By Paul Newman
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Smash hit: Scott Styris hit 100 from just 37 balls for Sussex against Gloucestershire on Tuesday night
That was how it was meant to be. A packed house, sunshine and spectacular, fun cricket. Watching Scott Styris of Sussex demolish Gloucestershire with a century off just 37 balls in the Twenty20 quarter-final at Hove was a reminder of just why the short-form ‘monster’ that England created took the world game by storm.
It is not normally like that now. Not in England, anyway. OK, the weather has been dismal in the main, but this year’s Friends Life t20 has looked a tournament in desperate need of an overhaul. The goose that laid the golden egg has looked well and truly cooked and ready to be served up for a last supper.
During one of this year’s many rain breaks the other week, Sky showed a re-run of the 2008 Twenty20 final at the Rose Bowl when I reckon the ‘new’ format was very much at its peak. There was a cracking final between Kent and Middlesex. Bumble at his absolute best on the mic, Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame sitting with the players in the dug-out and a young lad dancing in the stands who was to become something of a symbol of all that was good about Twenty20.
My sports editor was so taken by it that Sportsmail devoted its main feature pages to finals day the following Monday, the only time in my memory that county cricket has so captured popular imagination. It has been downhill since then.
There are many reasons for that. Too many games, of course. Counties playing their matches too closely together — this year Surrey, for example, played four games in a week and then had a week off — and a bonkers schedule and start times.
Glory days: Eoin Morgan celebrates Middlesex's T20 triumph in 2008
Prices are too high, too, at 20-25 for adults and 10-15 for children. With home games clustered together how can families possibly afford to go to every match?
Tuesday’s first two quarter-finals, crucially played at two of the smaller county venues in Taunton and Hove that still often put up the ‘full house’ signs, was a reminder of how good it still can be when it gets to knockout cricket. So were Wednesday’s clashes at Headingley and Trent Bridge.
But, of course, the ECB have done their best to weaken the competition still further by moving finals day from the middle of summer, where it was so well suited, to the football season at the end of August.
This year it’s on August 25 in Cardiff, the day after a one-day international at the Swalec Stadium which will also compete for the Welsh pound.
A quick survey on Twitter conducted while watching the pyrotechnics of Styris revealed some interesting views on the future of Twenty20 in this country. What do you want to see, I asked.
‘Nothing wrong with T20, just needs good weather and the rest looks after itself,’ said Mike Gidley.
‘Needs a serious shake-up. Franchises only way to attract best T20 players,’ said James Morrison.
‘How can anyone advocate franchise cricket if it takes games away from packed grounds like Taunton?’ asked RM.
Alec Swann, a former player, brother of Graeme and now a respected cricket writer, had the final word. ‘Don’t be fooled by the knockout stages. The majority of group games suggest a competition that’s way past its sell-by date,’ wrote Swann.
I agree with Alec. Something needs to be done. I have always been suspicious of franchises.
We are a tribal lot, after all, so would we really warm to teams representing London, Birmingham and Manchester? But maybe it’s worth a go. The counties would just have to lump it. It would be them who would be bailed out financially yet again if franchises worked. It would be fun to see if they would.
Ouch!
Spare a thought for James Fuller, who probably wishes Twenty20 would disappear altogether after going for 38 — yes, 38 — in a single over at the hands of Styris.
The 22-year-old, originally from Cape Town, will go down as the bowler who delivered the most expensive over in professional cricket history.
It went like this: A beamer which went to the boundary (six, including two for the no-ball); no-ball four (six); free-hit full toss over square leg for six; another full toss, another six; back-of-a-length ball glided down to fine leg for four; a dot ball (glory be!); a top-edged pull for four and a six over long on.
Poor Fuller had a wry smile on his face at the end of the over. He will need to retain his sense of humour to recover from that.
Bumble's Final Word
Twenty20 was rocking again on Tuesday with two quarter-finals at grounds packed to the rafters and it just goes to show you what a difference sunshine makes to any cricket. I can promise you the games were full on, too.
