Adam Ball (England)

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Adam Ball (England)

Adam Ball 

* Played for Arsenal Football Club’s Academy between 9 and 12

* Favourite all-time cricketer is Andrew Flintoff

10 Interesting Facts About The Olympic Games

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10 Facts About The Olympic Games You Probably Didn't Know Unless you have been living under a rock you might have noticed the world being caught in an Olympic frenzy. You can’t switch on the TV, read a paper, browse social networks without finding the latest updates on record breakers, losers and winners, as the 2012 Summer Olympics hosted in London is well underway.

To celebrate this is amazing tradition we have a look at 10 interesting facts you may or may not know about the Olympic Games.

1) The early Olympic Games were actually a religious festival until 393 AD when it was banned for being a pagan festival. (The games celebrated the Greek god Zeus.) In these early games women were not allowed to participate and only unmarried women were allowed to be spectators or face the penalty of death. This is mainly because the contestants were naked.

2) It wasn’t until 1894 that the French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin, suggested a revival of the ancient games which took place in 1896 in Greece. The host nation won the games with 47 medals.  The world’s youngest Olympic athlete to date took place in these games according to http://www.topendsports.com/sport/gymnastics/profiles/loundras-dimitrios.htm was Loundras Dimitrios was aged 10 years old and a received a bronze medal in a team event.

3) The Olympic Ring colours make up the five colours of the main continents of the world – Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceana.

4) More than 3,600g of Gold will used to plate the medals used in the 2012 Olympics. This has a rough estimated value of $193,250

5) The first Olympics to be televised were the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. This is the famous Olympics that were hosted in Germany with the Nazi’s in power. It was also known for the athlete Jesse Owens who achieved international accolade by winning four gold medals.

6) The country to win more medals in the summer games than any other country is the United States with 2,189 medals.

7) The first athlete to win a medal in the Olympic Games was the American James Connolly. However, James did not receive a gold medal he received a silver medal the highest accolade of medal at the time.

8) Speaking of gold medals the medals aren’t actually pure gold. They are actually silver with gold plating. They haven’t been made out of pure gold for over 100 years.

9) The Olympics have been cancelled three times always down to war. The 1916 Summer Olympics was cancelled due to World War I, whilst the Helsinki summer Olympics and the 1944 summer Olympics in London was cancelled due to World War II.

10) We usually associate doves as a sign of peace for the Olympics. However, in the ancient summer games these doves were shot down by archers in the archery section. 

Neil Maycock writes articles for Sports Mats Direct providers of sports mats and exercise matting

Top 5 Highest Run-Scoring Debuts in Test History

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Test match cricket: the highest level of the sport. 

For many cricketers this is an unreachable level, for others it can take many years before they start to flourish in this rarefied environment. But, for a select few, a test match debut can provide a memorable success, a personal triumph, and a great platform to build on. The top five test match batting debuts are listed below.

Image courtesy of Rikx - http://www.flickr.com/photos/95438214@N00/

Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji – 216 runs
This Indian prince made his test debut for England in 1896, when test matches consisted of three days play, in a match that what would ultimately end in defeat. Australia batted first and amassed a total of 412. 

England hit back with a reply of 231, of which Ranjitsinhji, or Ranji as he was commonly known, made a steady 62.  England were then forced to follow on and this is where he made his landmark century, scoring 154 runs, over half of England's second innings total, as they reached 305. Sadly for Ranji, Australia reached their target and won by 3 wickets - quite the bittersweet debut.

Jacques Rudolph – 222 runs
The week before his 22nd birthday, a promising South African was handed his debut in the first test of the Bangladesh tour of 2003.  As the newest test nation, Bangladesh struggled somewhat in their first innings, making a mere 173.  The South African first innings was vastly different thanks to a young man by the name of Jacques Rudolph. 

