Latest news with #Middlesex
BBC News
2 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Middlesex edge to win over Glamorgan in Women's T20 Blast
Glamorgan 77 (17.2 overs): Holland 40; S Patel 2-9Middlesex 79-5 (19.5 overs): Horley 21*; Porter 3-7Middlesex (4 pts) won by 4 wicketsMatch scorecard Middlesex edged to a nervous four-wicket victory over Glamorgan off the penultimate ball after hustling out the visitors for just 77 at Saskia Horley (21 not out) hit the winning boundary after Middlesex made hard work of a modest Porter (3-7) did most to put the hosts under loanee Niamh Holland's 40 was the only substantial contribution for Glamorgan in their first Blast match, with pace bowlers Sonali Patel and Lauren Turner claiming two wickets each early Tulloch (16 not out) was the only other player in double figures as Glamorgan struggled to get the spinners away and failed to bat out their overs. In the home reply, spinners Porter and Sara Phillips took two wickets apiece as Middlesex stumbled to 40-4 when Finty Trussler went for Scotland international Horley and Pippa Sproul took them within sight of victory, but further wickets for Porter and Emily Burke meant that Middlesex still needed three from the last two balls when Horley clubbed Burke through who also beat Glamorgan in the One Day Cup, are the only Tier Two side to have defeated the Welsh county so have two wins from two in the Blast after dispatching Sussex in their debut at Lord's three days previously."It was one of those days for us, we didn't bat well at all," admitted Glamorgan coach Rachael Priest."We were probably lucky to get that close, we always want to show fight in everything, we didn't do that with the bat but the girls gave it everything with the ball."
Daily Maverick
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Proteas coach lines up options aplenty to send out a thrilling World Test Championship XI
Eight players have been selected, but the balance of South Africa's side for the final is in focus after coach Shukri Conrad gave himself several choices in his squad. South Africa's World Test Championship (WTC) final encounter against Australia is fast approaching and the Proteas squad will assemble in Arundel in the UK from Saturday before taking on Zimbabwe in a four-day warm-up match from Tuesday, 3 June. Coach Shukri Conrad's selections for that game will paint a clear picture of his thoughts ahead of the match he considers the Proteas' 'biggest-ever final'. It won't be set in stone, however, as South Africa will only arrive in London on 7 June and will then have an opportunity to assess conditions at Lord's Cricket Ground, where the final will be played. Conrad and his brains trust, which includes skipper Temba Bavuma, will then have the opportunity to mull over a specialist spin bowler, an extra fast bowler or even an additional all-rounder, all of whom Conrad has selected in his 15-player squad as options. There are eight players whose names are penned in for the final, including opening batters Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton, whom Conrad confirmed when he announced the squad a fortnight ago. Numbers four and five in the batting order will almost certainly be occupied by Tristan Stubbs and Bavuma, respectively. They've batted there in South Africa's past six Test innings. David Bedingham is likely to bat at No 6 for the Proteas, although his Test form has been stuttering recently. The 31-year-old is the only player to have played every match of the WTC cycle for South Africa, but he's had a lean spell. Yet with no one else knocking the door down, he is unlikely to sit out the final. Kyle Verreynne – who has been the Proteas' first-choice gloveman throughout the current WTC cycle – will come in at seven. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen will lead the attack with the ball. How the other puzzle pieces form around those eight players is less clear. Bowlers Slow left-arm orthodox Keshav Maharaj is a near-lock for the final XI, but his inclusion depends on conditions. Maharaj has missed out in fast bowling-friendly conditions under Conrad before. He was left out for all-rounder Corbin Bosch against Pakistan in Centurion in the Boxing Day Test match last year. The square at Lord's seems to be gripping well for spin, with Middlesex's Zafar Gohar eighth on the wicket-taking charts with 21 scalps in seven matches in the County Championship. Of those, 17 were taken at Lord's by the left-arm slow bowler. The spot for the third seamer is also contentious, with Dane Paterson and Lungi Ngidi the choices. Paterson is a skilful medium-pace bowler with the ability to get the ball to talk off