India in A 2-1 Lead Over England

The stage was set and both the tensions and stakes were high. The score card was leveled with a victory to either team’s name. When the England cricket team scored 325-4 in the first ODI, it was a proud locker room moment for everyone involved. Even though they had just about nine runs over the Indian squad, the victory gave them a starting lead in the five match series.

Another reason why it was important to celebrate their victory in all its glory was because it was England’s first victory in 14 away matches against their staunch rivals. They won the toss, and the decision to bat first definitely turned out to be fortunate enough for the lot. Ian Bell and Alastair Cook took 158 runs in the opening stand, a combined effort with their 85 and 75 runs respectively. The timely wickets helped the team cement their victory against the Indian cricket team. After their win at Rajkot, England geared up for a similar encounter with the Indians in Kochi, but it seemed like God’s own country proved unlucky for the tourists who were at the receiving end of the competitive vengeance of the Indian cricket team. The home team won the match by an astounding 127 run margin, regarded as the second highest margin of victory against the England cricket team.

This leveled the series 1-1. Indian captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s 72 runs from 66 balls, a feat that earned the praise of the ‘best skipper in the world’ from his English counterpart, Cook, was only preceded by Ravindra Jadeja`s top ranking 61 runs from 37 balls. It’s a no brainer why Jadeja was conferred the man of the match that day. The only silver lining for the English was latest record incorporated into Alastair Cook profile – that of the youngest batsman to reach 7,000 Test runs. Proud moment for the captain and the left handed opening batsman. He was appointed Captain of the England test team following Andrew Strauss’s retirement. He had prepped up his team and boosted their confidence since their crushing defeat in Kochi, to face the Indian team at Ranchi, on 19th January, in the third ODI of the England tour series.

But home soil proved fortunate for Indian who won the match by 7 wickets. Virat Kohli who was adjudged the Man of the Match, secured 77 runs. Now both teams brace themselves for the next ODI in the series set to take place at Mohali, on 23rd January.

St Lucia Property Attracting High End Buyers

Bouncing back in style from the global recession, over the course of the past couple of years, The Caribbean property market has been enjoying somewhat of a Renaissance. Attracting more than its fair share of ultra high net worth investors looking to secure their next ubiquitous ‘place in the sun’, St Lucia’s unique brand of low-key luxury is particularly in favour with the high-end investors.

Less developed than some of its island neighbours, investing in property in St Lucia offers access to a 5-star luxury lifestyle without the ostentation of some of the other uber-wealthy enclaves like St Barts, for instance.

The Appeal of Investing in Luxury Property

While the island’s luxury lifestyle, natural beauty, and potential for capital growth are no doubt prime markers for high-end investors, there are plenty other deal-sweeteners on offer as well, including waivers on stamp duty and inheritance tax on certain deals.

Added to this, the St Lucian government has recently instigated a programme where anyone with a net worth of over US$3 million can apply to become a citizen, with all the attached fiscal benefits that affords.

What the Super Rich are Buying

St Lucia may not be as dense with billionaires per capita as some of other Caribbean islands (although it’s in the top four), but it certainly has no shortage of suitable properties to tempt them to part with a few cool millions.

For those with US$16 million to drop on their Caribbean dream, the Glenconner Beach Residences might just do the job – although they’ll have to wait a few months for completion (due in 2016). Set on absolute white-sand beachfront with views out to the Pitons, the four properties (one at nearly 10,000sq ft) are part of the famous Sugar Beach Resort. Investors looking to justify a return can expect to pull in a rental yield of up to US$15,000 a night in peak season when they’re not in residence themselves.

For up to US$3.75 million, a villa or penthouse in The Landings, up in the stunning north of the island at Rodney Bay, is positively bargain priced in comparison to Glenconnor Beach, and with the added benefit of somewhere to berth the super yacht! This ultra luxury 5-star resort has its own private marina, and the unique opportunity to purchase freehold beachfront property in St Lucia offers a multi-faceted investment with a high degree of flexibility and capital growth.

For around US$4 million, the spectacular Tuscan-style Villa Atlantis is a tempting prospect set within the prestigious Cap Estate. Situated on three acres of land high on a cliff, with sweeping views over the east and west coasts, Villa Atlantis looks just like the kind of ‘home from home’ a wealthy European mogul could be looking for.

The St Lucian property market is well and truly on the rebound, but right now it is still most definitely a buyer’s market, with sales up by around 20% in the past 18 months. While the global recession put the brakes on investment property in St Lucia for a time, over the past couple of years it’s well and truly become front and centre on the radar of the savvy super-rich once again. And who can blame them?

What’s Ailing Zaheer Khan?

Zaheer Khan seems to have fallen from grace. To be really frank, one should have seen it coming; the signs were all there- the languid movements, the insipid bowling, his very steps lacked the usual bounce. His bowling attacks don’t cause as much flutter as they used to. There was a time when the cricketer was the best known left-arm bowler in the Indian cricketing industry. Zaheer Khan Profile was so impressive that he was often the first choice in bowling. He could maneuver the ball both ways.

During the 2001 Ranji trophy series, he took eight wickets and was labeled the ‘Man of the match’. He was just a few months into professional cricket when he achieved the feat. When he was debuting for the Worcestershire County Cricket Club in England during 2006, he managed to single handedly take ten wickets that earned him the record as the first Worcestershire player to ever manage the amazing feat in over a century. During the India-Australia Test series that took place between 2008 and 2009, he surprised everyone with an all-around skillful performance in bowling as well as batting and consequently won the ‘Man of the Match’ award.

He was instrumental in promoting India to the final rounds of the 2003 World Cup, completing the series as the fourth highest wicket taker. His one man bowling attack helped India’s 2011 World Cup campaign tilt in their favor. He is the current record holder for the highest Test score, when he amassed 75 runs against Bangladesh in the year of 2004. There are plenty more records in Zaheer Khan statistics. It is not a wonder that people are highly disappointed that he has put on a less than impressive form these days.

When the team captain was questioned about Zaheer Khan’s dwindling profile, the skipper waived it off as a circumstantial problem. He said that his lethargic performance could be blamed on a number of things ranging from revved up batsmen to his fitness to certain indulgences. Zaheer Khan has in fact been rendered vulnerable by a number of injuries over the past few years. His exclusion from the squad competing in the Nagpur Test series was the cherry on the cake. But all hope is not lost; history has proved time and again that true talent never fades away into oblivion. A fine tuning now and then coupled with a healthy dose of self-esteem should help one get right back up on that horse.