the former South Africa wicket keeper Dave, has been living in England for the best part of a decade, studying at Stonyhurst College near Blackburn then Nottingham University, and spending a couple of years at Lord's with the MCC Young Cricketers before joining the Durham staff last summer. When grilled last night, he confirmed that he intends to complete his residential qualification to play for England, which has been delayed after he spent one winter playing domestic cricket in South Africa, meaning he is relying on his mother's German heritage to play for the moment. Wonder how Richardson senior would feel about his boy 'keeping for England? And this morning's quiz question, how about fathers and sons who have represented different countries in international cricket?

Another quick quote from Wisden, and David Warner's Yorkshire review. "The more rounded a cricketer Adil Rashid becomes, the less interested England seem to show in him." Always a good read.

10.48am: We've got a press release through from the ECB on Paul Collingwood's fitness:

England and Durham all rounder Paul Collingwood has successfully undergone routine arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to remove 'loose bodies' and correct cartilage damage.

Collingwood will begin his recovery and rehabilitation period with Durham CCC and is expected to be available for Durham ahead of the NatWest International T20 and ODI series against Sri Lanka in June.

10.44am: There is the mouthwatering prospect of watching the new ever-so-slightly slimline Samit Patel have his first bat of the season for Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge today, writes David Hopps. He abounds with talent, was in great nick on Notts' pre-season jaunt to Abu Dhabi, and I'm looking forward to it.

Andy Wilson sounded convinced that Patel has slimmed down in his piece on Wednesday and he certainly does seem to have shed a few pounds. In an effort to find out exactly how much weight he had shed, I buttonholed Notts' chief executive Derek Brewer and media manager Michael Temple. "It's not something we want to quantify in pounds and ounces," said Temple, who has thereby become the early favourite in the Media Manager Quote Of The Year award.

Neither is there much quantifying going on from Notts in kilos, waist-size or indeed in litres of lost body fluids every time somebody utters the word "beep test." Suffice to say that Patel looks as if he has gone from woefully overweight to potentially not far from the range where he might begin to interest England again. But England's interest depends not just on weight but a minimum level of fitness and on that the situation is less clear. They did not call him up for the World Cup when Michael Yardy returned home with clinical depression, but opted for Adil Rashid instead. And Samit only had to make the four-hour hop from Abu Dhabi to Colombo.
 
Patel's weight readings have been a source of much amusement whenever the Cricketers' Who's Who comes round. He was officially recorded as 12st 7lbs in 2008 and then made a quite miraculous drop to 12st a year later when presumably he had one foot on the floor or there was a certain amount of PR involved in the reading. In 2010, I'm told, his weight was not recorded, presumably because by then it had become a source of national debate or because it was ballooning around dramatically depending on whether the ECB was due to make a visit. So if Who's Who records him at, say, 14st 7lbs next season, his slimming-down efforts will have been so successful that the figures available will actually suggest that he has put on two-and-a-half stone. He will then become the first cricketer ever to officially put on weight after a successful diet.
 
I must admit that I am wary of Patel dietary stories. I penned a "I've given up the chocolate for good" story two or three years ago, only for Samit to be discovered a few weeks later by the match umpires before start of play lurking in a dark corner of McDonalds, just across from the ground. He had said nothing about giving up cheeseburgers and milkshakes.
 
But even that did not match the day that I interviewed Freddie Flintoff in Cheshire on how he was going to cut back on the booze. Immediately after I had turned off the recorder, Freddie jumped into his car and roared out of the drive in the general direction of Manchester. He could feel a thirst coming on. At about 3am he was snapped by a News of the World photographer stumbling across a dance floor, somewhat the worst for wear. It was roughly four hours before anybody read his blithe assurances in the Guardian that he would never drink again. The News of the World told a different story 24 hours later.

10.15am: Some early reading for you before play gets under way: a Small Talk with Michael Holding, in which he discusses intimidating opponents, why there are few great fast bowlers these days, and Caribbean Christmases, among other things.

9.20am: The second round of County Championship games continues today:

Andy Wilson is at Headingley, David Hopps is at Trent Bridge and Mike Averis at Taunton.

A preview of all the counties can be found here.

You can find full fixture lists for the season here.

And you can follow the action throughout the season here.

And there's county cricket commentaries on BBC local radio here.

County tables can be found here: Division One and Division Two

You can follow our cricket team here and on Twitter: David Hopps, Andy Wilson, Andy Bull and Steve Busfield.

Accurate spells of fast bowling from the entire cast of seamers helped Deccan Chargers inflict a convincing 33-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore, who have now suffered two losses in a row. After being put into bat at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad Deccan scored 175 for the loss of 5 wickets in [...]

West Indies legend on intimidating opponents, why there are few great fast bowlers these days, and Caribbean Christmases

Hi Mike, how are you? Good thanks, how are you?

We're great. Small Talk understands you're involved in a new film. What's it all about? It's called Fire in Babylon and it's about West Indies cricket in the 70s and 80s, the dominance of the West Indies team and the political ramifications of our dominance. It's basically showing the influence of cricket on the Caribbean and the impact it had on Caribbean people around the world.

What's your fondest memory of having been part of that team? When you win Test matches it's a great feeling, but being part of the first ever West Indies team to beat Australia in Australia in 1979-80 was even more uplifting. So many teams had gone there and failed to beat them, and other West Indies teams had been to all parts of the world and won, but none had been to Australia and won before.

How did you celebrate? We celebrated amongst ourselves. After the Adelaide Test we were staying in a three-star hotel – in those days we didn't get five-star hotels – and we went back to the hotel and had a ball. A few people had a bit too much to drink, which is usual, but we had a ball, we enjoyed it.

It's funny you should mention having a drink – David Gower recently told Small Talk that having to bat against that 1980s West Indies attack was the best hangover cure he ever had ... [Deep belly laugh] Yeah, I suppose so. You have got to have your wits about you when you are batting against that sort of pace. You certainly can't afford to be out there blurry-eyed. So I suppose you could say that was true.

You don't know of a better hangover cure than that? Well, the batsmen are better placed to tell you about that. I was the one doing the damage, not the one being damaged.

David told us that he had lined up at the crease once or twice having perhaps enjoyed one or two more beers the night before than he should have. Do you remember looking at a batsman and thinking they might be a bit 'tender'? No, I don't remember anyone in my playing days going out on to the cricket field – on my team or the other team – when they were not fully focussed, not fully able. It's not something you want to do when you're batting against bowlers bowling 80 or 90mph. And although we were not as professional in our outlook then as they are now there was still a fair degree of professionalism in the game.

What was the sledging like then? You were such an intimidating attack, was there any need for chat as well? I don't know of any West Indies team that I played in that sledged the opposition. I certainly was not sledged by any opposition member. I don't think any of them was brave enough!

Surely in Australia there would have been a lot … Not on the cricket field. At least not that I am aware of. Perhaps the batsmen were sledged by the occasional Australian, but if a batsman was upset by something a guy said to him on the field, he would have let us know as fast bowlers and said 'listen, sort this guy out'. And I don't know of that happening. I could almost swear on a Bible and say that never happened. You would have people in the stand who would shout abuse but I am not aware of a cricketer saying anything to anyone.

Do you think it's a shame that the game has changed so that it's not acceptable to send down six bouncers in an over like it once was? Well, I don't believe there was a time when we had six bouncers in an over. People talk about that 1976 Test match at Old Trafford when Brian Close got hit on so many occasions. Under today's playing conditions and regulations, which they say is supposed to limit intimidation, we would still not have had a problem. Because today's regulations tell you you can bowl no more than two bouncers above shoulder height in an over. If the batsman is being hit in his chest and just under your arm, you're certainly not bowling above shoulder height. People got carried away at the time because they weren't accustomed to it. Today you don't have as many fast bowlers not because of the regulations but because of the amount of cricket being played. You see young fast bowlers either breaking down or retiring.

But with a nickname like Whispering Death you must have been at least aware you were trading on an intimidating image ... Yes, but intimidation is part of any sport. It's a matter of what you do and how you intimidate the opposition. We bowled bouncers, yes. And the mere fact we could bowl at 90mph was intimidating enough – you didn't have to bowl bouncers to be intimidating. If you look at the footage of guys who actually got hit while we were playing, quite a few of them ducked into bouncers. A lot of them got hit on their fingers. What is wrong with hitting someone on their finger? That just shows you they are incapable of playing a ball at 90mph. You don't put your hand above your head when you are batting. So all these statistics people throw out about numbers of people who broke their fingers or were hit in the head, they need to show the pictures of the ball hitting their head or when the fingers were broken. I am annoyed people keep throwing out the amount people got hit at Edgbaston. Andy Lloyd ducked into a ball that he could almost have been out lbw.

Who was the toughest opponent you ever faced? As far as degree of difficulty is concerned, batting against Jeff Thomson. It wasn't very nice batting against Jeff Thomson bowling that fast with no helmet and no chest pad and all that.As a team, Pakistan and Australia as teams were the toughest opponents I faced.

Small Talk hears that when you were first called up by West Indies you were more upset than anything because you realised you weren't going to be home for Christmas? Yeah, that's right – 1975-76. I didn't play cricket because I wanted to play for the West Indies, I played cricket because I enjoyed it. And representing the West Indies at that time there was not only pride, it was a matter of wanting to represent the region. But it was not a career move as far as I was concerned. And getting selected for Australia, yes, you are proud to represent the West Indies but, hell, it was going to be my first Christmas away from my family. And even now I believe Christmas is for family, you need to be together for Christmas.

Do you have a favourite Christmas present from when you were a boy? No, I didn't have a favourite Christmas present. It was about family and being with people you love. And of course the food that was available [belly laugh].

We're guessing it wasn't turkey and sprouts? No, no. In my house we didn't have turkey. We had roast pork and chicken and beef and macaroni and cheese and rice and peas, yam, banana, everything. Fried plantain. But we didn't have turkey – that's more of an American thing than a Caribbean thing. Though a lot of Caribbean people have adopted it now.

Getting into the important stuff now, what was the last book you read? The Bridge – about Barack Obama's campaign and him becoming president.

Any good? Very good. I am very happy that I have read it because it shows that he was a very fortunate man – it was a perfect storm – everything just happened at the same time for him to get there. I'm not sure he's glad he's there now, but he got there.

What was the last CD you bought? I haven't bought any music in a very long time. I have some very good friends here in Jamaica and in Miami who are DJs and they give me CDs.

What sort of music? Lots of different music. The last CD I got from my friend here in Jamaica was some old Jamaican music, even before reggae. Some old artists. Because he is a few years older than I am he goes back a long way.

How does going on tour with the Sky team compare with going on tour with the West Indies team? Well, it's a lot easier – I have no balls to bowl. And it's a lot better socially, you can go out every night if you like. I enjoy the company of almost all the guys on the Sky team, whether they are commentators, producers, directors, cameramen. I think I have a fantastic job with a fantastic group of people.

Back in the day when you were with West Indies you presumably had to share your hotel room. If you had to pick one of the Sky team to be your room-mate, who would it be? Oh mercy. I'd probably have Beefy Botham. Beefy enjoys life, and I appreciate people who enjoy life. I have a very good rapport also with Mike Atherton, but I wouldn't want to room with Athers for different reasons that shall remain unmentioned.

You're not going to tell us? No, I can't. I can't. But of this group of commentators I would certainly pick Beefy easily.

You say he enjoys life, we hear he also enjoys his wine … Yes, he does. But he doesn't influence me in that direction. I'm a little bit stronger than that. He knows my limitations and understands when I say no! And that's why I would enjoy rooming with him because he doesn't try to force his will on other people.

Can you tell us a joke? What kind of joke?

Any joke. Your favourite, if you have one? I can tell you a blonde joke.

That works for us. This blonde went home, and found her husband in bed with another woman. So she went into the drawer and took out her husband's gun and put it to her head. Her husband says 'No, don't do that'. She says 'Shut up, because you're next'.

Fantastic stuff Michael. Thanks so much for your time, we'll let you get away ... No problem, Small Talk.

Fire In Babylon out in cinemas on limited release on 20 May and on DVD on 6 June.

Hampshire 218; Nottinghamshire 6-0

Andre Adams was adamant four years ago that he would retire from first-class cricket, after he failed to get a place in New Zealand's World Cup squad. "I thought it was time to get a proper job," he said. But his occupation is still fast bowling, as Hampshire found out when he took five wickets to launch Nottinghamshire's title defence in impressive style.

His retirement decided, Adams took his family on a skiing holiday – halfway up a mountain slope he got a call from a fellow New Zealand international, Lou Vincent, to tell him that "a friend" wanted to talk about him playing in county cricket.

"Not interested," said Adams, but the following day a cricket agent rang anyway. "Not interested," said Adams once more. "I'm on a ski lift. I'll ring you back."

That is the problem with mobile phone reception on mountainsides – it is notoriously unreliable. You can say "no" as assertively as you like and the line can be so patchy that the caller is convinced you said "yes". The following day the agent rang back and told him his deal with Nottinghamshire was arranged.

Adams had played league cricket in Nottinghamshire, with Kimberley, and had friends in the area. His retirement proved to be shortlived. "I went with it," he said, "but it certainly wasn't pre-meditated."

Hejoined Notts as a short-term signing but then discovered that a Guyanan passport would allow him to qualify as a Kolpak registration. Trent Bridge's greentops knock the years off a fast bowler and at 35 he still plays with zest. His 68 championship wickets at 22.17 last summer – 27 ahead of his nearest rival – were a key feature in the title-winning season. Against Hampshire he finished with five for 54 and Charlie Shreck, loping back from a loan spell at Kent, took four for 51. Few people outside the east Midlands believe that Notts can successfully defend their title and even the loyalists will remember that their last championship in 2005 was followed by relegation the next year.

