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असम के मुख्यमंत्री से कांग्रेसी की अनदेखी: सरमा के शासन का समय

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असम के मुख्यमंत्री से कांग्रेसी की अनदेखी: सरमा के शासन का समय


19 मार्च की रात असम के तिनसुकिया जिले के एक कस्बे सादिया में एक सरकारी गेस्ट हाउस में कांग्रेस नेता राहुल गांधी, छत्तीसगढ़ के मुख्यमंत्री भूपेश बघेल और अखिल भारतीय कांग्रेस कमेटी के असम के प्रभारी महासचिव जितेंद्र सिंह की सगाई हुई थी. राज्य में चल रहे विधानसभा चुनाव के लिए पार्टी के अभियान पर एक रणनीतिक चर्चा में। उस रात बाद में, हेमंत बिस्वा सरमा, जो भाजपा के अभियान का नेतृत्व कर रहे थे, अपने एक सहयोगी के सेल फोन पर चल रही 30 मिनट की लंबी बातचीत को सुन रहे थे। गेस्ट हाउस में मौजूद एक स्थानीय कांग्रेस नेता ने गुपचुप तरीके से बातचीत को रिकॉर्ड कर लिया था। यह घटना दर्शाती है कि सरमा भाजपा की जीत सुनिश्चित करने के लिए किस हद तक गए, जिस पार्टी में वह 2015 में कांग्रेस छोड़ने के बाद शामिल हुए थे। राहुल गांधी ने उस समय मौजूदा तरुण गोगोई के स्थान पर सरमा को असम का मुख्यमंत्री बनाने से इनकार कर दिया था।

कांग्रेस छोड़ने के छह साल बाद, राज्य के विधानसभा चुनाव में भाजपा को लगातार दूसरी जीत दिलाने के बाद, सरमा ने असम के 15 वें मुख्यमंत्री के रूप में शपथ ली। जबकि कांग्रेस के लिए दो दशक की लंबी प्रतिबद्धता पार्टी के आला अधिकारियों को राज्य में शासन करने के लिए उनकी योग्यता के बारे में नहीं समझा सकी, भाजपा ने छह साल के भीतर सरमा की क्षमताओं को समझ लिया। अधिक महत्वपूर्ण रूप से, भाजपा ने मौजूदा मुख्यमंत्री सर्बानंद सोनोवाल की जगह ली, भले ही पार्टी उनकी सरकार के प्रदर्शन के आधार पर सत्ता में लौट आई। यह अभूतपूर्व कदम न केवल असम और पूर्वोत्तर की राजनीति में सरमा के महत्व को प्रदर्शित करता है, बल्कि भाजपा और उसके ‘वैचारिक स्रोत’, राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ (आरएसएस) के बड़े गेम प्लान में भी है।

पार्टी ने महसूस किया कि सोनोवाल सरकार के प्रदर्शन से अधिक, भाजपा की चुनावी जीत के पीछे की प्रेरणा शक्ति सरमा का कांग्रेस और भाजपा दोनों सरकारों में एक कुशल मंत्री के रूप में लगभग 20 वर्षों का ट्रैक रिकॉर्ड था, साथ ही चुनाव जीतने और संकट प्रबंधन में उनकी महारत थी। . स्वास्थ्य मंत्री के रूप में, उन्होंने न केवल तीन नए मेडिकल कॉलेज अस्पतालों को जोड़कर राज्य में स्वास्थ्य के बुनियादी ढांचे में सुधार किया – एक एम्स सहित चार और निर्माणाधीन हैं – बल्कि कई लोगों के अनुकूल उपाय भी लाए, जैसे कि इसे चिकित्सा के लिए अनिवार्य बनाना स्नातकों को पीजी पाठ्यक्रमों में प्रवेश के लिए ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में एक वर्ष की सेवा देनी होगी। शिक्षा मंत्री के रूप में, सरमा ने २००,००० से अधिक शिक्षकों की भर्ती के लिए २०११ में एक पारदर्शी आम लिखित परीक्षा की शुरुआत की।

लेकिन पिछले साल कोविड की पहली लहर के उनके शानदार प्रबंधन ने उन्हें जनता के बीच अद्वितीय लोकप्रियता दिलाई। उन्होंने न केवल राज्य भर में आईसीयू, श्मशान और संगरोध केंद्रों का दौरा किया, बल्कि हर विकास की निगरानी की और व्यक्तिगत रूप से सोशल मीडिया या फोन पर मदद के लिए हर कॉल का जवाब दिया। चुनाव प्रचार के दौरान सरमा की एक झलक पाने के लिए, उन्हें छूने के लिए या उनके साथ सेल्फी लेने के लिए लोगों ने धक्का-मुक्की की. और जब एक युवा लड़की ने उन्हें समर्पित एक भावनात्मक कविता लिखी, जिसमें उन्होंने उन्हें “मामा” के रूप में संदर्भित किया, तो सरमा असम की युवा पीढ़ी के लिए सार्वभौमिक “मामा” बन गए।

हालांकि, चतुर राजनीतिक नेता समझता है कि ऐसी लोकप्रियता अल्पकालिक हो सकती है। सरमा कहते हैं, “अगर मैं कल गलती करता हूं, तो लोग अतीत को भूल जाएंगे।” हालांकि, उनका राजनीतिक नेटवर्क और पार्टी के भीतर उनके अनुयायियों की वफादारी सुरक्षित है। भले ही वह भाजपा में सिर्फ छह साल ही रहे हों, लेकिन पार्टी संगठन पर उनकी पकड़ और आरएसएस के साथ व्यक्तिगत समीकरण, जो शुरू में उनकी कार्यशैली से सावधान था, बेजोड़ है। वह कांग्रेस के 10 विधायकों के साथ भाजपा में आए, लेकिन 9 मई को राज्य के 60 भाजपा विधायकों में से 45 ने उन्हें सोनोवाल के स्थान पर मुख्यमंत्री के लिए समर्थन दिया। “ऐसा इसलिए है क्योंकि वह दोस्तों को जीतने में विश्वास करता है। वह उन लोगों की भी मदद करता है जिन्होंने उसके खिलाफ साजिश रची है। और अपने वफादारों के लिए, वह अपने करियर की कीमत पर भी, उनकी रक्षा के लिए किसी भी हद तक जा सकते हैं, ”सरमा के मंत्रिमंडल में मंत्री और दो दशकों तक उनके सबसे भरोसेमंद लेफ्टिनेंट पीयूष हजारिका कहते हैं।

