#Australia tour of England 2023

[rishukumariworld-blog]

WATCH: Alyssa Healy’s Heartwarming Gesture Towards a Cute Little Fan Wins Hearts – Women’s Ashes 2023

Australia started multi-format Women’s Ashes 2023 series on a high note by winning the only Test at Trent Bridge by 89 runs. still, despite winning the opening white-ball institution, they failed to carry the instigation in the T20I leg and lost to England( 1- 2). It’s worth mentioning that the final T20I of the Women’s Ashes 2023 was played at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in the presence of…

[india-tour-booking]

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[doyoulikethissong-poll]

The Cranberries - Zombie 1994

"Zombie" is a protest song by Irish alternative rockband the Cranberries. It was written by the lead singer, Dolores O'Riordan, about the young victims of a bombing in Warrington, England, during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The song was released on 19 September 1994 as the lead single from the Cranberries' second studio album, No Need to Argue. While the record label feared releasing a too controversial and politically charged song as a single, "Zombie" reached number 1 on the charts of Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, and Iceland, and spent nine consecutive weeks at number 1 on the French SNEP Top 100. It reached number 2 on the Ö3 Austria Top 40, where it stayed for eight weeks. The song did not chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart as it wasn't released as a single there, but it reached number 1 on the US Billboard Alternative Airplay chart. Listeners of the Australian radio station Triple J voted it number 1 on the 1994 Triple J Hottest 100 chart, and it won the Best Song Award at the 1995 MTV Europe Music Awards.

The Troubles were a conflict in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s to 1998. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), an Irish republican paramilitary organisation, waged an armed campaign to end British rule in Northern Ireland and unite the region with the Republic of Ireland. Republican and Unionist paramilitaries killed more than 3,500 people, many from thousands of bomb attacks. One of the bombings happened on 30 March 1993, as two IRA improvised explosive devices hidden in litter bins were detonated in a shopping street in Warrington, England. Two people; Johnathan Ball, aged 3, and Tim Parry, aged 12, were killed in the attack. 56 people were injured. Ball died at the scene of the bombing as a result of his shrapnel-inflicted injuries, and five days later, Parry lost his life in a hospital as a result of head injuries. O'Riordan decided to write a song that reflected upon the event and the children's deaths after visiting the town: "We were on a tour bus and I was near the location where it happened, so it really struck me hard – I remember being devastated about the innocent children being pulled into that kind of thing. So I suppose that's why I was saying, 'It's not me' – that even though I'm Irish it wasn't me, I didn't do it. Because being Irish, it was quite hard, especially in the UK when there was so much tension." The song was re-popularised in 2023 after it was played after Ireland games at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. It was picked up by fans of the Irish team, with videos of fans singing the song in chorus accumulating hundreds of thousands of views on social media. This offended other Irishmen, who identified it as an "anti-IRA" anthem, and said that that the lyrics failed to consider their experience during the Troubles.

The music video, directed by Samuel Bayer, was filmed in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the heart of the Troubles with real footage, and in Dublin. To record video footage of murals, children and British Army soldiers on patrol, he had a false pretext, with a cover story about making a documentary about the peace-keeping efforts in Ireland. Bayer stated that a shot in the video where an SA80 rifle is pointed directly at the camera is a suspicious British soldier asking him to leave, and that the IRA were keeping a close look at the shoot, given "the British Army come in with fake film crews, getting people on camera.” While "Zombie" received heavy rotation on MTV Europe and was A-listed on Germany's VIVA, the music video was banned by the BBC because of its "violent images", and by the RTÉ, Ireland's national broadcaster. Instead, both the BBC and the RTÉ opted to broadcast an edited version focusing on footage of the band in a live performance, a version that the Cranberries essentially disowned. Despite their efforts to maintain the original video "out of view from the public", some of the initial footage prevailed, with scenes of children holding guns. In March 2003, on the eve of the outbreak of the Iraq War, the British Government and the Independent Television Commission issued a statement saying ITC's Programme Code would temporarily remove from broadcast songs and music videos featuring "sensitive material", including "Zombie". Numerous media groups complied with the decision to avoid "offending public feeling", along with MTV Europe. Since it violated the ITC guidelines, "Zombie" was placed on a blacklist of songs, targeting its official music video. The censorship was lifted once the war had ended. In April 2020, it became the first song by an Irish group to surpass one billion views on Youtube.

"Zombie" received a total of 91% yes votes!

[world-of-wales]

HAPPY 11TH BIRTHDAY TO THE SWEETEST AND CUTEST LITTLE MAN, HRH PRINCE GEORGE ALEXANDER LOUIS OF WALES (B. 22 JULY 2013) ♡

On 22 July 2013, Prince George was born to Catherine and William, then known as Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in St Mary's Hospital, at 16:24 BST weighing 8 pounds and 6 ounces. He was born during the reign of his paternal great-grandmother Elizabeth II and is the first child and eldest of Will & Cat.

The little prince's name was announced on 24 July as George Alexander Louis. George is one of his paternal grandfather King Charles’ middle names and was the regnal name of Queen Elizabeth's beloved father Albert. Alexander is the masculine version of Queen Elizabeth's middle name Alexandra and was also Catherine's top choice for a baby boy's name. Louis is in honour of his 3rd-great-uncle Earl Mountbatten of Burma - Louis, his father - Prince William and King Charles.

Georgie was was christened by the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, on 23 October, in the Chapel Royal in St. James' Palace.

George spent the first few months of his life in Anglesey, Wales, before his family relocated to Kensington Palace in 2014. He started at West Acre Montessori School Nursery in 2016 when his family moved to Anmer Hall in Norfolk and then studied at at Thomas's School in Battersea. In 2022, George and his family relocated to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, after which he started at Lambrook School with his siblings.

Born as a Prince of Cambridge, he became HRH Princess George of Wales after his grandfather conferred his parents with the titles of the Prince and Princess of Wales. George was third in line to the throne upon his birth but is now second in line following hid dad taking over as the heir.

He made his official royal debut during the Cambridge tour of Australia & New Zealand in 2014. His first Palace balcony was in 2015 and has also joined his parents on official tours to Canada, Germany and Poland. Taking part in two royal weddings Georgie has also been a part of his great-grandmother's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 and was a page of honour at his grandfather's coronation in 2023.