Entering the fray at 38 for 1, the pressure was on but Rudolph responded magnificently, especially after the score moved to 41 for 2.  However, Boeta Dippenaar then came to the crease and the pair built up a mammoth 3rd wicket stand of 429, of which Rudolph contributed 222.  South Africa declared on 470 and Bangladesh struggled in their 2nd innings, resulting in a South African victory by an innings and 60 runs.

Yasir Hameed – 275 runs
In 2003, Bangladesh were the victims of an outstanding test debut for the second time. On this occasion it was Yasir Hameed of Pakistan who helped put them to the sword. 

Hameed hailed from Peshawar and was a relatively old 25 years of age when he made his debut.  He came in at number three for Pakistan as they replied to the Bangladeshi first innings total of 274, and immediately showed his class, hitting 170 runs, coming in with the score at 5 for 1. The second innings also saw Hameed hit a century, striking 105 on the way to a Pakistan victory by 7 wickets.

Reginald Foster – 306 runs
1903, Sydney, the first Ashes Test and a young man by the name of Reginald Foster from Worcestershire struck, what remains to this day, the highest single innings score by a debutant. Chasing the Australians' 285 first innings score, Foster managed to hit 287 on his own as England made 577.  Foster only managed 19 in the second innings but still helped England to a five-wicket victory.

Lawrence Rowe – 314 runs
The most successful test debut of all time came from the bat of Lawrence Rowe in the first match of the West Indies versus South Africa series in 1972. Rowe was a very talented batsman from Kingston and this is where his memorable debut took place.  A first innings total of 214, followed by a second innings total of 100 not out, put the West Indies in a commanding position. Though New Zealand batted out the final day to secure a draw with four wickets to spare, Rowe’s combined total of 314 remains the highest aggregate score by a debutant in history.

While some of the game’s greats have endured rather inauspicious starts to their test match careers, and not all of those listed above managed to continue in the same successful vein, the debut appearance is a memory that endures for all. And for these five it was a moment to savour.


This article is brought to you by Keith Prowse, specialist providers of corporate hospitality at cricketing events. Visit their website for Edgbaston, Lord's and Oval tickets.

Chad Bowes (South Africa)

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Chad Bowes (South Africa)

• Nicknamed ‘Pigeon’

• Made his first-class debut for KwaZulu-Natal in March 2011

• Favourite cricketer is AB de Villiers for his skill, self-belief and integrity

The Greatest Trophy Ever Awarded

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This summer, the Olympics are on everyone’s mind whether you are into sport or you prefer less energetic past times. The majority of people will have seen a few events on the television and they will have seen athletes receiving their medals. For some people, an Olympic gold medal is the ultimate award. Few trophies are coveted as much, although there are some very high profile trophies that some consider more important.

The Beautiful Game
When I grew up, the Football World Cup was all that I imagined lifting, kissing and waving above my head. Goals scored in the schoolyard were followed by an imaginary award ceremony at least ten times every break time. Lifting the real thing may have been in the imagination, but you can’t beat the feeling you get when you shake someone’s hand before receiving your first trophy in front of your teammates and your parents. The special feeling of achievement is unique, despite the fact that everyone in the room had a trophy by the end of the presentation.

The Weight of the Nation
Andy Murray at Wimbledon 2012 must have felt like that child all over again. He had unbelievable support and he was the best chance we have had for a Wimbledon men’s winner since Fred Perry in 1936. The pain when he lost was obvious as he wore his heart on his sleeve and broke down in tears in front of the watching fans and television audience. Like Paul Gascoigne crying in the World Cup 1990 semi-final upon realising he would miss the final because of a yellow card, the country warmed to Andy Murray. These are great examples of when a trophy is more than just bragging rights or an ego boost.

