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The game of cricket used to be played exclusively by white players in England and Australia long time back. Gradually it became popular in other countries like India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and West Indies and so on. It has become very popular in these countries. Cricketers have today become stars and they earn in millions. The game has also undergone a lot of change. Earlier there used to be only one variant-test matches. Today you have the one day international where 50 overs are bowled and the winner is decided on the same day itself. A recent variant of the game is the Twenty20 or the T20 where just 20 overs are bowled to decide the winner.

Cricket has become highly competitive and intense. As a result there are many controversies associated with the game. There have been match fixing scandals, accusations like biased umpiring decisions, ball tampering etc. It is no longer a gentleman’s game in the true sense. Nevertheless on a lighter vein there are some funny moments connected with this game and here we present top 10 funniest ways of getting out in cricket which you won’t find in any other game.

Let’s check out the ten funny ways through which a batsman can be declared as dismissed-

1. CAUGHT:

A batsman is declared out if the ball hit by him is caught by any of the eleven fielders provided the ball is in flight from the moment it is hit. If by chance there is any contact with the ground the batsman is declared as not out. There are restrictions on fielders too while catching the ball. He cannot step on the boundary rope or should not be standing beyond the boundary line. If he catches the ball in this position the batsman is awarded runs (boundary) instead of being declared out. In addition if the ball bowled by the bowler is a no-ball then any resultant catch even if clean will not result in the dismissal of the batsman.

2. BOWLED:

When the wickets (stumps) get dismantled by an incoming ball the batsman is declared out. This happens if the batsman fails to hit or when deflects the ball with his bat or unfortunately with his body.  However if the umpire signals a no-ball just as the bowler throws the ball then this rule will not apply.

3. STUMPED:

The batsman tries to hit an incoming ball but misses and he is out of the crease and the wicket-keeper manages to catch the ball. Then the keeper can knock off the bails to get the batsman out stumped. A no-ball however nullifies this rule.

4. HIT WICKET:

The umpire declares a batsman out if the wicket gets hit by his bat, any part of his body or cricketing gear. However if the bowler bowls a wide ball or a no-ball then the batsman is declared not-out.

5. LEG BEFORE WICKET (LBW):

This is one of the most complicated and controversial decision taken by umpires. In the history of cricket we come across many such decisions which were later discovered to be wrong. In this case an umpire takes the decision when fielders appeal for an out-LBW. If the batsman fails to make contact with the ball and in the process is found to be standing before the stumps obstructing the ball he is declared out. The assumption is that the wicket would have been hit by the ball had it not for the legs or body of the batsman. However if it is a no-ball or if the ball hits the bat before the batsman obstructs the stumps with his legs then he cannot be declared out.

Football or soccer as the American love to refer to it is by no doubt the most loved and watched sport in the world today. From Nairobi, Kenya- Africa to Sao Palo in South America, it is a game that is enjoyed and revered by the young and old. Having recognized the interest that a majority of people have in football, the article seeks to highlight some of the best all time top ten football teams in the world. Showcased are teams from Spain, England, Germany and Italy amongst others.

1. Real Madrid

Coming at number one is Real Madrid, a Spanish football team. They have managed to hog the headlines due to the lavish spending on new players. Other than that, they have managed to win the La Liga six times since 1994 and Champion’s league three times.

2. Barcelona

Coming at number two for Spain is Barcelona. At the moment, there is no lingering doubt that Barcelona is the best team in the world at the moment. At the just concluded world cup, the Spanish international team boasted of fielding 8 first team players, literally meaning that they carried the hopes and joy for Spain as a country. The have won the La Liga back to back eight time from 1991 to 1994, two times from 2005 to 2006 and two times from 2008 to 2009. In addition, they have also won the Champion’s League and Fifa World Cup.

3. Manchester United

Finishing the list for England and making an entrance is Manchester United Football Club. There is no doubt that Manchester FC is the best English team at the moment having won multiple silver wares across Europe. Since 1992, they have won the English Premier League ten times and the FA cup four times. Other domestic trophies won include league cup and community shield. They have won the Champion’s League twice as well as the Fifa World Cup.