George is a keen tennis and football player (a huge Aston Villa & England fan) and loves rugby, cricket & triathlons. He is adores AC/DC and Led Zeppelin & is learning to play the electric guitar. Georgie is known to love the military and wanted to join the air cadets when he was younger.

He also loves helicopters and police cars and was a fan of Fireman Sam. As per his mum, he likes thunderstorms, and when younger T-rex, the dinosaur fascinated him the most. George spends a lot of time outdoors, helping out with the farm animals & is quite a competitive gardener.

[wouldvebeensweet]

Eras Tour photos masterpost!  ⁺˚⋆。°✩

General eras tour tag → here

Filter by show

US Leg (2023) 🇺🇸

→ Glendale, AZ (3/17, 3/18)

→ Las Vegas, NV (3/24, 3/25)

→ Arlington, TX (3/31, 4/1, 4/2)

→ Tampa, FL (4/13, 4/14, 4/15)

→ Houston, TX (4/21, 4/22, 4/23)

→ Atlanta, GA (4/28, 4/29, 4/30)

→ Nashville, TN (5/5, 5/6, 5/7)

→ Philadelphia, PA (5/12, 5/13, 5/14)

→ Foxborough, MA (5/19, 5/20, 5/21)

→ East Rutherford, NJ (5/26, 5/27, 5/28)

→ Chicago, IL (6/2, 6/3, 6/4)

→ Detroit, MI (6/9, 6/10)

→ Pittsburgh, PA (6/16, 6/17)

→ Minneapolis, MN (6/23, 6/24)

→ Cincinnati, OH (6/30, 7/1)

→ Kansas City, MO (7/7, 7/8)

→ Denver, CO (7/14, 7/15)

→ Seattle, WA (7/22, 7/23)

→ Santa Clara, CA (7/28, 7/29)

→ Los Angeles, CA (8/3, 8/4, 8/5, 8/7, 8/8, 8/9)

Asia, Australia and Latin America (2023)

→ Mexico City, MX 🇲🇽 (8/24, 8/25, 8/26, 8/27)

→ Buenos Aires, ARG 🇦🇷 (11/9, 11/11, 11/12)

→ Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 🇧🇷 (11/17, 11/19, 11/20)

→ Sao Paulo, Brazil 🇧🇷 (11/24, 11/25, 11/26)

→ Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵 (2/7, 2/8, 2/9, 2/10)

→ Melbourne, AUS 🇦🇺 (2/16, 2/17, 2/18)

→ Sydney, AUS 🇦🇺 (2/23, 2/24, 2/25, 2/26)

→ Singapore, SG 🇸🇬 (3/2, 3/3, 3/4, 3/7, 3/8, 3/9)

Europe Leg 2024

→ Paris, FR 🇫🇷 (4/9, 4/10, 4/11, 4/12)

→ Sweden, SE 🇸🇪 (4/17, 4/18, 4/19)

→ Lisbon, PT 🇵🇹 (4/24, 4/25)

→ Madrid, ESP 🇪🇸 (5/29, 5/30)

→ Lyon, FR 🇫🇷 (6/2, 6/3)

→ Edinburgh, SCT 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (6/7, 6/8, 6/9)

→ Liverpool, England UK 🇬🇧 (6/13, 6/14 6/15)

→ Cardiff, Wales UK 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (6/18)

→ London, Engand UK 🇬🇧 (6/21, 6/22, 6/23)

→ Dublin, IE 🇮🇪 (6/28, 6/29, 6/30)

**If you don't see photos for your show, don't worry! I'll be going through and adding more. This is just what I have so far!

[bangtanhoneys]

GRACE TOUR DIARY: March 25th 2025 - Los Angeles

It was nice to spend the morning not having to rush. Grace was currently lounging in her bed in her suite, on one of the floors of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. She could already hear Sejin on the phone, hear the bustle of make-up artists and hair stylists clearing up the stations from the past few days. Her suite had become ‘Queen HQ,’ having taken on another Queen name like her team had - here talks were done about interviews, schedules checked, last-minute costume checks and the like. 

But after tonight, she would be heading on a private plane and heading to Chicago. More interviews, photoshoots, meeting some important people, her concert and then she was off to New York. It was a whirlwind of noise and lack of time - how everything was scheduled to the last minute, trying to cram as much in as possible without overdoing it.

So far, each concert had been met with amazing reviews apart from the good few who were claiming she was nothing without BTS and just another singer who thought they could pull it off. Her numbers so far were totalling 66,000 if everyone attended tonight’s concert. 

She had also seen the guest list for the VIPs tonight - Beyonce being one of them which made her stomach twist with nerves. One of the biggest artists of all time was coming to see her. The Kardashians were also in attendance, Harry Styles and the list went even longer than that. 

With a deep sigh, Grace threw back the covers and went to take her shower.

The set list ran through her head, her body doing the dance moves but smaller in the shower and she was singing along to 7 Rings as she got dressed, twisting her wet hair into a messy bun for it to be dealt with later. Her mind then went to Chicago, then New York and then she would fly back to Seoul for another important performance.

If any solo career had looked simple, Grace’s had looked complicated.

Everything planned and prepared in secret, from early 2023 right through to her birthday last year when the album had been announced, her tour announcement, the mini album and then her first tour date. Yet in between all that, she was meeting designers, doing interviews to be released later on, making plans for later on.

Always later on.

Never once interfering with her boys’ plans. 

That had been the major rule: whatever the boys wanted to do, it was going to come first. 

She had been there for nearly all of it and she had seen all the good and the bad, she had seen what worked and what kind of didn’t. She had been behind the scenes of all of Jungkook’s GOLDEN album and his promotion for it. And by the time she had been ready to put her own on display, she had a very good idea of what she knew what was going to work.

Interviews in England, rather than America as they could wait till her tour, focus on Europe as well as Australia and New Zealand even though her tour wouldn’t be going there mainly due to time. 

And cross fingers, her solo career had been somewhat of an success. 

“Morning,” she said as she went into the dining area of the suite and flicked the kettle on.

“Morning,” various voices came back to her.

“Grace, what do you think about doing a pre-recorded performance for iHeart Radio Awards?” Sejin asked, flicking through some paper while typing something on his laptop.

“Do we have time for that?” she asked, adding two sugars to her tea and a good splash of milk. “When is it?”

