The Red Army might become a new favorite after Sunday’s victory at Livingston, which was the club’s fourth straight 1-0 victory in their six previous Scottish Premiership games.
Jimmy Thelin’s managerial change from 4-2-3-1 to 3-4-4-1 has resulted in a run of five clean sheets in seven domestic games and a rise from bottom to seventh place, three points off the top six.
Only Celtic and Rangers have scored more points in their eight league games thanks to the newfound steel at the back.
However, they must still persuade from the beginning. There is no threat in the final third of the league, where there are only 10 league goals in 13 games, which is the second-wenigstens among them.
The key to success is “character” and “steel.”
Thelin praised his team’s defensive display in West Lothian, which allowed them to maintain their lead in the first half thanks to Livingston’s dominance.
In the first period, David Martindale’s side, which is currently at the bottom of the table and without a win since August, managed a whopping 10 shots, seven of which came from inside Aberdeen’s penalty area.
Thelin told BBC Scotland: “Livingston did a lot of good things with some good chances in the first half.
“We stayed in the game, and gradually we grew,” he said, adding that there was more team harmony.
However, even though they were better in the first half, we had a chance to win the game once more thanks to their effective defense.
The success of Aberdeen’s turnaround was largely attributed to the back three of Nicky Devlin, Jack Milne, and Mats Knoester.
Milne, 22, appears to be growing in stature and confidence as he intercepts a crucial pass before colliding with the post to stop a near-certain goal.
Knoester won seven aerial duels and made 12 clearances from the end of the box.
Devlin did not fall far behind, allowing Livingston striker Tete Yengi to clear the ball just before the winner was scored in the other box.
At the beginning of the season and for a significant portion of the previous term, that resilience was lacking. Only Aberdeen and Heart of Midlothian and Celtic currently have six clean sheets in the league.
You need to keep in mind that the league started off well, that we are in Europe, and that we play every three days, Thelin said.
It’s to get through this time as many points as possible, share the burden as a team, and make adjustments where necessary, but not too often that we lose touch with one another.
“The players did well,” he said. The game started like it did after we had a difficult game on Thursday when we arrived.
Is Aberdeen’s lack of punch a long-term solution?
Having said that, it’s reasonable to wonder how long a team can continue to grind out unproven victories while allowing more chances than they give up.
Some fans may also be willing to demand more because Aberdeen’s budget should allow for European qualification.
In their previous nine games, Aberdeen have only scored once.
Before the Premiership action this weekend, Thelin had to make bleak reading from a look at some key metrics.
They had the fewest passes and crosses into the opposition’s box, and they placed ninth in the division in terms of chances created in open play.
They ultimately fail to deliver crosses and take enough shots, and they also have poor accuracy at doing so.
Only St Mirren converts a smaller portion of their shots, and they have the league’s worst crossing accuracy from open play.
Aberdeen’s conversion rate is a meager 6.4%. They have had the second-lowest chances possible, so it’s not even as though they are relying on set pieces.
Thelin gained notoriety for playing wingers, who were frequently his Elfsborg side’s main source of ideas and goals.
However, due to the change in body, players like Kenan Bilalovic, Topi Keskinen, Jesper Karlsson, and Nicolas Milanovic either have limited game time or are playing further upfield, where space is congested.
After making his debut a month ago, Dylan Lobban, 20, on the right, gave Stuart Armstrong a chance to face Livingston.
He still needs assistance as he enters senior football.
Unexpected, Sivert Heltne Nilsen, 34, who had previously been subject to criticism for his mobility, was given a starting midfield berth at Almondvale.
Does it, however, show that no other starters are making a compelling case for their position?
On Sunday, Aberdeen’s passing accuracy dropped to 72%, and that dropped to 60% in the final third.
Thelin’s main themes in speaking about performances were calmness, composure, and players taking more personal responsibility for the game.
They frequently fail to form sustained attacks.
Do Aberdeen have time to address these pressing problems given the congested schedule that runs through January?
Do they have Thelin’s intense and counter-attacking squad members with the running ability to execute it?