4. Juventus

Making the list and increasing the number of teams in the list is Juventus. Despite the turbulence times that the team has gone through, it still is one of the most decorative teams in Europe. They have won the Serie A five times, Serie B after being relegated over match fixing and won the UEFA Champions League.

5. AC Milan

Adding the list of Italian clubs in the list is AC Milan. A great threat to Inter Milan in the race for Serie A Championship has also won numerous awards over the years. Notable of all silver wares that they have bagged is Champion’s League that they have won three times since 1993. Since 1991, they have won the Serie A six times.

Whether it is a regional club team or a national team, each of them needs a coach. Though the players receive the fame from the game, one should not forget about the contribution of coaches. When it is a game of football, fans can never afford to miss the coaches. Well, the coaches not only deserve mention for their great job, but also for their great remunerations. Yes, whenever you list the name of the football coaches, you generally credit them for their defensive strategies, excellent attack or flawless team game. However, football coaches not only deserve mention for their training skills, but also their personality and their sense of styling. If you are a football enthusiast, you should also take keen interesting on listing the top ten coaches depending on their remuneration. Though the contract value of the new coaches and new players are always a highly discussed issue among the football fans, very few fans can hardly list the top ten coaches depending on their contract amount. If you want to be updated, you can check out the list of top ten most expensive football coaches today.

1. Felipe Scolari

When it comes to the most expensive football coaches of the world, Felipe Scolari, the coach of Bunyodkar football club, tops the list. The club team of Uzbekistan reportedly pays their coach a lump sum amount of 16.6 millions Euros every year. Coach Scolari deserves special mention for training the World Champion Brazil in 2002.

2. Jose Mourinho

The talented, controversial and obviously ambitious coach of Inter Milan, Jose Mourinho claims the second position in this list. He has signed a contract for eleven million Euro per year. The coach is known for his brilliant strategies that his team, FC Porto, represented during 2004 League games.

3. Fabio Capello

It is quite obvious that the most successful coaches deserve the best amount. And when it is about success, one cannot miss Fabio Capello. The coach trusts more the final score of the game than what the players did on the ground. He also charges eleven million Euro for one year.

4. Sir Alex Ferguson

When it is football clubs, Manchester United has to be there. Not only for their players but also for their coach Sir Alex Ferguson, who is paid a sum of seven million Euros a year. It is his excellent gaming strategies that put Manchester United become one of the top favorites worldwide.

5. Robert Mancini

Former coach of Inter Milan club, Robert Mancini is on the fifth position when it comes to most expensive football coaches. One of the most successful coaches and also one of the highly respected ones in the history of world football, Robert Mancini charges about six million Euros for one year.

Some people refer to it as a celerity fashion, others as a religious avenue, while to some as a life changing path. Yoga is known by all of the above mentioned names. There are renowned celebrities such as Madonna and Sting who can bear true testimony on the life transformational benefits of yoga. Millions of people around the world are already tapping into these benefits. However, to the pessimist, they still need convincing on the benefits of yoga. Some of the questions most often asked by many people is how yoga affects the mind? How it enhances positive development of the body?

There is no one pose that defines yoga but a combination of poses that are executed in sequences. In addition, there are different forms of yoga. Traditionally, religious leaders were the ones responsible for creating the different kinds of yoga. Nonetheless, some of the most practiced yoga in the world today are Hatha, Kundalini as well as Bikram yoga.

Whereas, some people tend to associate yoga with celebrity lifestyle, unknown to them is that yoga plays a big role in ensuring that your body is well safeguarded against the numerous lifestyle diseases that plague the present generations, for example, high blood pressure or hypertension, heart ailments, diabetes as well as anxiety. Discussed herein are top ten health benefits of yoga.

1. Helps in reducing High Blood Pressure

Commonly referred to as hypertension, high blood pressure is a disease that affects millions of people around the world today. Nonetheless, research carried out recently by Prevention Research Center shows that yoga significantly reduces the occurrences of this ailment by a big margin.