Hampshire began confidently. Jimmy Adams and Liam Dawson took them to 91 for none with few alarms but they collapsed in five overs up to lunch to 104 for four. Adams hooked Adams to long leg and Shreck reached lunch on a hat-trick as he had Johann Myburgh caught at the wicket and followed up with Neil McKenzie for nought, well caught by Samit Patel at second slip. There was still time for Hampshire's disasters to deepen as Adams had Dawson lbw for 37.

Shreck, who had benefited from his Kent workout at Chelmsford last week, swung one back to bowl Nic Pothas soon after lunch and Hampshire's fate was all but sealed. Dominic Cork busied himself to good effect to take them past 200.

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The environment will be one where we work together, take group outings (like hiking, bowling or the attendance of robotics conferences) and learn from each others work ethics, insights and mistakes; we strongly believe in genuine collaboration and teamwork.

Your Responsibilities Will Include:

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Contributing in a productive manner to product design and application features.

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- Proficiency with Linux, Mac OS X, GNU tools, Python, PHP, SQL, scripting languages, and regular expressions.
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**Seeking all levels: Flexible to years of experience (including recent grads), with commensurate hiring level.

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The environment will be one where we work together, take group outings (like hiking, bowling or the attendance of robotics conferences) and learn from each others work ethics, insights and mistakes; we strongly believe in genuine collaboration and teamwork.

Your Responsibilities Will Include:

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Developing in a fast paced environment with rapid iterations and product pushes.

Qualifications:

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- Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
- Proficiency with Linux, Mac OS X, GNU tools, Python, PHP, SQL, scripting languages, and regular expressions.
**Seeking all levels: Flexible to years of experience (including recent grads), with commensurate hiring level.

Abextra Technologies, a New York City-based start-up that combines creative engineering talent with proprietary machine learning technology, aims to develop an original and dynamic suite of products that adapt to make peoples lives easier. We are looking for a software engineer with experience building and maintaining consumer facing web applications to join our growing team. The ideal candidate must be able to program in Python under the Django framework, and should be comfortable working with a team, but an independent streak is appreciated. Having an insatiable passion for machine learning is also a plus!

The environment will be one where we work together, take group outings (like hiking, bowling or the attendance of robotics conferences) and learn from each others work ethics, insights and mistakes; we strongly believe in genuine collaboration and teamwork.

Your Responsibilities Will Include:

Working in a fast paced environment with rapid iterations and product pushes.
Contributing in a productive manner to product design and application features.

Qualifications:

- B.S. Degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience.
- Previous development of production systems using dynamic languages like Python.
- Extensive experience with MVC based web frameworks like Django.
- Strong understanding of object oriented software, design patterns, and fundamentals of software design.
- Strong experience with estimating and meeting software delivery schedules in a project-driven software development team during rapid development cycles.
- Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
- Proficiency with Linux, Mac OS X, GNU tools, Python, PHP, SQL, scripting languages, and regular expressions.
- The ability to write maintainable code
- An interest in machine learning is a plus
**Seeking all levels: Flexible to years of experience (including recent grads), with commensurate hiring level.

The coach of Pakistan cricket, Waqar Younis , while talking to media on Wednesday has said that our bowling attack is one of the best attacks in the world and we will try to give chance to new fast bowlers. He said that we will improve the batting mistakes.

Browsing cricketing articles can be a source of joy, especially when the writer knows what he’s talking about.

Aakash Chopra is one among few ex-cricketers who dons his thinking cap before typing words into his posts.

In his recent article “Reinventing The ODI,” the ex-India opener tackles the future of the 50-over format.

Chopra makes two recommendations:

1) To relieve the tedium of the “muddle-in-the-middle,” the bowling power-play should be taken only after the 20th over. The batting power-play should be done with before the 45th over. How cool is that?

2) A more extreme suggestion is that since most teams play with four front-line bowlers—“six batsmen, five bowlers” theory is dead and buried—why not increase their quota to 12 overs each? This ensures that batsmen are not gifted free runs by amateurish trundlers.

I would like to add my two bits:

Fast bowlers should be allowed two bouncers per over, just like in Test matches. Pacers thus retain the element of surprise; serious injury is no longer a concern with state-of-the-art protective gear.

Batsmen will think twice before plonking out their front foot to pacers. Or stroll down the pitch to the likes of Brett Lee or Shaun Tait.

The “one-bouncer-per-over” rule (later modified to two for Tests) was framed to counter West Indian domination of the '80s when their fast bowlers terrorised opposition batsmen in packs of four—now a thing of the past.

How about something I term the  “joker-in-the-pack.” Each team consists of 12 named players.

The team batting first can choose to play the extra batsman or bowler in the middle of the innings—a decision postponed until familiar with the conditions (say 30 overs).

If the batting collapses, the skipper can utilise the extra batter to bolster the total. Else, if the team piles up a huge score (minus the extra batter), he can opt to field five front-line bowlers.

Of course, if your team is fielding first, things become a bit more tricky. Do you field five bowlers? How long can you, as skipper, hold in your options? Maybe only until the 30th over. Then you are forced to show your hand.

This would require a radical rethink of ODI rules. Teams now have 12 cricketers in the side. How does that affect selection and strategy?

Will this make the game more interesting or “just very, very complicated”? But then, similar sentiments were expressed about power-plays.

Chopra’s proposals are valid and require minor tweaks to existing rules. They are innovative—not inventive.

Shashi Tharoor is another who pleasantly surprises with an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of the game.

In his latest guest column on Cricinfo, the former diplomat-turned-politician expounds on a “Best Of The Rest” team drawn from associate nations for the next World Cup, plucks a People of Indian Origin (PIO) XI from current cricketers and recommends inviting Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to be a part of the Duleep Trophy.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

Quote of the day: 

I believe that a scientist looking at non-scientific problems is just as dumb as the next guy. – Richard Feynman

• A 'shame' if Strauss leaves 50-over cricket, says Broad
• Notts seamer looking forward to India and Sri Lanka tours

Stuart Broad is happy simply to return to the ranks for club and country over the next six weeks. The Nottinghamshire seamer has just endured the most frustrating winter of his career, although it nevertheless ended with his name put forward by Michael Vaughan as a potential successor to Andrew Strauss as England's captain in 50-over cricket.

Broad's involvement in the Ashes series ended when he tore a muscle in his side during the second Test, at Adelaide, and his World Cup comeback was undermined by illness before being cut short by a broken rib. But now, as he rebuilds the strength in his upper body with a gruelling regime of nine gym sessions per week, he is on course to play again for Nottinghamshire in three County Championship matches in May – after which he wants to resume his place under the captaincy of Strauss in both the Test and one-day team.

"My belief is that Straussy should keep going with the job," Broad said after the announcement of a new three-year deal with Notts, three days before the county begin their championship defence.

"He's done a fantastic job over the last couple of years since '09, he's one of our best one-day batsmen and it would be a real shame if he decided he couldn't play one-day cricket any more. Hopefully he will continue. He's certainly got the backing of the whole changing room, and I think it was a little bit harsh the criticism he got in the World Cup after the winter we'd had."

Strauss is due to meet the England coach, Andy Flower, to discuss the one-day captaincy early next month – when Broad hopes to begin his comeback in a Championship match against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge.

"It's coming on," he said of the injury. "It's better that it was a broken rib rather than a muscle strain, because they heal a bit quicker. I'm back to a walk in my bowling now, so I hope I can progress from that and aim to play on 4 May here [Trent Bridge] against Yorkshire. I feel in pretty good nick to be honest.

"It was a very frustrating winter, they were two huge tournaments to miss. Time's a great healer, but when I got ruled out of the Ashes I was heartbroken. I knew I was in big trouble when I came off the pitch at Adelaide, and the scan just proved that it was a complete tear. It took me weeks to get over the disappointment. But it is part and parcel of being a sportsman, you have to accept injuries when they come along, especially being a fast bowler – and I've been pretty lucky for the previous five years.

"It was a bit of a freak to get two injuries in such a short space of time. I only ended up missing two or three games in the World Cup, but the whole time out there was frustrating. I got a terrible illness that knocked me back – and I think that probably had something to do with the injury as well. I was feeling below par, and it's not ideal to be playing when you're not 100%. I lost 6kg in two days I think when I got ill and missed the India game. Five years of non-stop international cricket probably caught up with my body a little bit.

"But I feel fresh and ready to start again. A few of the lads have gone on holiday for a real break, and that was needed – you saw how tired the faces looked in the World Cup, and it's crucial we hit the ground running this summer. We've got two World Cup finalists [Sri Lanka and India] coming to town. It's going to be exciting."

Graeme Swann also popped down to a blustery Trent Bridge for the Notts media day, but his 2011 summer will begin a week later than Broad's, with a game against Sussex that starts at Hove on 10 May, under instruction from Flower.

"It's amazing how quickly you start itching to get back on the field," said the 32-year-old, admitting that Wilfred, the baby son who was born just before the World Cup, is keeping him on his toes. "It's been great since I got back, the break from the game, from the day-in-day-out monotony, just not having to take the cricket kit out of the bag – the socks will be dissolving by now. And hopefully I'll manage a full night's sleep at some time in the next two weeks.

"But when the county season started last Friday I found myself flicking through the scores on text like I did when I was a 19-year-old. It's very exciting. Part of me would love to start playing again straight away – but the part of me that's just frozen my testicles off out there says I'm quite happy not to. We all know that once it starts it's going to be heavy, and this is the calm before the storm."

Swann was particularly encouraged by Adil Rashid's performance in Yorkshire's opening game of the season last weekend, when he took 11 wickets in their victory over Worcestershire. "I'm excited about Adil, because he's been threatening to turn into a world-class spinner for a couple of years, and I think he will be," he said. "At some point we might have to play with two spinners and I'd love to have a leg-spinner who can bowl all the variations at the other end. Some people will see that as a risk, but I'd say that's a good gamble to take because a wrist spinner can pick you up wickets out of nowhere."

Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge is the nation's premier destination for dining, lounging and bowling. Opening our first location in 2003, Lucky Strike Hollywood - an upscale bowling lounge with gourmet food, plush seating, and signature cocktails, was an immediate and overwhelming hit.

We are now looking for driven and committed team players to join the Lucky Strike family. We are seeking people who, like Lucky Strike, are ready to stand out among their peers as the best of the best. We offer a fun, challenging and rewarding work environment in an industry that is changing daily. If you think you are ready to roll with us, we want to hear from you!


We are currently looking for Experienced Servers to work day and night shifts and weekends (including Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) and Control Desk Operators.

Physical and Environmental Conditions:

Must be friendly and able to smile a lot while working days, nights, and/or weekends as required. Ability to work in a noisy, fast paced environment with distracting conditions. Ability to move about facility and stand for long periods of time. Employee must be able to bend and stoop accordingly.



How to Apply:
To express your interest in one of these positions, please stop by ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, between the hours of 12pm - 7pm at 322 E Illinois St, Space 200, Chicago, IL 60611 to complete an application for employment. Must have the legal right to work in the US.



Stay outta the Gutter Baby! Work for Lucky Strike!


Lucky Strike is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• Location: Chicago
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about this job!
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Former Pakistani fast bowler and current coach of Pakistan team Waqar Younis have tribute the fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for his good fast bowling. Waqar Younis said that Shoaib Akhtar was a good fast bowler and he has served the country well. Waqar Younis said that it will not be easy for the Pakistan team to get the replacement of Shoaib in short run.

nblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yg4OOss-jCs/TaKXczsi1hI/AAAAAAAAfzk/n14ybspdW0k/s1600/news1.jpg">nblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-frnahF6lWMA/TaKXitxK5zI/AAAAAAAAfzs/qUzlcNNmQnc/s1600/news2.jpg">In the 70s, John Chiang was popular for a period of time in the film scene after his performance in the film Vengeance (報仇). 40 years ago seems very distant. John debuted as a child actor, at age 4 he took part in the 1960 film Street Boys (街童). Currently 64 years old, John has been in the industry for 60 years. After he graduated from high school, he worked in the office for a while and then worked at an antique store. Finally, he was able to return into showbiz and started off working as a martial artist. His accomplishments has got him the name John Chiang that everyone knows today. When speaking of the past, John was very resistant: "I wasn't self-loving, before I rarely re-watch my movies. I also didn't like to think about the past, but instead should look into the future. Always worrying about the past can easily give yourself a heart attack."

No separation of social class, admires Liu Xuan

Talking about the present, in the recent series Grace Under Fire, he collaborates with many younger generation artists. The young actress that portrays his wife Mok Lan is even more of a newcomer, Liu Xuan. John said that it's not about the generations.

"Liu Xuan reacts fast, I admire her. When we were shooting, we all suggested that she speak in Mandarin because her voice will get dubbed anyway. However, she was serious on learning Cantonese and insisted on speaking her lines in Cantonese. The behind-the-scenes, also loved her. She's very playful as well, and does not get angry at all. After we finished shooting, we were all unwilling to part."

In the Shaw Brothers era, John usually plays the heroic roles, and left a deep impression on audience. His juniors all fear him and even keep their distance. However, the artists that he worked with before all said he can be very playful.

"Really afraid of me? This is my protection. I started out in martial art films, I'm used to carrying the heroic attitude, even when I'm walking I have to keep my waist straight and upright. I know the younger generation artists are afraid of me, so I take the first step and appear relaxed. If everyone is afraid of me on the set, then we all won't be happy. It will be very difficult for me too. Just as long as everyone knows to get serious when it's time to shoot, it won't hurt to be relaxed off cameras."

"I don't separate seniors or juniors, I will first respect you and I hope you respect me back. At least you should know to respect me. If you aren't serious, and put up an attitude in front of me? Honestly, when it comes to attitude and position, you can't beat me. (Who dares to put up an attitude in front of the Asia Film King?) I really have encounter some before, perhaps he wasn't sure who the person was in front of him, later he realized. I just pretended he was invisible." John said that respect is the most important in showbiz, the type of respect that comes from the heart and not sweet talking, or two face. In TVB, he has not encountered such situation because the company is like a big family, feels very close.

nblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X-dZZVYs7fc/TaKXnuYxV-I/AAAAAAAAfz0/LkRyB-oN320/s1600/news3.jpg">New generation, not easy to have a Star

Defense, do not oppose new things, as far as acting John has also asked others for suggestions.