Or can they simply reassess in January after a difficult start to the season?
After a distinguished career spanning over five decades, legendary BBC Radio 2 presenter Brian Hayes passed away at the age of 87, as tributes began to pour in.
Some of the most influential radio of his time was created by Hayes, who was the son of a miner, from Perth, Western Australia. He famously said that he saw callers as “real people with something to say.”
The broadcaster relocated from Down Under in the early 1970s to the UK, where he continued his radio career, where he became a producer when Capital Radio first aired on the network in 1973.
Some objected to the presenter’s “aggressive” behavior toward callers.
He then assumed a presenting position. He made his name, though, when he began hosting the LBC radio morning interview and phone-in show.
The broadcaster’s gruff manner with callers earned him a controversial following, making it clear that he did not suffer fools gladly. Although this caused some to lose their respect, he was still regarded as a top station employee. He was once called “Brian Bastard,” according to satirical publication Private Eye.
The presenter started appearing on various stations starting in 1990, earning him a spot on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show from 1992 until his departure, apparently due to unpopularity, and was then replaced by late Irish broadcasting legend Terry Wogan in January 1993.
He also served as Jimmy Young and his successor Jeremy Vine’s representative until 2006 while hosting the weekly phone-in show Hayes over Britain on BBC Radio 2. He won the Gold Sony Radio Award for “Best Phone-In.”
Margaret Thatcher (BBC) was Hayes’ first ever phone-in guest on LBC.
He was a producer on programs like Not Today and Thank You on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 4 until 2006. He returned to his legendary role at LBC in the middle of the 2000s by hosting Friday nights on BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday nights.
He revealed that his first caller was a rather significant one when he described LBC and his time there to the Guardian in 2003.
“On January 6, 1976, LBC and I started our relationship.” Margaret Thatcher, the opposition’s leader at the time, was the guest on my first phone-in for the station.
She appeared most concerned about whether the clumpy headphones she was wearing would ruin her expertly designed hairdo because it was her first phone-in. She also experienced a lot of anxiety. I was then, too.
He also recalled that during his time at the station, he spoke with a number of political, trade union, and business movers and shakers, as well as the greatest writers, musicians, performers, and of course, the educated, lovable, and enraging Londoners who flooded the phone lines and pleaded with the rest of us to explain how the world should be run.
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Here’s a list of the movies available on offer, from beloved family favorites to tear-jerking classics, plus the ones you might want to avoid. The famous Disney studios have made every animated film available on its channel.
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The total number of Disney+ animated films is ranked.
The first ever full-feature Disney animation was premiered almost 90 years ago when the much-loved Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs hit screens. The charming classic based on a Brothers Grimm fairytale is now known as “the one that started it all”.
Since then the famous film studio has delighted audiences with an astounding number of family-friendly animations featuring everything from a wooden puppet who longs to be a real boy, and a head strong girl who hits the high seas on a magical solo mission to a young lion who must try to comprehend the significance of the circle of life.
With all but one of its animated films (Song of the South, which was withheld due to stereotypical depictions of its black characters) available on Disney+, here’s a list of what you could settle down to with some popcorn. There’s the early nostalgic days of Snow White, the glorious visual treat that is Beauty and the Beast, the enchanting and emotionally charged Encanto and many more.
In fact there are 74 films in total but all are fully-animated, were theatrically released and are from the Disney studio only, so no Pixar flicks. The list is ranked from scoring on Rotten Tomatoes which takes into account professional reviews and goes from the number one spot to the least recommended.
1. Pinocchio
The second animated film to come from the Disney studio, Pinocchio is loosely based on a 1883 Italian children’s novel The Adventures of Pinocchio. Released way back in 1940 it follows wooden puppet Pinocchio who is created by woodcarver Gepetto. Brought to life by a fairy, he dreams of becoming a real boy but must prove he is brave, truthful, and unselfish first. A cricket called Jiminy is his guide as he encounters temptation and is led astray.
It scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes where critics called it “a genuine masterpiece”, “delightful” sometimes “frightening” and a film which “captures the bittersweet madness of parenthood as eloquently as any work of art ever has”
2. Zootopia
Featuring the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba and Shakira among many others, the movie follows a rookie cop rabbit and a cunning con artist fox who try to solve a mysterious case of missing predators. It broke box office records when it first appeared in 2016. Critics praised the state-of-the-art animation, rated it “important,” and praised it for having “a lot of humour and action.”
3.101 Dalmations
Two Dalmatian dogs, Pongo and Perdita, who live in London welcome a litter of 15 puppies. Their pups are kidnapped by one of the most memorable villains ever, the wicked socialite Cruella de Vil, who wants to make their black and white fur into coats. The protective parents’ journey to rescue their precious bundles sees them end up with many more orphans along the way. The animation was released in 1961 to positive reviews and was a box office hit. It received a 98% score with critics calling it “emotionally charged” and one of Disney’s “finest achievements”.
4. The Seven Dwarfs and Snow White
Based on the 1812 German fairytale Snow White by the Brothers Grimm, it was the first ever animated film produced in the United States. Snow White, the evil princess, shares a forest with her evil stepmother, the vain Queen. The Queen orders Snow White to pass away when the magic mirror proclaims her to be the “fairest of all.” She then flees into the forest where she finds the seven dwarfs’ home. The landmark release in 1938 was named as the greatest American animated film of all time in 2008. It receives a 97% and is referred to as “the one that started it all,” a “timeless gem,” and “flawless.”
5. Aladdin
Scott Weinger portrays Aladdin in the 1992 musical fantasy, Robin Williams portrays the genie, and Linda Larkin portrays Princess Jasmine. It is based on an Arabic folktale from One Thousand and One Nights and follows street urchin Aladdin as he finds a magic lamp containing a genie who grants him wishes. On its debut, it received a critical and financial boost, and it rose to the top of all time’s grossing lists before Lion King and the Lion King. It receives a “wish come true” and is praised as “relentlessly entertaining.”
6. Moana
Set in the beautiful islands of Polynesia, the movie follows the wilful and stubborn daughter of a village chief, Moana, voiced by Auliʻi Cravalho. The ocean selects her to accompany shape-shifting demigod Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, in carrying out a crucial mission for the goddess of nature, Te Fiti. It received 95% on all of its commercial and critical success in its 2016 release. It was praised for its memorable and original music score and called, “progressive”, “visually stunning” and “empowering”.
7. Beauty and the Beast
Based on the French fairytale, it is set in 18th century France and sees a selfish prince transformed into a monstrous creature as punishment for his actions. Belle, the villager’s daughter, visits his castle when he imprisons a villager. For the spell to be broken, the beast must demonstrate that he can love and be loved.
Released in 1991 with Angela Lansbury voicing Mrs Potts, the castle housekeeper who was turned into a teapot, the film was a massive financial hit and the first animation to win a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture. It received a 95% on the score and was characterized as “enchanting,” “sophisticated,” and “an instant classic.”
8. Cinderella
Cinderella is a young girl’s story of aristocratic father who weds her after her mother passes away, as depicted in the fairytale from 1697. After being granted wishes by her fairy godmother, she is forced to live with her evil stepmother and cruel stepsisters as their servant. It was released in 1950 when Disney was in financial trouble but became a commercial and critical success, helping to save the studio after World War II. Critics adore it because it is “delightful,” “dazzling,” and “unforgettable” and scoring 95%.
9. Fantasia
Eight segments are set to classical music with all but one performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Originally planned to reignite interest in Mickey Mouse, it morphed into the various sections each with its own tale to tell set to beautiful scores. It didn’t make a profit on its release in 1940 because World War II meant access to the European markets had been cut off. It has since been reissued multiple times and is one of the highest grossing films of all time in the US. With a 95% score, it is described as “fascinating”, “stirring” and “courageous beyond belief”.
10. Dumbo
When a baby elephant is delivered by a stork late to an expectant circus mother elephant, he is mocked for his oversized ears and given his mean nickname, Dumbo. Along with his only friend, a mouse named Timothy, he must prove his worth in a cruel world. Released in 1941, it is one of the studio’s shortest animations. It won an Academy Award for its musical score and is preserved in the US National Film Registry for its cultural importance. Scoring 95% critics have hailed it as “astounding” and “simple but powerful”.
