1992-Colourful cricket, and that rain rule

World Cup
No. 5

Minnows
Zimbabwe

Format
This was the World Cup that thought it was a league. All played all in a qualifying round that went on forever. It was fair but about as exciting as the Nullarbor Plain. The good news was that South Africa joined in for the first time, following the end of apartheid.

Innovations
Four big ones. The players wore coloured clothing, with names on the back. There were floodlights for most of the 36 games. The white ball - in fact two of them, one at each end (so they didn't get too grubby), which meant they swung prodigiously. The fielding-circle rules were refined, allowing only two men outside the ring in the first 15 overs; after the first 15 it was as before: a minimum of four inside the circle. Result: the birth of the pinch-hitter. Ian Botham did the job for England, and Mark Greatbatch was deployed by New Zealand.
Early running
Australia, the holders and hosts, were such hot favourites that the pressure got to them. They lost the opening game, in New Zealand (Martin Crowe 100 not out), and then faced England in Sydney. Botham sniffed the chance to trample Australia into the dirt for one last time and took 4 for 31 and then made 53 not out as England won by eight wickets. Pakistan started dreadfully, losing to West Indies by 10 wickets, and would have gone out if rain had not saved them in Adelaide after England bowled them out for 74. England and New Zealand were the best teams for a long time, but both had peaked too soon. Imran Khan famously told his team: "Listen, just be as if you were a cornered tiger," and they moved into top gear.

The semis
What's Afrikaans for "We wuz robbed"? South Africa, playing England, needed 22 off 13 balls when it rained in Sydney. By the time it stopped, they needed 21 off one ball. New Zealand's brave run came to an end as Pakistan successfully chased 263, with the unknown Inzamam-ul-Haq thumping 60 off 37 balls.

The final
Pakistan were on fire at the MCG, and England were not. Derek Pringle (3 for 22) removed the openers, but Imran Khan and Javed Miandad made 72 and 58 as Pakistan recovered to 249 for 6. England were soon 69 for 4 (Botham 0), and when Neil Fairbrother (62) and Allan Lamb (31) launched a recovery, Wasim Akram snuffed it out, bowling Lamb and Chris Lewis with consecutive beauties. Pakistan won by 22 runs.

Controversies
There was only one of note: the rain rule, drawn up by a panel of experts, including Richie Benaud, for matches affected by bad weather. The idea behind the rule was to avoid the old system - work out the runs-per-over of the first innings and then deduct that for each over lost by the side batting second - which heavily disadvantaged the side batting first. Under the rain rule, the reduction in the target was to be proportionate to the lowest scoring overs of the side batting first, a method that took into account the benefits of chasing, as opposed to setting, a target. The rule raised eyebrows during the washout between England and Pakistan in Adelaide and was utterly discredited when South Africa's chances of qualifying for the final were shattered by 12 minutes of rain, which changed an achievable equation to an impossible one.

The Art of Communication

Celebrities are constantly telling parents to talk to their kids about the issue of the day. But, what celebrities don't tell you is how to talk to your kids.

Clinical psychologist Erik Fisher, Ph.D, says that communication between parent and child is crucial to a child's sense of safety, trust, self-esteem and power. But as children enter high school and become more self-sufficient, communication can be tough. In Fisher's book “The Art of Empowered Parenting” he gives these guidelines for better communication:

Realize the power of “No.” It's one of the smallest words in our language, but it can be harmful when not used properly. “When a child hears 'No's from his parents, it can set a negative frame of reference for how the child feels about himself, his parents, and the world,” Fisher says. Instead, parents should try, whenever possible, to use the word “Yes” and reframe the situation to look at other options that won’t leave your teen feeling shut down.

Avoid criticism. Although most of the time parents do it to help their teens improve, it can also lead to feelings of shame, embarrassment and inadequacy. When giving feedback, open the conversation with phrases like “I'm not sure if you have considered X, Y, or Z in this situation and I would like to hear your thoughts” or “I would like to talk about what happened at school today.” Avoid commands and put-downs.

Don't lecture. It's not a communication tool, it's a power trip. Don't cut your teen out of the conversation. Short and to-the-point communication which leads to brainstorming possible solutions is the way to go. Also, add in a bit of humor, where appropriate, and don't be afraid to point out your own past mistakes as examples, as your teen gets older.
The Family Meeting. This can be a great ice-breaker for families. Everyone in the family should attend and everyone should get equal time to speak without interruption. Consider setting guidelines, and a short and sweet agenda. Always try to end the meeting on a positive note.

Building Trust. Sometimes parents can communicate distrust without even realizing it, like when you finish your teen's sentence. Ask your teen straight up how he feels about himself, or about situations in his life and the life of his peers. This will not only help his self-awareness, but will also tell him that his parent is really listening.

The Power of Praise. It can be as simple as telling your teen how much fun he is to be around. But it's important to consider how praise is communicated. Saying, “You did a wonderful job, and I love you for that” could imply that you only love your teen when he does a wonderful job. Keep in mind that compliments aren't just for wonderful displays of talent, they're also important to give when your child puts in a good effort.

So, next time you get the urge to talk to your teen about sex, drugs and rock 'n roll remember this: stay positive, keep it short, give them your undivided attention and don't be afraid to talk a little about the things that they do right. Even with parents and teens, communication should be a two-way street.

New Year--A New Beginning

“Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!

This bright new year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!

I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!”

Friendship - How Scholors see

A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.
Elbert Hubbard

A friend to all is a friend to none.
Aristotle

A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely.
Pam Brown

A man's growth is seen in the successive choirs of his friends.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world.
Leo Buscaglia

A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.
Arnold H. Glasow

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.