"If I feel that there is a problem in others' acting, I will speak up and provide suggestions. To admit is another story. When others have opinions on my acting, I will take into consideration because sometimes the onlooker can see it more clearly. We all are trying to make a good show. A long time ago when I was acting, there were two actors talking behind my back, I heard this and told them that I also agree what the scene lacked. I asked them if they had any suggestions. I am also a normal actor, need to learn too, but I hope that if there are opinions, say it to me directly, don't talk behind my back."

John models like the hero, back then he was popular among audience and the artists at present day have met someone that is more skilled. John's current fan base goes around all of China, Japan, Korae, Vietnam and there are even some English fansites too. Asked if he felt that newer generation artists' starlight is no longer there anymore?

"The new generation differs from the past. With the current environment now, it's not easy for there to be a true star. Back then, I was fully supported to popularity by Shaw Brothers because at the time there were not many newcomers. I got up top quickly. Now there are so many newcomers, audiences' focus also gets scattered. Companys assess differently on who to promote. Before, a star needs to maintain a sense of secretivity, you can't just see a star out on the street. The restrictions were already relaxed in my generation, I could wear jeans to go bowling. Currently the science and techology advances is very convenient. My wife and I got photographed on the streets by fans using their phones. One time a photo of me riding the MTR was posted on Weibo the same day. Before when I took the bus, boat or whatever transportation, was there that many people that knew?"

nblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Src9N1oUAvo/TaKXui1aHGI/AAAAAAAAfz8/shFchMeqFN8/s1600/news4.jpg">Follow the trends, a Weibo fan

Experience changes in the generations, John follows along. Both he and his son plays on Facebook and interact with fans on Weibo.

"I understand the group of Mainland fans, the age range falls between 18-30. They didn't know me from watching Shaw Brother films, they watched my TV series like The Mystery of the Condor Hero[i] and [i]Flying Fox Snowy Mountain. They also found many old photos of me, on Weibo there was secret base where fans share with me. I cannot make it public, but sometimes I do respond to their questions. If they want to watch my old movies, many are already released on DVD, they can find them online. Many of the movies can be watched through streaming, the ending to Vengeance! is a bloody war. The director gave me a romantic death. It's useless to say, you have to watch it to experience it. There is also Return of the One-Armed Swordsman and other 40+ movies."

Good father, good husband

Artists' family relations, turns out that John's family also intertwines with the entertainment circle. His father Yim Fa (Real name: Chiang Hak Kei), mother Hung Mei and his step-father Yiu Kwong Kai were all artists. His older brother Paul Chun, younger brother Derek Tung, his wife Lee Lam Lam and his two daughters although did not enter showbiz, but oldest daughter Elaine Chiang married TVB actor Raymond Cho. Chiang Dai Wai (Chinese) is just his stage name, his real name is Chiang Wai Nin, English name John. However, because of his stage name "Dai Wai", people called him David.

Not David, it's John Gor

"John, then David, it's such a confusion. Everyone just calls me John Gor now. Dai Wai (David) had always been my stage name, not sure how the media ended up writing Dai Wai. Even TVB followed along and wrote Chiang Dai Wai." Turns out that 'Chiang Dai Wai' is the correct name, John Gor is cooler after all. When speaking of his family, even his eye contact will change into a gentle one. Lately, John Gor feels that he and Paul Chun are getting more and more similar. He said: "Similar? I am more handsome! We are a family, looks of course are the same."

In the recent years, he has not been in many movies, he said that people have to give him the opportunities first. Perhaps people are afraid that he's too troublesome. Asked why he's not shooting his director brother Derek Tung's movies? He laughed: "He's afraid of me, so he rarely asks me. In the recent years he only asked me to take part as the judge in his directed film 2 Young. He asks Paul to take part in his movies more, but the most important in acting is the right role. I don't mind if he (Derek) asks me again!"

John Gor has a close relationship with his family. Since the day he decided to immigrate to Canada with his family, he only came back to HK a few years ago. June of this year, his oldest daughter Elaine will be bearing another grand child for John. "After Elaine got married, she would come home 2 or 3 times every week. She brings my grandson over, so I could play with him. In June, she's going to have another child, Raymond Cho treats my daughter very well. However, when it comes to loving his wife, he still does not compare to me!" Known to love his wife, on his 37th wedding anniversary with his wife Lee Lam Lam, they are still as loving as a newly wed. No matter what place it is, they chat on the phone consistently, 2-3 times a day. After so many years, they have been on the phone for nearly 100,000 times.

"We're used to talk on the phone while we are in HK. After work, I will tell her that I'm coming home. When she goes out, she calls me. Why do I love my wife so much? I don't know, perhaps I'm blood type A, and a Cancer. I love my wife and family, they are in first place in my heart."

100% houseman and a great chef

John Gor enjoys sharing his relationship with Lee Lam Lam. He does not forget to remind reporters that Lam Lam Jeh is a beautiful girl. Her fierce pursuits won her the beautiful housewife.

"Before I spent a lot, whatever I made, I spent it all. After marriage, my wife took care of all the finances. At home, she is the leader, we often say that the small matters, she will handle it. For the big matters, I will decide. However, there was nothing big that ever happened! Haha!"

"My wife only knows how to cook simple dishes. She often tells the house worker to cook. My cooking skills are actually a lot better than hers. Sometimes, the kids want my cooking. I would cook red-cooked pork, which is far from what the name suggests. Shrimp, crab and seafood are my specialties!" On the movie screen, John Gor is a hero, but turns out he's a 100% houseman and a great chef."

Source: Mingpao
Translated by: aZnangel @ AsianEU Tags: 60, ancestry, been, chiang, chok, for, has, in, john, showbiz, the, years

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Posted on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 05:52:00 +0000 at http://hongkongmorning.com/john-chiang-i...years.html
Comments: http://hongkongmorning.com/john-chiang-i...l#comments

• Leg-spinner achieves career-best 11 for 114 on dry pitch
• Reece Topley takes seven Kent wickets in debut for Essex

Yorkshire claimed the first championship victory of the season, beating Worcestershire by nine wickets at New Road, with Adil Rashid achieving career-best figures of 11 for 114 to suggest that his graduation into England's Test side might not be too long delayed.

Worcester in April, normally a haven for seam bowlers, is the last place that a leg-spinner would expect to prosper, but persistent sunshine meant that the groundsman, Tim Packwood, produced a surprisingly dry pitch and Rashid reaped the benefit in front of England's chief selector, Geoff Miller.

Rashid took five for 37 in the second innings as Worcestershire were dismissed for 137, leaving Yorkshire needing 52 for victory. Worcestershire, newly promoted, had been well on top 24 hours earlier, but the match turned courtesy of Ryan Sidebottom's career-best 61 and a county-best 177 not out from Gerard Brophy.

Yorkshire's championship designs rest heavily on Rashid, 23, continuing his education in county cricket this summer, but England have a heavy winter schedule in the subcontinent and, with Mike Yardy's clinical depression threatening to end his England career, opportunities will soon beckon if he maintains this form.

Reece Topley, a gangling 17-year-old fast bowler, took seven wickets on a sterling debut for Essex against Kent, a contest between the two counties relegated from Division One. Topley, bowling left-arm inswing at briskish pace, is taking his AS exams next month at The Royal Hospital School in Suffolk and his father Don, a former Essex bowler, has spent the week acting as chauffeur. "He has more wickets than he has had driving lessons," said Topley senior.

Essex have the advantage of two fresh England batsmen – no other county can claim that after a horrendous winter schedule – but Alastair Cook, in his first meaningful match since England's Ashes success, and Ravi Bopara both got out when well set, leaving Essex 198 for six, 87 adrift of their target of 285.

Lasith Malinga grabbed five wickets in a superb exhibition of fast bowling to set up Mumbai Indians' eight-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils in an Indian Premier League match on Sunday.

A superb display of accurate fast bowling by Lasith Malinga and some composed batting by skipper Sachin Tendulkar (46 n.o.) propelled Mumbai Indians to a comfortable eight wicket win over Delhi Daredevils in a one-sided Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium here this evening.

Malinga claimed a five wicket haul as Mumbai Indians dismissed Delhi Daredevils for a paltry total of 95 runs. The slinger from Sri Lanka bowled accurate yorkers at scorching speeds to return figures of 5/13 in 3.4 overs and claim the man of the match award.

Both teams played their first match in this edition of the IPL and while Mumbai fans should be happy with what they saw, the Delhi squad looks decidedly weaker than last year's outfit.

Delhi captain Virender Sehwag won the toss and elected to bat. The "Nawab of Najafgarh" must have regretted his decision almost immediately as the new look Delhi line-up simply wilted in front of the Mumbai bowling.

Malinga gave Mumbai a solid start as he produced a couple of beautiful yorkers to dismiss David Warner and Unmukt Chand off succesive deliveries in the second over.

Sehwag, who started with a bang, smashing Harbhajan Singh for a massive six off the third ball of the innings, produced the early fireworks before being foxed by a direct hit to the stumps by Tendulkar as the hosts tottered at 27 for 3 in the fifth over.

Naman Ojha (29) and Venugopal Rao (26) managed to produce a semblance of a fight, but it did not prove to be enough for the hosts.

Malinga, who had figures of 2/8 in his first spell returned to claim another thre wickets in the second spell to push things firmly in Mumbai's favour.

Daredevils responded with a fierce fightback as opening pacers Ashok Dinda and Morne Morkel bowled with good pace and intent in the initial overs. Morkel bowled Davy Jacobs (1) in his first over to land the first blow.

The South African almost landed the prize catch of Tendulkar but Sehwag failed to hold on to the ball despite producing a spectacular effort in the slips.

That proved to be a costly mistake as the master blaster led his team to victory with a typically dominant battling performance.

Roelof van der Merwe came up with a brilliant effort in the field to run out Ambati Rayudu in the seventh over, but in the end, that only proved to be a minor setback for the Mumbai outfit.

NNN

Kings XI Punjab have roped in former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie as their bowling coach as they prepare to take on new entrants Pune Warriors in their opening game.

Jason Gillespie, the former Australia fast bowler, will join Kings XI Punjab as their bowling coach for the ongoing IPL

... the scenes to mould a successful squad while skipper Neil Dexter and the arrival of Derbyshire's Chris Rogers are all likely to help. The signing of fast bowler Corey Collymore is a gamble but easily a gamble that could pay off. England's Steve Finn and Tim Murtagh offer experience and talent in abundance. For Surrey, Chris Tremlett 's bowling will be the key to a successful...

Source : Fanhouse UK Football

Craig McDermott, the former Australian fast bowler, is pressing his case to be named the national team's new fast bowling coach

Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge is the nation's premier destination for dining, lounging and bowling. Opening our first location in 2003, Lucky Strike Hollywood - an upscale bowling lounge with gourmet food, plush seating, and signature cocktails, was an immediate and overwhelming hit.


We are currently looking for Servers!

If you love to be around high energy, are of a high energy nature and outgoing, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, have a passion for guest service, and a flexible schedule, we want to hear from you!

*Previous experience in a Nightclub or other fast paced environment is a Plus!


Physical and Environmental Conditions:

Must be friendly and able to smile a lot while working days, nights, and/or weekends as required. Ability to work in a noisy, fast paced environment with distracting conditions. Ability to move about facility and stand for long periods of time. Employee must be able to bend and stoop accordingly.


We will be having an OPEN CALL for Servers on Thursday, April 14, 2011 starting at 2pm. Please stop by, fill out an application and have an interview on the spot! We’re located at 701 7th Street NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC, 20001 (Gallery Place, 2nd Floor, below the Regal Cinemas).
Must have the legal right to work in the US.


Stay Out of the Gutter, Baby! Work for Lucky Strike!


Lucky Strike is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• Location: Lucky Strike
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about this job!
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge is the nation's premier destination for dining, lounging and bowling. Opening our first location in 2003, Lucky Strike Hollywood - an upscale bowling lounge with gourmet food, plush seating, and signature cocktails, was an immediate and overwhelming hit.

We are now looking for driven and committed team players to join the Lucky Strike family. We are seeking people who, like Lucky Strike, are ready to stand out among their peers as the best of the best. We offer a fun, challenging and rewarding work environment in an industry that is changing daily. If you think you are ready to roll with us, we want to hear from you!


We are currently looking to fill the following positions:


-Host/Hostess, with previous experience is a plus
-Bussers, with experience is a plus
-Servers with 2 years experience


Physical and Environmental Conditions:

Must be friendly and able to smile a lot while working days, nights, and/or weekends as required. Ability to work in a noisy, fast paced environment with distracting conditions. Ability to move about facility and stand for long periods of time. Employee must be able to bend and stoop accordingly.



How to Apply:

To express your interest in one of these positions, please stop by Monday through Friday, between the hours of 1pm - 4pm at 700 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 250, Bellevue WA 98004 to complete an application for employment. Must have the legal right to work in the US.


Stay outta the Gutter Baby! Work for Lucky Strike!


