Like many, I am gripped by the concept of Bitcoin.

I am not talking about the value of the individual bits of the new virtual currency, which has had a somewhat volatile history and is currently spiralling down.
What excites is the development, by Bitcoin enthusiasts, known as miners, of a super-efficient money transmission network on the internet, that bypasses the official banking and money transmission systems - or at least it is a hermetically sealed monetary world until holders of the virtual currency want to buy a hamburger or motor car and endeavour to convert their Bitcoins into dollars, pounds or other forms of legal tender.
However, Bitcoin probably represents the first seriously existential threat to conventional banks, burdened with their massive running costs, in living memory.
In theory, at least, Bitcoin is their Amazon.
Bitcoin also poses something of an issue for central banks like the Bank of England or US Federal Reserve, which appear to have no ability to influence the value of Bitcoins. So Bitcoin represents a challenge to their duties of monetary stewardship.
And it is not at all clear whether the writ of financial regulators runs to the Bitcoin world.
So depending on your point of view, Bitcoin is either a wonderfully liberating new financial system, freed of the costs and poisonous history of the old banking and monetary world, or it is the dangerous and wacky Wild West, where law-abiding folk should fear to tread.
Which is it? Well we may be about to find out, following the disappearance from the internet of MtGox, one of the biggest Bitcoin exchanges - amidst rumours of all sorts of shenanigans and allegations that vast quantities of the currency have gone walkies.
The point is that Bitcoin's strength - that it has grown in an organic, slightly anarchic and devolved way, with no central oversight or control - is also its weakness.
There is no central authority to step in and give any kind of guidance to Mt Gox customers whether their money is safe or gone. And there's no compensation safety net.
Bitcoin has been set up on the basis of pure caveat emptor. If its participants take any losses in their stride, and learn the lessons, it can go from strength to strength.
If they are unable to develop any kind of governance system that provides confidence that Bitcoins are where they are supposed to be, then it will disintegrate into fringe territory for loons and wild-eyed monetary anarchists.


A group lobbying for the conviction of the Lockerbie bomber to be re-examined has raised concerns about the conduct of key Scottish officials.

Justice for Megrahi questioned the "objectivity and independence" of Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill and Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland.
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was convicted of killing 270 people when Pan Am flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie.
The Scottish government has rejected the claims by the group.
Justice for Megrahi wants the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) to look at how Mr MacAskill and Mr Mulholland dealt with allegations against the Crown Office and police which handled the Lockerbie case.
The IAP, which was formed as a non-political organisation in 1995, aims to raise standards of professional conduct and ethics for prosecutors across the world, while promoting the rule of law, fairness, impartiality and respect for human rights.
The association can consider whether the complaint amounts to a breach of its standards.
The move by Justice for Megrahi is part of a wider campaign for an independent inquiry into the 1988 conviction of Megrahi, who died last year having been released from a Scottish jail in 2009.
MSPs on Holyrood's justice committee are continuing to consider the group's ongoing petition.
It alleges four breaches, covering independence, impartiality, professional conduct and role in criminal proceeding.
A Scottish government spokeswoman pointed out that Megrahi was convicted in a court of law and a court was the only appropriate forum for considering all the evidence in the case and "determining his guilt or innocence".
She added: "In relation to the reporting of Mr MacAskill to the IAP, the cabinet secretary [Mr MacAskill] has not had any involvement in decisions made by the Crown Office and the police in relation to their consideration of the al-Megrahi case nor their on-going investigation into the Lockerbie bombing. Indeed, the cabinet secretary for justice is not a prosecutor."
A Crown Office spokesman said allegations made by Justice for Megrahi were being considered by Chief Constable Patrick Shearer, the former top police officer in the old Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary.
He added that it was "absolutely false" that the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service had instructed him not to investigate any of their allegations.
But in its submission to Holyrood's justice committee, group secretary of Justice for Megrahi, Robert Forrester, stated: "At a time when there is growing concern about the Crown Office and police handling of the whole Lockerbie inquiry, this latest international complaint makes it even more important that our petition remains a live issue within the Scottish Parliament."


Runners from 178 different nations, from Azerbaijan to Zambia, will be represented in the Great North Run on Sunday.

Media playback is not supported on this device
Now in its 36th year, the Great North Run will have more countries represented in a single running event in history.
If you'd like to find out how to get into running, take a look at our special guide.


Theresa May is set to become the UK's next prime minister after Andrea Leadsom pulled out of the contest to become Conservative Party leader.

The timing of the handover of power from David Cameron looks set to be after PM's  questions on Wednesday.
Mrs May, 59, who backed staying in the EU, has been home secretary since 2010.
Mrs Leadsom, who campaigned to leave the EU, said the UK needed "strong and stable government" and that Mrs May was "ideally placed" to implement Brexit.
The 1922 committee of Tory MPs - which is overseeing the leadership contest - is holding talks with the Conservative Party board over formally declaring Mrs May the winner, after Mrs Leadsom dropped out.
A statement is expected from its chairman, Graham Brady, at about 17:00 BST.
Mrs May is also expected to make a public statement, at about 18:00 BST, according to BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith.
In a speech earlier on Monday setting out her leadership campaign platform, Mrs May - who rejected the argument that the next leader and prime minister had to have been someone on the winning side of the EU referendum - said: "Brexit means Brexit and we're going to make a success of it."
In her brief statement in Westminster, Mrs Leadsom - who was a leading light of the Brexit campaign - said a nine-week leadership campaign at such a "critical time" for the UK would be "highly undesirable".
A source close to the energy minister told BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg "the abuse has been too great" for Mrs Leadsom during the contest.
Mrs Leadsom had apologised to Mrs May on Monday after suggesting in a weekend newspaper interview that being a mother made her a better candidate for the job.
Mrs Leadsom, who was flanked by some of her supporters as she read the statement, said: "Strong leadership is needed urgently to begin the work of withdrawing from the European Union. A nine-week leadership campaign at such a critical moment is highly undesirable."
She said Mrs May, the home secretary, had the support of more than 60% of Conservative MPs and was "ideally placed to implement Brexit on the best possible terms for the British people and she has promised she will do so".
Mrs Leadsom said she was "incredibly grateful" to the 84 colleagues who supported her leadership bid.
But she added: "Nevertheless, this is less than 25% of the parliamentary party and after careful consideration I do no believe this is sufficient support to lead a strong and stable government should I win the leadership election."
She said: "There is no greater privilege than to lead the Conservative Party in government and I would have been deeply honoured to do it.
"I have however concluded that the interests of our country are best served by the immediate appointment of a strong and well-supported prime minister.
"I am therefore withdrawing from the leadership election, and I wish Mrs May the very greatest success."
The leadership contest is being overseen by the 1922 committee of backbench Conservative MPs.
Its chairman, Graham Brady, said Mrs May would be formally confirmed as the new party leader as soon as the Conservative Party board had been consulted - saying there would be "no need to re-run the election".
He declined to give an exact timetable for the next steps - other than to say it would not be "nine weeks" until Mr Cameron's successor was in place.
The contest was originally scheduled to finish on 9 September.
The time between Gordon Brown winning the Labour leadership uncontested and succeeding Tony Blair as prime minister was 38 days.
Reacting to Mrs Leadsom's decision, Chris Grayling, Mrs May's campaign chief, said it showed what a "principled and decent politician she is".
Speaking outside the Houses of Parliament, he said Mrs May was "enormously honoured" to be entrusted with the task of leadership, and would make a statement later.
In a message to the party, he added: "Now is the time for us to unite... and get on with the job of securing a strong, prosperous future for our country."
Meanwhile, former London mayor Boris Johnson - who was backing Mrs Leadsom's leadership bid, said he had "no doubt" Mrs May would be an "excellent" leader and prime minister.
He said he was "encouraged" by Mrs May's statement that "Brexit means Brexit", and added: "It is vital that we respect the will of the people and get on with exploiting new opportunities for this country."
There had originally been five contenders to succeed Mr Cameron, with MPs voting in two rounds to get that number down to two - and the plan then was that the party's 150,000-strong membership would have had the final say.
Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens are calling for a snap general election, rather than waiting for the contest scheduled for 2020 under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.
Labour's election co-ordinator, Jon Trickett, said: "It is crucial, given the instability caused by the Brexit vote, that the country has a democratically elected prime minister. I am now putting the whole of the party on a general election footing."
Mr Farron, Lib Dem leader, said: "With Theresa May's coronation we need an early general election. The Tories now have no mandate. Britain deserves better than this."
Meanwhile, a Labour leadership contest has begun after Angela Eagle launched a bid to challenge Jeremy Corbyn for the job, saying she she could provide the leadership in "dark times for Labour" that Mr Corbyn could not.