सरमा ने अपनी विचारधारा के प्रति अटूट प्रतिबद्धता दिखाते हुए आरएसएस की अच्छी किताबों में भी प्रवेश किया। आरएसएस समर्थित सीएए (नागरिकता संशोधन अधिनियम) के सबसे मुखर समर्थक होने से, जिसने असमिया नागरिकों के बड़े पैमाने पर लोकप्रिय विरोध को उकसाया, सरकार द्वारा प्रायोजित मदरसों को बंद करने और मिया कविता के खिलाफ एक सार्वजनिक स्टैंड लेने के लिए (अप्रवासी द्वारा बोली जाने वाली बोली में लिखी गई) मुस्लिम), उन्होंने आरएसएस के आलाकमान को प्रभावित करने के लिए सब कुछ किया। “वह एक व्यक्तिगत स्टैंड नहीं लेता है। पार्टी की स्थिति जो भी हो, सरमा इसे तार्किक निष्कर्ष तक ले जाने के लिए प्रतिबद्ध हैं। इसके अलावा, वह हमेशा विषम समय में भी भाजपा और आरएसएस के हर सदस्य और कैडर के लिए उपलब्ध रहते हैं, ”आरएसएस नेता राम माधव कहते हैं, जिन्होंने सरमा को भाजपा में लाने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाई थी। सरमा परिवार के आरएसएस के साथ लंबे समय से जुड़े होने के बारे में बहुत कम लोग जानते हैं। एक किशोर के रूप में, वह नियमित रूप से आरएसएस की शाखाओं का दौरा करते थे, जबकि उनके बड़े भाई की शिक्षा का समर्थन उनके द्वारा किया जाता था। आश्चर्य नहीं कि मुख्यमंत्री पद की शपथ लेने के तुरंत बाद सरमा ने गुवाहाटी में आरएसएस कार्यालय का दौरा किया और राज्य में आरएसएस के वरिष्ठ नेताओं के साथ बैठक की।

सरमा के गैर-राजनीतिक और गुटनिरपेक्ष लोगों में भी एक बड़ा अनुयायी है, विशेष रूप से वे जो उनके तीन कार्यकालों के दौरान असम के सबसे प्रतिष्ठित शैक्षणिक संस्थान कॉटन कॉलेज के छात्र संघ के महासचिव और सात के अल्मा मेटर के रूप में प्रभावित हुए थे। पूर्व मुख्यमंत्रियों. ये पूर्व छात्र, जो अपने-अपने पेशेवर क्षेत्र में प्रभावशाली हैं, अपने “दादा” से भावनात्मक लगाव रखते हैं।

असम के अलावा, पार्टी लाइनों के पार सरमा के व्यक्तिगत संबंधों ने पूर्वोत्तर में भाजपा के विस्तार में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाई है। इंजीनियरिंग अरुणाचल प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री पेमा खांडू के भाजपा में जाने और मणिपुर और त्रिपुरा में अभियान चलाने से लेकर मेघालय और नागालैंड में विजयी गठबंधन बनाने तक, सरमा ने पार्टी को उस क्षेत्र में सत्ता हथियाने में मदद की, जहां जनसांख्यिकी अपनी हिंदुत्व की राजनीति के अनुकूल नहीं थी। . नेशनलिस्ट पीपुल्स पार्टी के प्रमुख और मेघालय के मुख्यमंत्री कोनराड के. संगमा खुले तौर पर अपनी राजनीतिक यात्रा में सरमा की भूमिका को स्वीकार करते हैं। “वह मेरे बड़े भाई हैं और उन्होंने राजनीतिक और व्यक्तिगत रूप से मेरा मार्गदर्शन किया है। एक जटिल स्थिति को समझने और फिर हमेशा समाधान खोजने की उनकी क्षमता मुझे चकित करती है,” संगमा कहते हैं।

पश्चिम बंगाल, तमिलनाडु, केरल और पुडुचेरी में पार्टी की पराजय ने भी सरमा के पक्ष में काम किया है, जहां एक साथ चुनाव हुए थे। वह इसके विपरीत चमक रहा था। साथ ही, मोदी सरकार की कोविड की दूसरी लहर की आशंका और इसके दुष्कर चल रहे परिणामों के खिलाफ जनता के आक्रोश ने भाजपा नेतृत्व को किसी भी उथल-पुथल से सावधान कर दिया। इससे भी महत्वपूर्ण बात यह है कि कांग्रेस ने भी यह कहते हुए भावनाओं को भगा दिया था कि यदि सरमा आवश्यक संख्या में विधायकों के साथ भाजपा से अलग हो जाते हैं तो वह मुख्यमंत्री बनाने के लिए तैयार हैं। “वह एक राजनीतिक जानवर है। उसके लिए सिर्फ सत्ता मायने रखती है। मुझे लगता है कि भाजपा को इसका एहसास तब हुआ जब उन्होंने सोनोवाल को पद से हटा दिया, ”कांग्रेस में सरमा के गुरुओं में से एक दिग्विजय सिंह कहते हैं।

10 मई को सरमा का अभिषेक चार दशक की लंबी राजनीतिक यात्रा की परिणति है, जिसे उन्होंने 1980 के दशक में एक ‘लड़के के आश्चर्य’ के रूप में शुरू किया, अवैध घुसपैठियों के खिलाफ असम आंदोलन में सक्रिय भाग लिया। एक किशोर के रूप में, उन्होंने प्रफुल्ल महंत और भृगु फुकन, दो बड़े आसू नेताओं, जो बाद में क्रमशः मुख्यमंत्री और गृह मंत्री बने, को छायांकित करके अपना पहला राजनीतिक सबक सीखा। 1994 में, वह कांग्रेस में शामिल हो गए और दो मुख्यमंत्रियों- हितेश्वर सैकिया और तरुण गोगोई के संरक्षण में एक सक्षम प्रशासक और चुनावी रणनीतिकार के रूप में अपनी पहचान बनाई।

अब, मुख्यमंत्री के रूप में, सरमा असहमति के लिए कोई जगह नहीं छोड़ना चाहते हैं। सोनोवाल के तीन वफादारों को उनकी कैबिनेट में जगह मिली है. इसके उलट उनके साथ कांग्रेस छोड़कर बीजेपी में आए 10 विधायकों में से सिर्फ एक को मंत्रालय दिया गया है. वह प्रतीकात्मक बयान भी दे रहे हैं- उन्होंने 12 मई को अपने सभी कैबिनेट सदस्यों के साथ सोनोवाल का दौरा किया और एक महिला वित्त मंत्री नियुक्त किया।

एक भयंकर महामारी की चपेट में राज्य के साथ, सरमा के पास हनीमून की अवधि की विलासिता नहीं है। उसकी तत्काल प्राथमिकता जान बचाना है। हालांकि, उनकी दीर्घकालिक प्राथमिकता असम की बारहमासी बाढ़ समस्या का स्थायी समाधान निकालना प्रतीत होती है। इसलिए जल संसाधन मंत्रालय शुक्रवार को उनके आदमी पीयूष हजारिका के पास गया है. सरमा को राज्य के सामने वित्तीय संकट और पार्टी के चुनावी वादों पर भी ध्यान देना होगा – जैसे स्वयं सहायता समूहों में गरीब महिलाओं द्वारा लिए गए 12,000 रुपये के माइक्रोफाइनेंस ऋण को माफ करना और 2022 तक 100,000 सरकारी नौकरियां प्रदान करना। सरमा ने पहले ही कैबिनेट समितियों का गठन किया है। इन वादों को लागू करें। सरमा अपनी सामान्य लापरवाही के साथ कहते हैं, “जो लोग खजाने के बारे में चिंतित हैं, मैं उन्हें बता दूं कि हम अच्छे वित्तीय स्वास्थ्य में हैं।”