Lucky Strike is an Equal Opportunity Employer

• Location: Bellevue
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Please, no phone calls about this job!
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Section: iPhone / iPod touch / iPad, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, iDevice Apps

New iPhone, iPod touch and iPad product announcements for April 8, 2011:

New iPhone, iPad and iPod touch apps

• Bacciz LLC has announced its interactive book applications for kids. The applications, called Rapunzel 3D and Goldilocks and the Three Bears 3D, are Bacciz’s newest interactive storybook applications. Specifically developed for the iPad and iPhone, the applications include groundbreaking 3D images and animation, multiple language narrations, 3 story endings, 3 music tracks, and highly customized options aimed at engaging children from ages 4+.
• Frontier Design Group has introduced BeatStudio 1.0, their new music app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. BeatStudio is designed to let anyone build percussion tracks, with an intuitive interface that’s easy and natural for beginners, yet flexible and powerful enough to accommodate experienced players. BeatStudio offers a fast, easy, & fun way to create drum and percussion tracks that frees the player from the constraints of fixed-length patterns, promoting experimentation and improvisation.
• WEBST Consulting has introduced Word Search Plus 1.0, their new word game for iOS. This enhanced word search game offer players an effectively infinite playing experience, access to definitions, and the ability to look up the origins and historical contexts of words they find as well. The app includes an immense word bank, and because new games are created at random players are certain that they’ll never play the same exact puzzle more than once.
• Mediakitchen has introduced Ball Frenzy 1.0, their new extremely addictive game for iOS devices. Ball Frenzy combines elements of popular ball games such as marbles, pool and bowling. The concept is simple - knock all of your opponents balls off the pitch before they knock off all of your balls. Ball Frenzy is easy to play but difficult to complete. With a simple one finger control and no complex rules, this game is easy to pick up and start playing immediately.
• Hitesh Patel has announced Splat It! 1.01 for iOS, his puzzle game that challenges players to carom a “cue ball” off walls and blocks, splattering all the blue balls on the table. Featuring four stages and 60 levels of play, each level is a unique puzzle that must be completed to go on. The game requires patience and skill to place and shoot the “cue ball” so that it will run over the blue balls using the minimum number of shots and bounces, gaining the maximum score.
• Touch Apps has introduced Monster Blaster 1.0, their new monster packed match’em-up game for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices. Monster Blaster combines a timeless classic, adds a truckload of angry monsters and some highly flammable power-ups to create the perfect balance between fun and challenge. Monster Blaster features tons of explosions with hours of challenging, strategic and zany gameplay, offering stunning visuals, and a soundtrack to blow you away.
• Vito Technology has dedicated a new version of astronomy guide Star Walk to the 50th anniversary of the first human spaceflight. Augmented Reality is now available for iPad 2 and lets you just point-and-display the sky in real time to explore the wonders of stargazing. Version 5.2 also features a calendar of celestial events, true-to-life sky view, extended search mode, and more. The release of this version is accompanied by a short time price drop.
• Soluble Apps has released MailShot 1.30, an update to its groundbreaking email solution for iOS devices. MailShot is a unique app which allows iPhone and iPad users to email groups of up to 50 people from within their favourite apps just by selecting a single contact from their address book. These contacts can be used to easily email groups of family or friends, classes, work or sports teams. This unique approach integrates seamlessly with the iPhone mail system.
• Brandon Abbott has introduced Great Hair 1.0 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Loaded with over 20 of the most iconic hairstyles of our time, Great Hair lets you see what you and your friends would look like with hairstylings of a Pop Star, Talk Show Host, Actress, and many more. Choose from existing photos or take your own with the camera. Touch zoom and rotate to perfectly position each hairstyle. Save photos to library, email to friends, or post directly to Facebook.
• Bjorn Fogelberg has introduced PLOP Master 1.0, his first game for iPhone and iPod touch. In this colorful game you touch three red dots at a time to keep the energy meter in check. The farther away these “plops” are from each other when you touch them, the more energy will be gained as they join together. Offering fun and addictive gameplay, PLOP Master features an unlimited number of levels with beautiful graphics with lots of happy colors.
• Thumbstar Games has signed a deal to publish games developed by FaceTec Ltd. Their latest iPhone app, Crazy Fool 1.0 allows you to create and send your own crazy fool personalized image using your camera or images stored on your phone. The app uses patented facial recognition and image processing technology which enables large scale automated facial personalization.
• Xform Computing, Inc., has announced the addition of the Google Chrome browser and support for Java to their AlwaysOnPC product for iPad, iPhone and Android. Chrome has rocketed up in popularity on PC and Mac computers due to it’s speedy performance, great synchronization features and its Web Store. Chrome is not available on most mobile devices. Features that people are familiar with on their computer can now be accessed in a similar way on AlwaysOnPC via their mobile phone or tablet with the app.
• Wil’s Apps, LLC has released Pling Pong 2 v0.1 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users. This is a new game where users must slide a plong into stationary plings to turn them off. If a plong hits a pling that is already off, it turns back on again. To win, all plings must be off. It takes plenty of playing to perfect the plong flings and players get lots of practice going through nine worlds and ninety-nine rounds. To celebrate the launch, Pling Plong 2 is being offered for only 99 cents.
• Revel Mob LLP has released Where M I 1.0 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users. Just in time for marathon season, Revel Mob has launched a real-time tracking app that will let supportive friends and family stay abreast of a runner’s location. The app is super easy to use and tracking permission codes can be sent to people individually or in groups. Unlike some GPS positioning programs, no account creation is necessary to use Where M I.
• Interweave has announced the launch of a new free Beading Daily app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. With this new app, Beading Daily delivers its valued digital content, which had existed solely on its website, to the mobile platform and to beaders around the globe.
• GAMEVIL has announced Chalk n’ Talk for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Chalk n’ Talk brings players all over the world together in an real-time online social drawing and word-guessing game. Players will race against the clock to sketch and guess a given word, while earning points that can be spent on customizing brushes and canvases or even gifted to friends. Artwork that users are especially fond of can be submitted to the world gallery to be rated for accolades. By connecting to GAMEVIL Live from the game, players can grow their network of friends to enjoy the experience together—automated matchmaking presents an endless roster of new challengers or private rooms can be created to chat and play with close friends.
• Home Revivals LLC has announced the release of iScape 1.2 an iOS app to assist both novice and professional landscape designers. This newly updated app will allow you to see your landscape options before the work begins, and, more importantly, before the money is spent. Simply take a picture and start designing your dream landscape today. iScape is very user-friendly; even kids have fun using it and taking part in designing their new yard.
• Neon Play has delivered a stunning new game mode in Paper Glider 2.0, the latest update to the App Store’s ten billionth download. Super Boost is a new game mode that enables players to use power-ups to assist the glider in flying even further. Customization is also now possible with a total of 12 different glider skins. These new features have been made possible by the implementation of TapJoy and their in-game coin currency.

New apps for iPad only

• Odd Magazine is a fashion magazine that offers an interactive experience with over 300 pages of content that takes great advantage of the iPad’s capabilities. The issue includes over 20 photoshoots, 12 movies, interactive slideshows, tons of animations, music/audio and even 3D models you can spin around 360 degrees.
• Applaud Limited has released the iPad version of its popular iPhone game Repeeto. Repeeto is an addictive and fun memory game based on the Simon electronic game which is widely considered to be the electronic game that ushered in the computer game era. Buttons disappear down the wormhole to reappear somewhere else on the screen. Keeping track of not only the pattern but where the buttons are on the screen makes Repeeto a far more challenging game.
• Internet Design Zone has launched a new iPad app: Lovepedia for iPad 1.0. Lovepedia for iPad gives advice, tips, dos and don’ts, etc., in the matters of love, dating, relationships and breakups. It is aimed at making the reader far better in love relationships. One may think that love advice is available in many sites on the net, then why this app? The reasons are interactive interface, engaging content, wonderful visual experience, one app for all advice.

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

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TODAY'S TV SCHEDULE

AUTO RACING

11 a.m. Nationwide Series: Pole qualifying for O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 ESPN2

12:30 p.m. Sprint Cup: Pole qualifying for Samsung Mobile 500 SPEED

2:30 p.m. Nationwide Series: O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 ESPN2

10 p.m. Formula One: Qualifying for Malaysia Grand Prix SPEED

BOXING

5 p.m. Middleweights: David Lemieux vs. Marco Antonio Rubio ESPN2

BOYS HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

5 p.m. Iolani vs. Mira Costa OC16

7 p.m. Punahou vs. Santa Barbara OC16

GOLF

9 a.m. The Masters (second round) ESPN

HORSE RACING

9 a.m. Trackside Live! FOXSP2

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

4 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at San Diego FOXSP2

4 p.m. Toronto at L.A. Angels FOXSP

MEN'S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL

7 p.m. USC at Hawaii MNT

NHL HOCKEY

1:30 p.m. Chicago at Detroit VERSUS

TENNIS

7 a.m. WTA Tour Family Circle Cup (quarterfinals) ESPN2

SATURDAY'S TV SCHEDULE

AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL

6 p.m. Port Adelaide at Geelong ESPN2

BOWLING

4 p.m. Hawaii TV Bowling IND

AUTO RACING

12 p.m. IndyCar: pole qualifying for Grand Prix of Alabama VERSUS

1 p.m. Sprint Cup: Samsung Mobile 500 FOX

9:30 p.m. Formula One: Malaysia Grand Prix SPEED

GIRLS SOFTBALL

5 p.m. Kamehameha-Oahu vs. Punahou OC16

7:30 p.m. Campbell vs. Mililani OC16

GOLF

9:30 a.m. The Masters (third round) CBS

HORSE RACING

8 a.m. Trackside Live! FOXSP2

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL

7 a.m. Philadelphia at Atlanta FOX

10 a.m. Tampa Bay at Chicago White Sox WGN

MEN'S COLLEGE HOCKEY

1 p.m. NCAA tournament championship game ESPN

MEN'S COLLEGE LACROSSE

6 a.m. North Carolina at Virginia ESPN

NBA BASKETBALL

2:30 p.m. L.A. Clippers at Houston FOXSP2

NBA DL BASKETBALL

4:30 p.m. Playoffs (first round) VERSUS

NHL HOCKEY

4:30 p.m. Anaheim at Los Angeles FOXSP

RODEO

2 p.m. PBR: Built Ford Tough Invitational VERSUS

SOCCER

1:30 a.m. Premier League: Everton at Wolverhampton ESPN2

1 p.m. MLS: New York at Philadelphia ESPN2

1:30 p.m. Los Angeles at D.C. United FOXSP

5:30 p.m. Columbus at Chivas USA FOXSP2

TENNIS

7 a.m. WTA Tour: Family Circle Cup semifinals ESPN2

* -- Tape-delayed broadcast

THURSDAY'S BIIF RESULTS

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Varsity

c Kamehameha def. St. Joseph 25-8, 25-10, 25-23

c Waiakea def. Hilo 25-14, 25-14, 25-19

c Ka'u def. Pahoa 25-16, 25-19, 27-25

Junior varsity

c Waiakea def. Hilo 25-19, 25-27, 15-6

c Pahoa at Ka'u (not reported)

TODAY'S BIIF SCHEDULE

BASEBALL

Ka'u at Pahoa, 3 p.m.

Hilo at Kamehameha, 3 p.m.

Keaau at Waiakea, 3 p.m.

Honokaa at Kohala, 3 p.m.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Varsity matches follow 6 p.m. JV matches unless noted below

Konawaena at Honokaa, 6 p.m.

Laupahoehoe at Hualalai Academy, 6 p.m.

Kohala at Hawaii Prep

SOFTBALL

Kamehameha at Hilo, 11 a.m.

HOCKEY

NHL GLANCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

x-Philadelphia 80 46 23 11 103 249 215

x-Pittsburgh 80 47 25 8 102 229 194

N.Y. Rangers 81 43 33 5 91 228 196

New Jersey 80 37 38 5 79 169 202

N.Y. Islanders 80 30 38 12 72 222 253

Northeast Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

y-Boston 80 45 24 11 101 241 191

x-Montreal 81 43 30 8 94 212 208

Buffalo 80 41 29 10 92 236 222

Toronto 81 37 33 11 85 217 247

Ottawa 81 32 39 10 74 191 247

Southeast Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

y-Washington 81 48 22 11 107 224 196

x-Tampa Bay 80 44 25 11 99 237 236

Carolina 80 39 30 11 89 228 232

Atlanta 80 34 34 12 80 220 258

Florida 80 29 39 12 70 192 225

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Central Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

y-Detroit 80 46 24 10 102 255 234

Nashville 80 43 26 11 97 215 191

Chicago 80 43 28 9 95 251 219

St. Louis 81 37 33 11 85 238 234

Columbus 80 34 33 13 81 210 249

Northwest Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

z-Vancouver 81 53 19 9 115 259 183

Calgary 81 41 29 11 93 248 234

Minnesota 80 37 35 8 82 198 229

Colorado 80 29 43 8 66 221 282

Edmonton 80 25 44 11 61 189 262

Pacific Division

GP W L OT Pts GF GA

y-San Jose 80 47 24 9 103 242 208

x-Los Angeles 80 46 28 6 98 217 193

Phoenix 80 42 25 13 97 226 220

Anaheim 80 45 30 5 95 234 233

Dallas 80 41 28 11 93 221 226

NOTES: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. x -- Clinched playoff spot; z -- Clinched conference

Wednesday's results

Boston 3, N.Y. Islanders 2

New Jersey 4, Toronto 2

Washington 5, Florida 2

Carolina 3, Detroit 0

Chicago 4, St. Louis 3, OT

Calgary 6, Edmonton 1

Anaheim 6, San Jose 2

Los Angeles 3, Phoenix 2, SO

Thursday's results

Atlanta 3, N.Y. Rangers 0

Ottawa 3, Montreal 2, OT

Dallas 4, Colorado 2

Vancouver 5, Minnesota 0

Today's games

Pittsburgh at N.Y. Islanders, 1 p.m.

Chicago at Detroit, 1:30 p.m.

Philadelphia at Buffalo, 1:30 p.m.

Carolina at Atlanta, 1:30 p.m.

Florida at Tampa Bay, 1:30 p.m.

Columbus at Nashville, 2 p.m.

Dallas at Colorado, 3 p.m.

Minnesota at Edmonton, 3 p.m.

