Hamilton a cut above the rest

December 27, 2015

Dec 27 : Lewis Hamilton won his third drivers' world title in virtually untouchable fashion in 2015, but in a year of pressures and problems both he and his Mercedes team ended the season looking anxiously at their rivals.

Hamilton

The 30-year-old Briton, who lost his focus and his dominant speed in the closing three races to his team-mate Nico Rosberg, won the championship with a month to spare.

His complete supremacy for most of the season left him ecstatic, and then vulnerable, when a period of intense celebrations saw Rosberg take over as F1's winner as the champion lost his way and, at times, his composure.

Their in-team competitive relationship was the focus of much attention and merited a warning from Mercedes racing chief Toto Wolff, who said that if they "crossed the line" in their sometime squabbles it could result in dismissals.

Clearly concerned that the tensions in their rivalry would become acrimonious and spill over into the team and cause a level of demotivation, Wolff later said he felt certain that both men understood their responsibilities.

"Nico and Lewis know very well what was meant," said Wolff.

"The spirit of the team is essential. It is one of the forces which makes us who we are and what we are... If there would be animosity within the team - that would be detrimental to the team.

"And I said that if we were unable to contain the fierce competition and it could spill over to the team, then we would be needing to look at how we would set up the driver line-up for the future."

The melodrama of their relationship was the dramatic highlight of a routine season, with Hamilton driving flawlessly to leave no doubt of his status and speed long before he eased off and Rosberg revived himself to reel off three season-ending victories.

"I actually look at the last three races as a blessing in disguise," Hamilton said. "If I'd have won the last three races, that would've been quite a lot of races won in the season and perhaps I would have gone into next season with less of a buzz, but actually, now, I have great determination..."

Both men agreed that their in-team rivalry was essential for them to maintain their own form and edge and, at the same time, drive Mercedes forward as the much-improved Ferrari team, boosted by their arrival of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, showed signs of closing the gap.

"I hope that Toto always comes back to the conclusion that it's actually good the way it is," said Rosberg. "I can see a couple of extra grey hairs that have arrived. Maybe those are courtesy of us...

"

Vettel's impact with Ferrari proved that Mercedes have every reason to be concerned as he reeled off three wins and 13 podium finishes to suggest the Italian squad can make 2016 much less comfortable for Hamilton, assuming he can rediscover his mojo, and Mercedes.

Under new management, the scarlet scuderia improved throughout the year and, if early speculation can be believed, may try to recruit the year's outstanding newcomer Dutch teenager Max Verstappen of Toro Rosso to partner Vettel in 2017.

Kimi Raikkonen, who endured a topsy-turvy year, kept his seat for another season, but knows that the 18-year-old new boy has a talent way beyond his years.

He proved it with a series of stirring drives that contributed to him winning three awards at the International Motoring Federation (FIA) prize-giving gala this month - for 'personality of the year', 'rookie of the year' and 'action of the year', which was for his passing move around the outside of Felipe Nasr of Sauber at the high-speed Blanchimont corner during the Belgian Grand Prix.

"It's nice to win that because I really enjoy overtaking," said the big-grinning Dutchman, his arrival in F1 having given the sport a lift it needed as talk of buyouts, walkouts and financial problems swirled around throughout the year.

It was no surprise, after months of court appearances and persistent trouble with unpaid bills, when Lotus confirmed their takeover by Renault for next year.

It was more unexpected that Red Bull chose to continue with Renault as their engine supplier, albeit with them badged by Tag-Heuer, given the way in their relationship had collapsed as the former champions blamed the French company for their loss of power and success.

The biggest shock, however, belonged to McLaren whose reunion with Honda, as engine suppliers, produced a year of failures and frustration that two-time champion Fernando Alonso and 2009 champion Jenson Button endured with wry humour. They needed it. Passed easily by almost every other team, the once proud champion team McLaren were unrecognisable as a serious force.

Quick bites

Race winners: Lewis Hamilton (Australian GP); Sebastian Vettel (Malaysian GP); Lewis Hamilton (Chinese GP); Lewis Hamilton (Bahrain GP); Nico Rosberg (Spanish GP); Nico Rosberg (Monaco?GP); Lewis Hamilton (Canadian GP); Nico?Rosberg (Austrian GP); Lewis Hamilton (British GP); Sebastian Vettel (Hungarian GP); Lewis Hamilton (Belgian GP); Lewis Hamilton (Italian GP); Sebastian Vettel (Singapore GP); Lewis Hamilton (Japanese GP); Lewis Hamilton (Russian GP); Lewis Hamilton (United States GP); Nico Rosberg (Mexican GP); Nico Rosberg (Brazilian GP); Nico Rosberg (Abu Dhabi GP).

Life cut short: Popular and talented French driver Jules Bianchi died in hospital in Nice on July 18 from head injuries suffered in a crash at the Japanese GP in October 2014. He was 25. Bianchi joined the Marussia team in 2013 and competed in 34 grands prix. He was the first F1 driver to perish from a racing accident since triple world champion Aryton Senna in 1994.

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News Network
June 1,2020

Jun 1: Premier India pacer Jasprit Bumrah won't miss the hugs and high-fives as part of a wicket celebration but he will certainly miss applying saliva on the ball and feels an alternative should be provided to maintain the red cherry.