“Award show is on the 27th but it could be recorded while we’re in Los Angeles, we just delay heading to Chicago until the filming is done. The Grammy Museum have given us permission to use their rooftop venue as well,” Sejin read from the email and glanced over.

Grace paused. She knew it would be a good opportunity and she knew it wouldn’t have been asked of her to do it if they didn’t think it she could do it yet they only had a day to do it, even that. 

“Is it my songs or BTS?” 

“They want you do 7 Rings and then Butter,” Sejin replied.

Another pause.

“Okay, let’s do it. See if we mix the two so they can flow together - I’ll use one of the tour costumes that we haven’t used yet for the show and we just need seven dancers so see if anyone is up for doing this, the rest and the rest of the time can fly out to Chicago to get started on rehearsals. Interviews and everything else, well let’s see what time we can get out of L.A.”

She must have been mad.

By the time she got the concert venue, her mind had switched off to what else was going on and focused on the concert ahead of her. BTS and TXT songs were playing around the arena and outside where people were already waiting, hoping to catch a glance of celebrities.

A quick change into her gym clothes, Grace made her way to where they had set up a small gym area with a BANGTAN BOMB camera following her. She had a quick laugh with the camerawoman before the filming started. “So, you want to know my tips for how I can sing and dance and run all at the same time?” Grace grinned at the camera, which ‘nodded.’

“Here’s is the secret technique - pick a song that’s really going to make you sing and then get on the treadmill,” Grace said as she flicked through the music choices on her phone that was connected to the speakers. Outro: Ego started as Grace set the treadmil to a slow walk then just as Hobi started, she had broken out into a jog.

It was quite impressive to watch her sing along, all the while building up her speed until it got to the chorus where she started doing the choreography albeit not to the full extent as she was stuck on the treadmil. 

They still had a few hours left until the concert so a run through was planned, to go over niggles from the night before which was mostly blocking and making the volume loud enough for everyones in-ears.

By the time they were done and back stage getting changed, Staples Centre was open and filling up.

“Los Angeles night two - let’s go out there and show Queen B that she is amazing and we love her,” Grace said as she was surrounded by her dancers who all laughed. “Okay, just half joking. BANG,” she left it off as her dancers followed with “TAN” as they lifted their hands.

Nothing, absolutely nothing could replace hearing the crowd lose their absolute shit as the VCR played and the beginning beats of 7 Ring. Her female dancers glanced at each other then her, grinning and nodding their heads before they were lifted up. 

SO MANY ARMY BOMBS!

Even in the VIP area, she could see them and it lit up the whole crowd as the colours changed to the beat. They were constantly out, even when VCR’s played so they could do costume changes and the cheers never stopped. Neither did the singing. 

“Los Angeles, it’s been an absolute pleasure to be with you tonight,” Grace started out on the main stage, dressing in her outro gear to finish up the concert. “Thank you for being an amazing crowd, you’ve certainly outdid yourselves from last night. If you could put down your ARMY bombs for second,” Grace paused and watched with a fond smile as every single one dropped out of sight.

“How many of you out there are BTS fans?”

The whole crowd lit up again, screams were heard and then the screaming got louder the moment Dimple was played. Three male dancers joined her on stage, dressed similar to what the boys had worn and even though she was singing in Korean, she swore she could hear the crowd singing along.

By the time she got to Dangerous Woman, got to thank everyone and bow to the crowd, the screams had not stopped. They were still going as she climbed down the few steps off the stage, Sejin there with a bottle of water. 

And he did something he rarely did.

He hugged her.

“I’m very proud of you,” he said as he let her go to wrap the dressing gown around her shoulders tightly. “We all are.”

It took awhile to get back to her hotel after removing her costumes, make up and washing her hair and then getting through the traffic. The moment she got through her hotel door, staff had left her lamps on for her and on the coffee table was a large bouquet of pink roses. 

‘I’ll be seeing you soon

Jinnie x’

[foxes-that-run]

2018 Haylor Timeline

Timeline Tag, or years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024..

1 January - Harry in Palm Springs, Saturn jumper. Karlie Kloss posts swish swish basketball (Katy Perry Taylor diss track)

4 January - reports camille met Harry's family. KK posts Swish Swish

11 January - End Game video released - Haylor references galore. Joe in Italy.

14 January - Joe at Prada fashion show in Milan no Taylor

17 January - Harry gym in LA

13-22 January - Harry wrote Fine line: "Fine Line" I wrote [during] a gap in the tour. It was January 2018 and I was at my friend Tom's house. Harry was seen in la in the last 2 weeks.

22 January - Harry in LA with Camille from 13th to 29th

21 January - Taylor in Italy, Harry in NYC 25th

24 January - Harry NY

25 January - Harry London

26 January - Harry performs at Fleetwood Mac person of year, Xander there

27 January - Taylor and Cara in Milan possibly with Joe

9 February - End Game BTS with text Scrabble game with 'him'

18 February - Taylor in LA Repu-hersal,

20 February - Taylor in Big Sur

18 - 24 February - Harry in on 18th and 24th London

3 March - Harry london gym

4 March - Harry shot the Gucci Campaign with the chicken in St Albans, England

7 March - Taylor and Joe hike with Joe in dark jeans and Nikes in Malibu. Blind staged.

11 March - Live on tour starts again in Switzerland, Anna and Medicine played live for the first time and added to the rest of the tour setlist.

12 March -Delicate MV released

10 April Harry in London

13 April - Taylor releases Earth, Wind, Fire cover with 28 September. It accompanied Delicate vertical video the original release said is ““Taylor says that she chose ‘September’ for sentimental reasons. She’s always loved the classic tune by Earth, Wind & Fire, and notes that the month of September is especially meaningful to one of her relationships.” - Spotify” the ‘one of relationships’ part is later edited out of the Spotify press release!

16 April - Camille at Harry’s Dublin Show, last time seen together till June.

20 April - Babe released

21 April - Taylor posts video thanking fans for responding to Babe, she wore the Evil Eye ring that appeared in Rep.

23 April - Taylor has Robbie Williams on Rep and plays Angels.

5 May - Harry played a mystery melody before Two Ghosts

7 May- Joe and Taylor post photos with a cactus, kiwi vibes.

May - Harry GQ Australia Article with "There's a good story about Winston's wife bumping into a very naked, very blonde, very famous pop star making toast downstairs one morning if you ever get a chance to ask" It starts and ends with folklore.