San Jose at Phoenix, 4 p.m.

Los Angeles at Anaheim, 4 p.m.

Saturday's games

New Jersey at N.Y. Rangers, 6:30 a.m.

Ottawa at Boston, 7 a.m.

Montreal at Toronto, 1 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Washington at Florida, 1 p.m.

Buffalo at Columbus, 1 p.m.

Nashville at St. Louis, 2 p.m.

Vancouver at Calgary, 4 p.m.

Anaheim at Los Angeles, 4:30 p.m.

Phoenix at San Jose, 4:30 p.m.

SOCCER

MLS GLANCE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

W L OT Pts GF GA

New England 1 0 3 6 5 4

Philadelphia 2 1 0 6 2 1

New York 1 0 2 5 2 1

Chicago 1 0 1 4 4 3

Sporting Kansas City 1 1 1 4 8 8

Toronto FC 1 1 1 4 5 5

Columbus 1 1 1 4 3 3

D.C. 1 2 0 3 5 7

Houston 0 1 2 2 2 3

WESTERN CONFERENCE

W L T Pts GF GA

Colorado 3 0 0 9 8 2

Los Angeles 2 1 1 7 4 5

Real Salt Lake 2 0 0 6 5 1

Vancouver 1 1 2 5 8 7

San Jose 1 1 1 4 4 3

Seattle 0 2 2 2 3 5

Chivas USA 0 2 1 1 3 5

Portland 0 2 1 1 2 6

FC Dallas 0 2 1 1 1 5

NOTE: Three points for victory, one point for tie.

Wednesday's result

Vancouver 1, New England 1, tie

Today's game

Colorado at FC Dallas, 3 p.m.

Saturday's games

Chicago at Seattle FC, 10 a.m.

New York at Philadelphia, 1 p.m.

Los Angeles at D.C. United, 1:30 p.m.

Real Salt Lake at New England, 1:30 p.m.

Columbus at Chivas USA, 4:30 p.m.

Toronto FC at San Jose, 4:30 p.m.

Sunday's game

Vancouver at Houston, 1 p.m.

GOLF

THE MASTERS

Thursday's first round

Rory McIlroy 32-33 -- 65

Alvaro Quiros 33-32 -- 65

Yong-Eun Yang 32-35 -- 67

K.J. Choi 35-32 -- 67

Matt Kuchar 33-35 -- 68

Ricky Barnes 34-34 -- 68

Brandt Snedeker 35-34 -- 69

Charl Schwartzel 32-37 -- 69

Gary Woodland 38-31 -- 69

Geoff Ogilvy 34-35 -- 69

Ross Fisher 33-36 -- 69

Sergio Garcia 34-35 -- 69

Trevor Immelman 36-33 -- 69

Camilo Villegas 35-35 -- 70

Gregory Havret 37-33 -- 70

Hiroyuki Fujita 33-37 -- 70

Kyung-Tae Kim 36-34 -- 70

Paul Casey 36-34 -- 70

Phil Mickelson 35-35 -- 70

Retief Goosen 31-39 -- 70

Rickie Fowler 37-33 -- 70

Ryan Moore 34-36 -- 70

Sean O'Hair 37-33 -- 70

Angel Cabrera 35-36 -- 71

Fred Couples 35-36 -- 71

Miguel Angel Jimenez 36-35 -- 71

Ryo Ishikawa 34-37 -- 71

Ryan Palmer 37-34 -- 71

Stewart Cink 36-35 -- 71

Tiger Woods 35-36 -- 71

Adam Scott 37-35 -- 72

Alexander Cejka 38-34 -- 72

Anders Hansen 36-36 -- 72

D.A. Points 36-36 -- 72

a-David Chung 36-36 -- 72

David Toms 36-36 -- 72

Heath Slocum 37-35 -- 72

a-Hideki Matsuyama 35-37 -- 72

Jason Day 37-35 -- 72

Jerry Kelly 38-36 -- 72

Jhonattan Vegas 38-34 -- 72

Jim Furyk 35-37 -- 72

Lee Westwood 36-36 -- 72

Luke Donald 38-34 -- 72

Nick Watney 35-37 -- 72

Peter Hanson 37-35 -- 72

a-Peter Uihlein 36-36 -- 72

Robert Karlsson 34-38 -- 72

Steve Stricker 36-36 -- 72

Anthony Kim 37-36 -- 73

Ben Crane 36-37 -- 73

Bo Van Pelt 37-36 -- 73

Bubba Watson 37-36 -- 73

Jason Bohn 37-36 -- 73

Jeff Overton 37-36 -- 73

a-Jin Jeong 36-37 -- 73

Jonathan Byrd 36-37 -- 73

Jose Maria Olazabal 36-37 -- 73

Justin Rose 34-39 -- 73

Kevin Na 36-37 -- 73

Larry Mize 39-34 -- 73

Martin Laird 36-37 -- 73

Sandy Lyle 36-37 -- 73

Tim Clark 36-37 -- 73

Zach Johnson 37-36 -- 73

Bill Haas 37-37 -- 74

Charley Hoffman 36-38 -- 74

Dustin Johnson 38-36 -- 74

Edoardo Molinari 36-38 -- 74

Steve Marino 35-39 -- 74

Graeme McDowell 35-39 -- 74

Ian Poulter 34-40 -- 74

Rory Sabbatini 37-37 -- 74

Yuta Ikeda 34-40 -- 74

Aaron Baddeley 34-41 -- 75

Carl Pettersson 34-41 -- 75

Davis Love III 39-36 -- 75

Hunter Mahan 36-39 -- 75

Ernie Els 35-40 -- 75

Francesco Molinari 35-40 -- 75

Kevin Streelman 36-39 -- 75

Louis Oosthuizen 39-36 -- 75

Lucas Glover 38-37 -- 75

a-Nathan Smith 38-37 -- 75

Robert Allenby 39-36 -- 75

Stuart Appleby 36-39 -- 75

a-Lion Kim 37-39 -- 76

Mark Wilson 39-37 -- 76

Mike Weir 39-37 -- 76

Vijay Singh 38-38 -- 76

Mark O'Meara 39-38 -- 77

Padraig Harrington 38-39 -- 77

Ben Crenshaw 41-37 -- 78

Ian Woosnam 37-41 -- 78

Martin Kaymer 38-40 -- 78

Tom Watson 40-39 -- 79

Arjun Atwal 37-43 -- 80

Craig Stadler 41-39 -- 80

Henrik Stenson 45-38 -- 83

TRANSACTIONS

BASEBALL

American League

CHICAGO WHITE SOX--Designated OF Lastings Milledge for assignment. Selected the contract of RHP Jeff Gray from Charlotte (IL).

MINNESOTA TWINS--Placed INF Tsuyoshi Nishioka on the 15-day DL. Recall INF Luke Hughes from Rochester (IL).

National League

NEW YORK METS--Announced RHP Manny Acosta cleared waivers and was sent outright to Buffalo (IL).

BASKETBALL

National Basketball Association

NBA--Suspended Orlando G Quentin Richardson two games for shoving Charlotte G Gerald Henderson in the face and suspended Orlando C Dwight Howard one game for receiving his 18th technical foul of the 2010-11 season during the April 6 game.

HOCKEY

National Hockey League

NHL--Suspended Vancouver F Raffi Torres four games -- two regular season and two playoff -- for a hit to the head of Edmonton F Jordan Eberle in an April 5 game.

BOSTON BRUINS--Signed F Carter Camper.

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS--Assigned RW Tomas Kubalik and G David LeNeveu to Springfield (AHL).

OTTAWA SENATORS--Recalled D Andre Benoit, D David Hale, D Derek Smith, F Erik Condra and F Colin Greening from Binghamton (AHL).

VANCOUVER CANUCKS--Reassigned D Yann Sauve and D Chris Tanev to Manitoba (AHL).

COLLEGE

EASTERN COLLEGE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE--Named Jessica Huntley director of Division III governance.

FRESNO STATE--Named Rodney Terry men's basketball coach.

MONTANA STATE BILLINGS--Named Jamie Stevens men's basketball coach.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE --Named Orlando Early men's assistant basketball coach.

SETON HALL--Announced freshman F Anali Okoloji will transfer.

AUTO RACING

NASCAR SPRINT CUP LEADERS

Points

1, Kyle Busch, 219. 2, Carl Edwards, 214. 3, Jimmie Johnson, 207. 4, Kurt Busch, 205. 5, Kevin Harvick, 204. 6, Ryan Newman, 203. 7, Juan Pablo Montoy a, 201. 8, Dale Earnhardt Jr., 199. 9, Matt Kenseth, 195. 10, Mark Martin, 181.

11, Tony Stewart, 180. 12, Jeff Gordon, 170. 13, Paul Menard, 170. 14, A J Allmendinger, 168. 15, Kasey Kahne, 163. 16, Clint Bowyer, 158. 17, Martin Truex Jr., 151. 18, David Ragan, 147. 19, Denny Hamlin, 145. 20, Greg Biffle, 142.

Money

1, Carl Edwards, $2,103,609. 2, Trevor Bayne, $1,895,088. 3, Kurt Busch, $1,452,026. 4, Kevin Harvick, $1,358,964. 5, Kyle Busch, $1,317,959. 6, David Gilliland, $1,240,809. 7, Jimmie Johnson, $1,235,329. 8, Bobby Labonte, $1,225,808. 9, Juan Pablo Montoya, $1,216,836. 10, Tony Stewart, $1,176,211. 11, Ryan Newman, $1,101,163. 12, Jeff Gordon, $1,083,704. 13, Matt Kenseth, $1,053,379. 14, Clint Bowyer, $1,033,536. 15, Denny Hamlin, $1,025,193. 16, Jamie McMurray, $1,013,297. 17, A J Allmendinger, $950,479. 18, Regan Smith, $938,008. 19, Marcos Ambrose, $925,884. 20, Dale Earnhardt Jr., $914,588.

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SCHEDULE-WINNERS

x-non-points race

Feb. 12 -- x-Budweiser Shootout (Kurt Busch)

Feb. 17 -- x-Gatorade Duel 2 (Jeff Burton)

Feb. 17 -- x-Gatorade Duel 1 (Kurt Busch)

Feb. 20 -- Daytona 500 (Trevor Bayne)

Feb. 27 -- Subway Fresh Fit 500 (Jeff Gordon)

March 6 -- Kobalt Tools 400 (Carl Edwards)

March 20 -- Jeff Byrd 500 presented by Food City (Kyle Busch)

March 27 -- Auto Club 400 (Kevin Harvick)

April 3 -- Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 (Kevin Harvick)

Rönesans Gayrimenkul Yatırım (RGY), Optimum Outlet zincirinin üçüncüsünün açılış kokteyli yapıldı. RGY'nin cazip alışveriş imkanı ve eğlenceyi bir arada sunduğu Optimum Outlet'de 175 seçkin marka Adanalılarla buluşacak. 230 milyon TL'lik yatırımla tamamlanan Adana Optimum 70 bin metrekarelik kiralanabilir alan ve 140 bin metrekare inşaat alanıyla bölgenin en büyük alışveriş merkezi niteliğinde. Yılda 12 milyon kişinin ziyaret etmesi beklenen Adana Optimum'da, Süvari, Migros, Koçtaş, Media Markt, Mango, Park Bravo, Beymen, LCW, Koton, C&A; gibi önemli ve büyük markalar ile mağazacılık isimleri yer alıyor. RGY, Adana yatırımıyla birlikte İstanbul ve Ankara'da yoğun ilgi gören Optimum konseptini bir başka büyük ve önemli şehir olan Adana'ya da taşımış oldu. Kokteyle katılan Adana Valisi İlhan Atış, 3 kişiyi çalıştıranlara kahraman gözüyle baktıklarını belirterek, "Burada 2 bin 500 kişi istihdam ediliyor. Çalışanların ailesini 5 kişi olarak hesaplarsak buranın 12 bin 500 kişinin ekmek kapısı olduğunu görürüz. Kentimiz için çok güzel günler yaşıyoruz. Adana, bölgesinin merkezi konumundadır. Yüreğir ilçemiz ise Adana'nın yıldızıdır. En fazla yatırımı Yüreğir almıştır. Optimum bir yaşam merkezi olacak. Bu merkezle Adanalının yaşam kalitesi de artacak. Tarımıyla sanayisiyle ticaretiyle de bunu hak ediyor. Bu güzel yerin yapımında emeği geçenlere teşekkür ediyorum." dedi. 750 HAK SAHİBİNE 60 MİLYON LİRA ÖDEDİK Açılışta konuşan Rönasans Yönetim Kurulu Başkanı Erman Ilıcak, Adana Optimum Outlet'i açmak için çok uğraştıklarını kaydetti. Sadece yeri için 750 hak sahibine yaklaşık 60 milyon lira ödeme yaptıklarını aktaran Ilıcak, "Burası için toplamda 230 milyon lira yatırım yaptık. Buraya ayırdığımız bütçeye çok aştık. Ama şehrin önde gelenlerinin desteğiyle açılışımızı yapmayı başardık. İşsizlik konusunda en geri illerden biri olan Adana'da 2 bin 500 kişiye iş kapısı açtık. İnşallah halkımız da beklediğimiz ilgiyi gösterir" dedi. Kokteylde Adana Büyükşehir Belediye Başkan Vekili Zihni Aldırmaz, Yüreğir Belediye Başkanı Mahmut Çelikcan ve AGP Başkanı Lucas birer konuşma yaptı. Konuşmaların ardından konuklar Optimum Outlet'i gezdi. Kokteyl havai fişek gösterileriyle son buldu. ADANA OPTİMUM Adana Optimum, sunduğu zengin alışveriş fırsatlarının yanı sıra bölge için yeni bir sosyal aktivite ve buluşma merkezi oldu. Adana'ya dev bir eğlence merkezi lüksü sunacak olan Adana Optimum, 10 büyük salonlu Avşar Sineması, 16 kulvarlık olimpik ölçülere sahip Bowling Salonu, küçükler kadar büyüklere de hitap eden bölgenin ilk lazer oyun alanı, Playland çocuk ve eğlence merkezi, 25'ten fazla restoran ve fast food ünitesinin yanı sıra Adanalıları buzda dansla tanıştıracak olan 450 metrekarelik gerçek buz pistiyle bölgedeki yaşamı yeniden şekillendirecek. Adana Optimum mimari projesi ve tasarımıyla da dikkat çekiyor. Adana Optimum'da yer alan dev tablo, Adana ve Çukurova'nın otantik güzelliğini, bölge efsanelerini, verimli topraklara can veren Seyhan Nehri'ni simgeliyor. Enerji geri kazanım sistemlerinin kullanıldığı Adana Optimum AVM'de; güneş kolektörü kullanım ile yüzde 35, teknolojik ısıtma ? soğutma geri kazanımlı santral yatırımı ile yüzde 20, yeraltı suyu devresi ile soğutma sisteminde yüzde 40 tasarruf sağlanıyor. Enerji tasarrufu sağlayan teknoloji ile yapılan çevre dostu Adana Optimum AVM örnek bir yapı niteliğinde.