The ICC Cricket Committee, led by former India captain Anil Kumble, recommended a ban on using saliva on the ball as an interim measure to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Committee did not allow the use of artificial substances as a substitute move.

The new rule makes life tougher for the bowlers and Bumrah, like many former and current fast bowlers, feels there ought to be an alternative.

"I was not much of a hugger anyway and not a high-five person as well, so that doesn't trouble me a lot. The only thing that interests me is the saliva bit," said Bumrah in a chat with Ian Bishop and Shaun Pollock on ICC's video series 'Inside Out'.

"I don't know what guidelines we'll have to follow when we come back, but I feel there should be an alternative," he added.

Bumrah said not being able to use saliva makes the game more batsman-friendly.

"If the ball is not well maintained, it's difficult for the bowlers. The grounds are getting shorter and shorter, the wickets are becoming flattered and flatter.

"So we need something, some alternative for the bowlers to maintain the ball so that it can do something - maybe reverse in the end or conventional swing."

When former West Indian pacer Bishop pointed out that the conditions have been favorable to the fast bowlers over the last couple of years, Bumrah nodded in agreement.

"In Test match cricket, yes. That is why it's my favorite format because we have something over there. But in one-day cricket and T20 cricket… one-day cricket there are two new balls, so it hardly reverses at the end.

"We played in New Zealand, the ground (boundary) was 50 metres. So even if you are not looking to hit a six, it will go for six. In Test matches I have no problem, I'm very happy with the way things are going."

He finds it amusing that the batsmen keep complaining about the swinging ball.

"Whenever you play, I've heard the batsmen - not in our team, everywhere - complaining the ball is swinging. But the ball is supposed to swing! The ball is supposed to do something! We are not here just to give throwdowns, isn't it? (laughter)

"This is what I tell batsmen all the time. In one-day cricket, when did the ball reverse last, I don't know. Nowadays the new ball doesn't swing a lot as well. So whenever I see batsmen say the ball is swinging or seaming and that is why I got out - the ball is supposed to do that.

"Because it doesn't happen so much in the other formats, it's a new thing for the batsmen when the ball is swinging or seaming," said the 26-year-old.

The Ahmedabad-born pacer finds himself in an unusual position as he has not bowled for over two months due to the lockdown imposed in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

When India will play next is not clear yet and Bumrah said he is not sure about how his body will hold up when he returns to action.

"I really don't know how your body reacts when you don't bowl for two months, three months. I'm trying to keep up with training so that as soon as the grounds open up, the body is in decent shape.

"I've been training almost six days a week but I've not bowled for a long period of time so I don't know how the body will react when I bowl the first ball.

"I'm looking at it as a way to renew your own body. We'll never get such a break again, so even if you have a small niggle here and there, you can be a refreshed person when you come back. You can prolong your career," he said.

Bumrah has risen rapidly in international cricket despite experts having reservations about his longevity due to his unorthodox action.

The gritty fast bowler sees similarities in his career graph to Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"Our personalities are different. But the story I could relate to is that not many people thought he would make it big. There was a similar case with me growing up as well.

"Wherever I went, it was the general feedback from people that 'this guy would not do anything, he would not be a top-rated bowler, he won't be able to play for a long period of time with this kind of action'.

"So, having the self-belief is important and the only validation that is required is your own validation. I saw that in his (Ibrahimovic's) story, so that's the thing I could relate to," added Bumrah.

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News Network
April 8,2020

London, Apr 8: England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler has raised more than 65,000 pound (USD 80,000) to help fight the coronavirus by auctioning off his World Cup final shirt.

Buttler's shirt, which he wore when completing the last-ball run-out that saw England beat New Zealand at Lord's last year, was sold to raise money for specialist heart and lung centres provided by the Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals in London.

Buttler, who earlier in the showpiece match had hit a fifty and batted in the Super Over, put his long-sleeve keeping jersey up for sale on eBay a week ago.

By the time the auction closed on Tuesday, the shirt had attracted 82 bids with the winner paying 65,100 pound.

Buttler, speaking on Monday, said: "It's a very special shirt but I think it takes on extra meaning with it being able to hopefully go to the emergency cause.

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News Network
March 4,2020

Mar 4: The BCCI has decided to implement strict cost cutting measures with the notable decision being IPL 2020 champions' prize money will be halved as compared to 2019. In a circular sent to all IPL franchises, the BCCI has notified that instead of a whopping Rs 20 crore, the IPL champion team will now receive Rs 10 crore only. "The financial rewards have been reworked as a part of the cost cutting measures. The champions will get Rs 10 crore instead of Rs 20 crore. The runners-up will get Rs 6.25 crore from earlier Rs 12.5 crore," a BCCI notification, in possession of news agency, read.

The two losing qualifiers will now get Rs 4.375 crore each.

"The franchises are all in good health. They also have multiple ways like sponsorships to bolster their income. Hence the decision on prize money taken," a senior BCCI source said.

However, a state association hosting IPL games will get Rs 1 crore each with franchises and BCCI contributing Rs 50 lakh each.

It has also been learnt that mid-level BCCI employees won't be allowed to avail business class flights like earlier times for flying to the Asian countries (Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE) where the flying time is less than eight hours.

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