हालाँकि, इस तरह की बेरुखी ने उन्हें कई मौकों पर मुश्किल में डाल दिया है। मसलन, चुनाव प्रचार के दौरान उन्होंने घोषणा की कि मास्क की कोई जरूरत नहीं है क्योंकि राज्य में कोरोना नहीं है. यह संभावित मतदाताओं को आश्वस्त करने के लिए था कि चुनाव के बाद बिहू समारोह के दौरान कोई प्रतिबंधात्मक उपाय नहीं होगा। हो सकता है कि इससे उन्हें राजनीतिक लाभ मिला हो, लेकिन एक स्वास्थ्य मंत्री का यह बयान बेहद गैर-जिम्मेदाराना था और सोशल मीडिया पर वायरल हो गया। सरमा कहते हैं, “मैं मानता हूं कि मां सरस्वती कभी-कभी मुझसे विदा लेती हैं।”

नए मुख्यमंत्री के लिए ऐसी पर्ची महंगी साबित हो सकती है। उनके प्रदर्शन के रिकॉर्ड को देखते हुए लोगों की उनसे काफी उम्मीदें हैं. गलती की गुंजाइश कम रहेगी।

नए बॉस से मिलें

हिमंत बिस्वा सरमा, 52

शैक्षणिक योग्यता: पीएचडी, राजनीति विज्ञान में एमए, एलएलबी

संपत्ति: 17 करोड़ रु

परिवार: स्वर्गीय पिता कैलाश नाथ सरमा एक प्रख्यात लेखक थे; मां मृणालिनी देवी असम की सबसे बड़ी साहित्यिक संस्था, असम साहित्य सभा की उपाध्यक्ष हैं; पत्नी रिंकी भुइयां का है मीडिया हाउस; कानून की तैयारी कर रहा है बेटा नंदिल; तथा
बेटी सुकन्या स्कूल में है।

क्या तुम्हें पता था? सरमा ने चार किताबें लिखी हैं; बैडमिंटन एसोसिएशन ऑफ इंडिया के अध्यक्ष हैं और फिट रहने के लिए नियमित रूप से बैडमिंटन खेलते हैं।

नवीनतम अंक डाउनलोड करके इंडिया टुडे पत्रिका पढ़ें: https://www.indiatoday.com/emag

Selena Gomez en Español: Watch 9 Times She’s Connected to Her Latin Roots

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Selena Gomez en Español: Watch 9 Times She’s Connected to Her Latin Roots

The follow-up to pop superstar Selena Gomez’s 2015 Revival album is “finally done,” she recently revealed. While a release date hasn’t been announced yet, another question that’s surrounding the hotly anticipated record is the direction in which Gomez will take with it. The most recent singles that she’s jumped on have seen her cross over to the Latin music world.

With her recent stint in Latin music, a feature on DJ Snake’s “Taki Taki”  alongside Ozuna, Gomez notched a No. 1 hit on both Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart for 13 nonconsecutive weeks and the Latin Rhythm Airplay chart for two consecutive weeks last year. Meanwhile, this year’s “I Can’t Get Enough” was a top 20 hit on the Latin Pop Songs chart.

But it’s not the first time Gomez has dabbled in Spanish. Since breaking out with 2009’s Kiss & Tell, the multi-hyphenate has embraced her Mexican American roots many times, as we can see below.

“Natural” (2009)

Even though a Latin music version of Gomez and the Scene’s breakthrough hit “Naturally” never surfaced, while promoting 2009’s Kiss & Tell album in Spain, she would briefly sing the song for fans with Spanish-language  lyrics. Now the only evidence of “Natural” exists in YouTube clips that were recorded at those special events. The potential for Gomez to take on the Latin music scene earlier was there. 

“Un Año Sin Lluvia” (2010)

For her second album with the Scene, 2010’s A Year Without Rain, Gomez released her first song fully in Spanish, “Un Año Sin Lluvia.” She translated her thirst for romance on the electro-pop ballad into a sultry performance and re-recorded the music video well while still looking like a goddess. The wait for Gomez to finally embrace her Mexican roots in her music was over.

“Fantasma de Amor” (2010)

Another cut from Gomez and the Scene’s A Year Without Rain, “Ghost of You,” was translated into Spanish as “Fantasma de Amor.” Unlike “Un Año Sin Lluvia,” the song was never formally released but fortunately the full mix exists on YouTube. Gomez proves that she can deliver emotional content in Spanish as she fights off the feelings of an old flame that haunt her.   

“Dices” (2011)

“Who Says,” the lead single from Gomez’s third and final album with the Scene, 2011’s When the Sun Goes Down, was recorded in Spanish as “Dices.” Her empowering power ballad was able to uplift a whole other audience with this translation — it was important that one of the most meaningful songs in Gomez’s music catalog could reach and connect with her Latin American fans as well.

“Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” (2012)

Gomez, who was named after the late and great Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, actually got to record with her namesake’s voice on the 2012 remix album Enamorada de Ti. Quintanilla’s family especially selected Gomez to sing the classic “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” in a posthumous duet with Selena. Gomez complemented her idol beautifully, with vocals that breathed new life into the song.

“Más” (2014)

The Spanish-language version of “More,” one of the songs on Gomez and the Scene’s first album, 2009’s Kiss & Tell, surfaced as “Más” on her greatest hits set, 2014’s For You. As a gift to fans on that parting album with Hollywood Records, she gave them the punchy, pop-rock anthem in a different light. If only “Natural” could have been released that way as well, but we’ll take what we can get.

“Me & My Girls” (2015)

On her debut album with Interscope Records, 2015’s Revival, Gomez didn’t record anything fully in Spanish, but she explored Latin music influences on the songs “Body Heat” and “Me & My Girls.” With the latter track, to show off her more mature image, she sings in Spanish, “Don’t fuck with us.” Gomez performed “Me & My Girls” at the 2015 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and surprisingly wasn’t censored.

“Taki Taki” (2018)

Gomez really made a Splash in Latin music last year with her feature on DJ Snake’s “Taki Taki” alongside Puerto Rican superstar Ozuna and Latina rapper Cardi B. On the reggaeton/EDM hybrid banger, she comes through with a verse in Spanglish, offering to get the fiesta started. The surprise collaboration connected with fans around the globe and resulted in Gomez’s first No. 1 on the Hot Latin Songs chart.

