Shamik Das


Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009: The good...

Barack-Obama-swearing-in-ceremony

... the sad:

Michael-Jackson-classic

... the missed opportunity:

James-Purnell-Gordon-Brown-resignation

High point: January 20th: Barack Obama sworn in as President
Low point: June 25th: Michael Jackson’s death shocks the world
Turning point? Gordon Brown clings, clings on to die another day

Saturday, December 26, 2009

EXCLUSIVE: Archie’s killer unveiled

Peggy-Mitchell-Boris-Johnson

WHO’d’ve thought it, eh?! Look at him, beaming brazenly next to the ancient, decrepit, centuries-old relic - and a bust of Queen Victoria as well.

Though as these pictures, smuggled out at great risk from ’Enders’ Elstree studios prove, he’s got previous...

Boris-Johnson-Archie-Mitchell    Archie-Mitchell-Boris-Johnson

... bitch-slapping and then torturing poor Archie in fits of rage rarely seen in public from the amiable buffoon.

Yeah, I know, I know what you’re all thinking, if only he would give up his day job and turn to acting full time; alas, ’tis not to be, and the Square’s loss is London’s gain even bigger loss.

Watch Uncle Archie get bust-ed
Interview with Larry Lamb

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Miaowy Christmas to one and all

Kitten-and-mummy-Christmas

WHATEVER your age, species or cuteness, may Santa bring you all you desire!

Merry Christmas everybody!! :)

Monday, December 21, 2009

12,970 reasons to love Sachin the great

Sachin-Tendulkar-Test-run-scoring-record

SIT back and admire the genius that is Sachin Tendulkar, one of the all-time greats and possibly the greatest batsman in history; certainly the greatest I’ve ever had the privilige of seeing - better even than B.C. Lara, whose individual genius seldom led to team success.

Twenty years ago last month Sachin made his debut, a milestone celebrated by Cricinfo, who have split his career into five phases in this graph of his one day international and Test run-scoring prowess. The graph I have compiled, shown above, illustrates his year-by-year contribution to the cause. (Stay tuned for his 20-year ODI graph come the conclusion of the current series against Sri Lanka).

What it best shows, aside from the sheer weight of runs the Little Master has racked up, is his consistency over the years, only four times averaging below 40 since his debut series in Pakistan, topping 50 in eleven years, 60 in nine, 70 in four, 80 in three and, incredibly, averaging more than 90 twice: in 1993 (91.42) and 2004 (91.50) - the year he hit a Test best 248 not out against Australia.

No one has scored more centuries (43) nor runs (12,970), with few having so high a conversion rate of fifties into hundreds (44.33 per cent). Since India’s inaugural Test in 1932, Tendulkar has played in 53 of the country’s 101 wins - more than half - and he has missed only 14 Tests since his debut.

To date, 2002 is his most prolific year, 1,392 runs from 16 Tests - six of which were won - with 1999 his best for centuries (five). Gaps remain, however, most notably his failure to make the honours board at Lord’s - something he’ll be determined to put right 18 months hence.

Summer 2011: Draft schedule of India's tour of England
July 2007: Little Master looks to set record straight

Sunday, December 13, 2009

The unlikeliest players

John-Major    Tiger-Woods

It was soooooo much easier in the days before text messaging and Facebook eh John?!

Tiger, Tiger, burning bright, with the laydeez of the night;
What immortal hand or eye, could`st predict thine tearful fall from high...

AP: Scandal aside, Woods changed golf in last 10 years

Friday, December 04, 2009

PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Guy News behind the scenes

Lights, camera, Emily...?!

“Every day, millions of people mix up serious political news with scandals; that is why every evening I am forced to have soothing jacuzzi bath...

“Guido, bubbles!”

Compare the gossips dot com, compare the evidence dot org

Seemplez!

With apologies to Sergei and @Aleksandr_orlov; comparing meerkats since AD 2009