But I’m still in favour of a city-based franchise competition for the future of T20 in this country. We have to accept that we have a low-key product and are the poor relations of the Indian Premier League and Australia’s Big Bash.
Razzmatazz: English T20 cricket needs a touch of the IPL glamour
Most of the counties are cash-strapped but this would bring new money to the game and, crucially, would work around the counties. It would be radical but it would have razzmatazz. And it would be exciting. Start a very different car...
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Divorce may be abandoned immigrant husband’s best path to permanent green card - New York Daily News
Q. My U.S. citizen wife left me after I got my two-year temporary green card. Can I nevertheless get my permanent card? I married my wife last year and we lived together. My wife petitioned for me and I applied for permanent residence. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services approved the case and issued me a temporary green card valid for two years. My wife works, but she did not mention me when she filed her taxes. I am still looking for a job.
After my wife received her income tax refund, she packed her things and left our rented apartment, saying that I did not meet her demands. She told me that if she doesn’t help me with getting my permanent card, the authorities would come after me and deport me.
E., New York
A. If your marriage was bona fide or “real,” you can get your permanent card (valid for 10 years and renewable), without your wife’s help. However, you may have to divorce your wife.
You received a two-year conditional permanent resident card only because you became a permanent resident within two years of your marriage. The three reasons you can use to remove the condition without your wife’s signature, are : 1) you entered the marriage in good faith and the marriage was bona fide or “real” and it was terminated by divorce or annulment;. 2) you are the victim of spousal abuse or your child has suffered abuse from your wife 3) that leaving the United States would result in your suffering extreme hardship. Based on your letter, the easiest path to the permanent card for you may be proving that you enter the marriage in good faith marriage. It doesn’t help that your wife didn’t note her marriage to you on her tax return, but hopefully you have other proof that your marriage was bona fide.
You should look into getting a divorce. When a conditional permanent resident applies to self-petition to remove the condition based on a good faith marriage only, the USCIS will want to see a divorce or annulment decree before approving the petition. If your divorce or annulment is not final when the time comes to file form I-751, Petition to Remove the Conditions of Residence, you should nevertheless file the form. The USCIS will give you 87 days to get a divorce judgement. If you can’t get the judgement in time, the USCIS will refer your case to an immigration judge. The judge should give you more time to get a divorce or annulment decree.
Q. I came to New York with my father three months before my 16th birthday, entering illegally. How can I prove that I came to the United States before turning 16? I didn’t go to school before I turned 16, but I have a New York State GED certificate. I didn’t start school until I had already turned 16 and I don’t have a plane ticket with my name on it to prove the day I entered.
Source: www.nydailynews.com
The DIY divorce: Jilted husband marks 'Kev's half' on furniture before sawing it in half as he exacts bitter revenge on wife - Daily Mail
- Bitter Kevin Fiore, 56, trashed home and wrote offensive messages on walls
- Hacked sofa and dressing table in half, causing a total of 5,184 damage
- Bankrupt builder given two-year supervision order instead of jail term
By Helen Lawson
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A spurned husband exacted revenge on his former wife during divorce proceedings by sawing their furniture into pieces and labelling half of them as his.
Kevin Fiore, 56, caused 5,184 of damage to the 130,000 house in Werrington, Staffordshire, which he shared with wife Katrina, who walked out on him in March 2011.
The father-of-two, who had been married to the 39-year-old for three years after a 14 year relationship, hacked the sofa in half and wrote 'Kev's half' on the cushions.
Spurned: Kevin Fiore reacted to his divorce with ex-wife Katrina Fiore, right, by ransacking their home
A wardrobe, dressing table and two sets of drawers faced the wrath of the jilted man, who also tore down the loft ladder, trashed the bathroom and scrawled offensive messages on the walls.
Fiore, a bankrupt builder who now lives with his daughter from another relationship, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and walked away from Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court with a two-year supervision order as the judge called his antics 'mean and unpleasant'.
