None of this, of course, would work had Ms. Thompson not assembled an ideal cast.

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England have gone 11 Tests without posting 400 in the first innings, and though Stuart Broad struck some promising shots, he has much to do on Friday, with far from the ideal supporting cast, if they are to end that run.

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But the Jan. 17 attack on the Bolshoi Ballet's artistic director, Sergei Filin, who had sulphuric acid thrown in his face and eyes outside his home, has cast a dark shadow on that ideal.

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