8 May - November Reputation tour, Joe at opening night

30 May - Joe and Taylor papped getting lunch

31 May - Blind that Joe and Taylor trouble with attention

9 June Taylor plays Manchester the. Is not seen till the 16th, Joe and family there

15 June - Xander, his parents and Anne at Harry’s Phili show.

16 June - Harry was full of beans in Toronto and wore a pink jacket with snakes and cats with wings embroidered on. Taylor played HYGTG in Dublin, only time on Rep tour.

19 June - Taylor posts Meredith, Joe heard in background

22 June - 2 days after a year since Robin passed Harry emotional performing Sweet Creature in New York.  Taylor has Niall as guest in Wembley the same night, Niall wore a NYC shirt. Joe was this show. Harry performed Shania Twain's Still the One. Taylor referenced this suit in the Me! Video. Harry invested in the Calm App. Harry photographed with Max and Xander, he looks really sad. Rumour he was staying with Xander. Xander, Jeff, Maxwell, Tommy at show. Camille flew to attend, had not been seen with Harry for some time.

24 June - Harry performed in Washington, he seemed flat, dropped a flag at the end of kiwi. He later talked to Stern (at the start in 2022) as his voice being dehydrated and it being his least favourite show, thought to be this one. He was not wearing the rose ring.

28 June - Taylor performs Reputation secret session for AT&T in Chicago. When introducing new year day talks about 2 NYEs ago jumping into an icy pool, the version Taylor Nation had posted has only this speech cut out from the full video.  (24:38) Harry unseen

30 June - Harry has a show in Chicago! Taylor unseen! This suit is one referenced in Me!

1 July - Harry energetic in St Paul, the Medicine recording and sang “running with you” not wolves in MMITH. Last Heart kiss till 2021 in Only Angel

3-4 July - People reports Taylor and Joe 'frolic' in Turks and Caicos

7 July - Harry golfing in Idaho

8 July - Joe and Taylor pap photos in Daily Mail

9 July - Trailer for Joe's new movie, The Favorite drops

12 July - Harry leaves garage in yellow Ferrari Dino in Beverly Hills. Taylor likes a Tumblr quote “For what it’s worth: It’s never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you’re not, I hope you find the strength to start over.” - F Scott Fitzgerald

14 July Taylor’s delicate basket malfunctioned and she played Wildest Dreams a cappella. Harry wore the “whos Jeff azanoff” shirt backstage, Xander there also. Camille at last Harry show she attended, not seen together gain

18 July- live on tour ends

21 July - Taylor played Clean, first time since 2015. Rain show.

22 July - Joe & Family at Rep

31 July - Harry and Camille break up. Harry pictured with Karlie Kloss on Yacht in Italy with Sunflowers.

1 August - Harry driving Maserati in Italy

3 August - Harry gym London sweaty

4 August - only time CBBH played before 2023, never on red or 1989 tours, this 1 on rep and 2 Eras shows.

7 August - Nick posts photo of Harry to IG, then tweets about a couple and is photographed with a fan near Harry’s house. The fan was pictured with Louis wearing the same shirt a week earlier. 8 August Harry Toronto

13 August- blind Taylor controlled Joe's social media accounts

14 August - Reputation show in Tampa filmed for Miss Americana which shows Joe, he is only seen at this and the first show.

17, 18 August - Harry Mexico James Corden's birthday

22 August - Joe Taylor double date. Joe looks angry walking with Taylor in London

26 August - Karlie attends rep, posts photo, Taylor doesn't like it

2 September - Golden maybe recorded, Harry told rolling stone The first song written for Fine Line, on the second day of the sessions at Shangri-La Studios in Malibu. Photographed in yellow pants. At 41 mins in of the Zane interview he describes writing it as his favourite memory of making fine line.

15 September - Harry Eagles Concert LA

21 September - blind that Joe was ‘picked for role of BF’ by professor, Joe does interview saying he wants to keep relationship private

28 September - Taylor went to Favorite NYC premiere with Joe. Harry at dinner in London. Both wore red. Taylor played Wonderland as the Surprise song, one of 6 ever plays.

1 October - Harry lunch in La Xander

9 October - Harry arrived in Japan looking like jagger and japan Dec 18 - Jan 19

8 October - Harry’s lion ring first seen in Tokyo

14-30 October - Harry LA Nobu LA, 17 Studio LA

19 October - Taylor doesn’t go to Kk wedding

17-28 October - Harry in LA on 15 and la 26th

19 November - Taylor signs with republic records and posts about it

21 November - last rep show which is in Tokyo. Plays emotional set of surprise songs are wildest dreams (1 of 3 times she played it on the Rep tour) and So it goes (one of 8 times it has ever been played live), dancing with our hands tied and I know places. Harry writes little freak in Tokyo and leaked ophelia (I feel ya) that refers to staring at her in Tokyo missing her and fantasising. Taylor posts about finishing tour, her last big machine records commitment

11 December - Taylor goes to goes joes movie premiere then next seen back in NY with Joe. Harry in LA 12th

25 December - Taylor spent christmas in a castle in Ireland

Continue in 2019

[daisiesonafield-blog]

Harry Styles delivered a low-key performance at the 2023 Grammy Awards, where he is nominated in six categories and already won for pop vocal album.

Styles opened his performance on a red, revolving stage amongst a group of casually costumed dancers. Dressed in a strikingly different silver sequined and fringe ensemble (similar to the looks he’s previously donned at his recent string of US shows) Styles joined hands with the crew and belted out his track “As It Was.”

Before the song, the singer was introduced by Harry’s House co-writer and producer Kid Harpoon. “The whole world knows him as Harry, but as he knows, I call him Gary.” Harpoon said. “I call him Gary because he’s etched his name so deeply into our culture that sometimes it’s easy to forget the human. The boy from a village in Cheshire, England working in a bakery who chased his dream. And now years later, he’s about to perform Grammy Award winning music for you tonight.”

The crowd was into the performance, specifically Taylor Swift who was dancing through the song (and was spotted earlier dancing through the previous sets from different performers).