After being discarded from the World Cup team, fast bowler Ishant Sharma is looking forward to make the most of the Indian Premier League (IPL), starting tomorrow, to launch his comeback to the national team.

"Cricket is my passion and the hunger to be part of the best possible action is natural," Ishant was quoted on the website of "Deccan Chargers", who he will represent in the IPL this year.

"There comes a time in every sportsperson's life when one has to prove to oneself. I am probably going through that phase and would like to challenge myself in the upcoming IPL to win back my place in the Indian side," he added.

Though he has been a regular member of the Test squad, Ishant who has proved to be expensive has not donned the national colours since August 2009, losing out to the likes of Praveen Kumar, S Sreesanth and Munaf Patel. But Ishant has taken the setbacks in his stride.

"Being in and out of sides is part and parcel of a sportsperson's life and I would like to take it on the chin," he said.

"I am just trying to forget the past and start afresh. Right now, the focus is on IPL and I want to give it my 100 per cent. I will do my best for Hyderabad," the pacer added.

The speedstar has also not been impressive in the shortest version of the game with an economy rate close to eight runs an over.

However, Ishant feels that the format is as much a challenge for the batsmen as it is for the bowlers.

"You have got to go with your instincts, believe in your strong points and bowl to your strength rather than think about the batsmen's plus points.

"I have worked on and added variations to my bowling armoury and will hopefully execute them to good effect in the IPL. The slower ones, the yorkers are all key deliveries in this format and you have to use them judiciously. You have got to change your line and length constantly and plan every ball.

"The margin of error for a fast bowler is minimal but I feel the key is to keep it simple. One has to be on top of the game and not complicate things. Zaheer Khan's approach at the recently concluded World Cup is a case in point."

Deccan Chargers play their first game against Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad on April 9.

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The minor league season starts this Thursday, and as always, I'm going to be giving nightly updates of all the games. The Cub system has produced several top players in the past few years like Geovany Soto, Starlin Castro and Andrew Cashner, and this is your chance to get to know the next stars of Wrigley before they make the majors. Or maybe just the next stars of Tropicana Field.  But as everyone who has read me in the past knows, I don't just mention the prospects. The top prospects don't become quality major leaguers without having quality teammates in the minors, so my way of thanking them is to mention pretty much everyone who has a good day down in the minors.

The first team to release their opening day roster is the Cubs low-A team in the Midwest League, the Peoria Chiefs. For reasons of geography, this is the team that Cub fans are most likely to see in person.  Even if you don't live in central Illinois, you can see the Chiefs play in Geneva against their rivals the Kane County Cougars. There are also Midwest League teams in Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and now even Kentucky. (And the Chiefs will travel to Bowling Green this season. They don't every year.)

If you want the complete opening day roster of the Chiefs, the pdf can be found here.

After the jump, a look at the players to watch this season.

Coaching Staff: Manager Casey Kopitzke is back for his second season managing the Chiefs and his third season managing in the Cubs system. Kopitzke was an infielder in the Cubs system from 1999 to 2006, making it all the way to AAA Iowa before his playing career ended. Still only 32 years old, Kopitzke is considered rising star and a candidate to be on a major league coaching staff one day.

The pitching coach is Jeff Fassero, who is someone who should be familiar to anyone here who's been a Cub fan for more than a decade, since the 16 year major league veteran spent two seasons with the Cubs in 2001 and 2002. This is his second season coaching for the Cubs. Last year he was the pitching coach for the Boise Hawks.

The hitting coach is Ricardo Medina. Medina has been coaching in the Cubs system since 1999. This is his second season as the Chiefs hitting coach. He played for the Chiefs in 1993.

Pitching:  All eyes this season are going to be on last season's number one draft pick, right-hander Hayden Simpson.  He certainly qualified as the most shocking pick of the first round last season (although the Yankees pick of Cito Culver would be a close second) as the pitcher out of Div II Southern Arkansas wasn't on very many draft radars before the Cubs took him. He signed quickly after the draft, but came down with a case of mononucleosis that put him on the shelf for the rest of the season.  

Very few people have seen Simpson pitch, but those who have generally have very positive things to say about him. The Cubs saw him throwing a mid-90s fastball with a nasty curve, a good slider and changeup, with command of all four pitches. His combination of stuff and short size has drawn comparisons to Roy Oswalt, although that might be a bit of a tough comp to hang on someone who hasn't throw a professional pitch yet.

You won't have to wait long to see Simpson pitch. He'll be the opening night starter on Thursday. He'll be on a strict pitch count after his long layoff, but that's not unusual for any Cub pitcher in the low minors.

Another pitcher to watch this season is Robinson Lopez, who was the prize prospect that the Cubs got in the Derrek Lee trade with Atlanta. Lopez throws very hard and has a good changeup, but he's still raw and his control will be a major story this season. Lopez finished last season with Peoria.

Left hander Austin Kirk was a third-round pick out of high school in Oklahoma in 2009. He and fellow lefty Cameron Greathouse were probably the two best starters for Boise last season. Kirk had a 3.36 ERA and 65 strikeouts and 21 walks in 64 innings between Boise and Peoria. Greathouse, an 8th round pick out of junior college last June, has a devastating curve ball. He was 3-2 with a 2.75 with 44 strikeouts and 11 walks in 39 innings for Boise.

Lefty Jeffry Antigua was a top 20 prospect in Baseball America for 2010, but a mediocre season had him drop out of the rankings. He's only 20, so he has time to turn it around. Lefty Graham Hicks came over in the Tom Gorzelanny trade and was a 4th round pick in 2008.

Catchers: Third round pick Micah Gibbs was considered the best defensive catcher in the draft last June. The glove is there, but he didn't hit last year in Boise. He'll be challenged moving up a level and going to the bad offensive environment of the Midwest League. Sergio Burruel was a 19th round pick in 2009 who hit very well for the Cubs Rookie ball team last year. He's a sleeper prospect to keep an eye on this year.

Infielders:   Second baseman Pierre LePage, a 13th round pick out of UConn last year, is a little guy who's offensive game consists of putting the ball into play. Fortunately, he's very good at that and he hit .331 for Boise last season. He also struck out in fewer than 10% of his plate appearances. First baseman Richard Jones and third baseman Greg Rohan are both back in Peoria after finishing the season there last year. Both have the size to hit for power, but so far their power is just average and the Midwest League is a tough place to hit the ball a long way. Shortstop Eliot Soto is a solid glove from Carpentersville, IL. He'll share SS duties with Arismendy Alcantara, whose name I'm sure will cause me grief to no end this season. May he force me to write it a lot.

Outfielders:  If Simpson is going to be the most-watched Chief this season, center fielder Matt Szczur (pronounced "Caesar") is going to be a close second. Szczur got $1.5 million this off-season to give up a potential football career.  Szczur is extremely fast and profiles as a prototypical leadoff hitter. He hit .397 in Boise last summer before getting a brief call-up to Peoria and then leaving to finish his senior season of football at Villanova. There is some disagreement as to whether or not he'll ever develop any power. Baseball America says yes, others say no. What no one disagrees with is that he scores an "80" on the "makeup" scale.

DJ Fitzgerald  has some talent, but is now in his third season with Peoria. Rubi Silva and Smaily Borges round out the outfield and are two of the three Cubans on the Chiefs roster. (Pitcher Juan Serrano is the other.) Borges is an organizational player. Silva should be a prospect, as he signed for $1 million this off-season after defecting from the Cuban National Junior team. According to Baseball America, he's a free swinger with a line drive stroke and gap power.

The Tennessee Smokies are up next. I'll try to write them up tonight.

As you may know, Kinect was codenamed Natal – a city along the northeastern coast of Brazil, home to Alex Kipman who incubated the project within Microsoft. I know you're hoping this is a leak about what's coming next with Kinect. Sorry....but it's still worth a read.

It turns out there is another Microsoft project that includes the Natal name. In Africa. Lakeside Park Primary is in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal – a province of South Africa. Larry Venter of Microsoft Retail Solutions recently visited the school and saw an opportunity to help the kids there learn English. Kinect (aka Natal) was the answer.

Fast forward a few months and with the help of other Microsoft teams and a local NGO, a set of training materials prepared for 8 teachers in Lakeside Park Primary. I’ll let this video speak for itself.

Kids using avatar creation to learn life skills, using bowling for numeracy and Kinectimals to help with sentence construction. Some days I look around at the press coverage of Microsoft and I feel down….and then I read stories like this and remember what keeps me here. This isn't going to make it to the top of Techmeme but I don't care. I just felt it was worth sharing here.

via Microsoft On The Issues Africa

• Murali says a wicket could have changed the game
• Spinner was never fully fit during World Cup campaign

Muttiah Muralitharan has entered retirement by blaming himself for India's victory in the World Cup final after his wicketless farewell in Mumbai.

As India celebrated their six-wicket win, Sri Lanka returned home to largely deserted streets and pointed questions in the government-run Sunday Observer about the wisdom of playing Murali in a "sentimental farewell" when he was not fully fit.

Murali, who holds the world record for wickets in both Tests and one-day internationals, battled knee, hamstring and groin problems during the World Cup, and was never remotely near full fitness.

He said: "We got enough runs on the board – 274 was a good score – but we couldn't crack their batting, especially in the middle part. The spinners didn't take enough wickets, that was the main reason. If I or Suraj [Randiv] had taken a few wickets, the story would have been different."

Lasith Malinga, whose slingshot fast bowling constituted Sri Lanka's most lethal bowling weapon, predicted that, at 27, his injury‑prone body would prevent him from playing in the next World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in four years. "I hope to be of service to my team as long as I can, but I've been carrying injuries and I won't be in the next World Cup."

Surrey and England fast bowler

Peter Loader, who has died aged 81, was tall, slim, narrow of shoulder, and affable, specifications not readily associated with the mean fast bowler. But when he had a cricket ball in his hand, he was not a pleasant proposition. He ran to the crease in slightly cramped fashion, but when he released the ball off a lavish final stride, it travelled fast. His bouncer was nasty, and there were constant rumbles about the legality of his action as that short ball whistled through.

Loader is remembered more for his service to Surrey than to England, since in his 1950s heyday there was a profusion of high-class fast men in the county game. Only 13 Test caps came his way: Pakistan 1954 (one), South Africa 1955 (one), West Indies 1957 (two), New Zealand 1958 (three), and overseas in South Africa 1956-57 (four) and Australia 1958-59 (two). The Headingley Test against the West Indies brought him a sliver of immortality when he dismissed John Goddard and tailenders Sonny Ramadhin and Roy Gilchrist with consecutive balls, thus registering England's seventh Test hat-trick. He finished with six for 36, having taken the prize wickets of Gary Sobers (opening), Frank Worrell and Everton Weekes early in the innings. This was to remain the high point of Loader's Test career. It was also his best season statistically, with 133 first-class wickets at 15.47.

On his first England tour, when Len Hutton's side beat Australia 3-1, Frank Tyson, Brian Statham and Trevor Bailey were the Test fast bowlers and Loader missed out. "Scrubs" (his crinkly hair was cut short) was incensed at being told by his captain on the voyage south that he was among a group of youngsters (including Colin Cowdrey and Tyson) who would almost certainly not play in the Tests. On the tour he took 41 wickets at 19.92, six for 22 against Tasmania being his best return.

Four years later, when England were beaten in four of the five Ashes Tests of 1958-59, Loader did play in the first two, taking seven good wickets. He thus finished as something of an England nearly man, with 39 wickets in his 13 Tests at a respectable 22.51. By way of consolation his popularity as a tourist led to invitations to take part in Commonwealth XI tours of India and Rhodesia. For his county he had numerous rewarding days as part of the team that crushed all in its path, as Stuart Surridge and then Peter May led the "Browncaps" to seven consecutive county championships from 1952.

Loader, born in Wallington, Surrey, and educated at the local grammar school, played club cricket with Beddington, and when he began at Surrey, as possible understudy to Alec Bedser, he was a trainee dental mechanic. He soon earned a regular place, and batsmen needed to worry about their teeth when Loader made the ball fly. In winter he chopped willow trees at the Surridge cricket-bat factory. In the five Surridge years of that memorable championship run, Bedser, Jim Laker, Tony Lock and Loader took 1,787 wickets between them at a collective average of 15.42. This formidable bowling attack and sharp fielding were the main factors in the Browncaps' astounding run of success.