It’s just not Cricket Sir!
Success in sport is how most people receive trophies, but there are many other reasons a trophy may be awarded. The BAFTAs and OSCARs are two high profile awards for success in the workplace, but many employers, award titles and trophies to best performers and loyal employees. Rewarding people is an excellent motivational tool and it breeds healthy competition in competitive workplaces. There doesn’t need to be a black tie award ceremony once a year for people to recognise who is doing well in the company. In most cases, it could be a simple gathering at the end of the month before everyone heads home after work. However, you receive a trophy; it is always nice to know you are appreciated.


If you think, someone deserves a trophy, check out the range at www.onlinetrophies.co.uk/.

Who Plays Online Bingo?

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When someone says the words “online bingo” to you, do you see lots of little grey-haired old ladies hunched over their laptops, mouse in one hand and a cup of tea in the other, passing a leisurely afternoon or evening? If your answer is in the affirmative, then you have got it very wrong. You’re just transferring the age-old bingo stereotype from the halls to the computer. While exact demographic figures are difficult to come by, surveys have been conducted that give some idea about the constitution of the market. Figures do, of course, vary from country to country, but the trends are the same.

Image courtesy of CarbonNYC, Flickr 

Gender
Globally, the online bingo-playing community gender split is roughly 80 per cent women and 20 per cent men, although in the United Kingdom, the figures are 70 per cent and 30 percent. The reason for the higher global figures is that in developing countries, bingo is still largely thought of as a woman’s game. It has been said that women prefer the atmosphere generated by the bingo websites. They find them friendlier than poker sites, and bingo sites have certainly gone out of their way to have friendly bingo callers and make women feel wanted and welcome. Other research suggests that women are more likely than men to take part in marathon sessions.

Age
The biggest grouping of players falls into the 35 to 50 age range, at just over 25 per cent, and it has been said that the average age of a player is 47. Presumably, the little grey-haired old ladies are not aware of the new online opportunities, or don’t possess the means to join in, but whatever the reason, they are not the face of online bingo. In fact, those aged over 65 represent just under 3 per cent of global players. Those aged between 50 and 65 account for around 12 per cent. In the United Kingdom, the biggest and fastest growing demographic grouping is for women, aged between 18 and 25, representing a third of the total market, while on a global scale, the figure for that age group is just under 14 per cent. Players between the ages of 25 and 35 account for just under 16 per cent.

Race
Online bingo is popular in countries all over the world, covering all races. The biggest markets, in terms of money, are in Japan and the United States. The United Kingdom has the highest online profile, although it isn’t the biggest audience, totalling approximately three million people.

Frequency
Recent research shows that out of the one hundred million online bingo players (that’s 85 per cent of all bingo players), half of them play every day.

Reasons for playing
People who have a little flutter obviously like to see a return on their investment, but as many of the bingo games are played for low stakes, winning a prize is not seen by everyone as the most important reason to go online. A huge number of people play bingo online because of the social aspect. All bingo sites are different, but the rise of online bingo has led to the development of social networking, forums and chat rooms etc. These are very busy with people who are actually very sociable and like to make online friends. This is possibly not surprising when you think of the fact that many players are at home with children or other commitments. Of course, there is always the chance for a little online flirting and romance, an opportunity taken up by many of those who play, particularly the men, who are in the minority.

Online bingo is a flourishing sector of the internet, providing the thrills and spills of gambling, in an exciting, friendly environment, from the comfort of a person’s home, with the added bonus of being able to meet and chat to people of a like mind. As such, there can be no doubt that it will continue to thrive and prosper.


This article is brought to you by PIck Me Up Bingo.

American Competitors in Taekwondo in the 2012 Olympics

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2012 Olympic's American Taekwondo TeamMany people are surprised to learn that taekwondo is a major event in the Summer Olympics. In the Olympic Games, each country is able to send a total of four competitors to compete in the taekwondo event; two men, and two women.  The tournaments are divided into different weight classes. As with any other Olympic event, each competitor is scored by judges, and receives points, and point deductions dependent upon the rules of the game. A loss in one tournament does not automatically disqualify a contender.

