Cups final four. New rules will make him ineligible to race in any Chase races in a lower series next year, so this was his last victory in the fall race at Phoenix.Busch noted hed learned something about the

To be the fastest is a compelling human desire. Whatever the pursuit - physical or technological - we push to do it, surpass it, then do it again in a never-ending quest. The Olympics are a timely reminder of exactly this, and the obsessive commitment it requires.Cricket is no different. Cast your mind back to the contest between Brett Lee and Shoaib Ahktar at the turn of the last century to pass the 100mph barrier. It was close to the most tantalising match-race in the modern game. The energy was comparable a couple of generations earlier when Jeff Thomson was hitting similarly high notes. From Spofforth to Larwood to Tyson to Holding to Tait, theres an abiding romance about the very fastest.So heres another name for you: Shabnim Ismail. She talks fast. She likes fast cars. She probably eats fast. And she bowls fast. Faster than any woman in the world, if you ask her. And if you dont, its likely shell tell you anyway.The spirited South African spoke to ESPNcricinfo while in England as one of Yorkshire Diamonds overseas players in the inaugural Kia Super League.It was during her brief cameo with Melbourne Renegades in the Womens Big Bash League in January that she was clocked - at the MCG no less - at 128kph (79mph). That number means a lot to her. It is the evidence on which she bases her claim to the mantle of the quickest.It was always something I wanted to do, she says. Now that I bowl 128, it is a huge honour because no one would expect me to come up there and bowl gas.Why wouldnt they expect it? Its because shes small. Tiny, even: 165cm tall in modern parlance, or about 53 in the old money. To be honest, Im not sure how that happens, Ismail laughs, reflecting on the disconnect between her stature and the speed gun.They told me before I came here, the only job they had for me was to bowl fast and take wickets. Thats all I needed to do. Im quite happy doing that.She speaks of how the first wicket feels - how it puts subsequent batsmen on the back foot before theyve so much as taken guard. Its a compulsion that was born of watching former South Africa quick Andre Nel in her formative years.His aggression was crazy and I looked up to him, she reflects. Its why the number she wears on her shirt is 89: Nels. His passion for the game was just enormous, and it makes my day to see youngsters coming through the system being aggressive. It motivates me to go out there, show them that this is how it is done.At Diamonds she shared new-ball duties with Katherine Brunt, the only bowler in the womens game who could contest Ismails tag as worlds fastest. It all just adds to the fun for Ismail. Once I knew I was going to open the bowling with Brunty, I was really excited about two fiery people coming from either side - the batters must be shitting themselves!But in womens cricket you need to have more than rapid pace and a refreshing disposition to make it all add up. You need to market your skills. Thats precisely what Ismail did when the WBBL rolled around last Australian summer. She emailed every club.No one bit until Renegades brought her in for two games when Rachel Priest was unavailable. It was on national TV when she hit that 128 mark and got people talking.I took that opportunity and look where I am today: I have got a full contract season for them this year, she reveals. They are the opportunities you need to grab.Opportunities shes determined to keepon creating for herself, having already approached Yorkshire to come back next year as a County Championship player as well. Now at the peak of her powers, she just wants to bowl.Sure enough, it isnt quite as easy as flying into domestic competitions without it eventually colliding with international duty. In the case of the four South Africans in the inaugural KSL it was decided they would all miss a tour of Ireland due to the experience theyd gain in England against the bulk of the worlds best.Ismail, by no means a mercenary, finds this balance challenging. But in practical terms, its latitude that wont be repeated during the 2016-17 WBBL if South Africa have to qualify the hard way to get into next years World Cup via the qualifiers in Sri Lanka in January. Ismail states very clearly that she would obviously miss anything else to secure that tournament berth. Its country over club.Even so, it frustrates Ismail that South Africa are sixth in the rankings. Plenty needs to go right for them in a bilateral series against Australia to jump into one of four automatic entry positions. But this doesnt dampen her belief that they can triumph next year, using West Indies unexpected World T20 victory as inspiration.She does stress, though, that it would require a better start than they have experienced in recent ICC events. Its always the case that were starting off on the back foot and we have to do twice as much to catch up. Not wrong. South Africa only made it beyond 104 with the bat once, against Ireland, in this years World T20.Going back to the beginning, Ismail didnt have any cricket at school. Nor did the boys. So she played football with them instead. When the boys did get a cricket team, in the sixth year of her education, she joined them again - in her football shorts. They called me the Demon, she remembers, suggesting the trademark zip was there from the start.Thanks to the encouragement of her late grandfather, who urged her to read widely about the finer points of the game, there was no looking back. She has certainly done him proud, now that she is one of five South African women with a top-band contract.But is it enough to live the life she wants? Of this Ismail isnt so sure. It doesnt help when she sees Brunt pocketing for England, by her estimation, three times the wage she gets for effectively the same job as her countrys opening bowler. Its understandably a sensitive topic, likely magnified by her disadvantaged background.Now they have the Big Bash League for women and the Kia Super League, it keeps you interested and it makes you want to play even more cricket knowing you are meeting more people and you know you are going to make more money, she says. She also knows she isnt always the most popular player at Cricket South Africa HQ for her tendency to say what she thinks. Renegade by WBBL club, renegade by nature.I am actually quite a rebel, she self-describes. I like to say what is