X Factor winner Leona Lewis’’s Bleeding Love has landed the first spot in a poll of the most-played love songs in recent years in Britian.
In the survey by PRS For Music, the 2007 track was followed by Whitney Houston classic I Will Always Love You, reports The Telegraph.
Celine Dion’’s My Heart Will Go On [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Andy Williams’
Leona Lewis†Bleeding Love most-played love song in UK
February 10th, 2010 |
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PCB refuses to fund Shoaib Akhtar’s knee surgery in England
October 2nd, 2009 |
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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar had approached them to fund his knee surgery in England, but the former refused to bear this expense.
According to reports, Shoaib plans to undergo the surgery under the supervision of famous orthopedic surgeon Andy Williams in England on October 8.
“Shoaib had sent a [...]
England gamble on uncapped Trott
August 16th, 2009 |
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Fifth Ashes Test, The Oval: England v Australia
Dates: Thursday, 20 August to Monday, 24 August Start time: 1100 BST
Coverage: Live Test Match Special commentary (from 1025 BST on day one, 1045 BST on remaining days) on BBC Radio 4 LW, 5 Live sports extra, the Red Button and BBC Sport website. Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobile phones. Also live on Sky Sports.
England are set to take a major gamble in the crucial fifth Ashes Test by replacing Ravi Bopara with the uncapped Jonathan Trott, BBC Sport understands.
Ian Bell, whose position in the side has also been under threat, is poised to keep his place and move up the batting order to number three.
Changes had been expected after the humiliating defeat in the fourth Test.
Mark Ramprakash and Rob Key had been touted for call-ups, but appear to have been overlooked in favour of Trott.
England, who must win the fifth Test against Australia at The Oval to regain the Ashes, are set to officially announce their squad at 0930 BST on Sunday after a week of intense debate about the make-up of the squad.
The 28-year-old Trott was included in the 14-man squad for the fourth Test at Headingley, but was released to play for Warwickshire.
With 1013 runs in the County championship this season at an average of 92.09, Trott is a player in a rich vein of form – but the decision to throw him in for a Test debut in the high-pressure environment of a decisive Ashes Test is a big gamble for the selectors.
The South Africa-born batsman served a timely reminder of his ability with a century for Warwickshire against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, while Bell made 126 to help his case to retain his place.
Trott will get a dress rehearsal of sorts when he plays for the second-string England Lions side against Australia in a two-day match at Canterbury starting on Saturday.
Bopara’s place has been in severe jeopardy, with just 105 runs from his seven innings in the series.
"Every batsman has been through a run of low scores and he hasn’t managed to really get in and show what he is made of in this series"
England coach Andy Flower on Bopara
He showed his fighting spirit and ability with an unbeaten 52 for Essex against Middlesex on Friday, but it appears to have been insufficient evidence for the England selectors.
Nevertheless, England coach Andy Flower has backed the 24-year-old – who had been in fine form against the West Indies earlier in the year – to come through his difficult spell.
"Every batsman has been through a run of low scores and he hasn’t managed to really get in and show what he is made of in this series," said Flower.
"It’s a tough situation for him but he is a pretty calm bloke, so he’s keeping it in perspective."
Trott’s elevation to the side has come at the expense of the 39-year-old Ramprakash and Key.
Ramprakash made the last of his 52 Test appearances in 2002, but had indicated he would be available should the selectors require his services.
The Surrey batsman has once again been in prolific form for his county, notching his 108th first-class career century against Derbyshire last week.
His Test statistics, however, make more sober reading, scoring 2350 runs at 27.32, with just two centuries from 92 innings.
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Meanwhile, Kent captain Key, who played the last of his 15 Tests for England in January 2005, has also failed to convince the selectors.
Marcus Trescothic had also been mentioned as a possible replacement, but the former England opener ruled himself out of contention earlier in the week.
Trescothick retired from five-day cricket in March 2008 because of a stress-related illness.
The fascination with the state of inspirational all-rounder Andrew Flintoff’s knee has been overshadowed by the debate over changes to the batting line-up in the build-up to the Ashes decider.
But Flintoff, who missed the Headingley defeat, should be fit for his final ever Test.
The 31-year-old was examined by specialist Andy Williams on Monday but while the prognosis was encouraging, England said Flintoff will undergo "further rest and intensive treatment" in order to regain his place in the starting XI on Thursday.