11. Raya and the Last Dragon 2021
The film follows warrior princess Raya as she searches for her father and the land of Kumandra from evil spirits known as the Druun, including the voices of Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Izaac Wang, and Gemma Chan. There is a legend that Raya must find after a dragon sacrificed itself to save humans from the Druun. The movie’s release was delayed due to Covid 19 but when it did come out in 2021 it became the third most streamed film of the year as well as a box office hit. It receives a 93% and is praised for being “exhilarating” and “striking” and for having “gorgeous animation.”
12. The Lion King
This coming-of-age animation features actors from Tanzania who include Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Whoopi Goldberg, Rowan Atkinson, and Robert Guillaume. Simba, the young son of the King and Queen of the Lion, was killed by his jealous uncle Mustafa when they were two. A massive hit both commercially and critically on its release in 1994 it also features original music written by Elton John and Sir Tim Rice. Critics called it “brilliant” and “awe-inspiring,” and it received a 92% on the score.
13. The Lady and the Tramp
After her parents give birth to a baby, a spoiled pooch named Lady finds herself in dire straits. Finding herself out on her ear, a street-wise mutt named Tramp takes care of her and the pair fall in love but have to face the reality of their different backgrounds. Its 1955 box office debut was a 91% success, making it the best overall. It is described as “charming,” “memorable,” and “beautiful” by critics.
14. Encanto
In a rural area known as the Encanto, the Madrigals reside in Columbia’s mountains. All the children and grandchildren are blessed with magical gifts from a miracle, except for Mirabel. She embarks on a journey to discover why when they begin to lose their minds. The award-winning animation received a lot of critical acclaim, and some of its songs, especially We Don’t Talk About Bruno, even received awards. It scored 92% and was described as “enchanting”, “sincere” and “epically emotional”.
15. Mullan
The movie follows Mulan, voiced by Ming-Na Wen, as she impersonates a man who will replace her aging father in the Chinese military, according to the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan. Eddie Murphy portrays Mushu, a shamed dragon and her family’s former spiritual guardian, who tries to save her from a Hun invasion. Released in 1998 to critical and commercial success, it won a Golden Globe and was nominated for numerous others. It received praise for being “stunning,” “sumptuous,” and “grand” and received a 91% overall rating.
The top 74 Disney animations are listed below in order of popularity:
16. The Little Mermaid (1989)
17. Bambi (1942)
18. (2014) The Big Hero 6
19. (8)
20 . Tarzan (1999)
21 . The Pooh’s Wifnnie (1999)
22. The movie Sleeping Beauty (1959)
23 . Frozen (2013)
24 . (2010) Tangled
25. (2018) Ralph Breaks the Internet
26 . The Jungle Book (1967)
27 . Wreck it Ralph (2012)
28. Stitch and Lolo (2002)
29 . The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
30 . The Princess and the Frog (2009)
31. The Rescuers Down Under (1990)
32 . Hercules (1997)
33 . Heffalump, the movie from Pooh’s (2005)
34. The Notre Dame Hunchback (1996)
35 . Fantasia 2000 (1999)
36 . Peter Pan (1953)
37. 2019’s Frozen II
38 . Disney’s Teacher’s Pet (2004)
39 . Big Movie by Piglet from 2003
40. The Pooh’s Many Adventures (1977)
41 . Ducktales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp (1990)
King Charles has long enjoyed a particular family tradition, but he revealed that those days are “for him” after becoming King and receiving a cancer diagnosis.
Mitya Underwood Senior Celebrity and Royal Writer
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King Charles has been a fan of the sport since he was a young boy(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
King Charles revealed this year he has been forced to give up a much-loved hobby which has been a huge part of the royal family’s life for generations. During his ill-fated marriage to Princess Diana, the couple spent many an annual winter holiday skiing with Princes William and Harry, and the tradition has now been passed down to the brothers’ own children.
