“Its red, round and weighs about five ounces,” said former South Africa skipper Shaun Pollock to Aussie stalwart Ricky Ponting after the latter had played and missed a couple of balls. We won’t get into Ponting’s riposte- the exchange itself finds a pride of place in cricket’s sledging folklore- but never since did Pollock’s explanation appear more apt.

Women singles’ Olympics final. Game One. Did you see that? I’m sure you did. Pusarla Venkata Sindhu is trailing 15-17 to Spain’s Carolina Marin. The grit of a tall, gangly, demure 21-year- old, desperate to reach where none of her ilk had, against the athletic supremacy and blazing confidence of a flamenco dancer, who happens to be the best in the world in her chosen sport.