the deck, which is just about tailor-made for English conditions. The 36-year-old is also playing County Cricket in England for Middlesex – whose home venue is Lord's. Ngidi's selection in the squad in the first place is slightly left-field. The tall quick hadn't played a Test match since August last year and has only played two matches in the current WTC cycle. Where Paterson's trademark is control and seam movement, Ngidi offers extra pace and bounce, as well as the ability to swing the ball through the air. It's a toss-up for what Conrad would prefer and what the conditions dictate on the day. Batting options That leaves the all-important No 3 spot vacant. The last man to bat in the position for the Proteas is seam bowling all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, who has had unexceptional returns in the two innings he has batted there (scores of five and 15). In Test cricket Mulder averages 22.65 with the willow. At this point of his career he looks better suited to batting down the order with his maiden Test century coming at No 7 against Bangladesh last year. The other option Conrad has is Tony de Zorzi. De Zorzi has a modest Test average of 30 after 11 matches, but he is more accustomed to batting in the top three. The southpaw's first seven innings in Test cricket were at No 3, where he averaged only 20.71 before moving to the opening slot after the retirement of Dean Elgar and then being usurped by Rickelton. De Zorzi averaged 35 while opening the batting with two half-centuries and one century in 20 innings. Mulder's bowling might factor in the decision-making. If Conrad opts to play De Zorzi as well as Maharaj, the Proteas will only have three fast-bowling options, which is suboptimal. The other options are all-rounders Bosch and Senuran Muthusamy. Bosch is likely to be the option Conrad turns to if he does choose to play a four-prong pace attack and not select a spin bowler. That would open the door for De Zorzi to bat at three while the team maintains its balance. Muthusamy offers a better option with the bat than Maharaj with his slow left arm, but without the supreme control of the latter. Australia's options Reigning WTC mace holders Australia have remained a relatively consistent side over the past few years. Most of the team are established international players. The only player not available from the side that won the 2023 WTC final against India is David Warner, who has retired. The bowlers pick themselves, with captain Pat Cummins leading a vicious pack that includes Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon who offers his accurate off-breaks. Usman Khawaja will open the batting but who partners him is the question. Aussie convener of selectors George Bailey has outlined Marnus Labuschagne and Sam Konstas as potentials. Konstas made his debut against India at the end of last year and scored 113 runs in the four innings he batted, but he was dropped for Australia's tour to Sri Lanka the next month. Travis Head was paired with Khawaja on the spin-friendly decks in the subcontinent, but in England he will probably be slotted in his preferred No 5. Labuschagne averaged 28.62 over the past two seasons but his overall batting average is still the second best in the side behind Steve Smith. All-rounder Cameron Green is also available although he would only play as a batter because a stress fracture in his back has not healed sufficiently for him to bowl. Labuschagne moving up the order would leave space for Green to slot in the middle order while maintaining their four bowling options, with Beau Webster providing the all-round option. Alex Carey will take the gloves for Australia, completing the playing XI. Both South Africa and Australia have the pieces of the puzzle for their playing XIs worked out after achieving more success than the other nations over the past two years of the WTC cycle. The conditions at Lord's along with the intuition of those in charge will determine how those pieces come together. DM
Forbes
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
25 Great Elton John Songs That Shaped His Legacy