“I Can’t Get Enough” (2019)

After getting a taste of success in Latin music with “Taki Taki,” Gomez teamed up with Puerto Rican producer Tainy, pop producer Benny Blanco, and Colombian superstar J Balvin on “I Can’t Get Enough.” She doesn’t sing in Spanish on the hypnotic reggaeton track, but she represents her Chicana culture well with her giant hoop earrings on in the slumber party music video. We can’t get enough of Latina Selena.

Technique vs temperament: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and India’s Test opening concerns

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Technique vs temperament: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and India’s Test opening concerns

India‘s search for two reliable Test openers continues, followed the 2-0 series win over West Indies in the Caribbean recently.

Prithvi Shaw’s absence on account of a doping violation saw KL Rahul retained in India’s Test squad, but he averaged 25.25 in four innings with a best score of 44. Rahul’s opening partner Mayank Agarwal fared poorly too, with an average of 20 from as many innings and one fifty (he made 55 in India’s first innings at Sabina Park).

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes that Rohit Sharma can translate his strong white-ball form into Test cricket, if given the chance as opener in place of the struggling Rahul. Gautam Gambhir, India’s third most successful Test opener, feels that Rohit will have to wait for his chances in Tests.

Anil Kumble, India’s greatest match-winner with the ball in Tests, is wary of pushing Rohit into the opener’s role in red-ball cricket.

On the sidelines, the likes of domestic openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Priyank Panchal are knocking on the selectors’ doors for a chance in Tests.

So come India’s next Test series, which starts October 2 against South Africa at home, who will the chosen openers be?

Rahul’s problems in the West Indies were a continuation of his red-ball slump from 2018. Scores of 44, 38, 13 and 6 mean that of Rahul’s 60 innings in Test cricket, 21 have been between 10 and 49.

“KL Rahul has flattered to deceive and that creates an opening at the top,” Ganguly said last week. “I had suggested earlier about trying Rohit Sharma as an opener in Test cricket and I still believe that he needs to be given an opportunity because he is too good a player to be left out in the cold. After a fantastic World Cup, I believe he will be itching to grab the opportunity to open in Tests.”

In the first Test at Antigua, Agarwal’s uncertain footwork saw him caught behind to Kemar Roach and lbw to Roston Chase. In the second Test, he made 55 until an ambitious cut shot against Jason Holder saw him caught at first slip. In the second innings, Agarwal was beaten for pace by Roach and trapped lbw.

Rahul’s and Agarwal’s problems in the West Indies highlighted a trend of Test openers struggling when the conditions are tough and the new-ball bowlers are accurate. And with Rahul, it appears that he has not learned from the mistakes made last year in England and Australia.

In five Tests in England, Rahul was bowled five times. The other five dismissals were lbw thrice, caught in the cordon twice. Subtract that 149 he made in the dead rubber at The Oval, and Rahul had scores of 4, 13, 8, 0, 23, 26, 36, 19 and 37. In Australia, Rahul batted five times and scored 57 runs, of which 44 came in one innings. Around that knock which promised so much more, he made  2, 2, 0 and 9.

The failures of Rahul and Agarwal in the West Indies mirrored that of some openers during the ongoing Ashes series. England’s white-ball specialist Jason Roy made 10, 28, 0, 2, 9 and 8 in the first three Tests while opening. Handed a debut in Tests after a strong World Cup, the Surrey batsman has failed in his new role and was pushed down into the middle order for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, where he made 22 and 31 but had his technique exposed by pace once again.

Roy, 28, has admitted that opening the innings in Tests has been extremely difficult.

In the Australian camp, rookie opener Marcus Harris has scores of 8, 19, 13 and 6 in two Ashes Tests. He replaced Cameron Bancroft, who made 8, 7, 13 and 16 in two Tests in England. And David Warner, around one score of 61 in his comeback Test series, has failed to get to double figures in his seven other Ashes innings. Warner has three ducks in the series, including a pair at Old Trafford, and has fallen to England pace bowler Stuart Broad on six of eight occasions.

Speaking during the fourth Ashes Test, former England captain Mike Atherton analysed why ball is dominating bat.

“The battle for an opening batsman in Test cricket is around about the top of off stump and the best bowlers, like Josh Hazlewood, will land it there more often than the less-good ones. The best opening batsman are the ones who make the best decisions about what to play, leave and attack in that very narrow area,” he told Sky Sports.

Another former England Test skipper, Nasser Hussain, pointed at the influence of white-ball cricket.

“When I was brought up you were told to play with soft hands and let the ball come to you. That is where the game has been infiltrated by white-ball cricket. High back-lifts, hard hands going at the ball, people being castled a lot. Playing late and underneath your eyes seems to have gone,” he said.

Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting recently commented on how technology has allowed bowlers to work out where batsmen have weaknesses. “There is a lot more analysis – where is this one little chink in this guy’s armour that we can expose? You cannot survive if you have weaknesses, you need the courage and want to go and change things innings to innings or mid-series,” said Ponting.

Speaking to CricketCountry last year, former Australia batsman Dean Jones had identified a problem with techniques of top-order Test batsman. “I think it has to do with the falling standard of Test cricket, and the agronomy of pitches around the world, which are dropping, but I dare say that batsmanship is not what it used to be,” Jones had said. “I think they don’t to face the new ball or the reverse-swinging ball, so that’s where its come to and it’s a bit sad in a way.”

Also in conversation with CricketCountry, former Indian batsman turned TV analyst Sanjay Manjrekar agreed with Jones that batsmen today are happier slotting down to avoid facing the new ball. “The good ones want to bat down the order. [Joe] Root wants to bat four. Mushfiqur [Rahim] wants to bat four, six. Dump the gloves, bat at three, I say. The tendency is to be in the comfort zone and bat down the order,” he said.

Added former India Test opener Aakash Chopra: “I think it is starting with poor opening combos across the globe … the No 3 is getting exposed too quickly and therefore, teams are finding ways to shield their best batsman by pushing him at No 4. It is one of the problems.”

Across three Test matches at venues such as Visakhapatnam, Pune and Ranchi, India’s openers will face the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, Lungi Ngidi and and Anrich Nortje. None of these venues is known to assist pace, but South Africa have a very good pace attack and it remains to seen if similar pressure is put on India’s top order as West Indies’ pacers did recently.

With Shaw banned until November, Agarwal has done enough to retain his place for three Tests against South Africa but will need to produce some strong scores to hold on. On form, Rahul has a lot to do show he deserves further chances opening in Tests. Rohit has white-ball success to his name, but opening in Tests against the red ball – even in docile Indian conditions – is a different ballgame.

Ice Hockey Rules

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Ice Hockey Rules

The origins of ice hockey date back to the 19th century in Canada where adaptations of the modern day hockey game were played in icy conditions. Since then the sport has gone on to become one of the largest in the world with the major participants originating from North America. The NHL (National Hockey League) is the largest league in the world and currently turns over millions of dollars each year.

