Pup pops the question, Jerling cops a screamer

Dude, where's my luggage?
Flying in the Caribbean isn't complete without lost luggage or delayed flights. Indeed, local carrier LIAT (Leeward Islands Air Transport) has been the butt of jokes over the decades, earning a handful of dubious nicknames such as "Luggage In Another Terminal". Misplaced luggage recently forced the postponement of a Carib Beer Series fixture between Windward Islands and Guyana by one day after the Windwards' luggage failed to arrive on the designated flight. The players' and umpires' patience was tested for two whole days before the bags finally arrived the day the match was originally scheduled to start. If it was any consolation, the touring Sri Lankans had a tale of their own to tell after their scheduled warm-up game against West Indies A at Tobago's Shaw Park had to be cancelled because of "flight problems". Instead, they had to make do with practice. The boat seems a better alternative.

Pup and Bingle make it official
Will he? Won't he? Well, he finally did. Michael "Pup" Clarke proposed to girlfriend Lara Bingle in New York's Central Park last week. It is rumoured that Clarke presented his lady love with a pear-shaped diamond ring valued at an estimated US$100,000. Indeed, he had trouble insuring the ring before the two flew to America. Bingle isn't quite showing off her rock, though. Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported that she tried her best to hide the ring when she and Clarke left a Los Angeles nightclub.

One of the most sought after cricket WAGs, Bingle, a swimsuit model, shot to fame in 2006 when she turned up in a Tourism Australia ad campaign, asking TV viewers, "So, where the bloody hell are you?" Since then, the couple have made grand red-carpet entrances at Allan Border Medal nights, and it only seemed a matter of time before Pup popped the question ... and followed it up with a hard-to-refuse five-carat. An engagement party for 300 guests is likely when they return to Australia.

Hit wicket
Smashing stumps can make your career if you're a bowler, or break it if you're a batsman. In New Zealand last week, Wellington's premier club cricket final was marred by a show of indiscipline by Eastern Suburbs' star batsman John Francis, when he knocked his wicket down with his bat after being given out leg-before to North City's Russell Kyne in the second innings. Francis, a county professional for Somerset, may well have jeopardised his club cricket career in Wellington, and if found guilty, could face a hefty fine or be suspended.

Oh dear, I can't look
Another unhappy incident on a cricket field, but this one was met with waves of sympathy. A Pro20 match between the Dolphins and the Eagles in Durban witnessed power-hitting by the Eagles openers, Jacques Rudolph and Loots Bosman, but the most unfortunate victim of the carnage was not a bowler. A full-blooded pull by Rudolph struck the square-leg umpire Brian Jerling flush in the crotch, and the sight of the poor umpire subsequently writhing in pain apparently moved all male spectators to tears. Not for too long, though, for Jerling recovered, refused the proffered stretcher, and happily carried on.

And the award goes to ... Sluggo
Dwayne Leverock, the antithesis of every fitness trainer's mental image of the trim sportsperson, never ceases to amaze. Nicknamed Sluggo, the enormous Bermuda left-arm spinner, who holds a day job as a prison van driver, was recently the co-recipient of his country's Athlete of the Year award, along with triathlete Flora Duffy.

You may remember Leverock from his astounding one-handed pluck to dismiss Robin Uthappa in last year's World Cup, and his frenzied "Run, Forrest, Run" celebrations that followed.

Field of dreams
Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif dearly missed cricket during his long exile from the country. Following his return to the country last September, Sharif returned to his old haunt, the Bagh-e-Jinnah Ground in Lahore, last week, to chance his arm with a few shots, and send down some deliveries in the nets.

"Surely that's a four," Sharif remarked after a forceful pull. At the end of the half-hour session he told the Associated Press of Pakistan, "I am a bit rusty at the moment, but with proper practice I will be in normal trim." Everybody take cover.

One for the cabinet
Returning to the topic of precious stones, Anil Kumble was the recipient of a ball studded with 1500 of the finest diamonds from Antwerp, Belgium, as a reward from the Indian board for having achieved the milestone of 600 Test wickets. Kumble was felicitated in Chennai just before the first Test against South Africa. Overcome with gratitude, he made a 15-minute speech, concluding by saying, "With so many Tests coming up, I'm sure we'll get a chance to meet again soon to celebrate 700 wickets."

Quotehanger
"Test cricket may be compared to the finest Scotch, 50-overs a side to Indian Made Foreign Liquor, and 20-20 to the local hooch."
Writer Ramachandra Guha shares his thoughts on the three forms of international cricket