Not for the first time, Michael Atherton made a pertinent point during the flurry of interviews which followed England's coronation on Sunday evening.
The former England captain-turned-commentator put it to Ian Bell that this should be a starting point in the national team's development, rather than the zenith.
It was steeped in relevance. When England won the urn back for the first time in 18 years four years previously, all the subsequent grand-standing and celebrification of the players proved entirely detrimental.
England were whitewashed in the return rubber and they remain no closer to winning a global one-day event.
Simon Jones, one of the heroes of the 2005 triumph, said England could rightly be regarded as the best side in the world then.
The validity of his claim was debatable, but it would be folly for any Englishman to even entertain the idea now. After their success, they lie fifth in the Test rankings, while Australia have tumbled to fourth.
Progress will be difficult. They are now shorn of Andrew Flintoff, while his big mate, Steve Harmison, looks close to following him.
However, given the shrewd guidance of Andrew Strauss and the team director, Andy Flower, England could yet rise from these Ashes. The faster they mend their middle-order, the better.
Australia's plight seems startling. When Shane Warne and the like were in their pomp, it seemed difficult to imagine a time when they would enjoy anything other than global domination.
Yet, despite the flowering of Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle in England, the Australian cupboard now looks increasingly bare.
They could be good enough to reclaim the urn from England next winter, but may also be destined to slum it with the rank and file of the middle-strata of Test cricket society for a while yet.
@Email:pradley@thenational.ae
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%3Cp%3EEncourage%20innovation%20in%20the%20metaverse%20field%20and%20boost%20economic%20contribution%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20outstanding%20talents%20through%20education%20and%20training%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20applications%20and%20the%20way%20they%20are%20used%20in%20Dubai's%20government%20institutions%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAdopt%2C%20expand%20and%20promote%20secure%20platforms%20globally%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20the%20infrastructure%20and%20regulations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
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%3Cp%3E97%25%20of%20Jewish-Americans%20are%20concerned%20about%20the%20rise%20in%20anti-Semitism%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E76%25%20of%20US%20Jewish%20voters%20believe%20Donald%20Trump%20and%20his%20allies%20in%20the%20Republican%20Party%20are%20responsible%20for%20a%20rise%20in%20anti-Semitism%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E74%25%20of%20American%20Jews%20agreed%20that%20%E2%80%9CTrump%20and%20the%20Maga%20movement%20are%20a%20threat%20to%20Jews%20in%20America%22%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
European arms
Known EU weapons transfers to Ukraine since the war began: Germany 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles. Luxembourg 100 NLAW anti-tank weapons, jeeps and 15 military tents as well as air transport capacity. Belgium 2,000 machine guns, 3,800 tons of fuel. Netherlands 200 Stinger missiles. Poland 100 mortars, 8 drones, Javelin anti-tank weapons, Grot assault rifles, munitions. Slovakia 12,000 pieces of artillery ammunition, 10 million litres of fuel, 2.4 million litres of aviation fuel and 2 Bozena de-mining systems. Estonia Javelin anti-tank weapons. Latvia Stinger surface to air missiles. Czech Republic machine guns, assault rifles, other light weapons and ammunition worth $8.57 million.
