cricket – Page 110

Borough Council Elections

This post will be in three parts. First of all I have a very important link to share, then I will be writing about the Borough Council elections, and finally I will say something about the Test Match that finished late last night our time with two full days unused.

A HYPER-IMPORTANT HYPERLINK

This link is to a radio interview with leading autism campaigner Kevin Healey. Please listen and share!!

BOROUGH COUNCIL ELECTIONS

In King’s Lynn we have two decisions to make on Thursday, who to vote for in the general election and who to vote for in our borough council election. I have already made clear, both here and on my twitter feed who I will be voting for in the general election, and I will say no more in this post than that it would be folly for anyone in King’s Lynn who considers themselves even remotely progressive to vote for anybody other than Jo Rust. I have not previously mentioned the Borough Council elections, because I had not formed a definite conclusion. The game changer that has prompted this post was the following from our local Green Party…

Look to the central part of this leaflet in particular to see why I am so definite about the decision.

DSCN4885 Green

TEST MATCH HUMILIATION FOR ENGLAND

Not long after 10PM our time last night the final test of the series between England and the West Indies ended (with two days unused) in a defeat by five wickets for the visitors. England’s batting was woefully inadequate with the exceptions in the first innings of Cook who ground out a century and Ali who made 58. 123 all out at the second attempt when seeking to build on a lead of 68 tells its own tale of woe. The other problem for England was lack of a serious spin option (Ali, the ‘front-line spinner’ recorded match figures of 2-110 from 22 overs on a turner). If Adil Rashid was not the right option on this pitch he never will be.

Whoever they go for, and wherever they find them, England need a genuine front-line spinner (and not a batsman who bowls being bigged up) and they need one as soon as possible. A spinner who takes only two wickets in the match and goes for five an over on a turning pitch does not deserve to be described as such. It was not just the number of runs being leaked but the deliveries off which they were being hit – frequently short (including a substantial ration of rank long hops). Wilf Rhodes, a great spinner a century ago, used to say talking about the length he bowled “Ah were nivver hooked and Ah were nivver cut”

Congratulations to the West Indies on being able to take what was handed them on a plate.

Now for a few more pics…

On Saturday there were no fewer the seven boats moored at the new jetty (I am fairly certain that this is a current record)

DSCN4879 DSCN4878 DSCN4877 DSCN4873 DSCN4870 DSCN4869 DSCN4867 DSCN4866 DSCN4865 DSCN4864 DSCN4863 DSCN4862

Cricket Season Underway

As so often I have things to share with you before moving on to the main meat of my post…

LINKS

First of all I wish to share several important petitions that I hope you will sign and share:

From change.org a petition calling on The Sun to sack the loathsome Katie Hopkins.
From gopetition.com an urgent petition calling for the release form prison of a Saudi human rights lawyer.
Another one from change.org is this one calling for a mother and son to be allowed to stay in the UK
From Avaaz comes this petiiton regarding a cynical attempt by Monsanto to have a report that is bad news for one of their products suppressed.

I hope that you, as I have, will sign and share all of these.

My next offering is evidence in the form of transcripts from the Marr show that Mr Cameron is guilty of a large number of murders. The evidence is presented by Mike Sivier on Vox Political.

Changing topic completely, here is an account of a performance of a new opera by one of its stars, Charlotte Hoather.

My penultimate item in this section is a post from Atheist Republic.

Last of all, a campaign set up by parents of disabled children in Sefton, SOS Transport Sefton. For full information check out their blog runawaybus. I urge you to read the blog, and connect with the campaign – these people need support.

PICTORIAL INTERLUDE

In between the two text parts of this blog I have some pictures, the first of which is not of my own creation…

This wonderful election poster deserves to be shared widely.

The next four pics are of plants growing in my Aunt's pots, which I am attending to while she is out of the country. — The next four pics are of plants growing in my Aunt’s pots, which I am attending to while she is out of the country.