Styles’ chances at Grammy gold include record of the year and song of the year for “As It Was,” as well as album of the year for his May 2022 record “Harry’s House.” The British singer ties in total nominations with Future, Mary J. Blige, DJ Khaled and Randy Merrill, while Beyoncé is the leading nominee with recognition in nine categories.

Styles last performed at the 2021 Grammy Awards, where Dev Hynes, aka Blood Orange, joined him on bass for the song “Watermelon Sugar.” The same track earned Styles his first Grammy in the pop solo performance category, though he also scored nominations for pop vocal album and music video that year.

Three nights before the Grammys, Styles will conclude the North American leg of his “Love on Tour.” The tour is set to resume in Australia Feb. 20 with best new artist nominee Wet Leg joining as an opener. On Feb. 11, Styles and Wet Leg will also appear at the 2023 Brit Awards, where the two musical acts are tied for the most nominations.

Full article. Link here.

[zot3-flopped]

https://fansided.com/2023/02/13/patrick-mahomes-travis-kelce-super-bowl-57-party-animals/

And to be totally honest, the partying might even go up a level next year. Not only could the Chiefs be the first team to repeat since the 2003-04 New England Patriots, but Super Bowl 58 will be in none other than Sin City, home of the arch rival Las Vegas Raiders. To potentially repeat in the entertainment capital of the world on your arch rival’s home turf may result in a party that will break the internet.

This could potentially be a flashpoint for Taylor and Travis Kelce. She'll want him to fly out to Australia to join her on tour but he's going to want to party non stop for at least a week.

Hmm. Should be interesting! Travis is going to have all kinds of ideas about how he wants to spend his off season and Swifties will be crying and collapsing if he doesn't follow Taylor's tour and sit obediently watching every show.

[charlesandmartine]

Tuesday 7th February 2023

Now when I said we had an exciting excursion planned for today, I do appreciate it wouldn't necessarily be of top interest to all, but we found it to be really interesting. The visit was to the old General Post Office, 1, Martin Place. We were at two minds about the interest level here, but we were really fascinated by it's history.

It all started in 1809 when an ex-convict was asked to sort a bit of a problem out. Ever since the second fleet arrived in 1790 mail was arriving in droves and anyone expecting mail from England would go down to the incoming ship and generally make themselves a nuisance finding out if there was anything for them. With no formal ID checking it could be hit and miss for mail to be delivered either at all, or indeed to the intended recipient. So, the government appointed Isaac Nichols to be the very first postmaster in Australia to sort out the mess. Isaac had been sentenced to 7 years and transported to the colonies for stealing a donkey, so who better qualified to do this job could there possibly be? The first thing he did was to buy a house in George Street where he could live and run the first post office from. He then devised a system of collecting post from the ships, advertising a list of recipients and charging a shilling for a letter and up to 5 bob for a large parcel. His business grew and he became one of the wealthiest businessmen in the colony growing his own personal landholding to 1400acres. Not bad, although I don't think such a happy outcome can be assured for all who steal a donkey!

When he died they didn't have a post office anymore, so in 1825 the government passed the Postal Act, which is when they built the first General Post Office on the site we visited today, corner of George Street and Martin Place. Strangely it was located over what had become quite a nasty disease ridden river called the Tank Stream which caused a few planning problems as you might imagine. Technologies came and went, sorting became an art form and morse turned into telephone and telex. This building saw it all and finally, when it had outlived it's purpose, was taken over by an Asian prestige hotel chain with rooms starting at 500 dollars a night for a basic room. 587 dollars will pay for a valentine's evening meal! They spent a fortune restoring and converting the old building alongside it's new companion, and it was the hotel staff who proudly promote its history by offering free 1.5 hour tours.

All that history gave us a hunger so we went to a food hall for a Chinese.

Arriving home was a bit of a shock when we found our landlord, Bob, had been taken to hospital having had a mild stroke. So we are minding the shop but somewhat stunned. We wish him well. His neighbour, who is a GP has told us his prospects are good because they caught it early.

[wherespaulo]

Trail Racing in New Zealand with Race2Adventure

Feb 18-26, 2023

I’ve always been on the lookout for companies which organize international adventure tours based around running – yet I’ve always been surprised to find that these companies are few and far between. So I was happy to discover Race2Adventure back in 2013 when I ran in Panama with them. Since then I’ve also been on running tours with them in Peru (2015) and Chile (2017) as well as well as a non-running trip to the world cup in Brazil (2014). For Merritt Hopper, the owner of the company, New Zealand had always been on the radar and would be a special one, but it had been delayed a few years due to New Zealand’s strict policies during the covid pandemic.

I’d just spent a couple of weeks in Australia followed by a week’s hiking on trails around Queenstown so was already well acclimated to the time zone and weather by the time I met up with a couple of the runners in an Irish bar, Pog Mahones, over a couple of Guinness’s. I immediately hit it off with Pete, Merritt’s uncle from upstate New York, and Chris, a talkative, mean looking ex-marine from Idaho.

The kick-off meeting in the Queenstown Community Centre was a chance to catch up with many old faces from both organizing staff and runners as well as meeting many new ones, such as Nathan Fa’avae, a world renown New Zealand adventure racer who was helping out with some of the race courses. There were too many to mention and I always cherish being able to catch up with friends around the world whom I’ve not seen for years – to just carry on where we last left off. And Race2Adventure is a great way to do this. There would be about 100 runners covering a range of abilities and I had no idea where I fitted into this – so there was some trepidation on the eve of the first race as we sized up the competition.

RACES

Race 1 – Arrowtown to Kawarau Bridge (6.1 miles)

It was good to be back in the quaint old gold mining community of Allentown for the start of the first race. A two mile brisk walk along the Arrow River to the starting line and then we were off! A 6.1 mile route alongside the Arrow River to the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge. I was pleasantly surprised by my respectable fifth place finish, half expecting to be overtaken by a few other runners at some point – I did suspect more stiff competition was to come over the next few runs though, especially as they would be shorter, faster runs!

And much respect to those fearless runners with nerves of steel who finished off with a bungy jump over the river from the 43m high Kawarau Bridge, considered to be the ‘home of bungy’ – although the very first bungee jumps were actually from the Clifton Suspension Bridge in England in 1979 by crazy members of the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club. And special kudos to those who even went a step further (ha ha) by doing the 134m Nevis Jump. I opted for the much more cowardly option of zip lining, superman style. I’d surmised that my legs would refuse to comply with the request to step off the bungee platform into thin air.

