Showing posts with label Melbourne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melbourne. Show all posts

Monday, 16 June 2014

Revealed: Bizarre gifts US President Obama receives

Bizarre gifts US President Obama receives
The presents include a gold-painted box containing a book, magnifying glass and full-version of the Star Spangled Banner in custom ink and calligraphy from former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, one bag of coffee; one candle, six steak knives, a tea set and a giant silver coffee bean from Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon.

The President has also been given classic Lacoste polo shirts, elegant lighters, glass goblets, a silver fountain pen, leather wallets and tote bags by the French people and a wooden coyote in a display box.

It was also revealed that everything is accepted to avoid embarrassment to the donor and US Government but it is then sent to the National Archives and Records Administration and perishables are dealt with according to Secret Service protocol.


Read more Latest News from Lifestyle News

Friday, 6 June 2014

ICC panel dwells on menace of suspect actions

Representational picture
In a two-day meeting in Bangalore, the committee, headed by former India captain Anil Kumble, felt more needs to be done to check illegal bowling actions.
   
"The committee discussed the issue of illegal bowling actions, and believed that there are a number of bowlers currently employing suspect actions in international cricket, and that the ICC's reporting and testing procedures are not adequately scrutinising these bowlers," the ICC said in a statement.
   
"It recommended that changes be considered to encourage umpires and referees to identify suspect bowlers with greater confidence, to use the expertise of the biomechanists working in this area to assume a greater role during the assessment process, and to allow for ongoing scrutiny of bowlers once they have been identified under the ICC procedures," it added.
   
The ICC Cricket Committee makes recommendations on cricket playing issues to the Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) and, if it is a policy matter, the ICC Board for approval.
   
Both the CEC and the ICC Board are scheduled to meet during the ICC annual conference week in Melbourne from June 22-28.
   
The ICC Cricket Committee comprises representatives of many stakeholder groups involved in the modern game, including players, umpires and the media.
       
"Members of the committee were also updated on the project to increase the number of illegal action testing centres around the cricketing world, noting that Cardiff Metropolitan University was now accredited to conduct illegal action testing for the ICC, and that other facilities in India, Australia, England and South Africa were likely to be accredited over coming months," the ICC said.
   
The issue of illegal bowling actions came to the fore recently when Sri Lankan off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake was reported for using an illegal action during the series against
England.
   
Bowlers with suspect actions are currently required to attend ICC-approved biomechanics laboratory tests to assess the amount of elbow extension (flex). In 2004, the ICC set a 15-degree limit on this extension.
    
"They (the committee) also received an update on the project to measure illegal actions in a match environment using wearable sensor technology," the ICC stated.
   
"The second stage of the project has just concluded, with 70 players being tested by wearing the sensors at training sessions during the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2014 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The results of the trials were very encouraging, with the final stage of the project expected to conclude in 2016," it added.

Read more Latest News from Cricket News