However, 77-year-old Charles told a group of employees earlier this year that he believed his “skiiing days are behind me” when he made an official royal visit to a Middlesbrough factory. His annual ski trips are thought to have been canceled in 2023 for safety reasons prior to the coronation taking place in May that year. The King was subsequently unable to take any activity-filled vacations because his cancer diagnosis was revealed in early February of that year.
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The family made numerous winter trips to Klosters in the Swiss Alps when William and Harry, now 43 and 41, were younger, and cousin Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice also traveled there.
However, when Charles, William, and Harry were photographed in front of cameras during their trip in March 2005 due to a plight-causing microphone issue, their trip became more well-known than most. Charles’ mic picked him up talking about Nicholas Witchell, the BBC’s royal correspondent at the time, saying, “Bloody people. That man is beyond me. He is really awful, really.
William and Harry flew to Whistler, Canada, with Charles, on another occasion in 1998, one year after losing their mother. Before Diana’s passing, she enjoyed visiting Lech in Austria with the boys. She famously asked “As a parent, I ask you respect my children’s space” when she confronted photographers who had been hired to cover their Lech visit.
Nowadays, the Prince and Princess of Wales love taking their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis on ski holidays, and royal reporter Richard Palmer says, “I’m sure William and Kate will be planning another winter ski break with the kids, because it’s something they love doing together.
The Prince and Princess have traveled extensively and have had the opportunity to ski very well. George, Charlotte, and Louis have also had the opportunity to compete. In fact, William and Kate were first discovered dating in Klosters in 2004 when they were spotted skiiing together.
They were holidaying with a group of friends. Two years later, they were photographed kissing in the same resort, with the images taking the world by storm and showing it was serious between them.
Since then, the pair has skied with Middleton family members and have frequently gone back to Klosters. After spending six weeks with the RAF, William whisked Kate to Verbier, which is also in the Swiss Alps, to make up for her missing Valentine’s Day.
Everyone who has encountered Duncan Spencer has a tale to share.
In the early 1990s, a golden age of fast bowling, Spencer might have been the quickest of all.
Spencer, who was born in Lancashire and was raised in Perth, still had the potential to represent either England or Australia. The fastest bowler the Ashes rivals never had.
Spencer, according to Viv Richards, was among the fastest people he faced. Ricky Ponting said the same – Spencer and Ponting almost came to blows on the pitch.
Spencer’s contemporary at Western Australia, Durham coach Ryan Campbell, described him as “ridiculously and frighteningly fast.” Tom Moody, the former Australia international and another West Australian, said Spencer would “terrorise” batters.
BBC Sport met Spencer at his home in Perth’s south-west suburb just before the opening Ashes Test, when England won the fastest overall pace bowling game ever.
Like most kids born in the north of England, the young Duncan Spencer kicked a football around. His family moved to Perth when he was five, and soccer (his word) didn’t start to take hold in Australia until the early 1980s.
Spencer was a batter in junior cricket. He frequently “bowled the thing everywhere,” which was against his rule. It was only in one end-of-season game, when the regular bowlers were missing, that the 14-year-old Spencer got his chance.
He claims that everything just clicked. Spencer’s pace had been discovered, wickets tumbled and he was on his way through the Western Australian system.
“I had the “joy” of playing against Duncan throughout my junior career,” Campbell says. “You saw this kid, the run-up, it just looked like it was going to be fast – and he always was. He was faster than everyone else.
” There are only four people in my lifetime I have said are ridiculously fast. That includes Duncan Spencer, Shaun Tait, Brett Lee, and Shoaib Akhtar.
Spencer is not a tall man. Even at the age of 53, he has hulking shoulders, but a 5′ 8″ height is not ideal for a fast bowler. He had his first back operation aged 17.
“I can’t help but compare Mark Wood,” says Moody. It’s like having a V8 engine in a Mini Minor. “
Daryl Foster was Western Australia’s and Kent’s head coach as Spencer progressed. When Foster learned of Spencer’s British passport, he signed him to a two-year deal at Canterbury.
