Latest news with #Nawanagar
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
The Art of Batting by Jarrod Kimber: The Ins and Outs of Cricket's greatest batsmen
The Art Of Batting by Jarrod Kimber (Bloomsbury Sport £20, 288pp) Did you know that manure changed cricket? Before the late 19th century, muck spreading was done by hand, meaning little chunks of the stuff would lurk on the pitch. If a ball hit one it would bounce unpredictably, thereby confusing the batsman. Once dung began to be liquefied and spread by machine, pitches became more reliable. This is the detail in which cricket revels. Football is simple: you have to kick the ball into their net more times than they kick it into yours. Cricket is complex and so those who play the game often exhibit a certain kind of… let's call it 'intensity'. Jarrod Kimber's book provides ample evidence of just how strange cricketers can be. John Wright of New Zealand was so happy with one innings that he glued his gloves to the bat handle, so he could replicate his grip precisely the next time he played. Meanwhile India 's Ranji (Colonel H.H. Shri Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji, Jam Sahib of Nawanagar to you) was so scared of the ball as a youngster that his coach tied his right leg to the ground. Chance can play a part – Viv Richards developed his legendary love of hitting to the leg side because the off side of his school ground bordered land owned by someone who wouldn't throw the ball back. But you need to have natural talent in the first place. Experiments conducted indoors have shown that, unlike amateurs, professional batters can still hit the ball even when the lights are turned out. Very few of the so-called 'rules' of batting seem to apply universally. The greatest of all time, Don Bradman, had eyesight rated as 'poor' when he was in the army. You're always told to get your foot to the pitch of the ball, but Kevin Pietersen says he never bothered about that. And Kimber himself admits that on first seeing Steve Smith, 'I compared his chances of success to those of a dead donkey.' The Aussie now appears in sixth place on the list of all-time greats that concludes the book. David 'Bumble' Lloyd, as he discussed facing fast bowling, said: 'The thrill of the game is I know I can get hurt.' In 1953 New Zealand's Bert Sutcliffe was hit by a bouncer and had to visit hospital. On his return he carried on batting, and 'went through so many bandages that they had to try towels to stop the bleeding'. Mark Butcher remembers England's 1998 tour of the West Indies – local fans would line the road making cut-throat signals. His team-mate Alec Stewart 'played forward to a ball that almost displaced his nipple'. You'll need to be a confirmed cricket fan to enjoy (or even understand) this book. You can't make the arguments Kimber is looking to make without using statistics, but it does lead to a prose style that's more clubbing Matthew Hayden than elegant David Gower. That said, a good statistic is always a winner. I love the fact that the record for highest percentage of a side's runs in a completed Test innings happened in the first innings ever, in 1877, when Charles Bannerman scored 165 of Australia's 245 runs.
Mint
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Met Gala 2025: Isha Ambani stuns in gem-laden outfit; Alia Bhatt reacts, netizens ask ‘Where's the necklace from'
Mukesh Ambani's daughter and Reliance Limited Director Isha Ambani's presence at Met Gala 2025 was a sight to to behold as she walked the red carpet in designer Anamika Khanna's creation considering this year's 'Tailored for you' theme. The spotlight was also on her diamond necklace she wore. The tailored jacket with its crisp collar, combined with the finely embroidered waistcoat, achieved an ideal blend of vintage sophistication and contemporary style. Inspired by African textiles and global craftsmanship, Isha's outfit was a true tribute to artistry. The corset, adorned with intricate geometric patterns, offered a subtle yet powerful nod to the overarching theme. She preferred dewy makeup and tied her hair in a long braid. The ensemble reportedly took 20,000 hours of intricate embroidery, adorned with pearls, semi-precious stones, and heirloom gems that infused the look with undeniable glamour. Many of these embellishments were sourced from the Ambani family's private collection, lending a deeply personal and luxurious touch to the creation. 'We used a little bit of semi-precious stones, some traditional pearl work, and drew inspiration from Black dandy style—the small elements they incorporated, the reasons behind their choices," Vogue India quoted the designer as saying. In some photos, she was spotted in white hat. One of the users said, 'She is class apart.' Another stated, 'Absolutely slayed.' Others remarked, 'The necklace??? where is that from? why is not mentioned", Uff the iconic Nawanagar necklace', 'confused, who's the art', 'Breathtakingly stunning'. An Instagram user commented, 'Iconic for sure." Alia Bhatt commented, 'Unreal.' In 2024, she turned to renowned designer Rahul Mishra to craft a floral sari gown for her. Isha's look 'embraced sustainability by incorporating elements from Rahul's past collections. Delicate samples of flowers, butterflies, and dragonflies were meticulously integrated from the archives into the design, via distinct applique and embroidery techniques, such as Fareesha, Zardozi, Nakshi, and Dabka, as well as French knots. Together, all of these elements carry a powerful narrative about the state of the planet and offer a message of hope and rebirth'. First Published: 6 May 2025, 07:15 AM IST
