Hair today, gone yesterday
Bollinger gets hirsute, South African WAGs eye Bollywood, and English umpires get their own beer
Kanishkaa Balachandran
14-Apr-2008
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Hair + cash = contract
Doug Bollinger's feeling rather good about himself. For the uninitiated, he's the New South Wales fast bowler once nicknamed "Bald Eagle". Only, now that nickname will be stripped off him and the reason is rather obvious. Bollinger recently stunned everyone with his new mop of hair, and his million-dollar smile just got wider thanks to the acquisition, also, of a Cricket Australia contract. Bollinger made it to the list of 25 contracted players after topping the Pura Cup tally this season, richer by 45 wickets and "younger by ten years", as a celebrity agent remarked. His signing with Advance Hair Studios - whose former clients include Shane Warne and Martin Crowe among others - could soon earn Bollinger the nickname "Hairy Eagle". The new look was perfectly timed for his wedding to fiancé Tegan Sutherland, on April 12 in Wollongong.
Doug Bollinger's feeling rather good about himself. For the uninitiated, he's the New South Wales fast bowler once nicknamed "Bald Eagle". Only, now that nickname will be stripped off him and the reason is rather obvious. Bollinger recently stunned everyone with his new mop of hair, and his million-dollar smile just got wider thanks to the acquisition, also, of a Cricket Australia contract. Bollinger made it to the list of 25 contracted players after topping the Pura Cup tally this season, richer by 45 wickets and "younger by ten years", as a celebrity agent remarked. His signing with Advance Hair Studios - whose former clients include Shane Warne and Martin Crowe among others - could soon earn Bollinger the nickname "Hairy Eagle". The new look was perfectly timed for his wedding to fiancé Tegan Sutherland, on April 12 in Wollongong.
Could you spell that again, please?
A wardrobe malfunction of a different kind. Well before the tense final moments during the first one-day international between West Indies and Sri Lanka in Trinidad, attention centered on a curious case of mistaken identity among the West Indian players. It was uncertain whether Jerome Taylor was the victim of a prank or not when he walked out wearing a uniform with his name incorrectly spelled as "Tayrol". There were sniggers galore when Devon Smith fielded through the 50 overs wearing a borrowed shirt with the number 65 and masking tape covering a rather long surname on the back. The mystery of the true owner was revealed when Sewnarine Chattergoon walked out as a substitute wearing a shirt with the same number. And it wasn't just restricted to the players. Journalist Andrew Sealy and statistician Harold Eastmond too were victims of spelling gaffes when their media accreditation passes had their names spelt as "Searly" and "Eastman".
A wardrobe malfunction of a different kind. Well before the tense final moments during the first one-day international between West Indies and Sri Lanka in Trinidad, attention centered on a curious case of mistaken identity among the West Indian players. It was uncertain whether Jerome Taylor was the victim of a prank or not when he walked out wearing a uniform with his name incorrectly spelled as "Tayrol". There were sniggers galore when Devon Smith fielded through the 50 overs wearing a borrowed shirt with the number 65 and masking tape covering a rather long surname on the back. The mystery of the true owner was revealed when Sewnarine Chattergoon walked out as a substitute wearing a shirt with the same number. And it wasn't just restricted to the players. Journalist Andrew Sealy and statistician Harold Eastmond too were victims of spelling gaffes when their media accreditation passes had their names spelt as "Searly" and "Eastman".
And there's more. The start of play in West Indies' chase in that game was delayed by ten minutes, for the most bizarre reason. Sky Sports, the broadcaster of the match, reported that play was held up because the photocopier at the ground had conked off, making it impossible to distribute copies of the Duckworth-Lewis sheet to the players. Legendary.
WAGs head east
It's no secret that some of the South African players date the most stunning beauties. Now in India, a couple of them are on a mission of their own and aren't letting their time go to waste. While Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn sweat it out in the IPL for nearly two months, their respective partners, Sharmone Jardim and Jeanne Kietzmann, will be busy calling on Bollywood agents in the hope of striking it big in the film industry. Kietzmann, a part-time actress and model, said she had plans of contacting advertising agencies in Mumbai. Jardim is no upstart either, having modelled for ten years and hosted a reality TV show. They certainly aren't unfamiliar faces: chances are you have spotted the pair flashed on the big screen at the Ahmedabad Test, shaking a leg at the fall of an Indian wicket, or on the front page of a leading Indian English daily, greeting you with big smiles first thing in the morning.
It's no secret that some of the South African players date the most stunning beauties. Now in India, a couple of them are on a mission of their own and aren't letting their time go to waste. While Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn sweat it out in the IPL for nearly two months, their respective partners, Sharmone Jardim and Jeanne Kietzmann, will be busy calling on Bollywood agents in the hope of striking it big in the film industry. Kietzmann, a part-time actress and model, said she had plans of contacting advertising agencies in Mumbai. Jardim is no upstart either, having modelled for ten years and hosted a reality TV show. They certainly aren't unfamiliar faces: chances are you have spotted the pair flashed on the big screen at the Ahmedabad Test, shaking a leg at the fall of an Indian wicket, or on the front page of a leading Indian English daily, greeting you with big smiles first thing in the morning.