Humber Guardian still moored in King's Lynn — Humber Guardian still moored in King’s Lynn

A harbinger of things to come - "Cormorant Platform", at point where the Nar flows into the Ouse. — A harbinger of things to come – “Cormorant Platform”, at point where the Nar flows into the Ouse.

CRICKET SEASON UNDERWAY

The English cricket season is underway, and that the moment I am listening to commentary of Glamorgan v Surrey in the county championship. The match to date has been dominated by the batting of Sangakkara (149) and Davies (now past 150 and still going), as Surrey are piling on the runs. Newly at the wicket following the dismissal of Sangakkara is Jason Roy, who could produce some serious fireworks.

Although,the Test team looks reasonably settled there simply have to be vacancies in the England one day side – the performance in the World Cup that has just concluded was so abysmal that there is no option but to find new players.

Time now for some more pics to finish this post…

It wasn't just sea birds that were enjoying the Nar Outfall — It wasn’t just sea birds that were enjoying the Nar Outfall

First time I've managed to get a swimming cormorant - they dive under so often that they are rarely visible long enough to photograph while swimming. — First time I’ve managed to get a swimming cormorant – they dive under so often that they are rarely visible long enough to photograph while swimming.

Please share widely!!

Spring is Here

Before I get to the main meat of this post I have some links to share.

LINKS

First of all, here is a very interesting and important blog post from Paddy-Joe Moran. Next, courtesy of 38 degrees comes a short video. Cosmos Up produces a variety of interesting stories about a wide range of subjects, and the one I have chosen to share concerns oceans elsewhere than on our own planet. There are actually two outcomes that will be decided by a votes counted up on May 7th, the second being the vote for Britain’s national bird (my choice is pictured below)

My next story comes from the Independent and concerns tougher penalties for dog walkers who do not scoop when the animal poops – excellent so long as the get enforced – see if you agree by reading the article. This section ends with a splendid graphic, which is shown here, but as it is not my own I have also included a link to the original.

SPRING

Today, for the first time in 2015, I am making use of the ‘outside study area’ of my flat…

A close up of the picture on my outside table - still in good condition after a winter outside. — A close up of the picture on my outside table – still in good condition after a winter outside.

The cricket season is under way, although England are in the West Indies for a series starting later this afternoon. A certain K P Pietersen started his season for Surrey by hammering 170 at The Parks yesterday. I suspect that it will take several more innings of similar magnitude before the England selectors display any inclination to take the slightest bit of notice of him.

The comparison between yesterday and today is shown up well by these pictures taken along the same stretch of the Great Ouse…

The next four pictures you will see were taken yesterday.

The next three pictures were taken today.

I have some more splendid pics to share with you to finish this post…

The survey boat the features in the next three pictures was around yesterday.

If you enjoyed this blog post please share it.

Cricket World Cup, Six Nations Rugby and Other Stuff

Some excellent links at the top os the post. Then some comment on the cricket world cup, then some cool pics, then the Six Nations and finally some more pics.

As with my last post I am going to start with a links section before moving to the main meat of the post…

LINKS

http://blog.autism-mom.com/2015/03/what-we-told-the-school-district/ An inspiring account of a meeting between parents of autistic kids and education authorities.

http://autisticeyes.com/?p=1012 A post about aspies and difficulties with handwriting.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/mar/20/muslim-woman-veil-hijab A sensible article about the veil.

http://www.cosmosup.com/meet-james-webb-space-telescope/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Cosmosup+%28CosmosUp%29

http://www.cosmosup.com/over-million-young-stars-are-forming-in-a-mysterious-dusty-gas-cloud-in-nearby-galaxy/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Cosmosup+%28CosmosUp%29

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/school-children-banned-from-watching-the-solar-eclipse-for-cultural-and-religious-reasons-10122964.html An outrageous story of a headteacher who banned children from watching the eclipse for “cultural and religious reasons” Ivor Johnstone, the headteacher concerned failed miserably to justify this decision. He compounded the failure by saying that cloudy weather probably meangt they had not missed anything anywway – wrong, as the desktop background on my work computer testifies.