Some of the rules have changed for this year’s Olympic Games in taekwondo. A loss in the first game will allow still a competitor to compete again for the chance to earn a bronze metal.  A total of two bronze metals are awarded for each weight class in the Olympic Games. This year’s Olympic events will be exciting for the four Americans who have qualified to take part. Each of the four has trained very hard, and is aiming for gold!

Here is America’s 2012 Olympic Taekwondo team:
Steven Lopez is one of many American competitors in this year’s 2012 Olympics in London. Lopez is a five time world record holder, and at age 33, is one of the oldest competitors in this year’s Olympic Games. Lopez’s brother Jean is his coach, and his sister, Diana is also competing in this year’s Olympics. 

Diana Lopez, now 28 years old, won a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics in taekwondo. In 2005, she and her two brothers, Steven and Mark became the first three siblings ever to win a world championship in the same event in taekwondo. Lopez has also received the USA Taekwondo Female Athlete of the Year award three times, in 2005, 2006, and in 2008.

Paige McPherson began taekwondo training at the age of seven. McPherson has already won three bronze medals in the junior Olympics from 2003-2004. Now at the age of 21, McPherson is the youngest of the four competitors. No doubt McPherson is living out her dream as one of the four Americans competing in the 2012 summer Olympics for taekwondo.

Terrence Jennings, age 24, is a first time Olympian competitor in the 2012 summer Olympics. Jennings has had many accomplishments. Jennings was the USA Taekwondo Male Athlete of the Year in 2011. Jennings won two bronze medals in the Pan American Games, and has won two taekwondo titles since 2003.  


If you are interested in taking taekwondo lessons in Gilbert or Chandler, Arizona, please contact Sandoval Freestyle Karate and ask about special offers and family discounts.

Crazy Facts About The Olympics

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Crazy Facts About The Olympics
Less than a few days in the 2012 Olympics and we have already seen some crazy things – from the parachuting Queen in the opening ceremony through to the ridiculous imagery of four Olympians trying the best to lose and a 16 year old girl comfortably out-swimming her male rivals, London has been host to some bizarre spectacles. Yet, for long time followers of the Olympics, the event has always boasted a history full of peculiarities and odd occurrences,. Here are some of the craziest facts about the Olympics.

Abebe Bikila Didn’t Have Time To Find Trainers

In the Olympic games of Rome in 1960, Abebe Bikila became the first African to win a marathon. That, in and of itself, is not overly peculiar but the preparation he made in advance of the games certainly was. The Ethiopian runner’s admission to the team was so last minute he only joined the team as their plane to Italy was about to leave. 

Needless to say, this left him with very little preparation time and, upon arriving in Rome, was unable to find a decent pair of trainers. As such, Bikila decided to perform the race barefoot and won. Four years later he returned and, despite having his appendix removed just a matter of weeks before the games, repeated the same feat. He was given a reward for his stunning task – a Volkswagen Beetle which, ultimately, he drove into a ditch and became paraplegic. Despite his pledges to win the next marathon whilst in a wheelchair, he died of a cerebral haemorrhage before he had the chance to attempt this Herculean feat..

The Olympics Used To Be Very Boring
The original Olympics back in ancient Greece were not the spectacle they are today. The audience and participants were all men and instead of the wide array of sports we are used to today, there was only one sporting event. Named “The Stadion Race”, the participants had to race across one length of the stadium. This was the sole even for the first fourteen years until the “Two-stade Race” was added – this race was simply running from one side of the stadium to the other and back again. As the events grew older more races were added, varying in length and then including gimmicks such as racing in full armour before, finally, a wider array of activities were added included martial arts, boxing and wrestling.

Disqualified for Drinking Beer
   As drug testing has got more advanced, many athletes have been caught out trying to cheat their way to medals and glory with the use of performance enhancing drugs. Yet, the very first athlete to be disqualified at the games was Hans-Gunnar Lijenwall, the Swedish pentathlete who drank two beers to calm his nerves before taking part in shooting. The result of his actions, which it would be hard pressed to be considered as performance enhacing, was that the entire Swedish team were forced to return their medals.