If Donald Trump's presidential bid is dead, no one bothered to tell Mr Trump - or his supporters.

Just a week ago, following the New York billionaire's mocking comments about 2008 Republican nominee John McCain's Vietnam POW experience, pundits and prognosticators were busy etching his political epitaph.
"The circus is almost over," Republican strategist Rick Wilson said in Politico. "My advice to Trump fans? Don't be the last clown out of the tent."
The previous Republican nominee Mitt Romney blasted Mr Trump, as did current candidates Jeb Bush, Scott Walker and Lindsey Graham.
All that was left was to wait for the latest poll results to come in and see exactly how precipitous Mr Trump's fall would be.
Naysayers are going to have to wait a bit longer, it seems. A CNN/ORD national survey conducted entirely after the McCain dust-up, for instance, puts Mr Trump ahead with the support of 18% of Republicans, Mr Bush at 15% and Mr Walker at 10%.
So, how to explain Mr Trump's enduring appeal? Here are five possible factors at play.
1. The voice of the anti-immigration cause
Immigration has become a centrepiece of Mr Trump's campaign thanks to the over-the-top rhetoric in his kick-off speech in New York, where he accused Mexico of "bringing drugs, and bringing crime, and their rapists" to the US.
While his views were condemned as extreme and racially tinged, his immigration stance appears to be resonating with a significant portion of the Republican primary electorate.
According to that CNN/ORC survey, 63% of Republicans support deporting the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the US. Of that number, 23% back Mr Trump, while only 10% support second-place Bush.
"It is immigration - its universally celebrated benefits and its barely acknowledged costs - that is the third rail of US politics," writes Matthew Continetti for the Washington Free Beacon. "Trump didn't step on the third rail; he embraced it, he won't let go of it, and in so doing he's become electric."
The irony, however, is that before and after his bombastic comments, Mr Trump has offered more moderate views on the issue, including endorsing the possibility of a "merit-based system" that would allow a pathway for some undocumented immigrants to remain in the US.
That sounds a lot like Mr Bush's views, in fact. But Mr Trump made a big splash with his anti-immigration comments - and for conservatives who care about the issue, he's become their guy.
2. A man with business bona fides
Although immigration has dominated Mr Trump's media coverage, the CNN poll reveals that it's not nearly the most important subject for Republican voters.
Neither is foreign policy, which has been a staple of Republican candidate stump speeches all year.
According to the CNN poll the issue that a 44% plurality of Republicans care about is the economy.
Although unemployment is dropping and the stock market continues to rise, many Americans still worry about their financial bottom line - particularly when it comes to wage stagnation and the growing gap between the middle class and the super-wealthy. That's showing up in the rhetoric not only of Democrats, but also of many Republican candidates.
Unlike other candidates, however, Mr Trump can boast of his business experience and use it as a cudgel against his adversaries
"A number of my competitors for the Republican nomination have no business running for president," Mr Trump wrote in a 19 July USA Today op-ed. "I do not need to be lectured by any of them. Many are failed politicians or people who would be unable to succeed in the private sector."
Mr Trump says he'll be the "best jobs president that God ever created". According to Madison Gesiotto of the Washington Times, that message is resonating - particularly with younger voters who are struggling to make headway in the modern workplace.
"If those younger voters believe he will deliver those jobs, God help the rest of the GOP field," he concludes.
God help them indeed.
3. America loves a celebrity
Mr Trump has been plastering his name on everything he touches - from New York towers to California golf courses to airplane tailfins - for decades. He was the star of his own reality television show, and his catchphrase - "you're fired" - has entered the cultural zeitgeist.
In other words, Mr Trump has the kind of name recognition of which politicians like Ohio Governor John Kasich and Wisconsin's Walker can only dream. A recent Gallup poll puts Mr Trump's name ID among Republicans at 92%. CNN's poll found only 1% of Americans had never heard of the man.
Mr Trump's visibility, combined with his headline-grabbing entry into the Republican race, has created a kind of positive feedback loop of political success. His name recognition spurs media coverage, which boosts his poll numbers and leads to more media coverage.
George Washington University Prof John Sides explains how this process plays out.
"When a pollster interrupts people's lives and asks them about a presidential primary that doesn't formally begin for months, a significant number of people will mention whichever candidate happens to be in the news these days," he writes in the Washington Post.
Sides and UCLA Prof Lynn Vavreck say this is a familiar cycle in US politics, with an early boom in standing usually followed by a steady decline, as candidates undergo media scrutiny.
Is it a fate that awaits Mr Trump? If it isn't, it could be because â€¦
4.  The Republican establishment's nemesis
Part of the reason Mr Trump's attacks on Mr McCain haven't seemed to damage his standing is because the long-time Arizona senator embodies a Republican Party Washington elite that is haemorrhaging support even among the conservative faithful.
A recent Pew survey puts the party's favourability among its own members at 68% - the lowest it's been in more than two years.
All of this has led to a fair amount of hand-wringing among conservatives, who look at the Republican congressional leadership's inability to take a more confrontational stands on issues like the Iran nuclear agreement and shuttering the Export-Import Bank and wonder just what their 2014 mid-term election victories got them.
"When given the opportunity to put good policy into place, or to take steps to make such policy more feasible in the future, where is the Republican Party to be found?" asks the Federalist's Ben Domenech.
Cue Donald Trump, who enters the presidential race like a battleship, with fusillades in all directions. He says what he thinks and seems constitutionally unable to apologise.
According to the CNN poll, 25% of the respondents who said it's "extremely important" that a candidate stand up for his or her beliefs in the face of criticism support Mr Trump. Mr Bush is a distant second at 11%.
5. The latest "silent majority" spokesman
Here's another bit of insight from that CNN poll. Just 16% of Republicans feel like they're represented in Washington - those that don't support Mr Trump by a sizeable margin (24%, compared to 13% for Jeb Bush and single digits for the rest of the Republican field).
Mr Trump is appealing to what Victor David Hanson of PJ Media calls the fed-up crowd.
"The fed-up crowd likes the payback of watching blood sport in an arena where niceties just don't apply anymore," he writes. "At least for a while longer, they enjoy the smug getting their comeuppance, as an uncouth, bull-headed Trump charges about, snorting and spearing liberal pieties and more sober and judicious Republicans at random."
The Free Beacon's Continetti paints a similar picture, calling Mr Trump's supporters the "radical middle", who in years past embraced Ronald Reagan, Pat Buchanan, Newt Gingrich and Ross Perot (another wealthy businessman who made his bones railing against a Mexican threat).
"That Trump is not a conservative, nor by any means a mainstream Republican, is not a minus but a plus to the radical middle," he continues. "These voters are culturally right but economically left; they depend on the New Deal and parts of the Great Society, are estranged from the fiscal and monetary agendas of the Economist and Wall Street Journal. What they lack in free market bona fides they make up for in their romantic fantasy of the patriotic tycoon or general, the fixer, the Can Do Man who will cut the baloney and Get Things Done."
Mr Trump himself calls his supporters "the silent majority" - a label first coined by President Richard Nixon in 1969.
"There's a silent majority out there," Mr Trump said in South Carolina last week. "We're tired of being pushed around, kicked around, and acting and being led by stupid people."


Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy praised his side for competing with Championship big spenders Nottingham Forest in Saturday's 2-2 draw.

Town's team consisted of free transfers and loan signings aside from the £10,000 paid for Tyrone Mings.
In contrast, Forest paid a club-record £5.5m fee in the summer for striker Britt Assombalonga.
"The players who have come in can be proud, but we have to keep doing it," McCarthy told BBC Radio Suffolk.
"Forest would be champions elect in a lot of people's minds. They've spent a chunk of money.
"I look at it and there's 10 grand on the pitch that we've spent. It looks well spent on Tyrone Mings.
"Losing two points here can't set the tone for when we come back [after the international break]. It's the performance that has to set the tone and the performance was good."
Ipswich, now unbeaten in seven games and up to sixth in the Championship, led twice against second-placed Forest and were only denied victory by a last-minute equaliser from Michail Antonio.
Earlier, striker Daryl Murphy took his tally for the season to six with goals either side of a Robert Tesche header.
All of McCarthy's summer signings have been free transfers, with Jonny Williams and Conor Sammon coming in on loan.
In fact, the only fee McCarthy has paid since taking over at Portman Road in November 2012 was the £10,000 to bring 21-year-old defender Mings to the club from Chippenham in December 2012.
The full-back, who signed a new three-year deal last month and put in a strong performance at Forest, was a target for Crystal Palace on transfer deadline day.
"You can see I turned that money down can't you? That was a flat 'no'. They would have got a bargain," said McCarthy.


Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has poured scorn over the latest rumours of his health, joking that he had died and was resurrected.

Mr Mugabe, 92, was arriving back in the country at the main airport in Harare and appeared jovial as he disembarked.
Flight data had suggested his plane was heading to East Asia but that it instead went to Dubai. Mr Mugabe said he had gone there for a family matter.
In May, Mr Mugabe's wife, Grace, said that he would rule from the grave.
The flight path and other rumours had led some to speculate that Mr Mugabe had suffered a serious health problem and had sought treatment in Dubai or had even succumbed to his illness.
The Southern Daily website had posted an article headlined "Robert Mugabe suffers stroke, Mnangagwa now the new interim President of Zimbabwe".
Emmerson Mnangagwa is the country's vice-president.
But Reuters news agency said that on arriving at Harare Mr Mugabe had told reporters in the local Shona language: "I had gone on a family matter to Dubai concerning one of my children.
"Yes, I was dead, it's true I was dead. I resurrected as I always do. Once I get back to my country I am real."
Mr Mugabe is expected to address a youth meeting later on Saturday.
He has been in power since 1980 and has said he will run again for office in 2018.
The country remains in political and economic turmoil, amid allegations of government corruption.
The capital saw a wave of protests last week, with dozens arrested.
Police on Thursday banned demonstrations in the capital for two weeks.
Mr Mugabe has vowed to crack down on anti-government dissent.


It was 23 July, 1997 when floodlit cricket first became part of the English county scene.

Warwickshire beat Somerset in front of 16,000 fans at Edgbaston, but that was a limited-overs game and it was to be 14 years before a day-night fixture was played in the County Championship.
Canterbury was the venue for a four-day contest in 2011 between Kent and Glamorgan, which the Welsh county won by eight wickets.
The game took place late in the season in September and despite free entry for the final 'night' session, attendances were poor and the experiment received a mixed response from players.
Six years on, and the England and Wales Cricket Board has sanctioned an entire round of Championship matches to be played on a day-night basis, using pink balls with black seams.
There will be nine matches in total, all beginning on Monday.
There have been four day-night Test matches; three in Australia, and one between Pakistan and West Indies in Dubai.
England will play their first home day-night Test against West Indies at Edgbaston from 17-21 August.
"It was important for us to arrange a full round of fixtures to give our England players the chance to experience the conditions," said ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, when the Championship plan was announced last November.
"But just as we wanted to assess the impact of making Test cricket more accessible by changing the hours of play, the counties have really embraced the potential of Championship matches that stretch well into the evening when people have finished school or work."
England will also play a day-night Test in Adelaide in December as part of the 2017-18 Ashes series against Australia.
Counties hope England's desire to give the Test squad a chance to experience day-night conditions will provide a revenue boost by increasing the chances of extra "bums on seats".
New Test captain Joe Root will be playing only his second Championship game of the summer as Yorkshire take on Surrey at Headingley, while star all-rounder Ben Stokes will be making his first four-day appearance for Durham, who are at home to Worcestershire.
Others, such as Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad and James Anderson, have seen plenty of their county team-mates in the past couple of months, although Broad will not play against Kent because of a heel injury.
Cook, in particular, has relished the opportunity, scoring 474 Championship runs at an average of 52.66 and hitting three One-Day Cup centuries - but will the change to a pink ball affect his form?
"If people are expecting it to behave in the same way as a red ball, they'll be disappointed," ECB director of cricket operations Alan Fordham told BBC 5 live sports extra.
"The easiest way to describe it is the pink ball is manufactured in the same way as a white ball, so it's not a ball that is easy to shine. You can perhaps get a little bit of a sheen on it but nothing like a red ball where you can get a really good polish on it, keep that lasting well and perhaps swinging into 40 or 50 overs. That's unlikely to happen."
All 18 counties will be involved in the first full round of day-night Championship fixtures, with four Division One games and five in Division Two.
Play will start at 14:00 BST, with 'lunch' at 16:00 and 'tea' at 18:40 or later, depending on the over rates of the teams. The close should be at about 21:00 - although it is quite likely play could go on as late as 22:00 on some days if there are weather interruptions.
The pink balls will be a focus of attention, and they certainly were not to the liking of some players when Kent met Glamorgan in 2011.
"It was hard to see the ball, the colour wasn't quite right but I think they've sorted that out now, they've done a lot of trials and testing," former Glamorgan wicketkeeper Mark Wallace recalled last year.
Fordham is confident the new pink balls are much better, but added only limited research had been conducted.
"There comes a point where you can't keep playing with it in second XI cricket. We've got to get on and play it in a first-class game when we'll really begin to learn what's going on," he said.
"We'll be as interested as anybody to see how this pans out but we're confident that we've got a ball that will do a good job."
The ECB will not make any firm decision on whether to schedule a similar round of day-night fixtures in 2018 until they have received feedback from the counties about this season's round of games.
Fordham says a wide expansion of the format is not really feasible, adding: "In this country, many of the grounds have floodlight planning restrictions which would not allow them to be used week after week in this form of cricket.
"It's probably likely people wouldn't want to be doing it in April or May or September anyway because the weather's not likely to be good enough in that third session.
"We may in county cricket end up being where we are [with one round of games], but if it's a success, there might be an opportunity for a county to play an extra game at home if they are able to do so. And I think that would be real progress."
And how will success be measured?
"I think whether more people are coming through the gate is one, but for me as a cricket person my biggest success measure will be having a form of cricket which is accepted by the players," he added.
"It will be different, it will introduce more skills, introduce more intrigue and if we achieve that, I think we'll have done really well."
Lancashire and England pace bowler James Anderson: "I've had no experience with pink balls. I don't think the batsmen are hugely in favour of it.
"All the reports I've heard of day-night Test matches are that the twilight period is really difficult to bat in.
"It's great all the England players are available, not just because it's a pink-ball game, but a round of county games with all the England players available is a stronger one, and probably a more exciting one."
Surrey vice-captain Rory Burns told BBC Radio London: "It's an exciting, different challenge. We've been practising with the pink ball and getting used to it.
"It's a very different ball to the red ball, in how it reacts and the seam on it. With spin, you can't quite see the seam. That's one of the challenges.
"It feels a little bit lighter off the bat. The tougher periods will be when the floodlights come into play."
New Sussex captain Ben Brown told BBC Sussex: "It's history in the making. We're all going to be a small part of history.
"Whether it carries on and is the future of four-day cricket or not, it doesn't really matter. You'll always look back and talk about when you played against the pink ball under lights.
"The main thing will be how quickly we can react to the changing conditions, because it will be challenging."
Northamptonshire head coach David Ripley told BBC Radio Northampton: "The balls look cheap and nasty to be honest - they don't look great compared to other balls that we use.
"But the proof will be in the pudding. At the moment, they haven't lasted very well. The colour will fade a little bit, but I still hope it will be fairly easy to see.
"It will be interesting to see how it goes. We're trying to be innovative in cricket. One round of games per year - I can see it catching on."
Durham head coach Jon Lewis told BBC Newcastle: "In England, with the long twilight period, it doesn't get dark quickly. It gets dark over a long period of time. That will have an effect as well.
"In Abu Dhabi, that period where the lights come on can be a bit spicy for the batsmen, but I don't think it's going to be the same here because it takes so long for the lights to take effect."
Richard Wilford, BBC WM
Warwickshire were very much at the vanguard of day-night cricket in the shorter game, so it's only fitting that they are involved in this experiment.
Ahead of the county staging England's first day-night Test, it will be fascinating to see how the pink ball behaves in twilight conditions.
The second XI dress rehearsal last summer at Edgbaston saw significant movement in the latter part of the evening.
Therefore, the temptation may well be to declare with as much as an hour to play, even if sides are only seven or eight wickets down.
There's nothing to be lost from this journey into the unknown. Indeed, ticket sales for the England-West Indies Test match suggest that there is a public appetite to give it a go.


Drones were recently involved in four serious near misses at UK airports, the UK Air Proximity Board has said.