Singer Elton John has some of the most iconic hits in history. Sir Elton Hercules John is one of the most popular singers ever, selling more than 300 million albums, earning a career Emmy-Grammy-Oscar-Tony and releasing more than 50 top-40 hits. Elton John music usually includes a piano—he's a piano whiz—and achieves a rare balance of critical and commercial success. The best Elton John songs, such as 'Candle in the Wind' and 'Rocket Man,' blend distinctive vocals with powerful messages. John grew up in Pinner, Middlesex, England, where he learned to play his grandmother's piano, and left school at 17 to pursue a musical career, finding songwriting partner Bernie Taupin in 1967. This list of greatest Elton John songs includes the highlights of his career as well as a few lesser-known gems. Elton John makes pop rock music, with a dash of glam rock and blues. He released his first album, Empty Sky, in 1969, and his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour (2018–2023) set a record (since surpassed) for highest gross. Is Elton John still making music? Yes—in 2025, he collaborated on the new studio album Who Believes in Angels with Brandi Carlile. He has released 32 studio albums. This list is based on the songs' songwriting prowess, commercial success, cultural impact, awards and critical acclaim. If you're looking for a song that demonstrates John's talent with the piano, look no further than this elegy from Diving Board. It pays tribute to the veterans of the Greatest Generation and was written with Taupin; both men said they adore this song. It wasn't released as a single, but the album sold well. Off the acclaimed Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, 'Roy Rogers' is an underrated song celebrating simpler times. It offers reminders of the heroes we worshipped as children and gets to the universal truth that we all want to feel loved, comforted and safe, as we presumably would with a cowboy like Roy Rogers. John has so many rousing songs you want to stand up and dance to, like this one. 'Philadelphia Freedom' became one of the first disco hits, paying tribute to the titular city. (Fun fact: Billie Jean King requested the song from John, who's a close friend.) It hit No. 1 and went platinum. 'Mellow' from Honky Château marks another collaboration with Taupin (written about his first wife, also the inspiration for 'Tiny Dancer'). Rolling Stone called it John's 'sexiest song,' which talks of 'wreckin' the sheets.' It wasn't released as a single but has received heaps of praise on an album that hit No. 1. John croons about loneliness and wishing he was with his person on this hit with Taupin-penned lyrics from Too Low for Zero. The song reached No. 4 on Billboard and hit the top 10 in five other countries. It's also one of the notable Elton John songs in movies (Peter's Friends). Speaking of popular Elton John movie songs—this one from The Lion King earned an Academy Award for Best Song and reached No. 4 on Billboard. John also won a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and a Golden Globe for Best Song-Motion Picture. The song narrates the growing affection between Simba and Nala. Elton John and Tim Rice attend the 67th Annual Academy Awards ceremony March 27, 1995 in Los ... More Angeles, where they won Best Song. This soul song, which Aretha Franklin covered two years later on Young, Gifted and Black, became John's first song to chart in the U.S. It showcases his piano skills and, once again, was co-written with Taupin. The song closes with the (alas still relevant) prayer, 'He's my brother/Let us live in peace.' This smash became John's first No. 1 hit in the UK. He performed the duet with Motown singer Kiki Dee, a fellow Brit, and the two embraced the camp of the song just enough to make it fun. Taupin and John, who co-wrote the tune under pseudonyms, meant it as a tribute to Motown. A rock song from Caribou, John's second album, 'The Bitch Is Back' stemmed from a joke Taupin's first wife made about the singer's moods. It became a top-five hit in the U.S. and his sixth No. 1 in Canada, though some radio stations refused to play it because of the word 'bitch.' A rock song from Jump Up, John's 16th album, 'Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)' paid tribute to late friend John Lennon, who was murdered in 1981. John called performing with Lennon at Madison Square Garden in 1974 the greatest moment of his career, and he rarely sings the song live because it is too painful. John Lennon (right) makes a surprise appearance at a concert by Elton John at Madison Square Garden, ... More New York City, 28th November 1974. This Taupin-John effort from Honky Château was inspired by the singer's first trip to New York City, when he heard a gun fire. It also pays tribute to Ben E. King's 'Spanish Harlem.' John has said the song, which went gold, is one of his own favorites, and he later recorded a sequel to it. A pop song with orchestral backing, 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me' off of Caribou rose to No. 1 on the charts, with backup vocals sung by three of the Beach Boys. The song went gold and earned Grammy nods for Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance—Male. Davey