The Opening Torch Relay Was Invented by Nazi Germany
   Many individuals believe that the Olympic Torch Relay is a tradition which stems from the original games in Ancient Greece. This, however, is not the case – the ceremony was conceived by Nazi party member Carl Diem in 1934 and put to practise when Germany hosted the Olympics in 1936. Found of aesthetic propaganda and poetry of imagery, Hitler commissioned film-director Leni Reifenstahl to shoot a re-enactment of the relay for her movie Olympia. Whilst many look at the torch relay as a tradition based in a universal connection, it was actually conceived as propaganda for one of the most brutal dictatorships of recent history..


Kieron Casey is a fashion writer and a big Olympics fan who regularly blogs for Barratts; he recommends checking out their womens trainers for any budding Olympian of the future.

Things You Might Not Know About The Olympic Stadium

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Things You Might Not Know About The Olympic Stadium
The 80,000 strong Olympic Stadium may be in the midst of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London this year but have you ever stopped to think what will happen to the structure after the event comes to a conclusion and what makes it such an attractive proposition?

One thing is almost certain, the stadia won’t remain as an 80,000-seater venue with proposals from football clubs West Ham United and Leyton Orient suggesting reductions to respective 60,000 and 25,000 capacities.
The Olympic Legacy Company is the institution who makes the decision regarding the future of the Olympic Stadium but a number of legal wrangles between the aforementioned West Ham, Leyton Orient and another professional football side, Tottenham Hotspur, have halted the race to win the keys to the ground in 2013.

Whatever the outcome, the Olympic Legacy Company will be desperate to avoid a situation similar to their Greek counterparts which has seen their stadium equivalent described as a place of “desolation and despair”.

To the naked eye, the London Olympic Stadium presents a bowl-like shape with triangular pointing lights that spike out at the top of the structure. However, there is much more to the building of the venue which cost £500m to construct and three years to build using formwork – all of which makes it a worthwhile acquisition to bidders. To demonstrate, here are some things you may not know about the Olympic Stadium.

Second Olympic Stadium
Built in less than a year, the first Olympic Stadium to grace the UK was in 1908 after the country stepped in for Rome who were originally due to host the event. It cost just £60,000 to construct and even incorporated a swimming pool in the middle of the stadium. It was demolished in 1985.

Built in layers
Like the dissection of an onion, the Olympic Stadium can be peeled back in layers. Architects Populous specifically designed the stadium with its long-term legacy in mind. The temporary layers of the structure include the roof, the wrap and the upper tier seats which can all be stripped off to reduce the capacity to a total of 25,000

The roof
The existing roof on the Olympic Stadium is made of PVC rather than more common place materials such as steel or concrete. This decision was made so the roof could be easily dismantled and have a minimal environmental affect while reducing costs. 

Black and white seats
You may have noticed the black and white seat design within the stands of the Olympic Stadium. Shaped in jagged shards, the colour scheme is meant to be a tribute towards the London 2012 graphics and logo which also features sharp and cutting edges. The lines of the design are co-ordinated to point at towards the 100m finishing line – representing the point which energy radiates.

Retail
The bars, food areas and information points have all been built as individual pods that are located in and around the stadium which means they can easily be removed without the added hassle of reconstruction to the formwork of the structure.


An experienced and talented copywriter, Matthew Wood writes SEO savvy content for a collection of online publications and web projects.  Matthew's latest work involves writing creative and engaging content on the subjects of Scaffolding Supplies and Formwork for the established online brand Unit Plant Services.