The board, which investigates near-miss incidents in UK airspace, said a drone had come very close to colliding with a Boeing 737 climbing out of Stansted.
There were also category A incidents at Heathrow, London City and Manchester.
British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) spokesman Steve Landells said action must be taken to prevent a "catastrophic crash" of an aircraft.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said it was working to create a "regulatory framework focusing on safety".
The UK Air Proximity Board (UKAB) looked at seven incidents involving drones in its December report, four of which were classed as the most serious category A where a serious risk of collision existed.
The near miss at Stansted saw a drone fly over the Boeing 737 by about 16ft, as the aircraft was at about 4,000ft during take-off.
In another incident, a drone narrowly missed hitting the wing of a Boeing 777 shortly after take-off from Heathrow Airport on 22 September.
This took place at 2,000ft - double the legal altitude limit for drones transmitting live video to their operators.
According to the plane's pilot, the drone narrowly passed down the right-hand side of the aircraft and left no time to take action.
The UKAB concluded that the drone was at the same height and within 25m of the jet, meaning "chance had played a major part" in the lack of a collision.
Although the incident was reported to the police, the drone operator was not traced.
Balpa says it is concerned the number of incidents could rise over the next few months, as people begin to use drones which they may have been given as Christmas presents.
It is calling for stricter rules and a registration system so drone operators can be easily traced and prosecuted for any "irresponsible flying".
Pilots also want technology routinely fitted to drones to stop them from being able to fly in areas where they could meet commercial traffic.
Mr Landells said that near misses were becoming "too regular an occurrence".
He added: "We must act now to protect passengers and flight crew and make sure a catastrophic crash does not happen.
"The authorities must enforce current regulations and make sure new ones, such as compulsory insurance and registration, are brought in without delay.
"As the growth of drones flying by hobbyists continues, education and training are increasingly becoming key. Anyone flying a drone must do so in a safe and sensible way."
A spokesman for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: "Drone users have to understand that when taking to the skies they are potentially flying close to one of the busiest areas of airspace in the world - a complex system that brings together all manner of aircraft including passenger aeroplanes, military jets, helicopters, gliders and light aircraft.
"The rules for flying drones are designed to keep all airspace users safe and anyone flouting these rules can face severe penalties including imprisonment."
A spokeswoman for the DfT said: "Drones are becoming increasingly popular and have the potential to bring significant economic benefits, but it is vital that they are operated safely, in a way that does not put members of the public and other aircraft at risk.
"The government is leading efforts with international bodies to develop a stringent regulatory framework focusing on safety. There will be a public consultation before a government strategy is published in 2016."


The driver of a coach full of British pupils that crashed in France has told investigators he came off the road while looking for his sunglasses.

But prosecutors said his explanation was not very convincing and believe the driver, who is now being formally investigated, fell asleep at the wheel.
The majority of pupils at the school in Cheltenham have returned home.
But two seriously injured teenagers remain in hospital in BesanÃ§on, near the border with Switzerland.
One is said to be in a life-threatening condition following the crash on Saturday.
They received emergency surgery following the crash in the eastern Jura region of France, while 10 other pupils were treated for minor injuries and discharged from hospital.
Local prosecutor Jean-Luc Lennon told broadcaster France 3 he did not find the driver's explanation very convincing as it did not fit with the circumstances of the crash.
The driver, 51, is expected to be charged in relation to the crash, according to the channel.
Bournside School in Cheltenham said its students were reunited with their parents back in England at 01:00 BST.
"Our thoughts remain with the two students and their parents who are still in France," a school spokeswoman said.
The coach was carrying 42 students, six staff and two drivers when it went into a ditch on the A39 motorway at Lons-le-Saunier.
The group was heading to Italy where the students, aged between 14 and 18, were going on a camping trip.
Police said no other vehicles were involved.
The Caernarfon-based coach operator, Express Motors, said on Saturday it was doing everything it could "to help accident teams with their investigations and inquiries".
A spokesman for the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), said: "Both drivers remain in France and both drivers have been interviewed by police."
"One is still helping police with their inquiries," he added.


Five-time Olympic medallist Katherine Grainger has revealed how her grounding in karate at school has had a profound influence on her rowing career.

Grainger, 40, was involved in many different sports before taking up rowing.
And she credits the enduring influence of her karate instructor and school art teacher, Mr Davis, for her success.
"Everything he taught me about sport and about myself, stays with me to this day," she told BBC Radio Scotland.
"I went from white belt to black belt and I was the first student he had who went from the white belt to black belt in the school.
"The day after I got my black belt I went to see him and I had a thank you card and a bottle of wine from my parents just to say thank you for getting me there.
"He presented me with the first ever black belt he had ever won, and gave it to me as my black belt. It was just incredible.
"It's the one thing, you know if your house was on fire, that I would go to get.
"Obviously the family photos and memories, but I would go to get my black belt.
Find out how to get into martial arts in our special guide.
"It was such a kind gift to give, and obviously meant so much to him and it meant far more to me because of that."
Grainger says the "discipline" of karate appealed to her.
"I was at Bearsden Academy [near Glasgow] and I loved sport at that age but I wasn't really a member of any club and I didn't do anything special," she explained.
"I remember my mum and dad saying 'you need to do more'. I went along to see what it was like and to keep them happy.
"I fell in love with the sport, the discipline, the competitive side and the training and I did it for the six years I was at Bearsden Academy.
"He [Mr Davis] was a very high level black belt at the time - I got involved and absolutely loved it.
"He was a complete inspiration, he really believed in me.
"He showed me how much fun sport can be and the confidence you get from it, the enjoyment and I learned so much about myself."
Grainger took a two-year break from rowing after winning Olympic gold at London 2012, following silver medals at Sydney, Athens and Beijing.
But after a selection ordeal where her place was only confirmed six weeks beforehand, she won double sculls silver with Victoria Thornley in Rio.
"We have absolutely amazing experts behind the scenes in strength and conditioning, training and coaching," she added.
"They reassured me from when I started again knowing that I could still be in fantastic physical shape and my strength and fitness wouldn't be the limiting factor come racing.
"It was hard and it was sore - we put everything on the line to get in amongst the medals.
"We were racing against the odds as much as we were the opposition as we hadn't really shown the form all season to get on to the Olympic podium.
"So we committed very, very early to the race physically, and countered every challenge that came at us from the opposition.
"We were in a leading position until right before the end.
"When you have got the Polish team that went on to win gold, attacking and coming through us, we were trying everything physically to counter them.
"You just know you have run out of options physically - we left everything that we had out on the lake."


A man accused of killing the Labour MP Jo Cox refused to enter pleas as he appeared in court.

Thomas Mair, 53, from Birstall, remained silent when asked to plead at the Old Bailey on four charges relating to Mrs Cox's death.
Mrs Cox, 41, who was a married mother-of-two, was shot and stabbed in Birstall, West Yorkshire, in June.
In the light of Mr Mair's silence, the judge ordered that not guilty pleas should be entered on his behalf.
The defendant is accused of murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon - a dagger.
Read more about this and other stories from across West Yorkshire
He appeared via video-link from Belmarsh prison and spoke only to confirm his name.
Members of Mrs Cox's family were in court to witness proceedings.
The judge, Mr Justice Wilkie, adjourned the case for a further hearing on 28 October and a provisional date for a  four-week trial has been fixed for 14 November.
Mrs Cox, who was elected MP for Batley and Spen at the 2015 General Election, was about to attend a constituency surgery when she was killed on June 16.
Her death prompted what her family described as an "outpouring of genuine grief and sympathy".
The then Prime Minister David Cameron said Mrs Cox was a "bright star" and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described her as "a much loved colleague".
She had grown up in the area, attending Heckmondwike Grammar School, before attending Cambridge University.
Prior to entering Parliament Mrs Cox had worked for a number of charities including Oxfam, Save the Children and the NSPCC.