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/21/tory-education-secretary-is-right-she-should-be-held-responsible-for-the-mess-in-our-schools/ A rattling good article about Nicky Morgan

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/03/21/broxtowe-do-you-really-want-anna-soubry-as-your-mp/ Anna Soubry gets the Mike Sivier treatment.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-minister-esther-mcvey-accused-5375040 More trouble for McVile.

https://dankeeling1.wordpress.com/2015/03/20/political-centre/ This is the post that signposted the survey below.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-31973051 No surprise where I came out!

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/21/grant-shapps-dean-archer-legal-action-michael-green?CMP=share_btn_tw – Bad news for the downright dishonourable Mr Shapps/ Green/ Fox is good news for us ordinary folk!

http://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/anger-after-reeves-tells-benefit-claimants-labour-is-not-for-you/ – Is Rachel Reeves the Kim Philby of this election campaign? Stories such a this suggest that it is a possibility.

http://politicalscrapbook.net/2015/03/was-grant-shapps-trading-as-a-corporation-which-didnt-actually-exist/ – More bad news for the Tory chairman!

CRICKET

The last of the quarter-finals of the cricket world cup ended earlier today UK time. New Zealand obliterated the West Indies in a match dominated by Martin Guptill’s amazing 237 not out (the last 137 off 51 balls if I remember rightly). The semi-final line up is thus India v Australia (head and heart both say India to win that one) and New Zealand vs South Africa, neither of whom have ever got further than the semis (impossible to predict, heart says NZ). South Africa’s potential bete noire is their lack of an all-rounder, which means either playing only four front-line bowlers as they have so far, or dropping a batsman to make way for a fifth bowler. For more details about the Guptill knock, and the records he rewrote in the process check out www.cricinfo.com. Before moving on to the rugby section, some pics…

This is the edited but not cropped version that now serves as the desktop background on my work computer!

The Fakenham cinema viewed from top deck of an X8

SIX NATIONS

Today has been an amazing day in the Six Nations. First of all Wales thrashed Italy to become favourites for the trophy. Then Ireland won by a sufficient margin at Murrayfield to move into pole position to retain their title. England who had the toughest assignment of the three contenders need to beat France by 26 or more to take the title on points difference. At the moment it is not looking good for England. France have just scored and converted a try to move within five points of England – looking more and more like the trophy is staying in the emerald isle. England nine points to the good (34-25) – another 17 needed to take the trophy. Another try for England – moves them within 12 with possibly two more to come. Conversion successful – England need 10 unanswered points for the trophy. James Haskell in the sin bin – not looking good for England. France have just scored the try that surely ends England’s hopes of the trophy – England 41 France 30 with a French conversion to come. Conversion missed – England need 15 unanswered points. Another try – England 46 France 30. A successful conversion for England and it is 48-30 – eight more points for England and they win. France have just scored again – England now need 13 points – conversion to come. The equation is now that England need to find 13 more points and they have 13 minutes in which to do it. Jack Nowell has scored another try – reducing the ask to eight points. Conversion by George Ford – England 55 France 35 – a converted try will win them the Six Nations. The whistle has gone and an amazing final day at the Six Nations is over – Ireland retain the title and England are runners-up for the fourth time in succession. Wales in spite of scoring 61 points in Rome earlier today finish third. I will now finish this post with a few more pics…

A Pot Pourri of Pics (and other stuff)

As I prepare for another day at work, I am listening to commentary from the Cricket World Cup. Bangladesh are giving a good account of themselves against New Zealand in Hamilton, while in between rain breaks in Sydney England look like finishing a truly appalling world cup campaign with victory over Afghanistan (maybe they should accept Cricket Japan’s invite to stop by for a few games on the way home!)

