After 17 years and more than 300 races, it could be @alo_oficial's last F1 race on Sunday 😭 He's given us a lot over the years... including some superb GIFs!

Here we have a rare example of a GIF you can actually hear. TOMA. 💪

Thread:
Happy Birthday @therealkapildev
Kapil Dev was always present, in every cricket-crazy consciousness of India of my boyhood

#onthisday #cricket

One just had to close one’s eyes & the graceful, lithe run up could be seen, leap before delivery, head tilted to the left, right hand close to the chest left raised in front of the face, and then the left arm extended outwards as the right came around to send down the delivery

All through the 1980s with more cricket being telecast one found almost every cricket pitch, from coaching centres to school games, full of bowling actions that were almost exact replicas of the great man’s. Yes, Indians could bowl pace, successfully, and Kapil had shown the way

Anyone with more than a few paces in his run up seemed to follow in his excellent steps, at least as far as running up to the wicket was concerned. Almost every young lad in the country aspiring to bowl pace at any level of the game emulated the action.

From the early eighties, some occasionally tried to model their run up on Malcolm Marshall, although few managed the pace. One or two made a decent caricature of Imran Khan. But by and large, the template remained uniformly Kapil.

Lately there have been various rumours in the media about myself and Jumbo in relation to Williams. To clarify things, Jumbo is not and will not invest any money in my career. 1/2

Of course we’re collectively looking at career opportunities, however this is certainly not our philosophy and strategy. I hope to announce my future plans soon, be patient 😉 2/2

The awesome role of backspin in swing bowling and dipping yorkers: A thread.

If you've ever bowled any kind of seam in your life, you know that your fingers impart a backward spin on the ball as you release it.

Turns out, this is important in multiple ways.

First up, releasing the ball with backspin gives it rotation about its horizontal axis, much like a cycle wheel.

Much like a wheel, this enables the seam to stay upright (or slanted) without wobbling.

This is conservation of angular momentum.

This is important, because if the seam is wobbling around, it's almost impossible to get swing.

So your fingers naturally put backspin on the ball, which keeps the seam well-behaved, in a line, which is essential to even generate swing.

Turns out, this is not the only way it's important.

Remember when they talk about bowling fuller when it's swinging?

That's to give the ball more time in the air. More time = more swing = more lateral movement. Also, late swing.

Fine. But what does backspin do?

Backspin enables the ball to hang in the air for longer.

Why? Because of something called the Magnus effect.

The Magnus force is due to this backspin, and it lifts the ball.

The ball hits the ground later than it would if there were no backspin.

LATEST VAR STATS THREAD

Overturns: 83
Rejected: 3
Goals: 23
Disallowed: 25
Pens: 19 (4 missed)
-for handball: 8
-overturned: 16
-retakes: 3
Offside goals: 20
Allowed after offside: 5
Disallowed handball: 3
Allowed after handball: 0
Reds: 12
-overturned:

VAR STATS (cont)

Most for: Brighton 8
Fewest for: Arsenal 1
Most against: Liverpool 10
Fewest against: Burnley 0
Most net for: Chelsea, Everton 3
Most net against: Liverpool 5
Most involvement: Man United 15

VAR STATS (cont)

Most goals awarded: Leicester 4
Most goals disallowed: Liverpool 6
Best net goal score: Everton, Sheffield United +3
Worst net goal score: Liverpool -8

VAR STATS (cont)

Most goals to opposition: Brighton, Liverpool, Tottenham, West Brom 3
Most goals disallowed for opposition: Brighton, Tottenham, West Ham 3
Most penalties awarded: Leicester, Sheffield United 3
Most penalties conceded: Brighton, Liverpool, Tottenham 3

VAR STATS (cont)

Most subjective decisions for: Man United 5
Most subjective decisions against: Fulham 5
Best net subjective score: Man United +3
Worst net subjective score: Arsenal, West Brom, Wolves -2

Since today is #ARSMUN , here is my combined 11 for the two.
I use the 4-3-3 formation, with 2 holding midfielders nd an attacking midfielder .

1.BERND LENO
A tough decision between the two great goal keepers, I go with Bernd.
Though he just edges David

2. AARON WAN-BISSAKA
We all believe Aaron has been better this season compared to the Arsenal right back Bellerin.

3. KIREAN TIERNEY
There is going to be a heated discussion here, Like shaw has been good too. But KT takes this in my line up.

4. ERIC BAILEY
The Ivory coast defender has been good this season and has saved united on several occasions. He slides in this line up with ease

5. HARRY MAGUIRE
The £80M defender will be chosen alongside his teammate in central defence. Their partnership has proven to be the best for ole's side this season