Object of the Game

The object of the game is to hit a small puck across the ice before then hitting it into a goal with a hockey stick. Every time the puck goes into the goal then one point is awarded for that team. The puck can be passed around the players on the ice and it’s the job of the opposition to try and prevent the other team from scoring. The team with the most goals at the end of the game are declared the winners. Should the game end in a tie then the game will go into overtime where the first team to then score will be crowned winners.

Players & Equipment

The game is played on an ice rink measuring roughly 61m in length by 30m in width. The rink is split into three main sections. The middle section is the neutral zone and includes a centre circle where the games start. At either side of the neutral zone are attacking and defending zones of which are determined by whichever team has the puck at the time. In each attacking and defending zone are two end zone faceoff circles and spots. There is a goal crease which is a half circle surrounding the goal. Behind the goal is the boards area.

Each player will have their own hockey stick along with ice skates and a series of padding which may include face mask, helmet, padded shorts, shoulder pads, arm guards and gloves. Each goal tender will have the same but on a much denser scale due to them being in the firing line of the puck much more often.

Each team can have a maximum of 20 players. Of these 20 players only six may be on the ice at any one time. The rest will be used as substitutes but can come and go from the game as often as required. The six starters include a goal tender and 5 outfield players. Whilst each player will be given a position, the players are free to move around the ice as they choose. This does exclude the goal tender of which must remain within their half and not pass the center red line.

The players hit what is called a ‘puck’. The puck is heavy object made from dense rubber and weighs roughly 6 ounces. The puck is hit by either a players stick or foot but at no point can the puck be handled by any player other than the goal tender.

Each game lasts for three 20 minute periods. For every stoppage in the game the game clock is stopped and as soon as the time is up in each period then the game will instantly cease.

Scoring

To score a goal a player must hit the puck over the goal line. They can use any part of their body or their stick to do so but cannot use their hand. The whole of the puck needs to cross the line to be deemed a goal. In professional leagues like the NHL the goal line has a sensor running across it which indicates when the puck has fully crossed the line. In amateur leagues the judgement of the umpires are taken into account.

Winning the Game

To win a game one team must score more goals than their opponents. If the game is a tie then the game goes into overtime and an additional quarter is played out until one of the teams score. The first team to score will be the winners.

Rules of Ice Hockey

  • The game starts in the centre circle with a face off. This is where the referee drops the puck in between two opposing players who then scrap to win position for their team. A faceoff may also be used to resume play after a stoppage in any of the attacking or defending face off zones.
  • Players may use physical force to win the puck off their opponent. Body checking can be used but is not prohibited in the back or above shoulder height.
  • Players who are imposed to have committed a minor penalty will be ordered to leave the ice for two minutes and their team play with 5 players for that duration. If the opposing team score a goal within those two minutes then that player can return to the rink immediately.
  • A minor penalty can include tripping an opponent with their stick, holding with either their stick or hands, hooking with their stick or body checking a player without the puck.
  • Major penalties will result in a player being removed from the ice for up to 5 minutes. These may include fighting, inflicting serious injury on opposing players or continued minor violations.

Who will win the World Cup? FIFA’s predictions have been eerily accurate

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Who will win the World Cup? FIFA’s predictions have been eerily accurate

Who will win the World Cup? It’s a question that’s been on every football fanatic’s mind for − let’s be honest − the past four years. EA Sports revealed its World Cup 2018 predictions in May, way ahead of the start of the tournament, by way of a comprehensive FIFA 18 simulation, and its top tip has made it to the final.

While it’s easy to dismiss World Cup predictions based on a video game, EA Sports’ FIFA franchise has actually successfully predicted the last two World Cup football tournaments.

In 2014, it correctly bet on Germany to lift the trophy, while back in 2010 it accurately said that Spain would emerge victorious from the pinnacle of international soccer. As a track record, it’s not too shabby – and surely more trustworthy than an octopus.

Based on a simulation of every World Cup match, the popular football game’s choice to win this year’s tournament was France. And what a prediction that could prove to be.

Les Bleus certainly haven’t got it in the bag (yet), but they made it to the the final with a hard-fought victory over Belgium on Tuesday, and will battle England’s conquerers Croatia for the grand prize. We’ll see what happens on Sunday afternoon.

Google, incidentally, is also tipping France for the title at the time of publication, with its new result predictor tool giving Kylian Mbappe and co a win probability of 49%, and Luka Modric and his side a 22% chance.

FIFA 18 actually managed to hit the nail on the head with several of its World Cup 2018 predictions. It correctly tipped Russia to finish second in Group A, Argentina to lose to Croatia, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to go out at the hands of Uruguay, Messi to go out at the hands of France, Brazil to lose to Belgium in the quarter-finals, and for the Red Devils to then fall to defeat against France in the semi-finals.

What did it foresee for England? A 5-4 penalty shootout loss against Colombia in the Round of 16. As we all know, the Three Lions did indeed face Los Cafeteros at the last 16 stage, but Gareth Southgate’s men − to the shock of everyone − managed to win on penalties.

The simulation also saw Germany reach the final, and that definitely didn’t happen, with the 2014 champions crashing out in remarkable fashion in the group stages, finishing behind, Sweden, Mexico and South Korea.

FIFA 18 also has French star Antoine Griezmann tying Spain’s Isco for the World Cup Golden Boot award, on five goals apiece. In reality, Harry Kane is the tournament’s current top scorer with six goals, and he could add to that tally in the third place playoff. Griezmann (and Mbappe) both have a slim chance of catching him, but Isco only managed a single goal before Spain were knocked out.

Deputy News and Features Editor Aatif is one of the UK’s best known tech journalists, having been News Editor at Gizmodo UK and Tech Reporter for The Independent. He’s also written for DigitalSpy and ITProPortal. Aatif now helps run…

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How to Photograph Rivers and Streams

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How to Photograph Rivers and Streams

There are many reasons for shooting rivers and streams in landscape photography and there’s a lot involved so here’s part one (probably).

Being in the landscape regularly will inevitably lead you along rivers or creeks. A lot of joy can be found being immersed in a shot from within a river. The bubbling rushing sounds, water drop splashes, glowing mossy rocks and birds whooshing along catching insects are some of the many highlights. You really do feel alive photographing from a stream and often the challenges it presents are well worth overcoming as the visual rewards can be fabulous.

Compositionally water presents excellent opportunities for a photograph such as making leading lines to another subject – like a mountain or waterfall. The patterns and shapes made by flowing water offer endless possibilities and can be the main subject in themselves. You will sometimes find S shapes and curves which are sought after compositional devices. Looking closely and exploring will reap visual rewards and you may see reflections plus reflected colors which help build a composition if the water isn’t too fast flowing. If you are lucky and the sun is shining at the right angle, water spray can form rainbow prisms which can make welcome color splashes too!

Don’t be a pussy, get in!