Olympians of Translation Services

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Olympians of Translation Services
With all the publicity surrounding the London Olympics, a lot has been spoken about the shortcomings of the organisers. Much of this has resulted from the failure of one aspect of security, quickly rectified by our ever-vigilant forces. It is a shame that our tabloid press and even our news channels have allocated so many resources to highlighting the failings, instead of praising the successes. There is much more to an Olympic games than security and efforts to accommodate athletes and officials were appreciated by visiting teams who required in depth translation services.

En francais s'il vous plait
The official language of the Olympic Games is French because a Frenchman founded the modern Olympics. While the International Olympic Committee is not based in France, its location in Switzerland is also French speaking. English is also an official language of the 2012 games, but French will precede announcements when there are medals awarded to winners. The opening ceremony was also led with French announcements. Luckily, London already has a huge population of foreign visitors and the translation services that service this demand have worked hard to welcome visitors from more than two hundred countries for the Games.

Diversity was the Key Ingredient
London’s recipe for success when bidding for the Olympics in Singapore was based largely on the diverse population that resides therein. The Olympic bid delegation who represented Great Britain, spoke 28 different languages as a first language when they presented their pitch. This helped remove the illusion that people from the UK expect the rest of the world to speak English all of the time. Although this may be the case for many holidaymakers travelling to the Costas for their holidays, London’s multi-lingual population proved too much of a draw to be ignored.

Cashing in on New Languages
As with all business in the modern world, it is a lot easier to speak the language of your customers. I recently travelled with a taxi driver who informed me of the efforts made to help taxi drivers, converse with visitors. There has been a large initiative to get cab drivers to learn the basics of other languages and they were given CDs, which taught simple conversation skills. Anyone who could master the basics would be able to display flags denoting their multi-lingual abilities and cash in on the extra business during the London Olympics. With London such a multi-cultural city, the ability to use other languages, may be one legacy that cab drivers appreciate for years to come.


If you want to discover how translation services can help your business, visit www.world-translations.com/.

Sports Betting Guide

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Sports Betting- Soccer

There are always plenty of options for sports betting, especially online. There are some terrific website where sports betting odds are very favorable to those who are intelligent gamblers. In addition, most websites have free sports bets of a certain amount when you first sign up for an account. For example, if you add $50 to your account on the website, you will get $50 or $100 in free sports bets. These are offers that are difficult to beat for value.

Soccer Betting

Betting on soccer is always very unique for the fact that there are so many different permutations that can be bet on. There is betting that is done on the overall outcome of a league season. However, in that case the favorites always have low odds which means it is difficult to make good money that way.
The best way to make money on sports betting with soccer is to go on individual matches. For any one game, you can bet on either team winning or their being a draw. Normally in soccer games where both teams are fairly even, the odds on the home team will be shorter than the away team. If you think the away team is stronger or in better form, they are always a good bet, particularly in the English, Italian, and Spanish leagues.

There are also bets that can be placed on how many goals will be scored in a match. Here is an overview of the three top leagues and where such bets should be placed.

England:

In England, games involving two teams that are similar are likely to yield 2.5 goals instead of under 2.5 goals. This is because the English league is known for being extremely end to end, with all teams looking to score as much as possible. This makes for goal feasts and plenty of 2-2 or 3-3 draws, in addition to 2-1, 3-2, or even 4-3 victories for either team.

Italy:

On the opposite spectrum, Italy is a league where two even teams are likely to share a 0-0 or 1-1 draw. If you find a game where both teams have similar quality, then bet on the game being under 2.5 goals. This will provide good value for money. However, in games where teams are very different in their levels, then an over 2.5 goals bet would be more sensible.

Spain:

Much like England, the goal scoring in Spanish games is more regular than it is in Italy. For these games, an over 2.5 goals bet is almost always the best bet. The Spanish league has two very good teams, Real Madrid and Barcelona, with the rest of the league being very even. Betting on number of goals scored, instead of match results, is probably the safest way to make money.

