The might of Africa

Today I've watched two remarkable pieces of sporting action on TV. The first is in the way of a curiosity really, but still, in the context in which it occurred, it was something to see:

Opener Chris Gayle made Test history in West Indies' second innings [in the fourth Test at the Oval] by hitting fours off all the balls of an over.

The context? Further West Indian humiliation, I'm afraid.

(The context in a different sense. This cameo was watched by me in the company of Simon and Drew over at Simon's place, and to the accompaniment of classic rock music tracks selected by Drew from the formidable selection of CDs he appears to carry around with him in a custom-made case. Much discussion of great music from one decade and another.)

Later, back home, I watched what one commentator referred to as 'the might of Africa' (no fewer than 14 runners from African countries) competing in the Olympic 10,000 metres. It was simply breathtaking - the endurance over the distance in that heat and at that pace, and the seeming ease with which Kenenisa Bekele pushed out ahead in the final lap to finish first in Olympic record time. For the great Haile Gebrselassie, it was a disappointing Olympic exit. But, all in all - what a group of athletes!