Eventually, you will want to get into the river or creek you are photographing, it happens to everyone. Unless you’re going to drown. Stay out if you intend to drown – yes it can be dangerous. Often the best compositional leading lines and action is from within the river, there’s no getting away from the fact you will want to get in at some point. When you do decide to take the plunge (waka waka), you’ll want to consider investing in appropriate footwear because if you wear your regular hiking shoes they will fall apart quickly. And they’ll get stinky quickly!

Use our very scientific and informative Arctic-ometer© infographic to pick the most appropriate footwear. Here’s a brief rundown:

  1. Flip flops
    If you are somewhere warm enough good for you! Flip flops are great for hot places where there are no leeches or other waterborne critters. Shooting in warm places is a dream for landscape photographers and flip flops beat barefoot if there are scratchy rocks etc.
  2. Water shoes
    These specifically designed shoes let out the water and are apparently more grippy on slippery rocks. As above you’re probably somewhere pretty warm if you can get away with water shoes. Enjoy!
  3. Wellington boots
    Wellies are maybe the easiest all-rounder for beginners as you can hop into the creek as well as wear them on the hike, which saves some extra weight. Often they will do the job and you can find insulated boots for colder conditions.
  4. Thigh waders
    Longer and heavier than wellies, waders allow far deeper… wading. I carry these with me most of the time over wellies nowadays. The considerable extra weight is well worth it when you can happily reach most parts of a river or creek.
  5. Chest waders or fishing waders
    These are the Mecca of water footwear. In fact this is pretty much whole body wear.
    If you are too embarrassed to get chest waders simply tell everyone you are taking up fishing and they will nod agreeably. You may get a look or two when you don chest height neoprene style-lead waders, however after a couple of hours in snow-melt rivers you’ll be grateful for the investment. (The ones I use were about $90 from Amazon).
  6. There’s a six? Yes – a wetsuit.
    If you’re wearing a wetsuit while shooting you’re doing something awesome and you don’t need our advice! Go play.

Versatile and essential, get your footwear sorted and you won’t look back! The good news is that any of these are applicable to photographing in oceans too.

Other essentials and tips for photographing rivers

  • Generally avoid the sky
    As a rule of thumb avoid the sky as it will probably be blown out. Of course, there are always exceptions and sometimes a little blowout isn’t too bad. Exceptions include having subject matter in the distance, such as a mountain or waterfall. Usually, these will be higher than the creek in the frame and have some sky around them.
  • Experiment with your shutter speed.
    Use the right speed for the water you are shooting; if there is a fast flow it could be quicker or you may want a slow dreamy look. As with all landscape photography try and visualize the end result when making the photo. Here’s one example when shooting multiple frames in the landscape can be really useful. Find the shutter speed you like the best, whether it is 1/2 second or milky smooth at 5 seconds by taking enough pictures to see the difference. More on shutter speeds here.
  • Polarise
    Invariably you’ll need a polarizer, but you don’t have to use it to the full effect. Sometimes the contrast will be too great when used at 100% so again use some experimentation in the field. See our related article about photography filters here.
  • Exposure is critical
    If you are making an HDR blend this isn’t so critical, but for single frames, you will want to carefully consider your exposure. Generally, the brightest part of the image will be the fastest flowing water, using this will make for a solid exposure baseline.
  • Watch the weather
    Shooting water can be done on any day, but partially cloudy are generally the best.
    Having some light on any scene, rather than completely flat grey days will improve river and creek photos just as they do dry-landscapes. Some beams, patchy light through trees and golden hour color all make for creating depth, although beware of strong sunlight as the water will easily blow out.
  • Beware fast flowing rivers
    Not only can these be dangerous, but your tripod can easily move when shooting. Put your leg in front of the tripod if it’s really fast flowing to disperse the water and try and position the other legs behind rocks to lessen the impact.
  • Regularly clean your lenses
    Your lens will probably get misty/sprayed if you are in the water. Check the element to avoid disappointment later. If there is a lot of spray use a baggy or graduated filter to compose the shot first or consider taking your lens-hood. See our post here about keeping your lens clean in water.

Some extra things to consider are having a lot of pockets. You may be away from the river banks and will end up stuffing your pockets with bits and bobs. Similarly using a backpack is pretty essential rather than a slingback or other bag, which may flop into the water. One thing I will be getting one day soon is polarised sunglasses. It’s virtually impossible to gauge the slippery rocks with regular glasses and this has been on my list for ages!

Women Genuinely Like Flowers | The Effect Of Flowers To Women’s Emotions

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Women Genuinely Like Flowers | The Effect Of Flowers To Women’s Emotions

Q: Society and media seem to try to convince everyone that men should give women flowers if they’re trying to show affection.

But is that just media-driven fake news in an age of alternative facts? Should I try to come up with some other random gift, like a candle, to show that I’m creative or unconventional?

A: No, dummy.

In the latest issue of the Journal of “No Duh” Science for Idiots*, it was shown that women genuinely like getting flowers, it increases their happiness literally for days, and flowers even result in cognitive improvements in elderly populations.

Furthermore, flowers seem to have special effects that other gifts don’t have. Just buy the dang flowers.

INTRODUCTION

Flowers serve no purpose for humans. At least, that’s the logical conclusion – you can’t eat them and they’re not particularly useful as resources. Some have medicinal value but not most of the popularly-cultivated varieties.

Yet, humans have spent thousands of years cultivating flowers for no purpose other than aesthetics and fragrance.

However, one evolutionary theory suggests that some aesthetic things, like cultivating flowers, are beneficial only because of the positive emotions they generate.

In other words, people were more likely to survive if they stopped to smell the roses – to enjoy the beautiful things in life. This causes positive emotions and those are beneficial to humans in survival.

Additionally, it could be a strategy for the flowers as well. More beautiful flowers are more likely to be cultivated by humans, thus increasing their survival strategy as well!

Some researchers sought to test what exactly the effects of flowers in human behavior might be, and the results were published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology in 2005.

STUDY 1

The researchers first sought to see the effect of giving women flowers. Does it result in genuine happiness, or fake/feigned happiness?

To determine the genuineness of happiness, the researchers explained the difference of various smiles.

“Duchenne smiles” (named after their discoverer, Guillame Duchenne in the mid-1800s) are a type of smile that has been identified in research as a genuine indicator of happiness. It occurs in infants, kids, and adults. It’s characterized by contraction of both the zygomatic major muscle and the orbicularis oculi muscle.

  • In plain language, it’s a smile that raises the corners of the mouth, raises the cheeks, AND creates crow’s feet in the eyes. It’s a broad, whole-face smile.
  • Non-Duchenne smiles involve only the mouth muscles.

Duchenne smiles seem to be almost hard-wired into human behavior and indicate reciprocal happiness and prosocial behavior.

They were pre-interviewed on various personality traits and demographic characteristics.