Race 2 – Lake Pukaki (4.3 miles)

The NZ sun is deceptive. It might only be 70F, but the sun has an increased intensity due to the hole in the ozone layer. And didn’t I know it! After that first race I’d clearly been lulled into a false sense of security as a number of other runners, less affected by the sun’s intensity and clearly faster over the shorter distances, hit their stride. There was big Brian, a big yoga bloke in a big hat, which I would forever see bobbing up and down ahead of me. This was a tough run for me but I did manage to increase my standing towards the end as a few runners surprisingly wilted even more than me. A plunge into the icy cold lake was a must after such a hot run, with the ladies taking the lead on the NZ tradition of skinny dipping.

Race 3 – Lake Tekapo (3.1 miles)

During this trip I would forever be reminded of my previous visit to New Zealand’s south island over the new year of 2014/15 – like a series of deja vu’s. Such as at the start of this race next to the Church of the Good Shepherd by the lake – I knew I’d seen the church before but couldn’t quite place it. It seemed strange, as though it was in a previous life. I suppose in some way it was. Places can seem different when  visited at different stages of your life, when more water has passed under your proverbial bridge. You’re not the same person so naturally have a different perspective.

A pleasant run through the lakeside pine forest where Brittany was forever encouraging me to keep up with her – yeah good luck with that! Runners are like that though, always supportive of each other. I sometimes wish we were all more like that in other aspects of life too -- to outspokenly  encourage each other just like runners do.

Race 4 – Castle Hill Loop (4.2 miles)

Great to have steadily falling cool rain for a change as we set off from the Castle Hill Community Hall, but I found the initial 600ft steep uphill section, which zig-zagged through the mountain beech woods, really tough. However, once I came out of the woods onto the high, flat open section over grassland, I did get my second wind, gaining ground on some of the runners who’d overtaken me on the uphill section.

As I was flying back through the woods on the steep downhill section I was surprised to suddenly hear footsteps right behind that were keeping up with me! I pulled to one side to let them pass only to realize it was Luciana filming me – how the heck was she keeping up with me at speed down this tricky section while filming at the same time?

Race 5 – Lake Wanaka (3.3 miles)

This was a short lakeside sprint along the edge of a forest, at flat out speed until you ran out of steam – no chance of waiting to get a second wind here so I didn’t really expect to excel. And I didn’t!

Overall position

Well done to everyone for giving their all, and special congratulations to Corinne, a fellow New Yorker, who won every race by a mile! I finished in a respectable 11th position overall for the week and vowed to ensure I do a bit of speed training for the shorter distances next time so I could keep up with big hat yoga bloke Brian and mean looking Chris.

OTHER STUFF

There was plenty of time to relax in-between races where we were ferried around in two coaches -- I opted for the beer bus replete with alcohol infused rap music and our hilarious driver, Stu, who would have us all in stiches by regaling dubious stories over the microphone, in a ‘tongue-in-cheek’ dead pan voice, related to the local geography we happened to be passing through.

There were the glow worm Caves in Te Anau, wine tasting at the Kinross winery (accompanied by prolonged banter with Lindsay on the correct pronunciation of ‘Gewurztraminer’);

boat trip around Milford Sound;

hike to the Franz Joseph glacier (couldn’t believe how far it had receded since my previous visit eight years ago);

star gazing from the hot spring-fed pools near Lake Tekapo, watching movies from comfy sofa’s in the tiny Paradiso Cinema in Wanaka and exploring Christchurch -- all interspersed with plenty of convivial rehydration at various watering holes and restaurants.

After this action packed week I looked forward to the next Race2Adventure where I could once again catch up with both old and new like-minded friends. I also looked forward to visiting this extraordinarily beautiful country once again when I might even finally get a good look at the kea bird which had now continued to evade me over three separate trips to New Zealand. Maybe it’s just the universe’s way of providing just one more reason of many to lure me back to this magnificent country.

[vicsdeangelis]

I really hope you'll get a ticket but c'mon, the dates aren't few. These guys toured north and south america in september- december 2022, are touring europe in february - may 2023 and then in july - december they have 30+ shows scattered over 5 different continents. I'm very happy about their success but they're clearly overworked to an extent I haven't seen since One Direction so I don't think I want more dates. And i say that as sb who had to travel to another country to see them.

oh, don't get me wrong they are working super fucking hard, and yes, if you include the dates they haven't played yet they're traveling a lot. my thing is about the announcement of a world tour when the only place (continent wise) they've included that they hadn't played yet was australia. in europe itself they used to play in more places other than england, france and germany, but now it seems those are the only ones they go to with like a couple of others scattered in between maybe

also, why do they refuse to go to portugal????? girls, who hurt you????? ksjsksjskshgu

my thing isn't necessarily "there aren't enough dates", it's more of a "i was expecting more if you're gonna call this a world tour", you know?

maybe when they establish themselves more they'll go to more new places, idk

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Tuesday, February 28

ANYA: (exasperated) Chicken. XANDER: Would you stop? ANYA: Dare you. XANDER: Anya. If I tell them we're engaged right after you dared me to ... wouldn't you always wonder if that's the only reason I did it? ANYA: Oh. XANDER: Score one for Captain Logic. ANYA: No, no. Captain Logic is not steering this tugboat. I smell Captain Fear at the wheel!

~~Buffy Season 6 Episode #104: "Flooded"~~

The Sunnydale Herald is looking for at least one new editor! Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more here. If you saw the phrase "HTML template" in our previous calls for editors and that was what made you decide that Herald duties aren't for you, you may be glad to hear that we've set up an alternative posting process!