Spencer had no skin. Just before he went to the UK for the 1993 summer, he bowled 42 no-balls playing for Western Australia against an England A team including Jack Russell, Graham Thorpe, Dominic Cork and Andy Caddick – Spencer got Thorpe out.
The 21-year-old Spencer was shocked by the harsh conditions and the county grind on his first visit to England since he left when he was a child.
” I’d say to the other guys ‘ Are you sore? ‘ Spencer “says.” They’d say ‘ No, I’m alright’. I was unable to walk.
a day ago
a day ago
In their final game of the Sunday League season, Kent and Glamorgan squared off in September. They were the top two and the title was on the line. Richards, a legend of the West Indies, won his final List A game at the age of 41.
The match was televised live by the BBC – Jonathan Agnew and Vic Marks were on commentary. Online users can easily find the video.
As Kent attempted to defend a modest total of 200, Spencer was the fifth bowler used. Spencer’s first ball whistled past Adrian Dale’s ear in happy action and a retro sky-blue Kent kit.
Spencer mainly bowled two lengths: very full and very short. The crowd erupted as the ball thudded into one of Glamorgan’s batters or into one of Steve Marsh’s gloves.
After Spencer pinned Matthew Maynard – an England international – leg before wicket, Richards swaggered to the crease to a standing ovation. The Master Blaster, on the other hand, did not wear a helmet.
” He’s used to many a young pup tearing in and trying to let him have it, “was Agnew’s description of Richards defending his first ball on the back foot. Spencer racked his chest with the ball that came next.
” He spat his chewing gum out to cover, “says Spencer”. He was clearly hurt after the rib injury but didn’t show any pain.
Richards took another one on the top hand. The ball looped up to be caught on the leg side before the umpire gave the order to stop. Richards eventually passed Spencer at the non-striker’s end, giving him a high five and a pat on the head.
Glamorgan won the title and the match. Richards ended 46 not out. A signed baseball that Spencer still has is available today.
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Two months later, another legend, Ponting, a future Australian captain, was back playing for Western Australia while Spencer and another legend were competing.
Playing for Tasmania in a Sheffield Shield game in Hobart, Ponting was a few days shy of his 20th birthday and nearing a century.
According to Spencer, “This day against Ricky, it was on.”
” Geoff Marsh, the captain, came over to me and said ‘ mate, I don’t care what you do, just raise hell’.
We had a crush on each other. I gave him four bouncers in a row and I think it should only have been one per batter, per over.
He complained to the umpire in jest. I turned around to mid-off and said ‘ don’t walk in. He’ll smash it if I pitch it up, too.
“He pushed it towards cover and I was in my follow-through. I kept going and took the ball. He made out he was going to run, so I turned and threw it. It slipped past his head as he turned and just missed the stumps.
” He turned around and said ‘ you do that again I’ll wrap this bat around your neck’.
“Don’t let fear hold you back,” I remarked.
” Then we’ve gone into each other. I was about to break him. I’d lost it by then. We continued to play until the players and umpires “pulled us apart.”
As fate would have it, Spencer and Ponting would end up in the same bar that evening, and they settled their difference over a beer.
Spencer, who acknowledges having a fiery temperament on the field, was wrong to approach his aggression against his own people.
” Justin Langer was trying to fire me up in the changing rooms, tapping me in the face, “says Spencer.
I didn’t need to start blaring. I was always pretty calm until I got past the white line. Before we left, Justin believed he would turn me on.
Spencer was winging. When he returned to Kent for the 1994 season, there was talk of an international call-up. Foster was instructed not to participate in interviews so that he wouldn’t swear allegiance to either England or Australia.
Then, in a flash, Spencer’s career came to a halt. In a June one-day game against Middlesex, he broke down.
“I collapsed on the ground bowling to Mark Ramprakash”, says Spencer. “I couldn’t walk at all.”
Spencer returned to Australia, slowly coming to terms with the idea his days as a professional cricketer might be done. Excruciating pain was now present when a young family was mowing the lawn.
