"Yes it is a thought in my head," Kevin Pietersen said just before he began another stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the kind of stint that may end up defining his late career.
That thought is one that, if it ever materialises, will not be as incongruous as the manner in which he said it.
Concerning as it does his chances of playing international cricket for South Africa, imagine the ruckus if it were ever to come to that? It is still a very distant prospect, given that he will not qualify until 2017 in the first place, when he will be 37.
And Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s T20 captain, has played down the idea by saying his team would feel that Pietersen is “English”.
But it tells you how much Pietersen misses international cricket – not just the spotlight or acclaim, which he can get in some leagues, but the chance to represent a country.
Given South Africa’s decline this year, du Plessis’s pithy dismissal may look less pithy one year from now.
Win the toss and whatever
The English County Championship season began on Sunday in pioneering fashion. Four visiting captains decided to take up the option of sending the home side into bat first, without a toss even taking place.
Only in one of the matches, between Essex and Gloucestershire, did the visiting captain choose to have a toss instead, which he duly won and decided to bat first.
The new, radical regulations are in place after growing fears about the state of pitches across the country. Too often, county pitches have been too green and designed to aid the home’s faster bowlers.
That, say proponents, has eroded the quality of batsmanship and provided superficial aid to fast bowlers.
England is hoping it has a positive effect on spinning resources in the country as well. Is it too radical a step? Would more stringency in punishing poor pitches not be better? Does it feel a little too manufactured?
Maybe.
But there can be no doubting the intention behind England’s thinking, proof again that the county set-up is among the world’s best domestic systems.
Welcome back Sunil Narine
Not immediately, but at some point during the ninth season of the IPL, we will send out a small cheer for the return of Sunil Narine.
He has been out of commission since being suspended for an illegal bowling action last November. He has since re-modeled his action and cleared an International Cricket Council (ICC) test last week.
He was in Kolkata last week, ahead of the World Twenty20 final between his countrymen and England in the same city, but the sudden death of his father forced him to return home.
That means he will miss Kolkata Knight Riders’ opening game at least. But when he does return, all eyes will be on him.
Until the ICC’s clampdown on actions, Narine was, with Saeed Ajmal, the world’s leading spinning force. Since then, he has faded and how effective he will be with a new action will be a primary point of focus.
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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The biog
Favourite hobby: I love to sing but I don’t get to sing as much nowadays sadly.
Favourite book: Anything by Sidney Sheldon.
Favourite movie: The Exorcist 2. It is a big thing in our family to sit around together and watch horror movies, I love watching them.
Favourite holiday destination: The favourite place I have been to is Florence, it is a beautiful city. My dream though has always been to visit Cyprus, I really want to go there.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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Profile Box
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Mohammed Toraif
Based: Manama, Bahrain
Sector: Sales, Technology, Conservation
Size: (employees/revenue) 4/ 5,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($100,000)
Investors: Two first-round investors including, 500 Startups, Fawaz Al Gosaibi Holding (Saudi Arabia)
'Ashkal'
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
The%C2%A0specs%20
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How Sputnik V works
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WWE Evolution results
- Trish Stratus and Lita beat Alicia Fox and Mickie James in a tag match
- Nia Jax won a battle royal, eliminating Ember Moon last to win
- Toni Storm beat Io Shirai to win the Mae Young Classic
- Natalya, Sasha Banks and Bayley beat The Riott Squad in a six-woman tag match
- Shayna Baszler won the NXT Women’s title by defeating Kairi Sane
- Becky Lynch retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair in a Last Woman Standing match
- Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women’s title by beating Nikki Bella
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5