For the past week traditional herdsmen have invaded the land, burned down the tourist lodge and brought in thousands of cattle to steal pasture.
Now police reinforcements have arrived and from the overlooking escarpment are trying to decide how best to restore law and order.
Suyian Soul tourist lodge - known locally as "Anne's Camp" - is overwhelmed with cattle picking through the charred remains of the looted buildings.
"We don't allow people to just walk onto the land," said Anne Powys, whose family has lived on this 44,000 acre farm for more than 100 years and is used to making grazing deals with the neighbours.
"We'd been talking to the local community for two months, but the young warriors who were driving the cattle came and said 'we don't want to speak to anyone, we're coming to take the grass, by force, so don't get in our way.'
"We realised that it wasn't them but local politics had changed their minds and that was disappointing."
The anti-stock theft police moved in, but in the confrontation a young man was killed, sparking an escalation - now the herdsmen have built cattle kraals and moved in.
At sunrise on a clear day, the sharp peak of Mount Kenya frames the horizon.
Giraffes, elephants and buffaloes are among the wildlife browsing the acacia bush.
A parched savannah grassland rolls off far into the distance. Laikipia County is a vast but harsh place to raise cattle, needing careful management to avoid overgrazing.
Tens of thousands of extra cattle belonging to Samburu, Pokot and Laikipiak Maasai pastoralists destroy the delicate balance, tearing through the landscape, consuming every piece of pasture and moving on.
Approaching the squatters is difficult - we tried to speak to herdsmen but they are armed, and suspicious of our intentions they fired shots at our car.
Other herdsmen we spoke to blame failed rains: "It's because of drought," said John Lapollei, who was illegally grazing his cattle on a nearby farm.
"This is the only place there is pasture, the only place we can bring our cows," he said, aware it was against the law but willing to risk arrest by an under-resourced police force.
The commercial farmers blame overgrazing and poor management for destroying previously fertile pasture.
"It's not about drought. The reality is there are too many people and too much livestock and it's a global thing," said Anne Powys, who blames climate change for more extreme weather.
A local politician has encouraged the herdsmen to take over the land using racially charged language - white Kenyans own most large farms.
Elections are a few months away and politics here are tribal and ruthless.
"It's not about white ranchers - it's about the whole community. There's a landscape of different peoples here who are suffering," said Anne Powys.
Large ranches owned by black Kenyans and many smallholders have also been targeted.
"People have been misused and told to go and destroy property - destroy the wildlife - try to destroy the livelihood of the place so you can take over."
A little further north at a large watering hole on Mugie Ranch, where buffaloes and elephants usually drink and tourists come to visit, there are cows as far as the eye can see, and more on the way.
"The damage occurring with the large number of stock at the moment is catastrophic," said Jamie Manual, who looks after the wildlife.
"The land will be overgrazed and degraded and this will turn to a situation where we have a disaster on our hands. A lot of wildlife will die through starvation through a lack of grass in the conservancy," he said.
The cattle make their way to the water around the carcass of an elephant killed in a clash with herdsmen.
"We've had a lot of incidents now where wildlife has come into conflict with herders and it results in a gunshot, a spear or a poison arrow."
It's a short drive to another carcass - a large bull elephant killed the day before - both have had their tusks removed.
"In amongst them are people who target elephants for ivory. We have lost seven elephants, seven are wounded and we are expecting to uncover a lot of other carcasses," said Jamie Manual.
At Suyian Ranch there's still uncertainty over how the invaders will be driven away and where they will go next.
And it's not just here - other farms in the area have been hit. Maria Dodds at Kifuko farm is living under siege.
Thousands of cattle are illegally occupying her land and many of her staff have fled after coming under fire on most days of the last three weeks.
The farmers broadly praise the local police, but say they don't have the resources or the numbers to confront the heavily armed pastoralists and restore law and order.
The national response has been slow, despite updated travel advice from the British High Commission about the clashes.
Laikipia is one of Kenya's most popular tourist areas, and many business owners are afraid that if the pastoralists are not stopped, the violence could spread and the economy could be badly affected.
Those already hit warn that unless the government takes decisive action, the land invasions will spread and the crisis deepen.
Anne Powys hopes it can still be resolved through dialogue.
"Even having lost my camp we are still willing to talk to our neighbours. We're going nowhere and neither are our community," she said.


A single bluefin tuna has sold in Japan for 155m yen ($1.7m; Â£1.05m), almost triple the record price set last year.

High bids traditionally mark the year's first auction at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market.
Even the buyer, sushi chain owner Kiyoshi Kimura, who also paid out the record price last year, said the cost was "a bit high".
The sale came amid continued warnings from environmentalists that tuna stocks are dwindling and overfished.
This year's record-breaking fish was caught off north-eastern Japan and weighed in at 222kg (489lbs), some 47kg lighter than last year's prize-winner, which fetched 56m yen.
The prices do not necessarily reflect quality or size and are more linked to publicity and setting the tone for the business year.
The auction at the market - which trades millions of dollars of products daily and is a popular tourist destination -  began at 05:00 local time.
Mr Kimura immediately carted his purchase off to a nearby branch of his Sushi Zanmai chain.
He said he wanted to "encourage Japan" with his bid.
The price works out at about $7,600 per kg ($3,500/lb).
Japan consumes more than half of the world's bluefin catch.
New figures to be released on Monday are expected to show a continued decline in Pacific bluefin stocks.
Amanda Nickson, of the Pew Environmental Group's global tuna conservation campaign, told Associated Press news agency: "Everything we're hearing is that there's no good news for the Pacific bluefin. We're seeing a very high value fish continue to be overfished."


A pathologist has told a murder trial that former Mr Scotland bodybuilding champion Michael O'Hanlon died from massive blood loss.

Dr Julie McAdam was giving was giving evidence at the trial of Steven Kirkwood at the High Court in Glasgow.
Mr Kirkwood is accused murdering Mr O'Hanlon, 45, at HK Autotek, Stevenston, Ayrshire, on 25 July.
He denies the charge and attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of a knife.
The 44 year old has also lodged a special defence of self-defence.
The jury was told that Mr O'Hanlon was 6ft and weighed 17st 3lbs.
Dr McAdam said: "He had a bodybuilder's physique."
She told prosecutor Richard Goddard that the fatal wound to Mr O'Hanlon's abdomen cut two major blood vessels to the legs.
She said the injuries could have been caused by one knife, but she could not rule that more than one knife had been used.
Police casualty surgeon Dr Gary Walker told the jury that Mr Kirkwood had a number of bruises and scratches on him when he examined him on 25 July.
Mr Goddard said: "These are non-specific and general injuries with no medical intervention required," and Dr Walker said: "Yes."
The GP confirmed that there were no injuries to the palms of his hands.
The court was told that Mr Kirkwood claims that Mr O'Hanlon struck him with a pick axe handle during a struggle.
Mr Fairlie told the court: "Our findings do not assist in addressing whether Michael O'Hanlon struck Steven Kirkland with the pick axe handle, or not."
The court had earlier heard that Mr Kirkwood and Mr O'Hanlon had exchanged abusive texts in the days prior to his death.
Mr O'Hanlon and his friend Forbes Cowan had gone to the garage to meet Mr Kirkwood.
Earlier, witnesses told of a struggle between Mr O'Hanlon and Mr Kirkwood.
The trial before judge Lady Rae continues.


A team of 110 athletes will be representing the United Kingdom at the Invictus Games, which take place in Orlando, Florida from 8-12 May.