Judge Mark Eades told him: 'This was a piece of revenge upon your ex-partner.
'It was mean and unpleasant but, at the end of the day, it was only property, and the value falls firmly in the magistrates’ court bracket.
'Therefore I’m going to be mindful of the magistrates’ court guidelines.'
The court heard how Mrs Fiore had walked out on her husband, with whom she has a son, in March last year.
A sofa written on and slashed by Kevin Fiore on to show which half belonged to him and which half belonged to his wife Katrina
The bathroom at the marital home that had also been defaced by Kevin Fiore
The bedroom in the loft at the house which Fiore damaged by breaking up the furniture and walls
Fiona Cortese, prosecuting, said: 'On September 10 Mrs Fiore received a text message that said "There's nothing left, it's all trashed".
'As a result, Mrs Fiore went to the address and found various things had been damaged.'
Fiore sent an apologetic text to his wife the next day.
He was arrested and told police he had 'lost it' and that everything had gone wrong.
The court was told that Fiore had tried to sell the house but an estate agent said the garage, utility room and loft conversion would have to be demolished first because they were built without planning permission.
Colin Drew, defending, said his client was depressed and was being financially supported by his grown-up daughter.
He said: 'His total bankruptcy is approximately 62,000. He was a self-employed builder.
'He is out of work at the moment. He is signed off by his doctor because he has been suffering from depression.'
Mrs Fiores was not awarded compensation by the court because of her ex-husband's financial situation.
Rampage: The Fiore family home in Werrington, Staffordshire, which received 5,200 worth of damage
Close: Katrina Fiore, 39, at home with her and Kevin's 11-year-old son Brandon
After the sentencing, Mrs Fiore revealed the moment she discovered her house had been ransacked.
She said: ‘I told him I wanted a divorce but he refused to accept it.
‘He texted me telling me he'd trashed the house and I went round there with our son and just cried when I saw what he'd done.
‘We had a lovely expensive cream leather sofa which he'd sawn in half and scrawled 'Kev's Half' in black marker on the cushions.
‘I just cried when I walked round the house. ‘I am shocked that the judge let him walk free.
‘He deserved to be jailed for what he did to me and my family, I can't stand to look at him now.
‘I want him out of my life for good but I have to see him in court to discuss access to our son.’
She also spoke about her ‘deeply unhappy’ marriage to the builder.
Mrs Fiore said: ‘We were together for 14 years but got married four years ago in July 2008. I decided to call it a day because we'd simply grown apart.
‘We had nothing in common anymore and I didn't enjoy his company. He didn't do anything wrong really but I just didn't want to be with him anymore.’
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Steve Ovett's running track in Brighton to be renewed - BBC News
A sports stadium in Brighton, where former Olympic champions have trained, has secured £150,000 in National Lottery funding to replace the track.
Gold medallists Daley Thompson, Steve Ovett and Sally Gunnell have all trained and competed on the running track at Withdean Sports Complex.
Paul Collicut, chairman of Phoenix Athletics Club based at Withdean, said it was "the best possible news".
It was news the clubs using Withdean had been "crying out for", he added.
Brighton-born Steve Ovett, who won gold in the 800m at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, had a statue unveiled in his honour and was made a freeman of the City of Brighton on Wednesday.
Councillor Geoffrey Bowden said: "The timing of this announcement in the week that the we are making Olympic legend Steve Ovett a freeman of the City of Brighton & Hove could not be more timely.
"The old Withdean track played a significant part in his career, as well as that of Olympic gold medallists Sally Gunnell and Daley Thompson.
"With funding now in place for a new state of the art track, budding athletes from Brighton & Hove and beyond will, once again, have a training facility where hard work can be rewarded and dreams can be accomplished."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Witnesses: Mo. man threatened wife who disappeared - The Guardian
JIM SALTER
Associated Press= JACKSON, Mo. (AP) — A southeast Missouri man charged in the murder of his estranged wife threatened to kill her several times in the months before she disappeared, two of his acquaintances testified Wednesday.
