Image via WikipediaSaturday, March 31, 2012
Mervyn Dillon West Indies
Image via WikipediaDillon was discarded by West Indies selectors at the age of 31; the victim of unreasonably high expectations. Dillon's statistics reveal that he was a good stock bowler who can be expected to deliver wickets. However, he also served up many juicy full-tosses, half-volleys and harmless bouncers to grateful batsmen. Geoff Boycott remarked that Dillon bowled great wicket-taking deliveries, but served up too many "four balls' that made him expensive.
In his career, Dillon took 131 wickets in 38 Test matches with an average of 33.57. His ODI returns were 130 wickets from 108 matches with an economy rate of 4.61. While "Big Merv" was no rabbit with the bat, his batting was at times comical and over-ambitious. He even appeared as if he would threaten Courtney Walsh's record for highest number of "ducks" in a Test match.
Although his returns from international cricket made him an above-average cricketer, Dillon's efforts were often overlooked because he was not the strike bowler that the W.I. selectors felt that he should be. He was the strike bowler for Trinidad and performed very well in this capacity. At Test level, however, Mervyn Dillon was a stock bowler who could take wickets. Expectations of him were perhaps too high.
A comparison to one of the current crop of bowlers shows that the parlous state of West Indies cricket is due to fundamental problems and is not merely an issue of finding better bowlers than Dillon. Daren Powell- considered a strike bowler in the 2008 team- took a grand total of 73 wickets after 30 Test matches at a poor average of 47.28 (up to December 12, 2008). This would have been acceptable if Daren Powell was not a "rabbit" with the bat. Powell needed 82 balls on average to get a wicket in a Test match compared to 66.4 for Dillon.
The high-arm action of Mervyn Dillon was truly a beauty to behold. In his prime, Dillon was able to deliver genuinely quick deliveries with speeds of up to 140 km/hr. His consistency in ball placement often left a lot to be desired. However, Mervyn Dillon's West Indies career was cut short prematurely by those who felt that younger, quicker bowlers should be given a chance. The fact that these younger, quicker bowlers pale in comparison to Mervyn Dillon is an emphatic indictment of West Indies cricket.
An international comeback for Mervyn Dillon is highly unlikely at the age of 35 (in 2009). He has not retired from First-class cricket, but has stepped aside to allow younger fast bowlers to emerge from Trinidad and Tobago. Even in the twilight of his career, "Big Merv" still has many overs left in him.
Friday, March 30, 2012
vacationing in the Caribbean
Image via WikipediaThe Caribbean cuisine is a wide mix of plenty of different cultures. There is a blend of Africa, Chinese, French, British, Spanish, Indian and more cuisines all coming together in one region. Seafood is obviously one of the common and most abundant food offered in the Caribbean. Since the entire region is composed of nothing but islands, this is to be expected. Although each island may have its own special type of dish they prepare, most islands offer the same seafood fare. During your all inclusive Caribbean vacations is the time for you to eat foods that will probably fall outside your comfort zone. One of the popular foods to eat in the Caribbean is conch. Most of us have most likely never sampled this type of shellfish before. If you have yet to try this delicious dish, now is the time! Other islands may even offer sharks on their menu. The islands also offer plenty of seafood plates that you are used to seeing on the menu at home, just in case you can't step outside the box. If you have been to any type of restaurant that offers Caribbean cuisine, you are already familiar with the regions very own jerk seasoning. This seasoning is usually found in meat dishes, but mostly used with chicken. The spicy flavor is unlike any combination of seasonings found anywhere else on the globe. If you like foods a little on the spicy side, jerk seasoning is just for you. It will be sure to make your taste buds dance! Other spices that are abundant in the area are ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Another type of food that is served as a side to most main courses is rice. Different islands put their own spin on this simple, but delicious side. During your all inclusive Caribbean vacation, be sure to sample the rice that is served with sauces and beans. It is unlike any rice that you have sampled here in the States. We all plan on doing different things on our vacations, but there is one thing that we all do: eat!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Caribbean Islands of West Indies
Florida Ephemera Postcards (Photo credit: UF Digital Collections)Cruising is one of the most popular and pleasurable activity among the people of Europe and especially of Caribbean Islands. People enjoy the dazzling beauty of the beaches while traveling on a cruise. You can stay on the cruise ship for maximum 14 days at affordable rates. Millions of passengers travel on cruise ships and it has become the most important and famous part of the tourism industry. Enjoying an extensive network of Islands on a cruise ship filled with mind blowing and peaceful beauty of golden beaches and resorts gives a man the best way to relax and unwind himself. To enjoy the stunning beauty of the high Volcanoes, snowfall on the peeks and worth watching views of the sea and its shore, a Caribbean cruise takes four major routes.
The most popular cruise route among all the routes is the Eastern Caribbean cruise route. This route starts from Florida, which is a popular city of United States of America, and sails through the Key West (Tropical Islands of Bahamas), Turks, Caicos and Virgin Islands. Finally, it reaches to Puerto Rico. This route passes through the most beautiful Islands of the world. Puerto Rico is a complete package of breathtaking beauty and opportunities to pamper you. Your journey would be incomplete if you miss to visit the world's famous and beautiful Condado beach on its Island.
Second route is the Western Caribbean cruise route, which starts from the seaports of the Texas, Louisiana and Florida. The cruise ship passes through a famous country Mexico, Island of Cozumel, Cayman Islands, Jamaica and then to the beautiful coasts of Central America Honduras and Belize.
Southern Caribbean cruise route is the third route, which begins from the main port of Puerto Rico and then passing through the Lesser Antilles and Netherlands Antilles ends at the west of Aruba Island.
Exotic or long duration Caribbean cruise route is the fourth route. In this specific route, you can take any of the above-mentioned directions. It is a mixture of all the routes. You can even start your journey from where the route ended. People prefer taking this route because of the vast options of traveling.
You can select a route, which suites you and your finances. For spending the perfect holidays and enjoying the lush green beautiful sights and beaches, clean natural environment and friendly people journey on the Caribbean cruise. This will definitely fulfill your desires. Mostly routes of cruise ships return the passengers to its originating port, but some routes are longer and take several months to return on the same port. So, if you don't want to miss the charms and gems of Caribbean Islands, take an unforgettable trip on a Caribbean cruise.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
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