The team is made up of wounded, injured and sick serving military personnel and veterans, and the event, the brainchild of Prince Harry, will feature 500 competitors from 14 nations competing in 10 sports.
The selection process for the UK team was based on the benefit the Games will give an individual as part of their recovery, combined with performance and commitment to training.
The inaugural Invictus Games, held in London in September 2014, saw more than 400 competitors from 13 nations compete in nine sports and caught the nation's attention.
This time, competitors will take part in athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, road cycling, powerlifting, indoor rowing, wheelchair rugby, swimming, sitting volleyball and wheelchair tennis.
While many of those competing will have had physical injuries, others will also have to deal with the mental scars and issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
Get Inspired speaks to four of those selected for the UK team who will be hoping this year's Invictus Games helps to continue to transform their lives.
Events: Swimming, cycling, 100m sprint, shot put, discus, archery
Background: Caroline joined the Army in 1997 and served tours across the world as part of the Royal Logistic Corps and later in the Adjutant General's Corps, 1 Logistic Support Regiment.
She has anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder as well as having a physical injury to her lower left leg and foot, causing loss of feeling and reduced mobility.
Key message: Start small
In her own words: "It has been immensely important to me to get involved in sport. I became a bit of hermit when I left the army and I needed to build a bit of a social circle. By getting involved with the Sports Recovery Programme I've learned that my life didn't come to an end because I got an injury and because of my PTSD. I've learned new ways of doing sport, lost tons of weight through it.
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"When I started in January 2015 I couldn't even ride a bike and now I ride a lot. I've done three triathlons - one an ultra last year - and it is become a big part of my life. It gets all of the good endorphins working so you feel better about yourself and meet new people which is fantastic.
"My best bit of advice to people who want to get back into exercise is start small.
"You don't have to go and do a triathlon like I did. Just go out for a walk; find the one person who will go out and do a mile with you.
"Go out for 10 minutes and take it slowly but get out there. Go out and have a walk to a coffee shop and have cake at the end.
"The only person who can change things is you, but with support. By getting those good endorphins you will start feeling better over time."
Events: Wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby
Background: Michael, from Sunderland, was medically discharged from service in 2014 after 15 years with the Royal Artillery as a bombardier.
He has lumbar spine disease, a degenerative spinal condition, which causes chronic pain and limited mobility, and also has arthritis in the lower lumbar which adds to his pain and mobility issues.
Through getting back involved in sport, including with the Newcastle Eagles wheelchair basketball team, he has lost almost eight stone.
Key message: Give it a try
In his own words: "Sport was important to me when I was growing up and, because of my injury, I thought it had been taken from me for good.
"When I first got sent home on sick leave I spent most of my time locked in my bedroom in my parents' house. That was when the depression started and it wasn't very good.
"I did a few different things to try to get out of that state of mind and it led to sport, which has helped massively. The camaraderie you have with your friends is probably the main thing you miss when you leave the army.
"Getting back into sport has given me back something I thought I had lost and has helped with my confidence and my anger issues. It calms me down and helps with my depression and the issues that otherwise might be bottled up or taken out in the wrong way.
"I would encourage anyone to give it a try - there isn't much you can't do if you put your mind to it. I am more active now than for a long time. I still have to cope with the pain of the injury but my wife and kids help enormously and it is great to have that sort of support."
Events: Shot put, discus, rowing, archery and powerlifting
Background: 'Scotty' served for 10 years in the army in Bosnia and Northern Ireland but, 18 years after leaving, he was diagnosed with depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
He took part in the Warrior Games in June 2015 in America.
Key message: It's OK to ask for help when it comes to mental health issues
In his own words: "Sport is a massive tool for recovery and gives me that goal, that mission and that purpose and it has played a crucial role for me having suffered with a mental illness for over 20 years.
"After leaving the services and no longer representing your country, this is a great chance to stand here with my country's flag on my chest to represent the country with the men and women I used to serve with.
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"I got into sport through Help for Heroes after suffering with a mental illness for over 20 years. Using sport as that recovery mechanism to get me out of the house every day gives me that goal, that mission and purpose and it has played a key role in my recovery.
"If I could reach out to anyone back home, especially someone suffering from a mental illness, I would say you can do it - I am testament to that. It took me a long time to ask for help but I'm so glad I did. There is nothing to be ashamed of. I was inspired seeing guys taking part in sport and hopefully I can inspire others.
"Without watching the Invictus Games I wouldn't be here - Invictus is powerful."
Events: Swimming, 100m walk
Background: Susan sustained multiple fractures in an accident during service in 2009 while she was serving as a Royal Navy Senior Nursing Officer. She was in plaster over much of her body for some time and gradually moved from a wheelchair to crutches and has been working hard to build muscle strength and fitness.
At last year's Warrior Games she showed her determination and defied her lack of mobility by walking the 100m 'dash' on the track to claim a silver medal.
Key message: Sport matters to the over-55s as well
In her own words: "When I was in the armed forces, sport wasn't something I was particularly passionate about. I chose to be more involved with dance, especially classical ballet, and I found that a great help, but it is really only since my injury that I've turned my attention to sport and it has been my lifeline.
"It helps to get the muscles back into some kind of conditioning and also get moving again but emotionally it helps you to pick you up and get you back to feeling free and ready to face a future.
"For women of my age, in particular, it is really important to be active. I know it is hard but getting back into sport, or maybe doing it for the first time, is a great opportunity, not just to get active but to meet people, develop friendships and improve your lifestyle.
"Being involved in the Invictus Games has been a great honour. It is something I never thought I would do and shows that out of tragedy, good things can come.
"It is about new beginnings and I feel privileged and honoured to be surrounded by so many athletes and young people who are using what they have now to find purpose, meaning and destiny and hope for the future."


Double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee has won on his Ironman 70.3 debut, at the North American Championships in St George, Utah.

Brownlee claimed his first victory over the middle distance at Challenge Gran Canaria last month, but was competing against a much stronger field in Utah.
Victory gives him a spot at September's Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
"I saw this as a start of a learning curve towards the World Championship, so I am on the way up," he said.
"I definitely got something from today, like my nutrition. I couldn't get enough in my stomach and I felt like I didn't have enough salts and fluid in me at the end of the run, which is why I had to back off a bit.
"But that's the good thing about it for me. I spent a decade doing the Olympics, so it's really nice to have a different challenge."
The World Championships take place in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on 9 and 10 September.
The Ironman 70.3 event, named after the total number of miles it covers, entails swimming 1.9km, cycling 90km and running a half-marathon (13.1 miles or 21.09km) - half the regular Ironman distance.
The men's Olympic triathlon - which Brownlee won in 2012 and 2016 - involves a 1.5km swim, a 40km cycle and 10km run.


More than 180 veterans are flying into Gloucestershire Airport to take part in reunion event.

Project Propeller, which is in its 19th year, saw the veterans being flown in to Staverton by 120 volunteer pilots in private light aircraft.
Air Operations Manager Graham Cowie said: "It's a privilege and honour to be part of it all."
One of the veterans is 101-year-old Mary Ellis, who was being flown in from Sandown on the Isle of Wight.
Gloucestershire Airport was an RAF base before it became a commercial airfield.
Mrs Ellis is one of the last surviving former pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA).
She delivered Spitfires and bombers during World War Two.
Other veterans taking part are three ex-prisoners of war (POW) who took part in the Long March, when the Nazis force-marched 10,000 allied POWs to avoid them being liberated by the advancing Russian forces.


A 16-year-old girl found on a path had been stabbed to death, police said.

The body of Leonne Weeks was found in Dinnington, Rotherham, on Monday at about 11:00 GMT.
An 18-year-old man is being quizzed over her murder and a woman, 26, is being held on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Her family said they were "devastated at the loss of our beautiful daughter and sister Leonne".
"She was very much loved and will be missed by all of us," they added.
For live updates and more across Yorkshire
Rebecca Staples, principal of Dinnington High School, of which Leonne was a pupil, said the community was "reeling".
"We have extra security at school at the moment because we wanted to be sure ourselves and want parents to be sure that everyone is absolutely safe," she added.
"I think there's also a feeling of underlying anger that something like this could have happened in such a close community to one of our own.
"She was a lovely student, a lively student and it's a sad loss."
A post-mortem examination took place on Wednesday and found she had suffered multiple stab wounds, South Yorkshire Police said.
Temporary Det Ch Insp Martin Tate added: "Leonne's family have had their entire lives turned upside down over the last couple of days and are utterly devastated."
Police have been granted an extension to the murder suspect's custody as they continue with inquiries.
Friends and family posted Facebook appeals for Leonne's whereabouts on Monday morning after she failed to return home.
By 18:00, comments hoping she would be found safe had changed to well wishes to the family after "heartbreaking news".
Patrols have been increased in the area to reassure the community and anyone with information is urged to make contact.


A Brazilian footballer who survived the crash that killed most of his team in Colombia last month changed seats at the last minute after a team mate encouraged him to sit beside him.

The Chapecoense player, Alan Ruschel, told reporters he had been sitting near the back of the plane but moved forward.
Mr Ruschel is recovering from a back injury but says he hopes to play football again.
He says he doesn't recall the accident.
He has pledged to visit the families of the players who died. Only six people survived the crash in mountains near the city of Medellin, with the other 71 on board killed.
The goalkeeper, Jackson Follman, who asked Mr Ruschel to sit next to him in the plane, also survived.
Mr Ruschel said that at first he was unwilling to change seats to allow a group of journalists to sit together at the back of the plane.
"I didn't want to but then I saw Follman and he insisted that I sit beside him," he said.
"Only God can explain why I survived the accident. He grabbed me and gave me a second chance."
The pilot of the charter flight has been accused of trying to fly too far without refuelling the plane, after no fuel was found in the crash wreckage.


Russia has deployed nuclear-capable Iskander missiles in its western-most region, Kaliningrad, which borders on Nato members Poland and Lithuania.