The testimony came during the preliminary hearing for Clay Waller, of Jackson, Mo., who is charged with first-degree murder even though is wife's body has never been found. Jacque Waller was 39 when she disappeared on June 1, 2011, shortly after she and her husband met with a divorce lawyer. Their triplets, now 6 years-old, are living with Jacque Waller's sister.
Cape Girardeau County Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp will decide if the case should move forward after hearing from nearly 20 witnesses during the seven-hour preliminary hearing. It's not clear when will issue that decision.
Prosecutor Morley Swingle outlined a case built largely around circumstantial evidence: potential motives of both jealousy and greed; blood splatter found at Clay Waller's house; apparent efforts to hide a blood-stained carpet in a crawl space; and Waller's history of anger and resentment toward his wife.
Matt Marshall, a heavy equipment operator who worked briefly for a business Waller operated, recalled Waller coming to his home one night with the triplets and expressing anger that she was seeing another man. Marshall said Waller sent the children outside and told him, "I'll definitely kill her before my kids will call another man 'daddy.'"
Marshall admitted under cross-examination that he never went to police about the threat.
Another man who once worked with Waller, Edwin Rhodes, recalled that about two months before Jacque Waller's disappearance, Clay Waller told him, "I ought to just kill her."
Waller, appearing underweight with his thinning hair cut short, sat attentively during the hearing, often leaning forward to hear the witnesses, sometimes writing comments on a notepad and sharing them with defense attorney Christopher Davis. He wore shackles on his wrists and ankles.
Testimony also focused on the day Jacque Waller was last seen.
Jacque Waller was supposed to pick up one of the triplets, the lone boy of the three, after the meeting with the divorce attorney, her sister, Cheryl Brenneke. The family was aware that Jacque was scared of Clay, Brenneke said, so when they hadn't heard from her by evening, panic set in.
Clay Waller was living at a small guest house on property owned by Scott Gibbs, a doctor who had become friends with Waller while taking helicopter flying lessons together. Waller was on the verge of bankruptcy and Gibbs said he offered use of the home rent-free.
Gibbs that after Jacque Waller's family contacted him, he found Clay Waller on the porch of the guest house, out of breath. Gibbs testified that Waller told him he had just completed a bike ride, even though it was nearly 10 p.m.
Swingle tried to present evidence that Waller's bike ride was part of his cover-up. Testimony from several police officers indicated Clay Waller drove his wife's car and abandoned it along Interstate 55, then rode a bike nearly four miles home. Officers said Waller speculated that his wife had been picked up by a trucker.
Other testimony surrounded hallway carpet that FBI agent Brian Ritter said was found cut up in a crawl space beneath the guest home. Testing showed several spots of blood on the carpet, and DNA matched that of Jacque Waller.
Ritter said Clay Waller claimed he accidentally bumped his wife's nose, causing it to bleed on the carpet. He said she also tripped as she ran, causing even more blood.
Several witnesses testified that Clay Waller had serious financial problems and believed his wife was taking too much of the money in their split.
One woman, Casaundra Stringer, said she and Waller had a three-year affair that ended in 2010. She said that after Jacque's disappearance, Clay Waller tried to convince her to blame the killing on Stringer's ex-husband. Instead, she said she told police about the scheme.
Clay Waller is already serving a five-year term at a federal prison in Louisiana for threatening Brenneke over the Internet.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Sussex and Somerset advance to Twenty20 finals day - sportsmole.co.uk
Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk
Sheppey shooter Mark Chesson has been selected for the England Skeet squad - Kent Online
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Sheppey's Mark Chesson takes aim in Elmley Picture: Darren Small
Kingsferry Gun Club shooter Mark Chesson is set to win his first England cap next month.
The 33-year-old from Minster hit 388 out of 400 clay pigeons to win selection for the English Skeet International event in Northern Ireland.