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Puzzled (Xander, multiple xovers) by madimpossibledreamer

Love & Writing (Buffy/Angel, G) by Darksidedawn

All The Biscuits in England (The Cookie Debacle) (Jenny/Giles, T) by backwvengeance

One Last Good Memory (Willow/Tara, T) by RollisiCarisi

Two Things (Willow/Tara, T) by RollisiCarisi

Tangled Web (Xander, M) by JadeWine

Didn't See That Coming (Xander, M, multiple xovers) by JadeWine

Just a little bit of elbow grease and... uh oh (Xander, M, multiple xovers) by JadeWine

Please validate and/or read to filth my 10th dentist boyfriend (season 6 midpoint) by VisageInATurtleneck

The field and the farmhouse (Buffy, G, Warrior Nun xover) by ThoseDarnNuns

Token of Appreciation (Buffy/Faith, T) by BeatriceEveryTuesday

Slain (Buffy/Spike, M) by HollyDB

Two broken souls know, we are quite the pair. (Lila/Willow, M) by xxsummixxx

One Girl in All the World (Ensemble, T) by BrennaLynn

Walk Round the Bend (Buffy/Spike, G) by honeygirl51885

[Chaptered Fiction]

One Girl in All the World Ch. 1 (Ensemble, T) by Brenna's Urbangirl Projects

Fathers Ch. 6 (Buffy/Faith, M) by Forgotten Conscience

All That Is And All That Seems Ch. 86 by Malk McJorma

Bleeding Poetry, Chapter 71-72 (Buffy/Spike, E) by Dusty

Under The Rubble, Chapter 4 (Buffy/Spike, M) by Geliot99

The Office Hellmouth, Chapter 2 (Buffy/Spike, M) by Willow25

I've Got Soul (But I'm Not A Soldier), Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, E) by almondcat

Rewrite, Chapter 25 (Buffy/Spike, E) by hopelesswanderer

A Certain Mystical Nexus Ch. 18 (Ensemble, E, anime xover) by Sithicus

College Life: Hellmouth Edition Ch. 1 (Ensemble, M, SP N xover) by BrandiIndigo

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork:New Signature Art by fauxindigo

Artwork:ATS 203. First Impressions by tmcarlee

Artwork:out n about (Buffy/Faith) by spikedru

Artwork:IT’S ONLY SEX! (Faith) by lehaneisms

[Reviews & Recaps]

PODCAST: The Initiative by Buffy the Vampire Straya

[Fandom Discussions]

Been rewatching season 4 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. by little-tayy

It's not often I run into someone who has a positive view of the potentials by kyliafanfiction

wait wtf is happening, why is everyone ganging up on Buffy rn by wikiangela

Creative ways to rewatch? by Multiple Authors

Buffy Re-Vamped - Stage Show 2023 (UK and Australia tour) by simdagger

Discussion of 4.17 "Superstar" by simdagger

Buffy The Last Vampire Slayer Special #1 by BAF

Favorite callback? by Kindly-Conference750

Does what happened to Cordelia make you dislike the show? by scoobysmokesalot

Why do you think the First went so hard on Dawn? by aCH00blessme

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What would you want to get rid of in btvs? by N00B_DuDe

what are some things you would have loved to seen on the show? by spuffy4life

S7 Foreshadowing? by laughatbridget

Oh, Principal Flootie… by themollipop

Sex Scenes s6 by BMCA2001

The scoobies and love by Ajacentmagic

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When do you think the Sunnydale students 'figured out' the supernatural? by Individual_Syrup_848

Something clever I noticed about the dumbest episode by king_of_karma

Why do so many people dislike Tara? by gillianmorsee

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Excluding Buffy and slayers activated after her, who is the slayer that latest the longest by Worsethanboys

Yeah I would have dropkicked Dawn off that tower by goldenhoneyheart

I just finished season 3 and OMG by DesertBlooms

Favourite Giles moments? by Journo_Jimbo

Spuffy and Tropes by Captainoats88

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

PUBLICATION: The Art of the Musical Episode—And Why Buffy's "Once More With Feeling" Still Slays by Paste Magazine

PUBLICATION: "One Girl in All The World" is a Continuation of the "Buffy-verse" by Kansas Public Radio

PUBLICATION: Joss Whedon Believed Buffy Could Never Have A 'Healthy Relationship' by Slash Film

PUBLICATION: Joss Whedon Used Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Hush To Save Himself From 'Hackdom' by Slash Film

