we are Number One!

So, for a good few years now, England has been making headway in the world of Test Cricket. It is not as flashy or as exciting as the one day game with its World Cup which is a highly sought after trophy, or the new shorter cousin of twenty20 Cricket. 

However, it is the full 5 day Test match which is seen as the pinnacle. Being number one in the Test rankings is pretty much the bee-all and end-all of Cricket. 

And England are now number one! A good run of Tests has seen England steadily make headway up the rankings lists. Whilst the run has not been a total blaze of glory, it has seen England reverse some historic runs against. For example, the one Test series that all in England want to win is the Ashes against Australia.

Back in 2005 England managed to cap a climb up a tough mountain with a hard fought victory in the 2005 Ashes series 2-1. Unfortunately, the following 2006-2007 campaign saw Australia thump England to take the series in a 5-0 whitewash.

However, England continued to improve by reclaiming the Ashes back once more in England with a tough 2-1 victory. What then marked England as a team in the ascendancy was the fact that England managed to hold on to the Ashes in the following series by defeating Australia IN Australia 3-1.

Wind the clock on to 2011. India had claimed the 2011 World Cup with a remarkable victory, especially with the final being played in India. India, riding high on top of the tree as the World Champions and ranked number 1 in the Test rankings.

However, India arrived in England straight from a tough Test series in the West Indies. Also, India did not prepare properly for their series. Very few warm up matches where scheduled, and not a lot of time was allowed for proper practice to get used to the conditions in England. After all, they had just stepped off the plane from a long tour in the West Indies, which features dry pitches, and warm weather. And in England, well, not so much...

Well, this lack of preparation has hurt India. I wont go into detail, too much, but suffice to say, England has taken the top spot. The first Test saw England defeat India by a handsome 319 run margin. The second Test was something of a blowout. Defeating India by an innings and 242 runs. 

for those who dont know, in Test cricket, over the 5 days, both teams have to bat twice (2 innings each). Now, usually one team bats until they decide to stop, or they have all been bowled out. Then its the other guys turn. Then back again, and so on. 

However, should the first team post a truly massive score, and then limit the other side to a dismal first score themselves, such that they fall far short of the initial score, they can force the other team to bat on. In other words, they declare that "our first score is so big, we think you will need 2 goes to reach it!"

Unfortunately for India, England mounted a gigantic score of 710 declared, and skittled India for 224 in their first innings. Then, forced to follow on, India posted a slightly better score of 244. The combined total fell far short of Englands, and England did not need their second innings.

This has given England the points they need to rise to the top of the tree.

And, as we speak, England have posted 591 for 6 in the third Test, in their first innings, but rain has stopped play! Surprise there.

However, what prompted me to write this was a comment from the British Prime Minister, David Cameron.

During a phone call with President Obama, Cameron could not resist a prideful boast and declared England to be the best Cricketing nation! Which is right.

However, Obama retorted that its like saying America is number one at Baseball, and gave the game to the world!

One tiny problem with that...

Thats Japan with the World Baseball Classic trophy. Which they have won. Twice. 

Can anyone "own" a colour?

Well, we shall see. We just had the RFU unveil the new secondary kit for the England Rugby team. Now, usually, England play in all white. White shirt, and shorts. They did play with adding a bit of red for a while, but have since scaled back on that.

But does England "own" white? Well, no. However, New Zealand does stake a claim to black. After all, they are known as the "All blacks." Mainly because England played in all white, and they went and used a colour that was totally opposite. 

However, controversy has arisen. England has decided to unveil a new secondary kit that is very, very different to the regular white kit. Its all black! 

Given that New Zealand is pretty much known as a colour, black is synonymous with New Zealand in world Rugby. 

However, there is no rule saying that you cannot "own" or copyright a colour in world Rugby. After all, Wales play in red. As do Tonga. Both France and Scotland play in blue. Fiji plays in white (OK, with black shorts!) the same as England. Many nations share colours. Not only that, but New Zealand do not have a monopoly on black. Both Germany and Belgium have played in predominantly black shirts.

England wanted to use a kit that looked mean, and was totally opposite to the regular all white. This meant bringing in an all black kit. And it does look sharp!

As a courtesy (there was no legal requirement to do this) the RFU did contact the NZRFU and say "we are thinking about using an all black kit as a secondary kit, are you OK with that?" And the NZRFU came back and said "no problem." They had no issue with it since this was Englands secondary kit. The only time it is going to get used is if England are the second team, and there is a kit clash. 

At the upcoming World Cup, Englands first game is as the second team, and going up against Argentina. They play in sky blue and white hoops, and white shorts. OK, it is not the same, but it is very similar to Englands all white kit. So, it makes sense to use a secondary kit to stand out. 

Also, New Zealand understood that there was no way on earth that they would have to give up the all black kit against England. Both teams primary kit are polar opposites.

However, Jonah Lomu has come out and said that it is all wrong that England are doing this. That all black is New Zealands colours only. I am sorry Jonah, but New Zealand does not "own" the colour black. England are not ditching the traditional all white as the primary kit.

And New Zealand does have its own alternative.

Which is white!

Moto GP

So, Moto GP, the worlds premier bike race, Formula 1 on 2 wheels grinds its way along! But is it all smooth sailing? No. October the 2nd sees the Moto GP circus arrive here in Japan, ready for the Japanese leg of the series, to be held at the Motegi circuit which is north of Tokyo.

This is where the problem is. The circuit is in Japan. On the same side as Fukushima. Therefore, it must be dangerous. Now, originally the race was scheduled to go ahead in April. However, given the Tohoku Disaster in March, the decision was made to delay the event. 