He was ranked fifth in the country during the selection process.
Chesson said: "I tried for it last year for the first time but unfortunately I missed too many but I thought I would give it another go.
"It’s great to be selected and it’s something I have always wanted to happen."
He has been shooting since the age of 15 – following in the footsteps of his father Norman, who is on the committee of Kent’s Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, co-founder of the Kingsferry Gun Club at Elmley and a member of the county’s veterans’ team. His sister Michelle also represents Kent.
"My dad has been doing it long before I came along and it’s good to have us all competing for the county," said Chesson, who shoots a 12-bore shotgun.
"I’ve won a few things before but not too many major events and I have been shooting the best I have done before in this last year or so."
Chesson is one of five new caps in a 10-man England team to face Northern Ireland and it’s against these other newcomers where he wants to come out on top.
"There is a trophy for the best new cap and that’s what I am aiming for," he added.
Father Norman said: "We’re all proud of him and it is an achievement to get into the England team."
The Kingsferry club staged the Kent Skeet Championship on Sunday but it was 16-year-old Nathan Hales who took the senior and junior honours.
Wednesday, July 25 2012
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Source: www.kentonline.co.uk
Sussex jet skiers putting lives at danger by flouting safety laws - The Argus.co.uk
Sussex jet skiers putting lives at danger by flouting safety laws
12:30pm Wednesday 25th July 2012 in News By Ben James
Lifeguards have warned that there will be a serious accident if jet skiers continue to disobey safety bylaws.
The sunny weather has seen a string of complaints from swimmers, sailors and windsurfers claiming that the motorised vehicles are coming too close and too fast to the shore.
Bylaws are in place to prevent these types of incidents but lifeguards have said that “arrogant” jet skiers are ignoring them.
Graham Cherrett, the senior foreshore inspector in Worthing and Adur, said: “It has been a real problem over the last few days and we’ve had numerous complaints.
“The fear is that there will be a really serious accident and I’ve had to contact the police to help our guys enforce the rules.
“With the majority of cases in our area it’s arrogance. They know the rules because it’s the same people we are talking to. In many cases they are very rude and abusive.”
Jack Stonehouse, from Seaford Lifeguards, said: “Although some may think the bylaws are there to stop people having fun, we must remind people that there have been a number of incidents over the year where people have been seriously injured by crafts disobeying the bylaws.”
A number of different bylaws are in place along the coast guiding where and how fast skiers can travel.
Although they vary, typical restrictions prohibit skiers from riding within 250 yards of the beach.
Gary Beadle, the director of Sussex Marine Watersports, the authorised jet ski launch site for the area, said that the problems were caused by out-of-towners who visit from the weekend and “don’t know and don’t care” about the rules.
Skiers pay £25 to launch from Mr Beadle’s Shoreham Harbour centre where they are educated on local rules and safety.
However, some skiers try to avoid the charge by illegally launching from the beach or the other side of the harbour.
He said: “We take the names, numbers, addresses and vehicle details of all the guys who launch with us. If they break the rules then we can ban them.
“But we can’t track those who launch illegally. We care about the sport and want to improve the reputation in the area.”
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Source: www.theargus.co.uk
The boy who can only see in the dark: Colour-blind toddler is dazzled by sunlight - Daily Mail
- Harvey can only see black, white and shades of grey due to a rare vision deficiency
- His parents have just found out Harvey's younger sister also has the condition
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Three-year-old Harvey Webb has a rare condition that means he is blinded by light - and has to wear special heavy-duty sunglasses to help him see.
Parents Louise and Andy, have resorted to keeping their curtains closed at the family home in Tonbridge, Kent, to help their son see their faces.
Harvey’s condition, known as Achromatopsia, means he is also completely colour blind - and can only see the world in black and white.
Louise, 35, said her son may never see a sunrise or sunset because his eyes cannot handle the light.