2. Helps in reducing and managing blood sugar level

Due to the bustles and hustles of the present society, not many people have the time to cook and eat right. As such there has been an upsurge in diabetes cases even in children. However, to help reduce and manage sugar levels in your body, you can engage in regular yoga exercise. This has been proven by a research study that was carried out the school of nursing in the United States. 23 of those who participated in the research showed that by applying Vinyasa yoga on a regular basis, the sugar level in your blood can reduce significantly.

3. Helps in managing osteoporosis

By applying a series of yoga poses, you can in a way help manage osteoporosis. This has been proven in subjects suffering from the ailment who participated in the study.

4. Helps in managing stress level

It is estimated that stress is the number one cause of illnesses such as depression. It is hard to avoid stress given the fast paced society that we are living in today. However, you can help manage stress levels by practicing yoga for a limited amount of time each day. Research carried out by the Ohio State University in 2010 shows that Hatha Yoga is a good exercise in reducing stress levels in the body.

5. Helps in lowering heart rate

Heart diseases too are common amongst so many people worldwide given the lifestyle. Nevertheless, you can minimize your heart rate by practicing a series of yoga movements for a couple of minutes each day. Unknown to a majority of people is that when the heart rate lowers, less amount of pressure is applied to the heart.

Any list of the best sport persons in any field has got to be time specific. New and better sports persons keep emerging all the time and often some who were a part of the list do not live up to their promise.

Hence let us discuss the guys who proved they were the top ten cricketers until 2010. There are sure to be some who disagree with our list – but then we always look forward to having a great discussion with our readers.

1. Sir Donald Bradman:

He was the yardstick against whom all cricketers have always been measured. He set high standards, had a great batting average and in 1930 he scored his highest test innings. Idolised by cricket fanatics all over the world he singlehandedly brought cricket to the forefront among sports. Wisden has nominated him as the greatest Test cricket player ever.

2. Sachin Tendulkar:

Thirty six years old and he is still going strong. Soon he is expected to overtake the Don’s records for the highest cricket average in Test cricket. His talent and dedication to the game have made him India’s favourite Little Master and the bane of bowlers worldwide. Tendulkar is great not only in Test cricket but is also a great ODI player and on his shoulders rest the hopes of a billion Indians.

3. Sir Vivian Richards:

A great batsman and an even more aggressive bowler, Sir Vivian towered over the cricketing world from 1974 till 1991. A popular and wise captain, he led West Indies cricket during its heydays. He has been ranked by Wisden as the best One day International player of all times. He is also believed to be one of the best fielders of all times.

4. Brain Lara:

Another West Indian, Brain Lara enchanted cricket audiences worldwide with his style of batting and his ability to dispatch every bowler’s ball to the boundary with ease and grace. He holds many batting records, including the one of scoring the maximum number of runs in one over in Test cricket. He scored 24 runs of an over of Robin Peterson in 2003

5. Muttiah Mulitharan:

Murli has many a batsman quivering in his shoes when he comes roaring down the pitch. A great bowler he is unmatched in his ability to take wickets in both one day internationals and in test cricket. It is going to be a long time before anyone is able to match his score of 800 test wickets.

Basketball is undoubtedly one of the most popular games in the United States. The credit of the popularity of the game obviously goes to the players, who have made the game exciting and enticing. Naming the great basketball players is not a simple task. Each and every player is talented in their own way. Therefore, it will form a never ending list. If you want to have a glance at the glorious achievements of the basketballs teams, you can check out the records. Whether you are a fan of Los Angeles Lakers, or the Boston Celtics, or any other team, you need to appreciate the contribution of each and every team. Every team has made some praiseworthy records in their career. Therefore, it is always very difficult to select the top ten teams. However, to provide the fans a brief idea about the basketball scenario of the United States, top ten basketball teams of the United States have been selected based on their exceptional achievements in this field.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers, formed in the year 1948, has failed to qualify for the playoffs only five times. They have clinched sixteen victories in the NBA finals. In the year 1972, the team showcased their best performance with a score of 69-13. The team, which always boasts of a talented lineup, has never been defeated in all sixty matches of a season.