Poland said the development was of the "highest concern", adding it was monitoring the situation.
Russia's defence ministry said the new deployment was part of military exercises and had happened before.
The US and Nato have seen disagreements with Russia intensify in recent times, particularly over Syria and Ukraine.
Kaliningrad is a Russian enclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.
Are Russia's military advances a problem for Nato?
Nato and Russia - in search of dialogue
The Iskander system has a range of up to 700km (440 miles) and could reach the German capital, Berlin.
Polish Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz called Russia's activities "very alarming".
And a US intelligence official told Reuters the move could be to express displeasure at Nato. Nato is boosting its eastern flank by deploying four battalions in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia next year.
Kaliningrad profile
But Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the deployment was "not exceptional".
Russia's annexation of Crimea and its support for rebels fighting in eastern Ukraine provoked considerable alarm in this region that Moscow might also consider aggressive action against countries on Nato's eastern flank, says the BBC's Adam Eston in Warsaw.
Nato sought to soothe those fears at its Warsaw summit in July by announcing it would deploy troops to both the Baltic states and Poland, our correspondent says.
Nato said it was a purely defensive action but Moscow sees it as a threat and the deployment of the missiles could be viewed as a counter measure, he adds.
Iskanders were sent to Kaliningrad during military drills last year.
Russia's annexation of Crimea and its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continue to test relations with Western powers.
Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Latvia are among nations reporting recent air-space violations by Russia's military.


For weeks, France and the Netherlands wrangled over the fate of a pair of 17th-Century wedding portraits by Dutch master Rembrandt.

While the Dutch government and Rijksmuseum tried to secure both paintings for the nation, France sought to buy one for the Louvre in Paris.
But the €160m (£120m; $180m) price tag proved a deal breaker for the Dutch.
And, after tortuous negotiations the two nations have finally agreed to buy the paintings together.
"A couple of months ago it still seemed unthinkable, but now two magnificent portraits will be together in public, in two world-famous museums," said Rijksmuseum director Wim Pijbes, clearly delighted at the news.
The life-size portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit, a well-to-do couple from Amsterdam in their early 20s, were painted by Rembrandt van Rijn at the start of his career in 1634 and are seen as unique.
They were bought by the Rothschild family in 1877 and taken to Paris, despite Dutch government attempts to stop the paintings leaving the country.
They did go on display in the Netherlands in 1956 but have otherwise rarely been seen in public.
The fate of the wedding portraits was hotly debated in the Dutch parliament on Tuesday as MPs feared the works could be lost in a bidding war to private collectors in China or the Gulf.
Two parties argued that the money could be spent on better things, as the government tried in vain to come up with the necessary €160m through government money as well as lottery funds.
Meanwhile, French Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin spent the summer trying to raise €80m to keep one of the portraits for the Louvre, through sponsorship by the Bank of France.
Her Dutch counterpart Jet Bussemaker revealed in a letter to parliament that the deal was eventually sealed at the United Nations during a meeting between Prime Minister Mark Rutte and French President Francois Hollande.
As part of the agreement, the two works would first be put on display in the Rijksmuseum, she said.
The Amsterdam museum's director said it was something of a novelty in the museum world for two countries to share a work in this way, but it was a good solution.
Mr Pijbes said the paintings would be put on display in the Rijksmuseum's Gallery of Honour, at the end of which hangs Rembrandt's renowned Night Watch. They would either hang opposite works by Frans Hals, or with other Rembrandts.


Arbroath have sacked manager Todd Lumsden after the League Two club went six games without victory.

Saturday's defeat at Stirling Albion left The Red Lichties sitting eighth.
"After a disappointing run of results and a poor league position, Arbroath FC have parted company with Todd Lumsden and his assistant, Steven Hislop," the club said in a statement on Sunday.
"The club would like to publicly thank them for their efforts and will now actively seek a new management team."
Lumsden, 38, enjoyed a lengthy playing career in Scotland, including spells with Albion Rovers, Hamilton Academical and Raith Rovers.
After being dismissed as Albion Rovers manager in 2013, Lumsden coached Rangers U17 before being appointed assistant to Allan Moore at Gayfield a year later.
He succeeded Moore following the latter's sacking at the end of last season.


A Qatari-led bid has won the battle to take over London's Canary Wharf complex after three of its major shareholders agreed to accept the Â£2.6bn offer.

Earlier this month, Songbird, which owns 69% of Canary Wharf Group, advised its investors to reject the offer.
On Wednesday, it said it still believed the 350p per share offer was too low.
"The offer does not reflect the full value of the business, its unique operating platform and its prospects," it said.
Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and US investor Brookfield Property Partners made the offer.
QIA already owns 29% of Songbird, but had to persuade the next three biggest shareholders, New York-based Simon Glick, sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corp and Morgan Stanley, who own more than 50% between them to accept the offer.
Songbird said it was now its understanding that "each of the major shareholders intends to accept the offer".
It also said the board had been in discussions with a number of parties "with a view to achieving a higher offer", but said it now believed none would be forthcoming before the 29 January offer acceptance deadline.
Canary Wharf was established 25 years ago as the new financial district in London, and is home to some of the world's biggest banks including HSBC and Barclays.
In the UK, Qatar owns Harrods, Chelsea Barracks and the Shard, Europe's tallest skyscraper.
QIA was founded in 2005 by the state of Qatar to help its economy by investing in a diverse array of businesses, outside of the country's huge oil and gas resources.


Scotland's three busiest mountain rescue teams have said they intend to leave the body which has co-ordinated the service for 50 years.

The Cairngorm, Glencoe and Lochaber teams said they had lost faith in Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) as their representative body.
The three teams believe there has been a shift away from mountain rescue to urban work and community support.
An SMR spokesman said mountain rescue remained its "primary focus".
The organisation's acting chairman, Steve Penny, told BBC Scotland the three teams' decision would have no impact on rescue provision as every team was a charity in its own right.
The Cairngorm, Glencoe and Lochaber teams wish to remain affiliated with SMR but would no longer be full voting members.
The decision on whether they can remain affiliated is up to the other 24 rescue teams that are members of SMR - an organisation founded in 1965 to represent and co-ordinate mountain rescue in Scotland.
It will also require a change to the SMR's constitution, which currently states that non-voting members cannot be considered mountain rescue teams.
The body distributes the Â£312,000 mountain rescue grant from the Scottish government which is divided up between the teams.
Miller Harris - the spokesman for the Cairngorm, Glencoe and Lochaber teams - said he accepted that losing voting rights would mean they would no longer have as much of a say in national issues, including the government grant.
He told the BBC: "All the hassle that goes with a strategic organisation is not worth it with the amount of money that filters down. We're just fighting for crumbs."
Mr Harris is secretary of the Lochaber team which currently receives the largest grant - worth Â£24,000 a year - and is the busiest team, with 130 rescues in 2015.
The three teams believe SMR no longer represents them, saying it is now concerned more with supporting police in urban searches and providing community resilience support.
"I have the utmost respect for the recent work done by teams during flooding in Hawick and Lockerbie," Mr Harris said.
"It's a fantastic service, but it's not what we do. What I can offer is 20-plus years of experience at the sharp end on Ben Nevis."
He added: "We deliver a world class mountain rescue service at virtually no cost to the public purse. We just want to get on with that.
"None of this will make one jot of difference to what we do and how we deliver it. All three teams will continue to offer their resources."
The decision by the three teams to withdraw as full voting members of SMR came about after a proposal by them to split the body into "Scottish Search and Rescue" and "Scottish Mountain Rescue" groups was rejected.
Members of other teams in Scotland told the BBC privately they were "shocked" and "baffled" at the decision.
And the leader of Ochils MRT, Kevin Mitchell, said "strenuous" efforts had been made to persuade them to stay.
"From my point of view, I'd like to think that we can engage in further dialogue to keep the status quo," he said.
The Glencoe, Lochaber and Cairngorm teams officially remain members of SMR until 1 April but have withdrawn from any discussion about their decision to leave.
Mr Penny, SMR's acting chairman, said mountain rescue remained the primary concern of his organisation and all teams in Scotland, despite many getting involved in other activities.
"I don't believe that there's a team in Scotland who would not turn out to support local communities if asked," he said.
"It would be wrong to say we wouldn't use our skills and equipment to support them. Teams have evolved into their areas to support local communities in lots of different ways."
Mr Penny, a member of the Tweed Valley team, denied there was a "split" in the organisation and said he wanted to use the issue to work out how the SMR should "face the next 50 years".
"We would not want to exclude [the three teams] in any way. Mountain rescue is a community and to pretend these teams don't do mountain rescue would be daft. We all just want to save lives," he added.
"It's just a question of working out what the structure of the organisation is moving forward."


