This is a photograph by Russian photographer Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii. He worked for Czar Nicholas II in the early 1900's. He developed a technique for producing colour film slides and with the Czar's support he travelled Russia from 1907 to 1915 capturing the diversity of the Russian Empire. Many of the glass plate negatives of his photographs were bought by the Library of Congress and have been made available in their wonderful exhibition. http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/empire/gorskii.html

It makes me feel like a bumbling idiot to think that over a hundred years ago there was this amazing man who not only worked out a way to produce colour slides but also convinced Nicholas II to give him unconditional support and access to the whole Russian Empire.

Welcome to my blog about cricket, the universe and everything (apologies to Douglas Adams). Many things about cricket seem to be bothering me lately but the one that has made me feel sad is the reitrement this season of Martin Love, Andy Bichel and Matthew Hayden. In one fell swoop there are no longer any players left from the team that won Queensland's first Sheffield Shield. I feel a little like an old fogey saying this but it feels like yesterday, even though it was 15 years ago. After so many failed attempts and near misses the feeling of relief at wining was equal to the joy. Oh the agony of all those nera misses - I remember being in South America and still hearing about our loss in the '92/93 final (no mean feat in pre-internet days) So, even though the logical part of my brain knows that teams are constantly rebuilt and that there will be more Sheffield Shields in the future, it saddens me to think that I'll never again see Andy Bichel bowling with Secombe, Love and Law behind the wicket.