Loader's most spectacular bowling for Surrey came at Blackheath in 1953, when he rolled Kent over with nine for 28 (last man Doug Wright run out). He bettered these figures five years later at home at the Oval: nine for 17 against a timid Warwickshire. The second hat-trick of his career came in 1963, against Leicestershire at the Oval. In any other era, he would surely have won more than those 13 Test caps – he was a thinking bowler, employing a range of variations and capable of cutting the ball and also of imparting lethal late swing. At a time of unprotected pitches, when only policemen, firemen and miners wore helmets, it was often a daunting prospect facing bowlers as fiery as Loader. He had a certain sparkiness. After his relegation to understudy on that first tour of Australia, it gave him inordinate pleasure to dismiss tour captain Len Hutton for nought and one at the Oval a few weeks later. In all first-class matches, Loader took 1,326 wickets at 19.04. As a batsman he was of little account, although he did once crack 81 against Yorkshire at Headingley.

His benefit year, 1963, was his last with Surrey. He then followed his team-mate Lock in emigrating to Perth, Western Australia, where he ran a transport business, did radio commentaries and umpiring, and greatly enjoyed meeting successive England touring teams. He also played one match for Western Australia – and wished he hadn't. Peter Burge hammered a double century and Loader took nought for 85. But he had plenty of richer memories, and leaves a wife, two sons and a daughter.

• Peter James Loader, cricketer, born 25 October 1929; died 15 March 2011

Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga said that wet bowl didn’t help them in the final against India.

Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga said that wet bowl didn’t help them in the final against India. Lasith Malinga bowled first four over spell brilliantly. He gave away 11 runs and also picked up the key wickets of Sehwag and Tendulkar

Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga said that wet bowl didn’t help them in the final against India. Lasith Malinga bowled first four over spell brilliantly.

Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan, one of the finest and, at the same time, one of the most controversial spinners of all time, bowed out of international cricket last night as the highest wicket-taker in both Tests and ODIs though he failed to make any impact in his swan song - the World Cup summit clash against India.

The 38-year-old off-spinner walked into sunset after an illustrious 19-year career as Sri Lanka lost to India in the World Cup final by six wickets here last night.

Muralitharan has already quit Test cricket with a record 800 wickets, his last match coming against India at Galle last year in his 133rd match. He had announced his plan to retire from international cricket after this World Cup.

The diminutive bowler made his Test debut in August 1992 against Australia in Colombo while he cut his teeth in ODI cricket against India in August 1993 in Colombo. He got a wicket in the last ball of his Test career - that of Indian tail-ender Pragyan Ojha - with which he became the first and only bowler to take 800 wickets in Tests.

But today against India, in his 350th ODI, he was ineffective in his eight overs as he went wicketless while conceding 39 runs. He ended his ODI career with 534 wickets.

Sri Lanka's defeat meant that Muralitharan was deprived of the opportunity to quit international cricket in grand style though he was one of the members of the 1996 World Cup-winning squad under the

captaincy of Arjuna Ranatunga.

Muralitharan was playing in his fifth World Cup and he ended as the second highest wicket taker in the quadrennial showpiece with 68 wickets, behind Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath.

He has an impressive economy rate of 3.92 and his best ODI bowling figures stand at seven for 30. He has taken five wickets in ODIs 10 times.

Muralitharan has also taken 13 wickets from 12 Twenty20 International matches he played from 2006 to 2010.

He played for Indian Premier League side Chennai Super Kings for three years and is expected to turn up for Kochi Tuskers Kerala this season starting April 8.

The off-spinner, who was called for throwing by a few umpires during his illustrious career, has been one of the most talked-about players in contemporary cricket with controversies being an integral part of his career. He had the world cricket debating about his unorthodox and weird bowling action.

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Last night's Strikeforce Challengers 15 event did not have much buzz heading in, but the event delivered. The five bout main card saw four outstanding performances, including an out of nowhere showing by a man making his Strikeforce debut on late notice. Let's run down the action:

- Normally I go in card order, but I can't help myself. I'm still buzzing over the performance of Lorenz Larkin. Larkin came in as a relative unknown, starting his career in 2009 and fighting seven times in 2010 piling up a 9-0 record. In Scott Lighty he faced a man who had been fairly successful at the K-1 level (finishing as runner-up in the 2005 World Grand Prix in Vegas II runner up) and who had only lost once as a professional mixed martial artist while picking up three impressive KO wins in Strikeforce.

From the opening bell it was clear that Larkin had a huge edge in speed. He used that edge to get in and out while throwing blistering punches and kicks that kept Lighty from ever getting comfortable. The sheer variety of Larkin's attack was impressive as he threw punishing punches, leaping kicks, slashing elbows and went to the body and legs effectively. Lighty was able to land the occasional punch but he never really stood much of a chance as Larkin was just too fast and too strong.

While Larkin appeared to keep his hands a little too low while facing a striker, as soon as distance was closed he put his hands into proper defensive position and was stellar at picking off the strikes of Lighty. There are plenty of questions about Larkin's ground game to be answered but he showed good positional awareness when he was on top and displayed good balance in defending against the few takedown attempts of his foe.

I could talk about this performance all day, so I probably should move on. I'll end my Larkin mancrushing by saying that I can not wait to see him fight again. That's the kind of thing that makes Challengers a worthwhile piece of MMA programming.

- In the main event, Justin Wilcox absolutely destroyed Rodrigo Damm. The bout got off to a weird start as the ringside paramedic was missing in action and after the introductions the fighters were stuck staring at each other in the cage for several minutes. The delay was the best moment of the night for Damm as once referee Josh Rosenthal started the fight it was simply a massacre. Damm made the same mistake he made against Gilbert Melendez and Maximo Blanco and continually circled into the power of Wilcox. He would end up paying dearly as Wilcox blasted him with high kicks and straight punches that eventually left Damm refusing to get off his knees and Wilcox obliging by following him to the floor to let loose with elbows.

By the end of the first round Damm was rattled and bleeding badly. It was as one sided a round as you're likely to ever see and left me begging for his corner to not allow their fighter to come out for the start of the next round. Luckily the doctor made the call for them and waived the fight off giving Wilcox a very impressive TKO win. I'm excited to see Wilcox against some more well-rounded competition in the near future as he has slowly put together a very good MMA game.

- David Douglas fought Caros Fodor in the second bout from the top. Douglas had success early in the first round before tiring out badly as Fodor continually clinched and leaned on him, making him work non-stop. Once Douglas started to fade, Fodor picked up his intensity and dominated the stand-up and on the ground. It was a grinding performance by Fodor and one that showed a lot of the reasons many have him pegged as a legitimate prospect. He needs to show a little bit more killer instinct in going for the finish on a badly wounded and gassed opponent, but he admitted as much in the post-fight interview. If his career is handled right, we may be talking about Fodor as a title challenger down the road.

- James Terry's right hand counter that shut off Josh Thornburg's lights was a thing of beauty. Terry's striking looked crisp early, which one would expect given Terry's close relationship with Cung Le, but Thornburg did have a few moments where he was able to land punches. Josh's striking defense is just awful though as he had lost roughly one month before the bout to Roger Bowling in a fight where he took a ridiculous number of punches. Terry blasted him with more and landed the crushing right that sent Thornburg tumbling awkwardly to the mat. I hate to say it but I hope Thornburg is given a lengthy medical suspension to give his brain a bit of a rest.

- The opening bout between Damian Douglas and Wayne Phillips was not good. While I can find a lot of good things to say about the other bouts on the card, the less said about this one the better. Both men gassed, neither man was able to take advantage. I scored the bout 29-28 Douglas, Luke Thomas scored the bout 29-28 Phillips over at SBNation.com/MMA and either score was fine.

Strikeforce Challengers 15 coverage

A fascinating first quarter of the innings sees the game well poised with Sri Lanka reaching 39-1 from 12 overs.

India undoubtedly started the brighter of the two sides with Zaheer Khan opening up with a superb spell of bowling that saw three sucessive maidens. The Sri Lankan openers could not get off to their usual fast start, with India’s energy in the field also restricting runs. India (and Zaheer) got their reward when Thuranga edged to Sehwag in the slips.

The pitch appeared to favour the bowling side during the opening overs but with Dilshan and Sangakkara content to be circumspect at the crease, they may well be biding their time but moving up the gears and there is no doubt that this partnership will be a crucial one in shaping the Sri Lankan innings.

Will it be India fulfilling its destiny or Sri Lanka spoiling the party? That is the question being posed heading into Saturday's 2011 Cricket World Cup final.

A tournament that has had plenty of highlights and breathed new life into the fifty-over format of the game reaches its climax following the semi-finals that saw Sri Lanka first overcome plucky New Zealand, and then India defeat their great sporting rivals Pakistan, not without a scare or two along the way

The final sees the first all-Asian final as two of three co-hosts (Bangladesh being the other) meeting in the final, and on paper, and for the most part performances over the tournament, the two strongest sides contesting it. Both sides bat deep, armed with explosive hitters throughout the order, whilst the bowling attacks are varied, possessing quality with both pace and spin.

Throughout the tournament India have made explosive starts. The partnership of Sachin Tendulkar, and particularly Virender Sehwag at the top of the order have ensured fast starts, but often these have not resulted in the type of totals they should have done and they have paid the price along the way (a defeat and a tie against South Africa and England in the group stages) whilst their total of 261 against Pakistan was considered short of what they should have posted. 

Sri Lanka have at times slipped under the radar, but they too have talent in abundance and batsman who are not afraid to take risks. Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan is the tournaments leading batsman with 464 runs and the tempo he sets early often shapes the Sri Lankan innings, evidenced by the way he destroyed England in the quarter-finals.

Spin has dominated in the tournament so far, an area both sides are strong in but two pace bowlers, India's Zaheer Khan and Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga will be key. Both are used at the start of the innings, but also utilised during the power plays. Khan has taken 19 wickets in the tournament but his economy rate of just 4.68 is as important, whilst Malinga has taken 11 wickets with his unorthodox approach and has accounted for many top batsman.

Team wise, the useful all-rounder Angelo Matthews misses out for Sri Lanka with a thigh injury and his loss will disrupt the balance of their side, whilst India will likely have to replace bowler Ashish Nehra who has a damaged finger, prompting a re-think of their bowling strategy, and they may decide to call up an additional spinner after opting for Nehra in their semi-final game. Interestingly, both captains are wicket-keepers and whilst Kumar Sangakkara is a relaxed figure out in the middle, it is the equally cool MS Dhoni who will have the pressure and weight of an expectant nation squarely on his shoulders.

The pressure of course will be on India, with expectations high since it was announced the tournament would be staged on the sub-continent. The fact that the final is in Mumbai lends even greater weight to it and the country will be brought to a standstill tomorrow with an estimated audience of over one billion expected to see the game.

The game will also feature two of the modern greats going head to head in what will be their final appearances in a World Cup. It will be Muttiah Muralitharan's final game for Sri Lanka. Perhaps not the bowler he once was, he is still a fearsome prospect and his overs in partnership with Ajantha Mendis could well set the tone for the Indian innings. Despite controversies surrounding his bowling action over the years, Muralitharan remains one of the most respected and well liked players of his generation, and with well over 1,000 victims to his name possesses records that may never be broken and he needs just three to overhaul Glenn McGrath for the all-time World Cup record.

All eyes though will be on Sachin Tendulkar though; the hometown boy who stands just one short of a century of hundred's for India in all comptetitions. Whilst there were hopes he would achieve this against Pakistan (eventually being dismissed on 85), what better way for him to grace a final by reaching that landmark figure. For all the dominance Muralitharan enjoys with the ball, Tendulkar is blazing records with the bat that when he retires will have similar status to some of those owned by Wayne Gretzky in the NHL.

Both sides have won the tournament once before: India when they shocked the West Indies back in 1983 (they also lost to Australia in 2003) and Sri Lanka in 1996, announcing themselves onto the world stage in the process.

India and Sri Lanka have match winners in abundance with both bat and ball and the game is virtually impossible to call. In terms of overall head to head record, India hold the advantage (67 wins to 50) and many observers feel that home advantage could be the key in determining the outcome and if true, will be the signal for the mother of all parties. 

So, what are we going to do with ourselves if the NFL lockout continues into the season? Really, think about it. While going homicidal is certainly a viable course of action, I think it behooves us to explore other options first.

Football and its peripheral activities take up a significant amount of time every Sunday, and that's just for those of us who are watching it at home. I have to get some food ready, make sure I have beer, and snacks. Then I have to chase down the sacrificial chicken. I don't know how they know, but they know, and catching a properly motivated chicken can take a while. We all know what I'm talking about.

I was thinking about using a sacrificial pig for a while, but if they figure out what's going on, they're liable to bite.

But I digress.

There are other considerations at play here. Carving out this time on Sundays was a process. You had to explain to friends why you couldn't go for a five-mile hike (You would think that would be self explanatory), or couldn't help them move, or bury a hooker, or any number of things that didn't actually kill the relationship, but certainly didn't help it. What about you married fans? How hard was it to make your spouse understand that you were absolutely, definitely, without a doubt, going to take that time every football Sunday to watch the Steelers? No matter what she had on that F******g list! If your spouse isn't a Steelers fan, you weren't getting sex even if the Steelers won. It was a stand you had to take. You had to be firm, so to speak. You had to endure the questions, the doubt, the arguments, the abstinence. But you did it, and every Sunday you could do what you loved in relative peace.

What if you just started dating someone? Someone who still thinks they can change you? Well, this article is not for you. You're screwed. Good luck.

Anyway...

Friends, family, loved ones...They're just waiting for something like this lockout to establish a beachhead on your Sunday time. If you don't think they have been paying attention, you're making a BIG mistake. BIG. If you don't start planning now, you could find yourself, one Sunday in September, without a plausible reason why you can't help de-worm the homeless (And that's a good scenario, trust me).

You have to start developing an intense interest in something else now. Note that word, INTENSE! Nothing else will suffice when you refuse to delouse Aunt Myrtle.