Betting on Europe's premier competition, the UEFA Champions League, can also be relatively lucrative when it comes to over 2.5, under 2.5 bets. The group stage games often pit teams that are very strong against weaker teams, resulting in high goal scoring. However, the latter rounds (quarter finals onward) will result in tighter games with much more on the line. In these games, betting on under 2.5 goals is the best way to go.

So go ahead and check out which websites offer the best deals on sports betting. The soccer season is getting underway in Europe so your betting can begin as soon as possible!

About Author:

Karol is a soccer fanatic and loves betting on English Premier League. He is always checking the uk betting tips before placing any bigger bets.

Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralidaran At ICC World Twenty20 2012 Launch

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Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralidaran At ICC World Twenty20 2012 Launch


Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralidaran at the launch of the ICC World Twenty20 2012 supported Murali Harmony Cup in Colombo on Monday.

ICC Test Cricketer of The Year Award Nominees 2012

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ICC Test Cricketer of The Year Award Nominees 2012

Here we present to you the top contenders of the ICC Test Cricketer of The Year Award 2012. There are 4 players on the top of the list and they are:

1.Hashim Amla 

Southafrican batsman Hashim Amla is one of the top contender for the ICC Test Cricketer of The Year Award 2012.

Hashim Amla

2.Kumar Sangakkara

This Srilankan veteran too has got his sleeves up high in tune to be a top nominee for the ICC Test Cricketer of The Year Award 2012.

Kumar Sangakkara

3.Michael Clarke

Michael clarke has proven his talent and skill for Australia and now he is honoured with the nomination of the ICC Test Cricketer of The Year Award 2012.

 

Michael clarke

4. Vernon Philander

Perhaps the only bowler to get the ICC Test Cricketer of The Year Award 2012 nomination. Vernon Philander deserves it.

 

Vernon Philander

Virat Kohli Promotes Reading as Part of ICC Programme

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Virat Kohli Launches Book
 
Not only is he one of the most exciting talents in international cricket - Virat Kohli has also launched a children's book today as part of a partnership between the ICC and Room to Read.

Virat Kohli of India launches a children's book to promote reading as part of ICC World Twenty20 commitment to the local community at the TAj Samudra on September 14, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

ALSO READ

• ICC Test Cricketer of The Year Award Nominees 2012

•  Kumar Sangakkara and Muttiah Muralidaran At ICC World Twenty20 2012 Launch

•  Sachin Tendulkar Images, Photos,Gallery

•  Top 10 IPL 5 2012 Batsmen - Top Run Scorers List

  

Merissa Aguilleira Profile Photos - West Indies Cricketer

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Merissa Aguilleira

West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira signs autographs for fans after the ICC T20 Women's World Cup Group A match between West Indies and England at Warner Park on May 7, 2010 in St Kitts, Saint Kitts And Nevis.

 

Merissa Aguilleira of West Indies Women in action during the International T20 match between England Women and West Indies Women at Old Trafford on September 10, 2012 in Manchester, England.

 

Merissa Aguilleira On tour with the West Indies team

Stafanie Taylor, Merissa Aguilleira and Deandra Dottin 

 

Stafanie Taylor and Merissa Aguilleira  

Merissa Aguilleira of the West Indies signs bats during an ICC Women's World Cup 2009 media conference at the Menzies Hotel on March 3, 3009 in Sydney, Australia. 

Aimee Watkins (New Zealand)Sana Mir (Pakistan) Karen Rolten (Australia),Merissa Aguilleira(West Indies),Charlotte Edwards (England) Jhulan Giswami (India) Sunette Loubser (South Africa) Chamari Polgampola( Sri Lanka) with the ICC World Twenty 20 Trophy during a press conferance at Lords on June 6, 2009 in London, England.  

Merissa Aguilleira captain of West Indies poses with the ICC World T20 trophy 2010 in St Kitts (Image Courtesy Getty Images) 

ICC ODI Team of the Year 2012 - 12 Top Players Of The Year

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Indian Captain MS Dhoni was named as the Captain for ICC ODI Team of the Year 2012.The tam had 3 Indians 2 from Australia, Srilanka, England and Pakistan.1 from South Africa.There were no players from West Indies, NewZealand and Bangladesh in the 12 member squad.