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[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] Virat Kohli for India in Tests (PC: X) My first glimpse of Virat Kohli came in Agartala. It was during the knockout stages of the national one-day championship for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. This was early 2009. He had played five ODIs by then, but was yet to score big. However, he came to the Vijay Hazare knockouts with four centuries in the zonal phase. He made another in the capital city of Tripura. About a year earlier, Aakash Chpora had told me that this youngster was going to become the next big thing from Delhi. Chopra’s assessment was based on the extraordinary powers of application shown by this player still in his teens. His commitment was exceptional, as was seen when he came out to bat and saved a Ranji Trophy game for his team after losing his father the previous night. As Kohli, who turned 36 today, prepares for his fifth and possibly last Test tour of Australia, he finds himself at a critical juncture. Never before had his ability been questioned by so many. Never before was there a bigger question mark over his mastery over bowling. Truth be told, never before did he appear so fragile and susceptible. The lone bright spot from the 0-4 whitewash in Australia, where he made his maiden Test century in 2011-12, the knight in the shining armour with four centuries in 2014-15 and captain of the first-ever Indian team to win a Test series Down Under in 2018-19 — he made three-figure scores on each of his first three tours of the country. The lone Test he played in the 2020-21 series before skipping the rest saw him make a sparkling 74 in the first innings before India got shot out for 36 in the second. For the Latest Sports News: Click Here Virat Kohli (PC: X) In 13 Tests in Australia, Kohli has 1352 runs with six centuries at an average of 54.08. Sachin Tendulkar averaged 53.20 in the ‘Kangaroo country’, Sunil Gavaskar 51.11, Cheteshwar Pujara 47.28, VVS Laxman 44.14 and Rahul Dravid 41.64. To outnumber so many stalwarts when it comes to batting on the bouncy pitches of Australia shows what Kohli is made of. These numbers, however, are not an indicator of Kohli the batter of the last few years. In 16 Tests at home since 2020, he has been averaging 29.92, with just one century, on a flat pitch in Ahmedabad in 2023 against Australia. There is enough reason, statistics and expert opinion to suggest that he is not the same player anymore. Something has changed and that is evident in his performance. As the batting legend of the second decade of the 21st century gets ready for Australia, he is in focus for a different reason. Unlike the last few tours, when the question used to be ‘how many will Kohli get’, it has become ‘can Kohli get any’. That’s a paradigm shift and it is not based on hearsay. Mental and technical, there are chinks in his armour on multiple counts. Being the fighter he is, who thrives on challenges, this is perhaps one last chance for Kohli to show that he can still do it. He has done that in the past, by making runs in adverse conditions. He excelled in England in 2018 after a disastrous outing in 2014. He has proven people and estimates wrong a number of times. The difference now is, those were a long time back. It was the 2014-15 tour of Australia which made Kohli the Test batter that he is. In the same country, a decade later, he faces a new challenge. In all likelihood, the series commencing in Perth on November 22 will determine if he still has it in him. If he succeeds, it will mark a new beginning. If he fails, it will possibly mark the end of an era. The next six to seven weeks will be keenly watched. Also Read: Can Virat Kohli turn it around in Australia? The post Australia, Kohli’s last chance to show if he still has it in him appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] Virat Kohli for India in Tests (PC: X) My first glimpse of Virat Kohli came in Agartala. It was during the knockout stages of the national one-day championship for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. This was early 2009. He had played five ODIs by then, but was yet to score big. However, he came to the Vijay Hazare knockouts with four centuries in the zonal phase. He made another in the capital city of Tripura. About a year earlier, Aakash Chpora had told me that this youngster was going to become the next big thing from Delhi. Chopra’s assessment was based on the extraordinary powers of application shown by this player still in his teens. His commitment was exceptional, as was seen when he came out to bat and saved a Ranji Trophy game for his team after losing his father the previous night. As Kohli, who turned 36 today, prepares for his fifth and possibly last Test tour of Australia, he finds himself at a critical juncture. Never before had his ability been questioned by so many. Never before was there a bigger question mark over his mastery over bowling. Truth be told, never before did he appear so fragile and susceptible. The lone bright spot from the 0-4 whitewash in Australia, where he made his maiden Test century in 2011-12, the knight in the shining armour with four centuries in 2014-15 and captain of the first-ever Indian team to win a Test series Down Under in 2018-19 — he made three-figure scores on each of his first three tours of the country. The lone Test he played in the 2020-21 series before skipping the rest saw him make a sparkling 74 in the first innings before India got shot out for 36 in the second. For the Latest Sports News: Click Here Virat Kohli (PC: X) In 13 Tests in Australia, Kohli has 1352 runs with six centuries at an average of 54.08. Sachin Tendulkar averaged 53.20 in the ‘Kangaroo country’, Sunil Gavaskar 51.11, Cheteshwar Pujara 47.28, VVS Laxman 44.14 and Rahul Dravid 41.64. To outnumber so many stalwarts when it comes to batting on the bouncy pitches of Australia shows what Kohli is made of. These numbers, however, are not an indicator of Kohli the batter of the last few years. In 16 Tests at home since 2020, he has been averaging 29.92, with just one century, on a flat pitch in Ahmedabad in 2023 against Australia. There is enough reason, statistics and expert opinion to suggest that he is not the same player anymore. Something has changed and that is evident in his performance. As the batting legend of the second decade of the 21st century gets ready for Australia, he is in focus for a different reason. Unlike the last few tours, when the question used to be ‘how many will Kohli get’, it has become ‘can Kohli get any’. That’s a paradigm shift and it is not based on hearsay. Mental and technical, there are chinks in his armour on multiple counts. Being the fighter he is, who thrives on challenges, this is perhaps one last chance for Kohli to show that he can still do it. He has done that in the past, by making runs in adverse conditions. He excelled in England in 2018 after a disastrous outing in 2014. He has proven people and estimates wrong a number of times. The difference now is, those were a long time back. It was the 2014-15 tour of Australia which made Kohli the Test batter that he is. In the same country, a decade later, he faces a new challenge. In all likelihood, the series commencing in Perth on November 22 will determine if he still has it in him. If he succeeds, it will mark a new beginning. If he fails, it will possibly mark the end of an era. The next six to seven weeks will be keenly watched. Also Read: Can Virat Kohli turn it around in Australia? The post Australia, Kohli’s last chance to show if he still has it in him appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[global-newz]

Jordan Cox Poised to Step Up in New Zealand Tour Amid Smith's Absence

Jordan Cox, the young Essex cricketer, is likely to make his Test debut for England on the upcoming tour of New Zealand. Cox, who is currently serving as a backup wicketkeeper to Jamie Smith on the Pakistan tour, could step in as Smith is expected to miss part of the series for the birth of his first child.

The 24-year-old Cox, who made his international debut in the T20 series against Australia earlier this year, has impressed the England camp with his talent and versatility. England head coach Brendon McCullum confirmed that Smith might play only the first Test in New Zealand before returning home.

"At this stage, it looks like Jamie will probably play the first one and may miss the next two," McCullum stated. "It would be great to have a look at Jordan Cox as well. New Zealand is a comfortable place to keep wicket."

Smith, who has become England's first-choice wicketkeeper this summer, has won eight Test caps since his promotion. He will be behind the stumps for the final Test against Pakistan, starting in Rawalpindi this week. Cox, on the other hand, has been part of the England squad as a backup but hasn’t played in a Test match yet. He joined Essex from Kent for the 2024 season but hasn’t kept wicket in first-class cricket since a serious finger injury in mid-2023.

Despite his limited experience as a wicketkeeper, McCullum praised Cox's overall abilities. "His keeping is solid," McCullum said. "He’s one of those guys who seems to excel at everything, and he's got a high ceiling in terms of talent, especially with the bat. There’s a good chance he’ll get the opportunity in New Zealand."

With the tour of New Zealand on the horizon, England is expected to finalize their squad after the conclusion of the Pakistan series. The absence of Smith could necessitate the addition of extra batting cover, although McCullum has indicated that England might not need to bring in another wicketkeeper, as Ollie Pope has previously filled in behind the stumps.

The potential changes to the squad also include the removal of spinner Rehan Ahmed, as New Zealand's conditions are not expected to favor a third spinner. Fast bowlers such as Josh Hull, Dillon Pennington, and Jamie Overton are among the contenders for the extra seam-bowling spot.

Cox is set to be among the players released from the Pakistan tour to join England's white-ball squad for the West Indies series. Olly Stone, who returned home from Pakistan last week to get married, is also expected to be available for the West Indies tour.

With the New Zealand tour approaching, England faces key decisions on how to manage the transition while continuing their momentum from the Pakistan series. McCullum remains optimistic about the team’s chances in both series, saying, "We’ll come up with the right tactics to give ourselves the best chance of nabbing the series win