147 adult women were recruited in New Jersey and selected for facial expressiveness and broader ranges of emotional responses.

The researchers then went to the Society of American Florists and, after consultation, carefully selected a mixed-flower bouquet that has a variety of colors and odors and is maximally effective in eliciting happiness (as far as they could tell).

They also found some other common gift items:

  • A fruit/candy basket
  • A large, multi-wicked, fragrant candle
  • The participants were told that they would be part of an experiment and that the necessary items for the experiment would be delivered at their home.
  • When the items were delivered, the gift (either a bouquet, the sweets basket, or the candle) was presented to the participant, and a second observer rated the participant’s smile.
  • Then the participant answered a variety of mood and other questions.
  • Three days later, the participant was interviewed again with open-ended questions to determine the effects of the gift.

NONE of the presenters, observers, or interviewers were aware of the purpose of the experiment (so they weren’t biased to see things that weren’t there).

RESULTS:

How many of the participants responded to the flowers with a genuine, Duchenne smile? ONE HUNDRED PERCENT.

An effect doesn’t get stronger than this, folks.

The sweets basket had a 90% success rate and the candle had a 77% success rate.close

Also, this shifted according to age: older people liked the fruit baskets more, and younger people smiled more in general.

In the second interview, only those women in the flower group experienced an increase in positive emotions after 3 days.

Part of the reason for the difference may be that the participants were able to display the flowers in a communal space such as the living room or a dining room, thus boosting their effects over multiple days.

Candles were more likely to be placed in private areas, and sweets baskets disappeared as their contents were consumed.

STUDY 2

Does this effect extend to both men and women?

The researchers sought to replicate the experiment in a different way – in a public elevator.

Some assistants were assigned to stand in a university elevator and wait for an individual to enter by themselves. Randomly, one assistant was instructed to do one of four things:

Present the person with a single daisy out of a basket of flowers. The basket had a sign on it that said “Free Flowers/Gift! The Society of American Florists Supports of Random Act of Kindness Day! People will be receiving flowers/gifts at random, on the elevator. You can pass on the kindness!”

Hold the basket of flowers but don’t give the person one.

Present the person with a ballpoint pen with the university logo on it out of a basket (this basket didn’t mention the Society of American Florists).

Do nothing.

Then, the individual’s response was measured and noted by the second assistant.

122 individuals were recorded for this study (around half male/female).

RESULTS:

The individuals who received flowers exhibited the highest levels of positive social responses (remarks, gestures, facial expressions) of any group.

This was the case for both men and women, but women especially.

In fact, women who were given a flower showed the highest positive social ratings of any other group in any condition.

Unsurprisingly, people who saw the basket but weren’t offered a flower had the most negative response.

STUDY 3

This study replicated these results in a retirement home among seniors.

113 seniors in a retirement home had an interview about their mood and general characteristics. In that interview, they were given either a:

Mixed flower bouquet, like the one in Study 1

A monochromatic yellow bouquet

Or no flowers at all.

A follow-up interview was conducted 2-3 days later.

Some seniors got a second bouquet in the second interview.

Notably, the interviews also included measurements of cognitive ability – specifically, what details about the flowers and general events of the study they could remember. This was a measurement of memory.

RESULTS:

Once again, it was shown that the flowers increased positive mood for the seniors.

Receiving the flowers the second time got a boost in their scores for happiness (lower levels of depressive symptoms).

Notably, those who received flowers had better memories of the event – the flowers seemed to boost their cognitive skills.

CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION

What can we learn here?

The flowers effect isn’t a myth. Women love flowers. It’s a genuine reaction, it may have evolutionary roots, and flowers seem to be better than some other common gifts in eliciting this response.

But that’s not all – this effect works for both men and women, AND seniors.

For seniors, the flowers even gave them a boost in their cognitive skills – specifically, episodic memory.

Research Shows That the Clothes You Wear Actually Change the Way You Perform

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Research Shows That the Clothes You Wear Actually Change the Way You Perform

If you’ve ever watched the rehearsal process of a play, then you know just how powerful clothes are. Even in the very early stages of a project, professional actors will come to practice in certain clothing pieces that make them feel more like their character. Perhaps it’s an old pair of shoes, a long and heavy skirt, or a bandana that helps them get just the right swagger, grace, or edge.

A few weeks later, when they’re closer to opening, they’ll have an actual dress rehearsal with their real costumes. It’s pretty amazing to see how the right clothes bring the performances up to a whole new level and transform the actor into the character! As business professionals, we can actually learn a lot from this.

Like it or not, your clothes and presentation communicate volumes about you as a person. The question is not whether you care about fashion, it’s more about what you’re communicating intentionally or unconsciously through your fashion choices. Just as the actor in the right costume moves and speaks differently, so does the everyday person.

Your clothes tell a story about you. If you want to show that your work is clean, sharp, and to the point, you need to dress in clean lines, sharp creases, and (yes) points on your shoes and tie. Even the way you wear your glasses speaks volumes about you and your work!

What Do the Details Show?

Research shows that you can tell a lot about someone’s personality, politics, status, age and income just from looking at a photo of their shoes.

Did you ever notice that when President Barack Obama addressed a crowd of working class Americans, he would speak with no jacket and his sleeves rolled up? That silently and instantly communicated to the audience that he too was a hard worker.

You might remember when a 44 page dress code published by Swiss bank UBS went viral. The obsessive stipulations detailed everything from the sensible (“If you wear a watch, it suggests reliability and that punctuality is of great concern to you”) to the downright invasive (employees were instructed on how to shower and apply lotion, how to wear their underwear, and told not to eat garlic during the week).

They may have been control freaks, but UBS got one thing right: every detail about your presentation communicates something.

When you’re dressing or grooming, consider what it says about you and whether it’s in line with the message you want to communicate. There’s no right or wrong. It’s all about context. A tie can make you look reliable and rooted in tradition. This might be important at an investment firm, where clients want to know that you’re serious about stewarding their capital. But it can also come off as stuffy and resistant to change, which may be inappropriate for a tech startup.

Your Clothing Impacts Your Thinking

Of course, dressing smart is also important for your confidence and sense of self-empowerment. But your style does more than just send messages, to your mind or to others. New research shows it actually impacts how you think. Professional dress, one study found, increases abstract thinking and gives people a broader perspective. So that tie might actually be switching on your creativity button.

“The formality of clothing might not only influence the way others perceive a person, and how people perceive themselves, but could influence decision making in important ways through its influence on processing style,” the study says.

Professional attire creates social distance. When we are more socially distant, we tend to think in more distant, abstract terms. In socially distant settings we address people by their title, for instance, rather than the more intimate first name.

“Even after controlling for socioeconomic status, students wearing more formal clothing showed stronger inclinations towards abstract processing.”

Thin-Slicing

Usually we process visual details instantaneously through a process called thin-slicing. That’s when the brain makes millisecond judgements based on new stimulus. It often happens without us even knowing. We might just get a feeling that we don’t trust someone, or that someone else is steady and reliable. We might not even know why.

