World records- what do they do?
What purpose do world records serve? I asked myself this particular question today, and honestly, I hardly have an answer. The reason I asked this question today was because of a particular news item I read in the sports section today’s Telegraph. A former cricket batsman is offered a whooping £ 1 million pay out if he smashes the ball over the pavilion at Lord’s in a game. It’s been 100 years since anyone has achieved this. The only time when someone cleared the pavilion, was in 1899 by the Australian batsman Albert Trott.
Even though I would enjoy watching such a shot, which clears the full 50 foot building, I feel that the inventors of the Mongoose Bat are throwing away too much money in the name of a record. I sincerely believe that accomplishment of such a feat is an event of celebration. However, in times when we are having budget cuts for the elderly and young population is un-happy with the rise of tuition fees offering £ 1 million for a shot is sheer insanity. In my opinion it is a complete mockery of the problems that general citizens are facing.