Harvey must wear special sunglasses to help him to see outside. At home the curtains are always closed
Andy, 34, a recruitment consultant, said: 'Normal daylight to him is like the glare you get when you are driving on a wet day and sunlight reflects off the rainwater on the road.
'We have to make everything as dark as possible for him to be able to see.'
ACHROMATOPSIA: A COLOURLESS WORLD
Achromatopsia is total colour blindness and is the rarest type of colour vision deficiency.
Children with the condition are born with faulty cone photoreceptors in the eye.
This means they see everything in shades of black, white and grey. They have general poor sight with blurry central vision and are very sensitive to light.
However, the condition does not get any worse as they grow older.
They can use their outer vision to read and get around.
Louise, 35, added: 'When we first moved into our house we were worried the neighbours would just think we were really unfriendly, as we always had the curtains shut.
'But we have to keep them closed to keep out as much sunlight as possible.'
Harvey puts on his prescription sunglasses when he gets up, and wears them until he goes to bed - they are designed to let only 10 per cent of light in.
The condition means Harvey struggles to play outside on bright days and he has to take cover from the rays.
The family have had to deal with comments from passers-by who think Harvey’s dark glasses are a fashion statement.
Louise said: 'It’s frustrating because obviously he can hardly see without them, and in the beginning | did worry about what people would think - a lot of people just think we put them on him to look cool.
'Thankfully most people are positive though, and say things like ‘cool shades’.'
Affecting just one in 35,000 people, the condition affects the retina meaning the cells responsible for colour and light sensitivity in the eye don’t function.
Andy and Louise Webb play with their son with the curtains closed
Andy and Louise have just found out their daughter Megan, 3months, has the same condition as Harvey
Harvey was diagnosed with Achromatopsia at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, in December 2009 after his parents noticed he was having trouble focusing.
They were initially assured this was down to a condition called Nystagmus, but at seven months old they were told the devastating diagnosis.
Andy said: 'We were shocked, and felt numb as we hadn’t heard of the condition before.
'As children so much is learnt through sight and observing things outdoors, such as wildlife in the trees or a plane in the sky.
'With Harvey we need to find other ways to show him so we use books and TV.'
Harvey won't be able to drive when he grows up but will attend mainstream school
Harvey’s baby sister Megan, three months old, has also been diagnosed although she doesn’t need special glasses yet, and can wear normal ones in bright light.
Louise said: 'We were distraught when we first found out and it felt like we were going through a kind of grieving process because we knew they wouldn’t be able to see the world how we see it.
'They’ll never know though as they were born with the condition and we certainly won’t let it stop them doing what they want to do.'
Harvey now goes to Dorton House nursery run by the Royal London Society for the Blind, helping him to make the most of what little vision he has.
His sight means he won’t ever be able to drive, and will need extra help in the classroom, although he will still attend a mainstream school.
There is currently no treatment for the condition but both Harvey and Megan are taking part in research for a cure, partly funded by the charity Fight for Sight.
Dr Tony Moore, consultant at Moorfields Eye Hosptial, London, said: 'Harvey’s activities will be restricted by his eyesight, and he will be less confident outdoors because of his extreme light sensitivity.
'His vision is much worse in bright sunlight.'
Louise said: 'It’s quite difficult for Andy as he would love to teach Harvey to play football but his sight makes co-ordination a bit difficult.
'That doesn’t mean he won’t try though, and we won’t let him dwell on what he will find difficult.'
Visit www.littleheroesappeal.com for more information on their appeal to help expand Dorton House specialist nursery for blind and partially sighted babies and toddlers
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
"He texted me telling me he'd trashed the house and I went round there with our son and just cried when I saw what he'd done." So after being informed that the house had been trashed by an incensed man she went round with her son ????????? Sadly we hear of people damaging far more than property on a daily basis. Luckily on this occasion it was only material items that were damaged. Good on you Kevin. Shame on you Katrina.
- Adrian Hulme, Staffordshire, 26/7/2012 00:07
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