In order to live a normal life, Spencer took prescription steroids. The desire to play cricket waned and the pain vanished. He went back to the Perth club circuit.
Spencer recalls that Tom Moody, the captain of Western Australia, discovered that I was once more playing.
“He said ‘ you’re going to play a one-day game on 2 January’. I laughed a lot, but I didn’t think much.
” It came around and I was picked. In the end, I was selected for the one-day season. I was just happy to be back playing. “
On their way to the domestic one-day cup final in Australia, Spencer stayed with Western Australia. In the final, his WA side included Mike Hussey and Simon Katich, beaten by a New South Wales team of Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Michael Bevan.
Spencer had a drug test after the game. With the steroids still in his system, he was banned for 18 months, the first cricketer in Australia to be punished under anti-doping laws. He was widely reported.
” It was six months after taking the drugs before I even attempted a bowl, “he says”. I had a year later when I first played it. Apparently it hangs around in your body for much longer. I wouldn’t have played if I had known that.
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Spencer was out of the game once more, but was still not done.
Five years later, Spencer found himself playing cricket at Rockingham-Mandurah Cricket Club’s nets to a young Ravi Bopara through his work as a fitness instructor.
“Ravi said ‘ why are you not still playing? ‘” Spencer remarks. “Knowing how good Ravi was – and is – if he thought I could do it, maybe I should play”.
Spencer asked former Zimbabwe and Sussex batter Murray Goodwin if any counties were looking for a bowler after the drug ban because he thought his time playing for Western Australia had come to an end.
Remarkably, at the age of 34, Spencer found himself back in county cricket on trial at Sussex in the summer of 2006.
Spencer says, “I assumed I was still playing the game with a lot of enthusiasm,” but realized I wasn’t.
“I was sharp, but not as quick as I was as a young fella. Although I had the ability to do it, my work ethic had vanished. I probably went over for the wrong reasons”.
Spencer competed in two top-notch matches for Sussex, playing for Sri Lanka on a tour. His last wicket in professional cricket was Kumar Sangakkara.
In 16 first-class matches and 23 scalps in 20 List A games, he collected 36 wickets overall.
Nearly 20 years on, Spencer is settled in Perth. He is employed in Western Australia’s northern mines.
Moody says there is “no question” Spencer could have played international cricket. Spencer claims he would have preferred to have played for either Australia or England, but his accent is entirely Australian.
Spencer has no idea how fast he bowled. He believes that he was told that his speed was “off a short run,” and that he was only clocked at 158 kph, or just over 98 mph.
“I was in the wrong era”, he says, considering the way modern fast bowlers are managed, or how he could have made a fortune as a T20 gun-for-hire.
Campbell points out that Duncan Spencer wasn’t seen enough of, which is one of the great tragedies. “When he got it right – oh my goodness”.
Spencer experienced what most people can only dream about: he not collected the wickets, the international caps, or the rewards he might have.
“When I didn’t have rhythm, I was as bad as anyone”, he says.
“It was a fantastic feeling when everything clicked.” It’s effortless. It seems like it’s coming out of a medium pace once you start the rhythm.
The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 142-134 in a dramatic double-overtime victory, which included a career-high 41 points.
At the conclusion of the fourth quarter, the teams were tied at 115-115 and 126-126 after the first five-minute overtime period.
However, Johnson responded with a pair of three-pointers to help Atlanta move ahead after Tyrese Maxey’s driving layup gave the 76ers a lead of 132-132.
After missing nine games with knee soreness, the 76ers returned key man Joel Embiid with 44 points.
On his return to the field, Embiid scored 18 points in 30 minutes.
LeBron James also missed the Los Angeles Lakers’ 133-121 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans to put an lingering foot problem behind him.
JJ Redick, the Lakers’ coach, told ESPN, “It is an injury he’s had in the past.
We’ve previously had to deal with it,” he continued. We’re being cautious, really.
Austin Reaves added 33 points, and Luka Doncic added 20 of his 34 in the first quarter to help the Lakers to a seventh straight victory.
Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning champions, defeated the Portland Trail Blazers to extend their winning streak to 12 games.