2. Boston Celtics

Formed in the year 1946, Boston Celtics made a dominating presence from the year 1957 to 1969.  With the terrific performance of the players, Boston Celtics registered eleven championships wins out of thirteen. From 1959 to 1966, the Celtics won eight titles at a stretch, which is, till now, the longest winning streak for any basketball team in the country.

3. Orlando Magic

Formed in the year, 1989, the young team of Orlando Magic has played twelve playoffs so far. In this short period of time, the team had players like Vince Carter, Dwight Howard, Steve Francis, Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill, Penny Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal and many more. Among the four team included in the year 1989, Magic has performed much better than other three teams at the same time.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland Cavaliers have made their first appearance in the year 1970. Since then, they have achieved some glorious feats. Nate Thurmond and Walt Frazier, who had been the part of the team for a significant period of time, have been inducted in the ‘Hall of Fame’ list.

5. Chicago Bulls

Formed in the year 1960, Chicago Bulls deserves a special mention for their great performance during the 90s. The team is still known for winning six championships in a short spell of eight years.  Bulls are also credited for spreading the popularity of NBA across the globe.

Football, which was first played by the peasants and poor of England, now attracts million dollar sponsorship from businesses across the world. The game, which initially did not find any existence among the riches, has now become the game of the masses. People from different places across the world are not only interested in watching the game, but also are keen to participate in it. As a large number of people have taken interest in this sport, you can find multiple football clubs across the globe today. With the increasing popularity of the sports, many national teams have taken to this game. This, in turn, has fueled the need for proper grounds and infrastructure to practice the game. And that is the reason, you can find hundreds of football arenas in different parts of the world. If you are a football fan, and want to gather more knowledge about this sport, you can check out the list of top ten football stadiums. Selecting the top ten football stadiums is tricky as every arena has some specialty of its own.

1. Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa

FNB stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, popularly known as the Soccer City, was selected as the venue for the FIFA World Cup, opening ceremony. The largest stadium of the country and the continent has the holding capacity of about 94,700 people. Though football fans will remember this stadium for the World Cup matches, it has a deeper history. During Nelson Mandela’s first visit to Johannesburg after his release from jail, this ground was selected for his speech.

2. Estadio do Maracana, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Estadio de Maracana stadium in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil hosted the final match of FIFA World Cup 1950. The stadium, inaugurated for the 1950 World Cup, did not prove to be lucky for the home team, and they lost the final match against Uruguay. The stadium will be renovated for the 2014 FIFA World Cup matches, and is expected to host a crowd nearing 75,000.

3. International Stadium Yokohama, Japan

The International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan hosted 2002 FIFA World Cup’s matches for the first three rounds. This stadium is expected to be popular among the Brazilian fans as their team won 2002 World Cup in this stadium. With 72,327 seats, this stadium boasts of providing more seating capacity than any other stadium in Japan.

4. The Stadde de France, France

Used by the French rugby team and national football squad, the Stadde de France has a seating capacity of eighty thousand. Number five stadium of Europe, in terms of seating capacity, witnessed France’s glorious victory in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The stadium has hosted different popular sports events, including the final match of Rugby World Cup.

5. San Siro, Milan, Italy

San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy is one of the oldest football stadiums in the world. The stadium, which has gone under multiple renovation works, provides seating capacity for 85,000 people. If you visit this stadium, you should not miss the memorabilia, and museum.

Are you one of those cricket fans who has wondered why your favourite player was dismissed? I’m sure that you are not alone in this world. You are right it wasn’t fair. Here are the Top Ten Weird Dismissals of Cricket Players:

Motor racing and specially the Grand Prix Circuits have become associated with the rich and the famous. There is a great deal of glamour attached to them, and since the top car manufacturers are linked with them, a lot of money is also attached to the sport. The best Grand Prix circuits have become the playground all those who enjoy the speed and the thrills which accompany the motor racing sport.

