Cricket: The Most Expensive Over Ever

Courtesy of Cricinfo, comes the story of the most expensive over in the history of first class cricket, which went for 77 in a domestic game in New Zealand twenty years ago last month. An extension of the logic behind declaration bowling, or buying a wicket, the plan was hatched by the captain of Wellington in order to persuade Canterbury to chase their total, and keep the Wellington title challenge alive. One of the more unusual footnotes in the history of the game, reminiscent of the time that Brian Rose of Somerset declared in a limited overs game with the score at 1 for 0 off one over, the the article is well worth a read.

Rugby: Lou and Andy

Who says rugby's boring? In a disgusting display of foul and unsportsmanlike behaviour in a recent Magners League game, Lou Reed of the Scarlets was penalised for... shouting at Andrew Trimble of Ulster in an attempt to put him off. (Really? This is what we're penalising now?... Ok, so long as you're sure.) I hope he learned his lesson, it's downright ungentlemanly, that's what it is.


Welsh second row forward, Lou Reed

In other news, why hasn't it previously been reported before that there's a player called Lou Reed? Of course Lou Reed and Andy Warhol were the inspiration for Little Britain's Lou and Andy, and the player that Reed was trying to distract was Andrew (Trimble), so... There's a joke in there somewhere, right? Never mind. No more attempts at humour, back to serious sporting issues next time.


Influential rock and roll legend, Lou Reed

Olympics: Medvedev Mad at Medals Total

The Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev is not a happy man if his recent comment are to be believed. Russia's disappointing medals tally at the Vancouver games has been a source of much anger at home, and he has been quick to demand changes. He will of course, have to be careful how he treads and who he criticises, given the role that Vladimir Putin played in setting up the funding for the Olympic programme, but, with the Russians now on the clock as the next hosts of the Winter Olympics, the pressure will be on to ensure that they can produce results to match those of Canada, whose slow start in Vancouver was forgotten by the end of the games, as they topped the medals table and won the all important final gold medal in the men's ice hockey.


Medvedev has made his dissatisfaction with the Russian Olympic team clear

From a neutral point of view, it always seems to make for a better games when the host nation does well, which they often do, as it lifts the home crowds and builds the atmosphere. Four years is a long time in sport though, and Britain's turnaround from an embarrassing show at the 1996 Atlanta games to a successful Sydney Olympics, shows that it can be done. If the Russians fail however, there will be some uncomfortable questions for the sportsmen and women, and the administrators from the very highest levels of power, that much is now clear.