I'm sure some of you can do a convincing job of getting back into stamp collecting, hunting Snipe (The really fun part is inventing explanations as to why you never get any), or your healthy participation in the Ernest fan club. But, there's the rub: you had to have had a well-documented interest in something other than football that you can go back to. Your mother is going to have to vouch for the fact that you used to be a devout Sunday mime, because nobody's really going to believe that. Not even if they really love you. Your dad is going to have to haul out photos of you ballet dancing if you want to convince your wife you're getting back into the troupe, but only on Sundays.

None of that's for me. I've decided to "Develop" an "Intense" interest in another sport. As I have no prior "Passion" to fall back on, I feel this is the most plausible course of action at this point.

Some of you may feel the same way. So, I thought I would go through the available candidates as I see them.

Here we go:

NASCAR (I think that stands for: Not Another Stupid Circle Around Rednecks, or something like that, I never cared to find out):

Pros:

• This "Sport" already has a huge following, and while you wont exactly fit in without losing some teeth, you can make a case that you too are a fan based on hard numbers (Warning: Number of fans may be exaggerated by the networks to make advertisers pay more).
• Since the cars only ever make left turns, you wont need your heart pills...ever.

Cons:

• While the drivers heart rate may be slightly higher than yours, they don't get much more exercise than you do watching from your couch, so I don't know if this can technically be called a sport (If it is, then I guess, technically, playing a race game on your X-box is a sport. Tell your mom)(And I guess, if you think about it, you do get more exercise than the drivers because you get up and get beers and take the occasional trip to the bathroom).
• If you have any ability at all to use history to tell what is going to happen in the future, this "Sport" will be a hard sell, excitement wise. The only exciting thing about this "Sport" is the wrecks and that's like watching Football for the injuries.

SOCCER:

Pros:

• Again, the huge fan base (Sure, they're mostly foreigners, but you can play the bigot card if anyone points that out).
• Your child can explain the rules to you.

Cons:

• Vuvuzelas.
• Your child can explain the rules to you.

BASEBALL:

Pros:

• Beer. At the games, on your couch, beer is really the first, second and last reason to watch a game. I sometimes think baseball was invented as something to watch for those already drinking beer.
• There is still such a thing as cheap seats. And, they're actually kind of fun because you can see teenagers drinking beer. Then you can see teenagers vomiting beer (Last time I was at an Orioles game).
• One hundred and sixty-two games. If you're passionate enough, you can get out of some serious chores/responsibilities, like raising your children.

Cons:

• You have to stay sharp if one of those people who has their eye on you watches the game with you, because the beer combined with the excitement level may cause drowsiness. That just wont do if you are trying to convince them baseball is your passion.
• One hundred and sixty-two games. If you're not passionate, you could quickly fall into a comma around game one. This puts you in danger of waking up in the year 2020 and missing more than the one year of NFL play that was lost to the strike.

BASKETBALL:

Pros:

• Um...It's played indoors?
• Uh...If you go to game you have a chance to see an old, fat celebrity, or an overrated movie director?

Cons:

• Having to watch basketball. Period.

HOCKEY:

Pros:

• The Pittsburgh Penguins! It goes: the Steelers, sliced bread, then the Penguins, unless you're on the South Beach Diet, then it's the Steelers, then the Penguins.
• You wont have to redo the color scheme on your man cave, or your...What?.. Lady nook?.. Woman's den?.. For the love of God, what?
• This is by far the most believable of your options.
• You don't have to watch basketball.

Cons:

• The flipping rules. I know I've had them explained to me on several occasions, and for the life of me, I can't remember what that stupid blue line means. Two line pass? Icing?
• You have to wear a cup to the game because you never know when Punxy will be attending.

LACROSSE:

Pros:

• It's fun to watch a bunch of guys try to smack each other in the testicles with sticks.
• You once took it in college for a phys-ed credit, so it's plausible that you have rediscovered it, if your spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend or dog really loves you.
• It's like hockey for people with a heart condition. The pace is not as fast, the ball is made of softer rubber, the grass is cushier, and there's no f*****g blue line.

Cons:

• Even when you're in danger of loosing your Sunday time it's really, really-reallllly hard to convince someone you're into this sport. Oooo, the Native Americans played it, big deal. Do you see them playing it now? Wonder why?

RUGBY:

Pros:

• Has yet to be given the feminine touch by Roger Goodell. I mean, I've heard of guys being knocked out twice in one game. That means you wake up, and go back in the game.
• Rugby shirts. They did right by me in college. Of course, mine were Polo, because I was a pretentious little prick, and the girls seemed to like that, the Polo shirts I mean.
• Fosters. If you need an explanation, you clearly need to start drinking more beer. You're never too young to start (That is to say, if you're already drinking beer, then you are clearly already twenty-one, which means you could always be drinking more beer. Does that satisfy the lawyers?)

Cons:

• I think you have to be up at two in the morning to watch one of these games on television. That might be a little too early to start drinking beer. I know, you're thinking, just stay up the night before and continue drinking. But watching a violent sport and the end of your drinking spree can lead to a hospital visit.

BOWLING:

Pros:

• Astoundingly, one of the most watched sports on television, although, I've never met anyone who actually watches, ever. But, like NASCAR and Soccer, you can point to the numbers and give your most honest look as you espouse your love of watching others handling large balls.
• The pageantry. Nothing can match the pure spectacle of two wooden lanes, two "Athletes" and two spectators in their seats (A little help here).

Cons:

• Telling people you're a bowling fan.
• Asking the bartender at a sports bar to turn the channel to bowling.

BILLIARDS (Pool):

Pros:

• This is the perfect sport to watch if you have ADD, as it is rarely interesting for more than a couple of minutes.
• If you're watching this sport, man or woman, it will greatly increase your physical self image.

Cons:

• - The fashion. Pool shows you what seventies fashion would have become if it hadn't gone out of fashion in the seventies.

CRICKET (I included this because ESPN just reported the other day that the Cricket world cup final is the third most watched sporting final in all of sports. The Super bowl isn't even in the top three! Really. It goes, the Soccer world cup final, watching Lindsay Lohan appear before a judge, and then the Cricket world cup final):

Pros:

• When you and your job are moved to India, you will have a leg up on the most popular sport.
• Since these games can last up to three days, conceivably, if you show enough passion, you could get out of a day of work.
• You get to say things like, "That was a wicked googly" (No, I don't know what the hell a googly is).
• It has to be exciting to score two hundred and sixty points in one game, right?

Cons:

• Two hundred and sixty points over three days, using eight hour days, is 10.8 points per hour. Maybe not that exciting, but still more exciting than baseball.
• No one in the U.S. knows anything about this sport: Where it is played, what the rules are, or even where to view a game (Match? I don't know).

Those are some of your options and their considerations. Sure, there are a ton of other sports out there: curling, skiing, figure skating...ect. I just went through a few of the most popular ones (Popularity being determined by the amount of air time the sport receives). It is up to you which direction you go.

But I caution you, choose wisely, because your precious Sunday free time is at stake here.

• Captain admits pressure to win World Cup semi-final
• Shahid Afridi admits India deserved to win

For the first time this week Mahendra Singh Dhoni was grinning in public. The pressure on his team in this semi-final was, he says, as intense as it can get. They survived it, and will draw strength from that against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on Saturday.

"I think of the pressure like I do fast bowling," Dhoni said."Once it goes past 150kph you don't notice whether he is bowling 155 or 160. Before the finals the pressure won't grow now, it will be static and hopefully that will really help us."

If his team have any kind of edge over Sri Lanka, Dhoni feels it may just be that they have had so many tough matches in the tournament, this win over Pakistan among them. "The format has really helped us because we have had quite a few games where we have really been tested, and now we are getting into a groove" he said. "Sri Lanka are a very good side, they have done really well, but we have been tested more often than not in the games that we have played."

It was, Dhoni said, "the team unity" that had got them through. Asked what the highlight of the World Cup had been so far he explained that it was "the way we are backing each other, not criticising any players". He might want to ask Sreesanth about that, who was lambasted in public by Virender Sehwag after the team's opening match against Bangladesh, but that was a few weeks back and Sreesanth has not played since.

"If somebody is having a bad time on the field we make sure that he still feels wanted. Everybody is helping each other and that's what really counts in team sport, you want everyone to be at their best, you want all 15 guys to be in a very good space mentally." Dhoni certainly seemed to be. All those dropped catches, he said, laughing, were just because "the ball was hit so hard".

He admitted that India had misjudged the wicket, but felt their safety-first strategy meant they had got away with it. "The wicket got slower as the game progressed, that's why the new-ball game was very different. After losing two wickets, what was important was to bat 50 overs. In big games you shouldn't always look to score 300 runs. You see the wicket is behaving in a different way and readjust your target."

The score of 260 was good, but not safe. That judgment was made by Sachin Tendulkar during the stand of 46 with his captain, and Dhoni felt that was at least as important a contribution as those 85 runs. "When he [Tendulkar] is there he makes it easy for the others to score with him, because he guides them really well," said Dhoni. "When you are batting with him you know this is a wicket where 260, 270 runs can be enough, because he judges things so well. He really guides the young guys."

Tendulkar, still one short of becoming the first man to make 100 international hundreds, was delighted to be returning to his home town for the final. "Going back to Mumbai for this event is a wonderful occasion. I just hope we can get the job done," he said.

"It was like a final, because if India and Pakistan are playing the pressure is double," said the off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. "We bowled really well and fielded really well, and deserved to win."

As for the Pakistan captain, Shahid Afridi, his first words were: "I would like to congratulate the Indian team and the whole nation, they deserved to win."

Perhaps he was not joking before the match when he said he thought of himself as a diplomat. Afridi was rightly proud of what his side have achieved, just as he was right to be angry about some aspects of their performance in this match.

"With our fielding we made some bad mistakes, and in our batting our shot selection was terrible. But I am proud of my team, they have done a great job. We played as a unit, and no one was expecting us to play like this."

Was he worried about the reaction he might face back in Pakistan after losing to India? "If some people say bad things about us, so what?" he said. "What's the big deal?"

• Bresnan brilliantly rips through Australia's top order
• Over-by-over report

England stand on the cusp of retaining the Ashes after Tim Bresnan ripped through Australia's top order after tea at the MCG. England had encountered resistance as they began their attempt to bowl Australia out a second time in pursuit of victory, but Bresnan shifted Australia's opener Shane Watson (54), their captain Ricky Ponting and then Mike Hussey in a spell of three wickets for two runs in 18 balls.

Bresnan had been selected for the first time in the series here, ahead of leading wicket-taker Steve Finn, but his barrage meant Australia had lost the three frontline batsmen most likely to give them any chance of closing out the remainder of the fourth Test, after conceding a 415-run first-innings deficit. Michael Clarke then followed for 13, caught in the slips off Graeme Swann, and before the close, Steve Smith's stubborn resistance was ended by James Anderson as he departed for 38.

With Ryan Harris having suffered a stress fracture of the foot, making him unlikely to bat again, the hosts were fast running out of options. They ended the day on 169 for six, still 246 runs behind, as England closed their grip on an innings victory, a 2-1 lead and the Ashes. They had only needed two sessions to skittle their hosts for 98 on the first morning, before Jonathan Trott, with an unbeaten 168, helped England finish on 513 all out.

However under near cloudless skies on day three, Australia's openers Phillip Hughes and Watson passed 50 at a rate of almost five-an-over at the start of their second innings. Yet they could afford no self-inflicted blows - and that is just what they got when Watson's unwise call for a single to cover off Swann resulted in Hughes having to go, run out thanks to a good throw from Trott and neat work from the wicketkeeper, Matt Prior.

Ponting, under immense pressure with the Ashes so close to being conceded again and after his match fee fine for a spat with the umpires yesterday, strode out to boos from England's travelling support. His form has suffered this winter, and he tried to eliminate all risk as he took 15 balls to get off nought. Two close calls for lbw followed against James Anderson before he reached 10.

Watson, meanwhile, reined himself back to necessary consolidation, helping himself to a half-century in 98 balls. It seemed England were in it for the long haul, until Bresnan, with highly-skilled reverse-swing, intervened. Watson was deceived sufficiently to shoulder arms at one that snaked back to win an lbw verdict from Tony Hill, which narrowly stood after a failed DRS.

Swann should have had new batsman Clarke for just two, but the previously impeccable Prior missed an obvious stumping chance. That appeared to matter little, however, after Bresnan had Ponting chopping on to his stumps and Hussey poking a low catch to cover for a duck.

He would have had Steven Smith too for good measure, had Chris Tremlett managed to hold a tumbling catch from a mis-hook to deep backward-square. Clarke, having survived that early chance, did not last much longer, edging to Strauss in the slips. Smith then sent an inside edge on to his own stumps to go for 38, and put England another step closer.

Earlier this morning, Trott maximised the misery for Australia's bowlers - who nonetheless managed to take England's last five wickets for only 54 runs, Peter Siddle finishing with six for 75. First, he broke Trott's sixth-wicket stand with Prior - who chipped a catch to mid-on 15 runs short of his century.

Trott and Prior had put on 173, though - and then after Siddle had Bresnan edging a routine catch behind, pushing forward, Swann joined in to push England past 500 for the first time in 36 years at this venue. Mitchell Johnson took the most punishment, conceding 134 runs in 29 overs as England gained revenge for his match-winning exploits in the third Test in Perth.

Ryan Harris limped out of the attack, after injuring his ankle, and it subsequently emerged the fast bowler would need surgery on a stress fracture and may not be able to bat here. But Ben Hilfenhaus finally had an overdue wicket when Brad Haddin took a fine catch above his head after Swann edged an attempted hook behind, and he doubled up for good measure by bowling out Chris Tremlett.

By the time Anderson missed a Siddle half-volley to be last out, only the Indian pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag stood above Trott in the Test run-scoring charts for this calendar year. As ever, there was little remarkable about his accumulation. For England, though, Trott's unbeaten 345-ball and near eight-hour stay was a precious contribution in search of the urn.