on my mind, and most people dont like that, but I think it is a good thing so people dont walk all over you.This is no better illustrated by what Ismail declares a crazy incident when she was suspended from the national academy and ordered to attend counselling for alleged abuse of alcohol. More than two years have elapsed since the episode, but she is still angry.It was basically two bowlers but myself and [Trisha] Chetty got dragged into it as well, she recalled. Ismail says they were told it wasnt going out to the media, and then to their surprise, there it was. The perception she was sloshed angered her; shes a Muslim, where that is frowned upon. Her mum was in tears. There was a lot of bullshit going around, which I dont like. She wishes it had stayed behind closed doors.Ismail doesnt contest it was a breach of contract, but to her, the public airing was a breach of faith. And for her, faith means a lot. While many of her team-mates practise their religion publicly, thats not her own style. But she prays daily, and is the only Muslim in the South African national side.In turn, she is proud how her story inspires younger generations of girls with similar upbringings. There wasnt much cricket for the Muslim girls back home in South Africa, she says. So going back to address Muslim communities to promote the game is something she finds rewarding. There are a lot of young girls looking up to me.As for whether her faith has acted as a roadblock to her playing cricket as a woman, shes indifferent. If her mum is happy, thats good enough for her.I think that doesnt really affect me - that I am a Muslim and I am playing cricket, she says. We have a diverse team - we have our blacks, we have our whites, we have our Muslims, we have our Indians, we have everything in there. So coming from a South African point of view, its nice to have all of that. Everyone understands each others religion and gives each other that space.Another lesson she learned came last year courtesy of a broken finger. You always have to have a career outside of cricket as well. The injury was the catalyst for pledging herself to a new challenge, studying mechanical engineering. In turn, shell fulfil a passion. I love cars; I love fast cars, she says. Between times she has started her own womens cricket academy in Johannesburg with Chetty.Her energy in discussing these projects is palpable, which also comes through when the question of longevity comes up. After all, shes 27, in a game that can be unforgiving for those in her specific line of work. For Ismail? She wants maybe another decade in the game before worrying about any of that.I know Im a fit person and Im only peaking now, she says. I always told myself there is no one better than me - that is just my attitude to the game. In my mind I am still 18 and I am still going to play like I am 18 - all the time.Refreshing, honest, engaging, fast. Once you know Shabnim Ismail its unlikely youll forget her in a hurry. Sam Cassell Jersey . The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Lions have not announced the hiring, which was first reported by ESPN. Lombardi, the grandson of former Green Bay Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, has been an offensive assistant on Sean Paytons New Orleans staff since 2007. Robert Covington Jersey . They had already blown a double-digit lead, fans were hitting the exits, and a long seven-game road trip waited at the end. https://www.cheaptimberwolves.com/ .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Jaylen Nowell Jersey . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Fake Timberwolves Jerseys . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Kyle Busch won for the 10th time in the Xfinity Series this season with a victory at Phoenix International Raceway on the night NASCARs second-tier series set its inaugural championship field.The final four for next weekends race at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be a battle between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Joe Gibbs.Both car owners got two drivers each into the championship field the first year NASCAR rolled out the Chase for its lower two national series. The Chase uses the same elimination format as the Sprint Cup Series, and eight drivers were competing for the final four slots on Saturday night.Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones, both driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, got in. JR Motorsports qualified Justin Allgaier and Elliott Sadler.But, after the race, Sadlers car was being inspected by NASCAR for an apparent loose lug nut on his car. Its unclear if Sadler could face a points penalty that would knock him out of the championship field.I think we might have a loose lug. Theyll look at it. But, hey, we did what we had to do, Sadler said.Sadler, a longtime NASCAR veteran, is seeking his first title at the national level and has his best chance this year in this winner-take-all format.Were pumped about it, we really put all our eggs in one basket, and thats that Homestead car, he said.Allgaier had to stretch a drying gas tank over the closing laps to claim his spot and keep Blake Koch out of the field. Koch was keeping aan eye post-race on Sadlers situation, but immediately apologized for an earlier incident with Darrell Wallace Jr.dddddddddddd that knocked Wallace out of title contention.Busch, meanwhile, is racing Sunday for a spot in Cups final four. New rules will make him ineligible to race in any Chase races in a lower series next year, so this was his last victory in the fall race at Phoenix.Busch noted hed learned something about the tires by running the Xfinity race, and he planned to confer with his Cup team to get better prepared for Sundays main event. The reigning Sprint Cup champion had the fastest car in Saturdays final practice.We got a lot better, I feel like were at least in the ballpark, Busch said of Sunday. Weve got a top-five race car and well go from there.Brendan Gaughans championship chances ended when he wrecked with 63 laps remaining. He was in a must-win situation and came to Phoenix last in the eight-driver standings.Wallace, who was seventh in the standings, was wrecked when Koch ran into Wallaces lane to cause the accident. Wallace was mourning his grandmother, who died earlier this week, and had trouble controlling his emotions after.My grandmother was giving me the ride of my life, said Wallace, nearly sobbing. That was the most fun I have had all year. Just circumstances took us out. ' ' '