That gut feeling, commonly called intuition or a first impression, is really part of the very fast-paced mental process of thin-slicing. It’s how we continually judge books by their covers, all day, every day.

So choose your personal presentation with care. Presentation includes not only your clothes, but your accessories, hairstyle, fragrance, posture, body language, tone of voice, and the level of energy with which you move and speak. Think of the person that you need to be in any particular situation. Then dress, groom, and accessorize in a way that helps you mentally step into that personality.

Are you marching in there to get things done? Put on something red, roll up your sleeves and speak in a commanding voice. Are you making social connections at a gala event? Go for suave, but not workplace formal. Dress to feel attractive. Speak in a smooth tone, and let one shoulder relax.

If you’re loafing around on a long weekend with half a box of pizza, you can probably get away with breaking out the frumpy comfortables.

Taking intentional command of how you dress and present is a good step in empowering yourself, accomplishing your goals, and living a more lucid life at the helm of your decisions. So pay attention! Remember, all the world’s a stage.

WC win justification for how we went about the game in last four years

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WC win justification for how we went about the game in last four years

When tournaments are finally won, the victors often talk of relief. Relief that they have met, or exceeded, expectations, relief that they have got over the line. Relief, above all, that they will not have to live with the agony of defeat. Amid the happiness and excitement generated by England’s remarkable World Cup victory at Lord’s on Sunday, there is a palpable sense that the whole team, as well as the ECB, are relieved that four years of hard work has been rewarded with the ultimate prize. The alternative would have been unthinkable.

Beginning this tournament as favourites, with home advantage, and having swept aside most of their opponents since the last World Cup, the pressure was on England over the past seven weeks. A nation expected. Had they been unable to win the tournament, their best chance in a generation, plenty of questions would have been asked about Eoin Morgan’s team and the value of the progress they had made since their capitulation in Australia in 2015. Too fickle? Maybe. But it’s also the reality.

Those questions will never be asked of this team now. They will always be the team who won England’s first World Cup, the favourites who backed it up and delivered. It wasn’t perfect – far from it – but they beat India, Australia and New Zealand twice, the three other best teams, in what were effectively four consecutive knock-out games. They are worthy winners.

“It’s terribly exciting and justification for how we went about it for the last four years,” head coach Trevor Bayliss, who finally won a final after three previous unsuccessful attempts as a coach, said at The Oval on Monday. “At different times we have copped a bit of criticism for the way we went about it. But we had an end goal in mind and this is the result. I am one from four now so I am quite happy with at least getting one.

“To see the joy on the boys faces yesterday and to see the way they celebrated in the dressing room was all worth it.”

It was fitting, in a way, that England’s journey started four years ago in a series against New Zealand, the team they beat in yesterday’s final. Five brilliant matches in the early summer of 2015 showcased, for the first time, the bold style that is now the hallmark of this England team. They won the series 3-2 and started in style by making 408 in the first ODI. They chased 350 within 44 overs at Trent Bridge in the fourth game. They scored more than 300 in the first four matches. It was a revelation.

It was also a key moment in the development of this team, a line drawn under what had gone before and a radical change of approach initiated. That series was, Joe Root said, when the team started to believe they might be able to do something special in one-day cricket. “The way we performed throughout that series, the way Morgs laid things out and gave the guys opportunity to go and express themselves and play in that manner,” he said at the Oval.

“And seeing us do it and adapt to it so quickly obviously meant that we were good enough to do it. But it’s obviously a long road form there to continue to do it and look to improve be more consistent and grow as a team. It’s been such a fun journey these last four years.”

England have had their moments during that time, of course. They disappointingly lost in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy in 2017. They suffered thrashings against South Africa at Lord’s, against Australia in Adelaide and in Colombo against Sri Lanka, all on surfaces which did a bit. They lost other games too, including three in the group stages of the World Cup. But after each setback, England responded.

“The main plan was to let them go out and test the ceiling of how good they could be,” Bayliss said.”We knew they were going to stuff up. We knew they would lose games and probably lose some games badly but you only get better from making mistakes and seeing how well you can play. Learn from those mistakes with a period of four years to get it right. The talent of the team was obvious very early on.”

And all that talk of fault lines on tricky pitches can be put to bed now, too, after they emerged victorious in both the semi-final and final on surfaces which were far from the batting belters on which they dominate. Flat track bullies, yes, but far, far more than that now. “That’s the one thing I said yesterday to some of the coaching staff, that just showed how much these guys have grown over the four years,” Bayliss added.

“In one way, we have been practising for the last three and four years and learning to play on flat decks. There were games where we lost wickets and lost badly on wickets that were doing a little bit. But that’s how much they have grown. They have learnt from those bad games and been able to play some smart cricket and adjust to wickets with a little bit in them. Hopefully that’s put that to rest.”

Ben Stokes is another who might well be feeling relief after his man of the match performance. Relief that the fracas outside a Bristol nightclub two years ago will now be consigned to a footnote in any evaluation of his contribution. In danger then of throwing a career away, he is now a World Cup winner and a – the? – key reason of why his team got over the line. He has worked incredibly hard since that night in Bristol to get himself in this position. And then he delivered on the biggest stage. The narrative has certainly been changed.

“I don’t want this taken out of context but he is a real fighter,” Bayliss said. “What he did yesterday was extraordinary. You can’t stop him at practice. He wants to be involved in absolutely everything. He has a belief in his own ability and the rest of the players have a belief in his ability as well. At some stage that was going to come out and it was just set up for him beautifully.”

Was Bayliss concerned that this day, this redemption, might not come for Stokes? “Not really. The type of bloke he was, if there was one guy who could come back from that sort of adversity, he was the one. I’m really happy he was able to show what he can do on a big stage. His zest for life, he is a leader of people off the field as well and not just on it. He is a guy that a lot of people gravitate to. Everyone in the team is so happy for him.”

Stokes, Root, Bayliss. World Cup winners all of them. “It sounds pretty special, doesn’t it?” Root said. “If you’d said it four years ago, I might not have believed you. But what a journey What a tournament. What a day yesterday was

Comic-Con Unveils New Teaser For ‘The Walking Dead’

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Comic-Con Unveils New Teaser For ‘The Walking Dead’

A new teaser for the new season of The Walking Dead has been unveiled at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con. We’re expecting a longer trailer later today, but this was unveiled in Southern California yesterday at the world’s biggest comic convention.

The Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Danai Gurira, Melissa McBride, Lennie James, Alanna Masterson, Josh McDermitt, Christian Serratos, Seth Gilliam, Ross Marquand, Austin Amelio, Tom Payne, Xander Berkeley, Khary Payton, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. It airs on AMC Stateside, who debuted the teaser, and the Fox cable channel in the UK.

The Walking Dead returns to screens later this year.

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