Away from the top order, England face further quandaries over the composition of their bowling attack on a pitch which has yet to see a victory in a Championship match all season.
The Oval is traditionally one of the fastest pitches in England, favouring genuine quick bowlers and spinners, rather than swingers.
With Flintoff expected to return, the selectors must decide whether to drop Steve Harmison, who took two wickets on his recall at Headingley, Graham Onions, James Anderson or Stuart Broad.
Anderson failed to take a wicket in the fourth Test, while Broad registered career-best figures of 6-91.
However, Surrey manager Chris Adams suggested the ball will turn at The Oval and told Phil Tufnell’s Cricket Show that England should select two spinners from Graeme Swann, Monty Panesar or Adil Rashid.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Ramprakash backed for Test recall
August 10th, 2009 |
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Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash is being backed for a remarkable England recall for the decisive fifth Ashes Test – seven years since he was last capped.
Australia crushed England to level the series going into the final match at The Oval, Ramprakash’s home ground.
He turns 40 in September and has not played for England since 2002 but has been in prolific form for his county.
"If I was an England selector picking my best side, he’d be in it," said Surrey cricket manager Chris Adams.
"He is playing the best cricket of his life," Adams, who briefly played for England, both at Test and one-day international cricket, told BBC Radio 5 live.
"He’s a fine player, whether it’s the right time to bring him back into a Test match is a different story"
Australia captain Ricky Ponting
"He has done so for three years. I believe strongly he has been the best batsman available for England for those three years.
"I know Kevin Pietersen would have something to say about that but from what I’ve seen from Mark this year he is an exceptional batsman, a batsman at the top of his game."
Adams echoed comments made by former England captain Alec Stewart, also a Surrey stalwart, who suggested a one-off return for Ramprakash might be the best option for a side enduring a middle-order crisis.
Only one England batsman, skipper Andrew Strauss, has scored a century in the series so far, compared to Australia’s return of seven.
Ravi Bopara, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell, who replaced the injured Pietersen, have all disappointed.
606: DEBATEThe Ashes England
Between them, Bopara, Collingwood and Bell contributed a total of just 16 runs during the fourth Test at Headingley and England coach Andy Flower has suggested the batting line-up might be altered following his side’s innings and 80-run defeat.
Earlier in the summer Essex batsman Bopara cemented his place at number three with three consecutive centuries against West Indies but the 24-year-old has struggled against Australia, scoring 105 runs in seven innings at an average of 15.
England named Warwickshire batsman Jonathan Trott in their squad for the fourth Test and he is another being touted to replace Bopara for The Oval Test, which starts on 20 August.
Kent captain Rob Key’s name is also being bandied around, with former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott and BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew backing his inclusion.
Meanwhile England are again waiting on the fitness of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.
He was seeing knee specialist Andy Williams on Monday with England captain Andrew Strauss keen for an early decision.
England waited until the morning of the fourth Test to rule Flintoff out.
The Lancastrian had said he was fit enough to play but was overruled by Strauss and Flower.
Strauss said: "Hopefully we’ll know two or three days out from the Test match whether he’s fit enough to play.
"He’s still desperate to play in that final Test but he realises he’s got to be fit enough."
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But it is Ramprakash, who won the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing show in 2006, whose name is causing the biggest stir.
The right-hander has played 52 Tests, scoring 2350 runs at an average of 27.32 with 12 half-centuries and two tons.
In 12 Tests against Australia he has notched 933 runs at an average of 42.40 with one century, coming at The Oval in 2001.
He was dropped after scores of nine and two against New Zealand in Auckland seven years ago but has since moved from Middlesex to Surrey and continued to dominate opposition bowling attacks at county level.
In 2008 he became only the 25th player to score 100 first-class centuries with a ton against Yorkshire at Headingley, and on Sunday he showed he was still going strong with 134 not out against Derbyshire.
It was the 108th first-class century of his career and moved him level with Pakistan’s Zaheer Abbas in 16th place on the all-time list.
"He’s a fine player, whether it’s the right time to bring him back into a Test match is a different story," said Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
"It’s amazing how quickly things change either the way the media sees the team or even the way the team looks upon itself."
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.