Now, with Tohoku basically back up and running apart from the areas hit by the Tsunami, and life in Japan heading back to normal, the Japanese need events like the Japanese Grand Prix. And Moto GP race. These are all ways of showing to people inside Japan, and out, that life in Japan really is OK.

Unfortunately, several Moto GP riders have decided to pull out on the grounds of safety. The likes of Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner have already announced that they will not be attending. 

However, Moto GP's biggest name, Valentino Rossi has announced he is disappointed that "the right decision was not made," and may also rule himself out of the event. 

All I can say is.

You are all COWARDS! 

Shame on you.

The only people with ANY health risks at the moment are the poor workers AT Fukushima. For the rest of us, the potential for any kind of health problem is so minutely small, that there really is no worries. OK, I MAY get half the radiation a patient gets undergoing a chest x-ray, but given I had a trip to hospital, and several x-rays done there, an extra half is not a worry. It is something the body can deal with.

Besides, that amount would be something I would collect after a full year here. The Moto GP guys will only be here a few days. They will be exposed to more radiation on the flight here, than whilst they are actually IN Japan.

It seems like sympathy for Japan is very fashionable. But, just like fashion, it melts in the wind the moment something crops up.

However, British rider Cal Crutchlow and his team has announced that they WILL be attending the race.

Therefore, for any and all Moto GP riders who decide to skip the Japanese leg, shame on you. I hope you all have miserable seasons. You are all cowards. Please, do your research. Then you will realise that that the chances of you getting some kind of problem here in Japan is way smaller than when you fly anywhere in the world on vacation!

And Mr Crutchlow, I hope you win.Good luck to you sir.

The billboard charts

Well, everyone. Please, raise your hands if you watch Beach Volleyball? Now, truthfully, keep your hands up if you watch Beach Volleyball purely for the sport? Reason I ask is that controversy abounds over ladies Beach Volleyball once more, with the top British pairing of Zara Dampney and Shauna Mullin have agreed a sponsorship deal with the bookmaker Betfair. 

How does this sponsorship manifest itself? Well, given that the girls wear basic beach attire for girls on the beach, a bikini, there is not a lot of space! So, they have Betfair armbands, and a QR code printed onto the back of the bikini bottoms.If you use your smartphone to snap the QR code, it takes you through to Betfairs website.

Now, I know there has been a lot of chat about how much skin Beach Volleyball girls show when competing, but I understand the logic behind the current attire. It is sexy, yes. The Brazilian girls are very cute! (Hey, as a guy, I notice!). However, are the girls naked? No. All the girls are wearing is standard beachwear, essentially. But if you really think about it, they are actually wearing MORE than most girls do, given that many girls wear tiny bikini's which are held together only by a bit of string!

However, this sponsorship deal (which will help fund the girls as they go into the final year of preparation for the Olympics in London!) has been slammed by the Bristol Feminist Network, which was a little bit of a surprise. Not a national network, but the Bristol Feminist Network (BFN). Sorry, but I did not know your group even existed!

Ms Norris of the BFN raised several points over this sponsorship deal. For example, she takes the view that there is a lack of seriousness when it comes to ladies sports. If there was a real lack of seriousness, then Betfair would not have ponied up to take out the sponsorship in the first place. I do believe that her accusation is somewhat of a broad-stroke attack. After all, there is parity in the prize money at the Wimbledon tennis championships. Something that narks me given that the guys have to work longer for the same money! If the game goes the full length, the winner of the mens singles gets £220,000 per set. The winner of the ladies singles gets £366,667! There is an argument that this is an example of reverse sexism!

But I am not going to argue about this today.

Getting back to "the lack of seriousness"with regards ladies sports. The Ladies golf tours are growing rapidly, and the prize pot is not quite the same as the guys, but they still can earn plenty! You have a pro Football league in the US, and the new WSL in England. OK, ladies sports are lagging far behind their male counterparts in many sports, but they are growing, and I cant think of any ladies sports which can be branded as a "joke." Besides, I am NOT going to make jokes about the ladies Judo team here in Japan! It would end badly...

Ms Norris also makes the statement that "there is an assumption that men are the spectators, rather than women. OK, lets have a look...

Well, a European Beach Volleyball competition. Looks like a fair few girls here...

At the recent test even in London. Hmm... Looks like a fair mix of young and old, male and female too...

OK, point 2 ruined. 

Ms Norris also claimed that the sponsorship deal turns these fine pro athletes into walking billboards.  Well, in all sports, the area on the kit that is most visible is prime real estate.

After all, in Football, the centre of the shirt is blank. So, to make more money, stick a corporate logo there. United signed a monumental deal to carry Aons logo there. 

In Ice Hockey, because of the way the players hunch over to gain speed on ice, and the club logo being carried on the centre of the jersey, the space ABOVE the logo is used for title sponsors. As well as those wonderful long sleeves Hockey shirts have...

Golf also sees sponsorship creeping in. Here is Ai, from Japan. She carries Suntory's name on her sleeve. Why? Because one of the most common pictures in all golf is post swing, with the golfer following the ball down the fairway. With the companies sleeve right there under the players chin!

BECAUSE of the success of pro sports, in order to "maximise revenues" they go out and hunt corporate sponsorship. In return for this sponsorship, the corporations require something in return. Which is their name on your clothing. in Beach Volleyball, this does, unfortunately, require the name to be placed on the most visible part of the uniform.

Which is right on the bottom as they bend over.

(Not that I am complaining... But I do appreciate the athleticism! Really!)