These are among the best known circuits in the world:

1. British F1 Grand Prix:

Currently held at Silverstone in Northampshire, it is one of the oldest continuously held Formula One championships. Presently the circuit length is 5.901 km and the race length is 306.747 km. One of the premier racing events in the year in England, the course has now been modified to give a brand new circuit configuration.

2. Italian Grand Prix:

One of the longest running sporting events in the world, the Italian Grand Prix initially began in 1921 in Brescia. Presently it is being held at Monza and has a race length of about 306.720 km. It is one of the most prestigious of all Formula One races and is the home of many a championship battle.

3. Malaysian Grand Prix:

The Malaysian Grand Prix is held at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang. The circuit itself is 5.543 km long and the race is 310.408 kms  long. The variations in the weather at this circuit have only added to the mystique of this event.

4. German F1 Grand Prix:

The German Grand Prix became a part of the Formula One circuit in 1951 and is presently held at Hockenheim. There is also an alternate track at Nurburgring, and due to a dispute between the two, the races earlier would be held at the two sites every alternate year. However now all disputes seem to have been settled and it is once more a part of the F1 championship circuit.

5. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix:

This track was built on the Yas Island by Herman Tilke, and it travels through a diversity of regions such as residential areas, sand dunes, beaches and theme parks.  The track is 5.5 km long and is one of Abu Dhabi’s most popular tourist attractions, especially in November when the race is held.

1. Alexander Ovechkin

Country: Russia

NHL Team: Washington Capitals

Captain and Left winger of Washington Capitals, Ovechkin was selected in the 2004 entry  draft of the National Hockey League. He joined the Dynamo Mosco from 2004 -2006. He transferred to NHL in 2006, winning Rookie of the Year, scoring 52 goals, leading with 106 points. Winning a list of trophies each season, Ovechkin deserves the Number # 1 spot.

2. Sidney Crosby

Country : Canada

NHL Team: Pittsburgh Penguins

This Canadian Centre and Captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, is nicknamed ‘The Next One’.  Sidney Crosby started his NHL Career in 2005. In his second season when he won the Art Ross Trophy, he was the youngest to win a scoring title in any North American League. In 2009 he became the youngest captain to win the Stanley Cup. He has won awards like the Rocket Richard Trophy and the Mark Messier Leadership award. Crosby has represented Canada in World Junior Championships, IIHF World Championship and Winter Olympics.

3. Steven Stamkos

Country: Canada

NHL Team: Tampa Bay Lightning

Stamkos had a breakout season in 2009–10, being near the NHL lead in goal scoring for most of the season. Stamkos ended the season with 51 goals, tied for most in the NHL with Sidney Crosby. Stamkos is the third youngest player to achieve this accomplishment. He is currently leading NHL in points and goals scored.

4. Alexander Semin

Country: Russia

NHL Team: Washington Capitals

Semin  made his professional debut in Russia’s second-tier League in 2001–02. He made his NHL debut in the 2003-2004 season. Due to confusion about Semin’s obligations to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which requires all Russian men to serve two years, Semin was not allowed to return to the Capitals when NHL resumed the following season in 2005–06. Along with Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, Semin helped form a highly offensive core with the Capitals in 2008–09. Semin was identified as one of the currently most improved NHL players.

5. Brad Richards

Country: Canada

NHL Team: Dallas Stars

Richards was drafted in the 3rd round, 64th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, despite recording 82 assists and 115 points in his draft year. He won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2004. On February 26, 2008, roughly 3 hours before the NHL trade deadline, Richards was traded to the Dallas Stars in a blockbuster deal along with goaltender Johan Holmqvist for goalie Mike Smith, centre Jeff Halpern, winger Jussi Jokinen and a 2009 4th round draft pick. Richards finished 7th in the NHL points standings in 2009-2010 season, just behind former teammate Martin St. Louis. He also finished fourth in total assists, and second in powerplay production in the league.