The other stand-out performer on day one was Windies paceman Fidel Edwards, who returned tremendous figures of 4-53 but knows his day could have been much better had the West Indies not been so slipshod in the field.

BBC: Bopara eyes hefty England total

Curtis Granderson, himself a consistent 20-steal performer, has one steal and has been caught three times.

WSJ: The Yankees Shalt Not Steal

Then I remember -- Liberace was the number one performer in the country and television only had three channels.

CNN: Review: 'October Sky' best offering of a still-young year

The street performer, protest artist and one-time candidate for New York City mayor.

FORBES: Reverend Billy and His Crusade Against Consumerism

Indeed, to be in that playhouse at a sold-out matinee one recent Wednesday was to feel a shared affection between a performer and his public that is only rarely found nowadays.

ECONOMIST: Broadway shows

For much of the 20th century, Mr Hirschfeld's drawings were there to be savoured in the Sunday edition of the New York Times, where one's appreciation of his gift for spearing a performer's physiognomy co-existed with a weekly hunt for the Ninas that is to say, the number of times Mr Hirschfeld had the name Nina embedded in almost every drawing, as a tribute to his only child.

ECONOMIST: London is the place to see Al Hirschfeld

Sobczak says in order to be a successful salesperson, one must be motivated and self-disciplined, confident and positive, a great interviewer and performer, and have an immense desire to learn.

FORBES: Is A Commission-Based Job Right For You?

This brings it almost up to level with Hungary, long a good performer but one which has now been warned over discrimination against the large Roma - or gypsy - minority.

BBC: The EU's uneven new contingent

Vaas has made 111 Test and 322 one-day international appearances for his country - claiming over 750 wickets in total - and was an outstanding performer for Deccan Chargers in the recent Indian Premier League.

BBC: Sri Lankan seam bowler Chaminda Vaas joins Northants