The pictures I will be sharing at various points in this post are from two sources, imaging for the March Auction (now practically complete) and some pics from in and around King’s Lynn. At some point in the future I will be putting up a post about architectural features to be found in the village of East Rudham, having recently taken some good pics there.

A lot of the imaging I did on Tuesday was of banknotes in albums, but a few other bits got in there as well…

This was one of a quantity of these that made up lot 349

This lot could appeal to postcard collecotrs, but also to those interested in stamps and postal history, so I have covered all bases!

My Wednesday morning walk was fitted in between the cricket commentary finishing and meeting my mother to go to East Rudham for lunch, photographing architecture, providing a tutorial in MS Access and finally playing bridge at the Jolly Sailors. This latter was enjoyable in spite of the fact that I had the kind of luck that should be toasted in extra bitter Fernet Branca!. At 5p a hundred I ended up £1.30 down on the evening – and on the three hands on which I was declarer I made two of the contracts and went one down undoubled on the other. Here are some of the highlights from the walk…

I will finish by showing you some images from yesterday’s mop-up operation…

I don't normally image single coins, but the person who usually does them was not around at the time I located this one, so I did it. — I don’t normally image single coins, but the person who usually does them was not around at the time I located this one, so I did it.

Imaging it the way I did meant I automatically had close-ups of each face - and if you've got 'em, use 'em — Imaging it the way I did meant I automatically had close-ups of each face – and if you’ve got ’em, use ’em

The next three items, lots 419,428 and 429 are sold with the usual caveats attendant on German militaria - at the buyer's own risk. — The next three items, lots 419,428 and 429 are sold with the usual caveats attendant on German militaria – at the buyer’s own risk.

Now come two lots of scenic postcards for each of what I produced two images.

Lot 726 (This, and the remaining three pics) is very nice.

Bellerive Blockbuster

The best match of the 2015 Cricket World Cup so far took place at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart this morning GB time. Ireland, with a century from Ed Joyce and 97 from Andrew Balbirnie reached 331-8. In reply Zimbabwe fought brilliantly, and at various times, not least when they took 19 from the 49th over, bowled by Kevin O’Brien, to leave themselves needing seven of six balls, they looked like favourites for what have been the largest successful chase in World Cup history. Alex Cusack kept a cool head, and put the finishing touches to a fine bowling performance by capturing the two remaining Zimbabwe wickets for the addition of a single, in three balls. A full scorecard can be viewed by clicking here. Having set the scene with this opening account I will share some pictures before moving on…

This device appears above Paper Klip, the Fakenham stationers.

Not only was that match a classic, featuring quality performances from many players, but the eventual result means that Ireland have now won three matches at this tournament, and are very well placed to progress to the quarter finals. The only disappointment to me was that the Player of the Match Award went boringly (and in my opinion wrongly) to Ed Joyce for his hundred when the key to Ireland’s victory was the cool head under pressure displayed by Alex Cusack. Having witnessed this amazing match I am more convinced than ever that the ICC would be utterly wrong to reduce associate nation involvement in the World Cup. My response to Aakash Chopra who gets to publicise his ideas on www.cricinfo.com and who believes that the World Cup should be reduced to ten teams and that the associates should concentrate on getting to play more matches against full members outside of world cups is twofold. First he is guilty of presenting a false dichotomy: it is not a case of either or – i would like to see both more matches between full members and associates outside of world cups and greater associate participation in World Cups. Whether he is guilty of any offence beyond sloppy logic I am not prepared to say, but it is only in cricket that anyone argues for a smaller world cup. My thoughts on how the Cricket World Cup should be formatted can be viewed by clicking here.

Congratulations to Ireland on a magnificent performance. Before sharing some more pictures I will comment on nations who first entered the world cup as associates and are now full members:

Sri Lanka – played 1975 and 1979 as associates before being granted full membership – Won in 1996 (a feat never achieved by England), Runners up in 2011.