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Play more, live on
The more Tests you play, the longer you'll live. Researchers at the University of St Andrews in Scotland reached this conclusion after studying the lifespans of 418 England cricketers born between 1827 and 1941. A long, fulfilling playing career increases the longevity of a cricketer, concurring with the theory that people who are happier live longer than those who are less successful. The study also outlined the importance of family background: those from privileged classes lived longer than those from less fortunate backgrounds. Amateurs with many Test appearances lived an average of 79.3 years, while professional players with only a few Tests had an average lifespan of 71.5 years.
The more Tests you play, the longer you'll live. Researchers at the University of St Andrews in Scotland reached this conclusion after studying the lifespans of 418 England cricketers born between 1827 and 1941. A long, fulfilling playing career increases the longevity of a cricketer, concurring with the theory that people who are happier live longer than those who are less successful. The study also outlined the importance of family background: those from privileged classes lived longer than those from less fortunate backgrounds. Amateurs with many Test appearances lived an average of 79.3 years, while professional players with only a few Tests had an average lifespan of 71.5 years.
Chuck the blueprint
Andrew Flintoff's plans of building a five-storey house in a Cheshire village were ground to dust after neighbours lodged complaints with the local planners, saying the construction would be " very environmentally unfriendly". Flintoff purchased a two-storey house from Mark Hughes, the manager of the Blackburn Rovers football club, for £1.85 million last year. He planned to demolish the house and stretch it by two storeys below the ground to accommodate two swimming pools and the works. The neighbours were having none of it, though, and argued that the character, charm and greenery of the environs were being spoilt by the imposing structures coming up in the area. Posh and Becks were much luckier with Beckingham Palace.
Andrew Flintoff's plans of building a five-storey house in a Cheshire village were ground to dust after neighbours lodged complaints with the local planners, saying the construction would be " very environmentally unfriendly". Flintoff purchased a two-storey house from Mark Hughes, the manager of the Blackburn Rovers football club, for £1.85 million last year. He planned to demolish the house and stretch it by two storeys below the ground to accommodate two swimming pools and the works. The neighbours were having none of it, though, and argued that the character, charm and greenery of the environs were being spoilt by the imposing structures coming up in the area. Posh and Becks were much luckier with Beckingham Palace.
There was good news for Flintoff on another front, after his wife Rachael delivered their third child, a boy who has been named Rocky - after, we presume, fictitious boxing heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa, or the real-life hero Rocky Marciano. Get the kid gloves out.
Here's to the umps
It's a rollicking start to the season for 33 English first-class umpires who have had a new beer, the "Old Umpire" ale, named in their honour. A few of them sampled the beer during a tour of the Marston's brewery in Burton-on-Trent and described it as a "blend of biscuity malt, floral hops, vanilla and toffee, with hints of citrus fruit". We guess it tastes like beer. The Old Umpire hits pubs this June. Cheers.
It's a rollicking start to the season for 33 English first-class umpires who have had a new beer, the "Old Umpire" ale, named in their honour. A few of them sampled the beer during a tour of the Marston's brewery in Burton-on-Trent and described it as a "blend of biscuity malt, floral hops, vanilla and toffee, with hints of citrus fruit". We guess it tastes like beer. The Old Umpire hits pubs this June. Cheers.
Cowboys in uniform
The Wild West was the theme for the launch of the Western Division of the Friends Provident Trophy at the Cricket St Thomas wildlife park in Somerset. Kadeer Ali and Anthony Ireland from Gloucestershire were joined by players from the Somerset, Glamorgan, Hampshire and Worcestershire for the cowboy-themed launch. Wielding their pretend cowboy guns, the players "hijacked" the Wildlife Park's train with shouts of "Yee-hah", attracting the attention of other visitors. Compared to the over-the-top launches of the IPL teams in India, this was modest at best.
The Wild West was the theme for the launch of the Western Division of the Friends Provident Trophy at the Cricket St Thomas wildlife park in Somerset. Kadeer Ali and Anthony Ireland from Gloucestershire were joined by players from the Somerset, Glamorgan, Hampshire and Worcestershire for the cowboy-themed launch. Wielding their pretend cowboy guns, the players "hijacked" the Wildlife Park's train with shouts of "Yee-hah", attracting the attention of other visitors. Compared to the over-the-top launches of the IPL teams in India, this was modest at best.
Quotehanger
"I was waiting by the phone all the time and, to be honest, I would have been a prick to live with for those two weeks."
Australia's Brad Haddin on life waiting for a Test squad call-up. He needn't have worried so much as he was widely tipped to succeed Adam Gilchrist anyway
"I was waiting by the phone all the time and, to be honest, I would have been a prick to live with for those two weeks."
Australia's Brad Haddin on life waiting for a Test squad call-up. He needn't have worried so much as he was widely tipped to succeed Adam Gilchrist anyway
Kanishkaa Balachandran is a staff writer at Cricinfo