Johnstone's guitar genius is on prime display in this song from the album of the same name. Taupin's lyrics, which John belts with passion, follow a public persona falling into a chasm. Many speculated it was about then-President Richard Nixon, but the songwriter denied that. The album has gone four times platinum. Too Low for Zero produced this toe-tapping hit, which reached No. 12 in the U.S. and No. 1 in Canada, boosted by a popular music video. The two-times-platinum song included catchy lyrics like, 'You know, I'm still standin' better than I ever did/Lookin' like a true survivor, feelin' like a little kid.' Off the album Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, this highly personal song details John's suicide attempt and runs 6 minutes, 45 seconds. The singer refused attempts to shorten the song for radio airplay, and he was right—it reached No. 4 with gorgeous lyrics like 'And butterflies are free to fly.' Elton John and David Furnish attend the The CAA Pre-Oscar Party at Sunset Tower Hotel on March 10, ... More 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Another track from Madman, the five-times platinum single 'Tiny Dancer' contrasts the women of the U.S. with those of the UK, where writer Taupin and John came from, focusing on Taupin's first wife. The signature hit is long (over six minutes) and was banned by some radio stations for the mention of 'Jesus freaks.' This two-song medley, the opening to Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, combines an opening instrumental with pop rock. Though they weren't originally envisioned to go together, they fit nicely as symbols of death segueing into a breakup diatribe. Rolling Stone ranks the song No. 6 on its list of best Elton John songs. This song clearly establishes John as one of the most versatile '70s artists. As John himself pointed out, it sounded nothing like his earlier music, and he initially didn't want to release it as a single in the U.S. But it was successful, hitting No. 1 on Billboard and going top-20 on soul charts. 'Levon wears his war wound like a crown' opens this powerful song about a wealthy kid who dreams of escaping his restrictive family. (It is not, contrary to popular belief, about The Band frontman Levon Helm.) While 'Levon' only reached No. 24, its incredible orchestral arrangement has prompted critics to elevate the song. This ballad referencing The Wizard of Oz ranks among Rolling Stone's top 500 songs of all time and went two-times platinum, reaching No. 2 in the U.S. and No. 1 in Canada. Taupin has said the song expresses a yearning for simplicity and returning to his roots. John included it in most of his concerts. Recording artist Sir Elton John gestures to the audience after performing the song "Tiny Dancer" ... More during a stop of the Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour at Allegiant Stadium. Recorded as a prelease to Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player, the fun, flouncy 'Crocodile Rock' became John's first No. 1 in the U.S. and went platinum. The lyrics examine and pay tribute to early rock artists, and John plays a Farfisa organ as well as doing the falsetto backing vocals. Glam rock at its best, 'Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)' details the narrator's plan to have fun and let loose with his friends: 'It's getting late have you seen my mates/Ma tell me when the boys get here.' Johnstone's guitar playing stands out on this platinum-certified song, which hit No. 12. A ballad that opens with a simple yet gorgeous piano riff, 'Young Song' became John's first international hit and remains one of the most beloved love songs ever recorded. 'And you can tell everybody this is your song,' John croons to his lover. The song entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. The lead release from Honky, 'Rocket Man' helped define John as one of the most popular '70s songs and, later, the title of his biopic. The five-times platinum song hit No. 2 and has been streamed more than 1 billion times on Spotify. It was inspired by the Ray Bradbury short story 'The Rocket Man.' John rerecorded his 1973 hit 'Candle in the Wind' in 1997 as a tribute to his dear friend Princess Diana and played it at her funeral. It was wildly successful. John's most recent No. 1 single held the spot for 14 weeks and became the No. 2 single of all time behind Bing Crosby's 'White Christmas.' Bottom Line A gifted artist who has also given much of his time to AIDS charities and other causes, Elton John has contributed more than just amazing music to the world. The works on this list represent his best work, but you can never go wrong with any John song. How Many Albums Has Elton John Released? Elton John has released 32 studio albums. They are: 1. Empty Sky (1969)2. Elton John (1970)3. Tumbleweed Connection (1970)4. Madman Across the Water (1971)5. Honky Château (1972)6. Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player (1973)7. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)8. Caribou (1974)9. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)10. Rock of the Westies (1975)11. Blue Moves (1976)12. A Single Man (1978)13. Victim of Love (1979)14. 21 at 33 (1976)15. The Fox (1981)16. Jump Up! (1981)17. Too Low for Zero (1983)18. Breaking Hearts (1985)19. Ice on Fire (1984)20. Leather Jackets (1986)21. Reg Strikes Back (1988)22. Sleeping with the Past (1989)23. The One (1992)24. Made in England (1995)25. The Big Picture (1997)26. Songs from the West Coast (2001)27. Peachtree Road (2004)28. The Captain & The Kid (2006)29. The Diving Board (2012)30. Wonderful Crazy Night (2016)31. Regiment Sgt. Zippo (2021)32. Who Believes In Angels? (2025) What Elton John Songs Have Been Featured In Movies? Elton John songs that have been featured in movies include: "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," "Already," "Keys to the Kingdom" and more from The Lion King. From The Road to El Dorado, "Queen of Cities," "El Dorado," "The Panic in Me" and more. "Hello, Hello" and "Love Builds A Garden" from Gnomeo and Juliet, and 'Electricity' from Billy Elliot. Is Elton John Still Making Music Today Yes, he continues to make music, most recently releasing an album with Brandi Carlile (Who Believes In Angels). He finished touring in 2023, closing out the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour after five years and 330 performances. He has said it will be his last tour.
1News
2 days ago
- Sport
- 1News
Kane Williamson unlikely for Black Caps' Zimbabwe tour
Former Black Caps captain Kane Williamson is unlikely to tour Zimbabwe for a two-test series starting in July, after opting out of a central contract for a second year running. However, he says he will continue to be available for the national team without being obliged to play, adding that he is still passionate about playing for his country. Williamson has arrived in London for a stint with Middlesex in the County Championship and the T20 Blast, and with London Spirit in The Hundred. He will be play in at least 10 T20 matches and five County Championship matches, through to September. Black Caps coach Gary Stead has indicated he doesn't expect Williamson to be available for the Zimbabwe tests — in Bulawayo, starting on July 30 and August 7, following seven T20 matches in Harare. In interviews on his arrival at Middlesex, Williamson has indicated that spending time his family with will be his priority outside of his cricket commitments. His wife Sarah, who is English, and their three children are with him in England. ADVERTISEMENT "It worked well last year, and obviously I'm in close conversations with New Zealand cricket, and the relationship is strong, but the landscape's changing really fast." he told The Guardian. The situation of not being on a central contract was still evolving for both parties, he said. "Yeah, we're still learning how to do it," he says. "The landscape keeps changing with the different challenges that we're presented with as cricketers. It's a work in progress. But New Zealand Cricket have been great to work with on it, I've been fortunate with that." Williamson opted out of some Black Caps series in the past year, including the tours of Bangladesh and India. The 34-year-old said he had done reflective thinking following the retirement from test cricket of India star Virat Kohli. The pair, Joe Root and Steve Smith were once dubbed the "Fab Four'' by the late Martin Crowe in an ESPN Cricinfo article. "My first thought was 'oh gosh, there's an end point'," Williamson said. "Because before that, you're on the journey, there's a pursuit there. And it's not connected to those other three, but we've all been playing at the same time, and we've all competed against each other for a long time and we all know each other pretty well. So then you do start to reflect a little bit. "I know Virat pretty well, we've chatted a lot over the years, but you do realise that we're not just cricketers as well, we're human beings and your life situation changes." ADVERTISEMENT
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Most of the public housing in ‘very poor' condition isn't in London— it's in Middlesex County
With three highest-demand LMCH locations in Middlesex County, a detailed report shows which units are in the worst repair, reports CTV London's Daryl Newcombe.