Zimbabwe – made world cup debut in 1983 as an associate,promoted to full membership in 1992 – beat Australia in their first ever world cup match, nearly beat India (eventual champions), later in that competition, and in 1999 when England were ejected from their own party embarrassingly early came with an ace of qualifying for the semi-final.

Bangladesh – No great highlights yet, but are going fairly well this time, and there is at least one person who would not be in the least surprised were they to end up progressing further than England.

Now for the second batch of pictures…

I was delighted to see cormorants back on the structure I have dubbed Cormorant platform as for some weeks due to nearby roadworks they had not been in evidence.

The Sutcliffe Formula for a Cricket World Cup (and Some Cool Pictures)

There has been much talk at the Cricket World Cup about how the tournament should be formatted, especially given that there are those who would reduce it to a ten team tournament (so utterly harebrained a notion that I do no more than mention it). Several of the associate nations at this world cup have given good accounts of themselves, with Ireland having a strong chance of progressing to the quarter finals.

My formula for a Cricket World Cup would be as follows:

16 teams to play in the tournament. Stage one would involve two groups of eight teams, the top four from each group progressing. Each group would play its matches in sets of four (hence two groups of eight), making seven rounds of matches for each group, to played on alternate days (i.e. this stage would span two weeks, with each side having a day off between matches.

After the group stage would be a three day break before the quarter-finals, which would be played all on one day. After a two day break the semi–finals would take place. Then following another two day break the final would take place. This would mean that the tournament would be played in a period of three and a half weeks (a sensible length for a global tournament).

As for the TV people: If they don’t like it they can lump it.

Now for some pics…

Developments at King's Lynn bus station. — Developments at King’s Lynn bus station.

These magpies played a good game of hide and seek with me - but as this picture proves I emerged the winner! — These magpies played a good game of hide and seek with me – but as this picture proves I emerged the winner!

Yesterday’s #SaveOurNHS action in King’s Lynn

A good turnout helped ensure the success of yesterday’s signature collecting session in King’s Lynn. Although it was grey with the King’s Lynn ‘lazy wind’ (cannot be bothered to go round you so goes straight through you) blowing the response was excellent. Even I, though I rarely fare particularly well gathering signatures (this is one area where having an Autistic Spectrum Condition does make things difficult), collected over 20, and received some kind comments even from some of those who did not sign. The total number of signatures gathered in central King’s Lynn yesterday will certainly be in the high hundreds.

Here some pictures from yesterday’s activities, some of them taken for me by the photographer from the Lynn News who took team pics for that publication…

Team Pic in Frame

There has been a lot of sporting action this weekend. In the six nations there have been wins for Wales against France and for Italy against Scotland. Italy should have won by more than three points but Kelly Haimona had another shocker with the boot. Likewise, the principal difference between France and Wales was that Camille Lopez had a poor game with the boot whereas Leigh Halfpenny was up to us usual stratospheric standards for Wales. The Frenchman who kicked Ireland’s Jamie Heaslip in the back has deservedly been banned for the rest of the tournament – if he ever plays international rugby again he will luckier than he deserves to be.

In the cricket world cup, England suffered another humiliating defeat, this time at Sri Lanka’s hands. Having tallied 309 from their 50, England should have been capable of putting up some sort of defence of that total, but Sri Lanka had nine wickets and three overs to spare at the end. In the battle of the co-hosts New Zealand emerged victorious. The margin was only one wicket, but with more than half of their overs unused! Australia’s batting having done a passable impression of a house of cards, their bowlers fought back well to make a contest of it.

I have some other pics from yesterday…

This clock adorns one of the towers of King's Lynn Minster — This clock adorns one of the towers of King’s Lynn Minster

This is in between those two towers.... — This is in between those two towers….