HERE IS THE ICC ODI TEAM OF THE YEAR 2012 :

Gautam Gambhir,

Alastair Cook,

Kumar Sangakkara,

Virat Kohli,

MS Dhoni (capt & wk),

Michael Clarke,

Shahid Afridi,

Morne Morkel,

Steven Finn,

LasithMalinga,

Saeed Ajmal,

Shane Watson (12th man)

Kumar Sangakkara Wins 3 ICC Awards 2012

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Kumar Sangakkara Wins 3 ICC Awards 2012

Kumar Sangakkara has won three awards, including the prestigious Cricketer of the Year and Test Cricketer of the Year at the annual ICC awards ceremony in Colombo.

Sangakkara also won the People's Choice prize, an honour he had received last year( 2011) as well.

For Cricketer and Test Cricketer of the Year, Sangakkara was chosen ahead of South Africa's Hashim Amla and Vernon Philander, and Australia captain Michael Clarke.

Ravi Rampaul in ICC T20 World Cup 2012

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Ravi Rampaul in ICC T20 World Cup 2012

Windies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul looking at footage on his iPad as the boys were kept indoors today due to heavy rain in Colombo. 

Schedule for Pakistan Group Stage Matches.

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Schedule for Pakistan Group Stage Matches.

Schedule for Pakistan Group Stage Matches.

Fox Sports And Nine Network ToTelecast ICC T20 World Cup

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Fox Sports & Nine Network ToTelecast ICC T20 World Cup

Fox Sports & Nine Network home to ICC'S Cricket World Cups from 2012-2015

FOX SPORTS will provide LIVE coverage of each tournament during the three-year agreement, including every match of the 2012 and 2014 ICC World T20 even
ts, plus every match in the 2013 Champions Trophy and ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

Channel Nine will bring free-to-air viewers the action from all the big games in the 2012 and 2014 World T20 tournaments and again for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 on home soil.

South Africa Ready For ICC T20 World Cup 2012

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Proteas eager to adapt to Sri Lankan conditions

The Proteas’ first call to action at the ICC World Twenty20 will be adapting to the conditions ahead of their opening Group C encounter against Zimbabwe in Hambantota on Thursday. The Proteas held their first practice session of the tournament at the Colts Cricket Ground on Sunday afternoon and got a feel for the climate, which can be challenging at times.

“It’s very humid here at the moment,” Morne Morkel said. “It’s almost similar to Chennai and we expect the conditions to be fairly the same.”

The players will look to steadily build their intensity as the week unfolds, and will start on Monday when they play a warm-up match against New Zealand at the Colts Cricket Ground in Colombo.

“We play a game against New Zealand and for us that is the business day of the tournament, we need to work on our basics and find our feet. We have played a lot of cricket over the past few years in the sub-continent so we can’t use that as an excuse, we have to try and control the things that we can control and take it from there.”

The majority of the squad may not have played in Sri Lanka before, but an encouraging amount of players have played in the sub-continent.

“We have a lot of experience in our team, the players have played a lot of T20 cricket in these conditions with the IPL so I think we will be fine,” Morkel added.

The squad’s host venue for the Group stages is the 26000-seater Mahinda Rajapakasa Cricket Stadium in Hambantota, which is an unfamiliar setting for the Proteas.

“We’re trying to get as much information as we can about the ground (Hambantota), that is going to be important for us.”

West Indies Beats New Zealand In Super Over

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Marlon Samuels hits the winning SIX off Tim Southee as West Indies beat New Zealand.

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Aavishkar Salvi In Delhi Daredevils squad For Champions League T20 2012

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Aavishkar Salvi replaces Varun Aaron in Delhi Daredevils squad

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