...And this adorns the second — …And this adorns the second

“Your Captain’s Irish” and some Cool Pics

The first part of the title refers to a chant allegedly perpetrated by Scottish fans at the cricket world cup. It is perfectly true that England’s current ODI captain is Irish. It is also hypocritical for such a chant to come from Scotland fans whose team is captained by Preston Mommsen (hardly a 22 carat Caledonian name!). Finally I do not consider birthplace to be all that important – what matters is that people give 100% out on the pitch. This team (and note it has proper balance – it is not just 11 players) is made up exclusively of players I have seen playing for England, and its members have one either thing in common which I shall reveal after I have shared some pictures. Here is our team:

Andrew Strauss (Captain)
Robin Smith
Jonathan Trott
Kevin Pietersen
Allan Lamb
Nasser Nussain (Vice Captain)
Matthew Prior (Wicketkeeper)
Philippe-Henri Edmonds (SLA)
Andrew Caddick (RFM)
Alan Mullally (LF)
Devon Malcolm (RF)

The only slightly questionable selection is Robin Smith as opener, a position he never actually filled, but given his relish for fast bowling he would probably have fared well there. There is no all-rounder because Basil D’Oliveira had retired from international cricket before I was born and Tony Greig not long after. Now for some pics…

These were growing beside Hardwick Road!

Detail from above the door of Custom House

Close detail of immediately above to door of Custom House.

The answer to what that team all of have in common is all were born outside England:

Strauss, Smith, Trott, Pietersen, Lamb and Prior were all born in South Africa, Hussain in India, Caddick in New Zealand, Mullally in Australia, Malcolm in Jamaica and Edmonds in Zambia (he is also half Belgian, hence the first name Philippe-Henri).

KLASS and the Cricket World Cup

A week today is the date of the next meeting of the Kings Lynn Asperger Support Society. We will be meeting at the Lattice House on Chapel Street from 6PM. Our April meeting will be a week later than usual, on the second Monday of the month, because April 6th is Easter Monday. We will be moving to our summer venue of the quayside near the Lower Purfleet, which gives us the back up option should the weather decline to co-operate of ducking into Marriott’s Warehouse (what – British weather decline to co-operate – surely not!). I have produced an information sheet using Word, which I have then turned into a JPG for online usage (already shared with my twitter followers)…

KLASS

This is the original photo of the Lattice House used in the document.

This is the original photo of Marriott's used in the document. — This is the original photo of Marriott’s used in the document.

The Cricket World Cup is still in full swing. Recently we have witnessed India thrashing South Africa, Sri Lanka just sneaking home courtesy of a magnificent innings from Mahela jayawardene against Afghanistan who continue to do the associate nations and themselves proud and England finally demonstrating that they have not completely forgotten how to play the game they invented. On that last however, a victory over a Scotland team whose bowling had about as much venom as an earthworm is nothing to be shouting about. I for one would not be prepared to put money (even had I such a commodity) on England getting the better of Afghanistan and Bangladesh as they need to to progress. In many ways actually, falling at the first hurdle would be better for England than a reprise of 1996 where they reached the quarter finals having beaten the non test playing nations in their group and not looked remotely like beating any test playing opposition and were then thoroughly humiliated by Sri Lanka in the quarter final. An elimination at the first stage cannot be window dressed so it would mean reality having be looked squarely in the eye. A few final pics…

Guist post office (approx 5 miles from Fakenham), viewed through the window of an X29 bus

St Ann's House - directly opposite St Nicholas Chapel — St Ann’s House – directly opposite St Nicholas Chapel

Where 38 Degrees members will be meeting on Saturday for NHS related action.

The flag flying from the Guildhall on Saturday.

Similar size and shape to mallard drake but very different colouring.

	Aoteroa Axed by Ahme… on South Africa Finnished as Alle…
	Thomas on World T20 Cup Underway
	Anna on World T20 Cup Underway
	London Underground t… on Project Piccadilly
	Thomas on All Time XIs – Detective…