The future of CCTV provision to tackle crime in Ceredigion is in the balance after Aberystwyth town councillors decided to reject a plan to take over the service in the town.

Lampeter councillors will decide if they are willing to provide CCTV crime coverage in that town later this week.
Cardigan, Aberaeron and New Quay councils have already decided not to pay for CCTV coverage from April.
Ceredigion council decided to stop funding the system to save £150,000.
It was part of its aim to plug a budget deficit of £9.6m during the next financial year.
The local authority then asked the five community councils if they were willing foot the bill from 1 April.
Following the decision on Monday night, Aberystwyth town and Ceredigion county councillor, Ceredig Davies, said: "It was completely unfair of the county council to expect Aberystwyth town council to pay for CCTV coverage in the town.
"We decided not to pay for the service because we felt that this was a matter for the local authority and the police to pay for the eight cameras in Aberystwyth."
Lampeter town councillors will discuss future provision of the town's six cameras on Thursday.
The Mayor, Dorothy Williams, said the council was prepared to pay up to £15,400 for a 12-month contract to continue CCTV coverage in the town.
It has contributed £7,500 towards the town's CCTV system during the last financial year.
She added: "We have started discussions with Trinity St David's University in Lampeter regarding setting up a monitoring system there."
Aberystwyth: 8
Lampeter: 6
Cardigan: 4
Aberaeron: 3
New Quay: 2
Source: Dyfed-Powys Police
One supervisor and two operators based at Aberystwyth have monitored the 23 town centre surveillance cameras in the county but that will cease on 1 April.
"We have been told that we would have to pay almost £22,000 if we are on our own so we will have to wait and see what happens at Thursday night's meeting," said Mrs Williams.
Last week Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire councils were asked to help fund a review of CCTV services to tackle crime in the Dyfed-Powys area.
The force's Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon said the police and the local authorities would benefit from a "more consistent" provision of CCTV to tackle crime.
He added that the cost of the review would be split between the councils and the force.
Officers made 414 arrests with the help of evidence from CCTV footage in Carmarthenshire between April and December 2013 - a 61% increase for the same period the previous year.
A Ceredigion council spokesman said that council leader, Ellen ap Gwynn, was in communication with Mr Salmon following earlier discussions on the future delivery of CCTV throughout the region.


Dual-code international Joel Tomkins has returned to rugby league side Wigan Warriors after a three-year spell in rugby union with Saracens.

Tomkins joins the Super League champions with immediate effect for an undisclosed fee, signing a contract until the end of 2018.
He was presented to the crowd during the half-time interval of Wigan's 48-4 defeat of Widnes on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old played three Tests for the England rugby union side in 2013.
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"I'd like to thank Saracens for the opportunity to try a different sport, a different lifestyle and also for assisting my development which allowed me to represent my country," Tomkins told Wigan's website.
"However, after a long thought-out process and at this stage in my life, I realised that the timing was right to come home.
"I am very grateful to Wigan Warriors for taking me back to the best rugby club in the world. It means everything to me to pull on the famous cherry and white jersey again."
Tomkins, who made his Wigan debut as an 18-year-old, joined Saracens at the end of the 2011 season, shortly after scoring a stunning try in the Challenge Cup final win over Leeds.
He is currently recovering from a back injury and is not expected to be fit for about four weeks.
His decision to return to rugby league is a boost for the sport, after England international Sam Burgess switched codes and agreed a move to Bath for next season.
Tomkins's younger brother Sam swapped Wigan for NRL side New Zealand Warriors at the end of last season, after helping the club to a Super League and Challenge Cup double.
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League One Bradford City have extended defender Reece Burke's youth loan deal from West Ham United until 2 January.

The 19-year-old has made 13 league appearances for Phil Parkinson's side so far, scoring once.
He briefly went back to the Premier League club for treatment on a knee problem, but now returns to Yorkshire.
"We are very pleased Reece is remaining with us. We are going to need everyone over this busy Christmas period," City boss Parkinson told the club website.


Twelve-man Hull KR denied Warrington the chance to move level on points with second placed Wigan in Super League after a late try from Iain Thornley.

Warrington had come from behind to lead 16-10 with three minutes to play.
James Webster's side had to play more than 40 minutes of the game with a man down after James Green's dismissal.
The draw, Rovers' second of the season, slightly dents their hopes of reaching the top eight of Super League and avoiding the lottery of the Qualifiers.
Four points now separate the east Hull side from Widnes in the last top-eight position, or the tussle between Super League's bottom four and the Championship quartet after the split.
It also does bitter rivals Hull FC a favour at the top, with the Black and Whites three points clear of Warrington with three regular season games remaining to decide who finishes top going into the Super 8s.
There was no let up in the intensity of a game that showed that there is still much to play for, as the altercation between former team-mates Jordan Cox and Green produced a red card at the end of the first-half.
Having led 6-0 at the break through James Donaldson's effort, Thomas Minns added a second out wide for Hull KR after smart play from Albert Kelly to stretch the lead to 10-0.
Tony Smith's side showed their mettle to strike three times, Matty Russell showing strength at the corner, Brad Dwyer touching down with a sneak from dummy half and Jack Hughes bursting away on the edge.
It looked enough to close out the match but Thornley's late effort ensured the spoils were shared.
Hull KR head coach James Webster told BBC Radio Humberside:
"I've got to commend our boys for the effort, we played 42 minutes with 12 men against a really quality side.
"We had people out of position and it was a gutsy effort but if we were better finishing our sets we might have won the game.
"Fighting is one you can't do, the games has changed but saying that there was something in it before in that we got the penalty."
Warrington head coach Tony Smith told BBC Radio Merseyside:
"We'd have liked to have closed it out. We weren't good enough from the kick-off and they come up with the ball and scored directly after.
"If you don't do things well throughout that's what happens. That what happens when you're fraught with danger. We have no one to blame but ourselves.
"Their spirit was great and we lacked a bit of that. We lacked discipline. When we went 16-10 I think everyone in the ground thought we had it, but the game is 80 minutes."
Hull KR:  Cockayne; Sio, Minns, Thornley, Wardill; Blair, Kelly; Tilse, Lunt, Allgood, Clarkson, Donaldson, Mulhern.
Replacements: Lawler, Green, Walker, Larroyer.
Warrington: Ratchford; Russell, R Evans, T King, Penny; Patton, Sandow; Hill, Clark, Westwood, Currie, Hughes, Westerman.
Replacements: Dwyer, G King, Bailey, Cox.
Referee: Mike Woodhead (RFL)


The first and deputy first ministers have attended a meeting of the British Irish Council in London.

The council brings together representatives of the UK and Irish governments as well as the devolved administrations.
On Thursday night, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness spoke at an event organised by Co-operation Ireland.
Mr Robinson said parties must ensure the spirit and vision of last week's Fresh Start agreement is fulfilled.
"It is fitting one of our first public events after the Stormont Agreement is this Co-operation Ireland gathering," he said.
"At every crucial moment in the political process in recent years Co-operation Ireland have had a vital part to play."
Mr McGuinness said politicians want to build on last week's progress and move into a period of positive co-operation.
"Confidence and mutual respect has to be built and maintained if we are to fully overcome the legacy of our fractured past," he said.
"We must all rise above narrow interests and agendas to create a truly reconciled society."
The Fresh Start agreement agreed a way forward on the issues paramilitarism and welfare reform after 10 weeks of talks.
However, the parties failed to break the deadlock over legacy issues arising from Northern Ireland's Troubles.


Ipswich Town will give defender Steven Taylor a chance to prove his fitness ahead of next season.

Taylor, 31, will miss the rest of the current campaign with a hamstring injury but has been invited back for pre-season training.
"He's been such a positive influence around the place," boss Mick McCarthy told BBC Radio Suffolk.
Meanwhile, left-back Jonas Knudsen will not need surgery on the shoulder injury that rules him out of the run-in.
Former Newcastle centre-back Taylor went off in the first half of the 3-0 win over Wigan on Tuesday with a recurrence of the injury that had kept him out since February.
"If he's fit, he'll be a really good player," McCarthy said.
"He's a good pro, he trains brilliantly. If he wants to come back and have a pre-season next season , I'm sure everybody would be happy to see him."


All babies born from Tuesday across the UK will have an anti-hepatitis B injection added to the other routine vaccinations they are given in their early life.

The jab protects against viral infections that cause cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Babies are already vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hib and polio.
Public Health England said the new vaccine had been "shown to be safe".
Babies are currently given vaccinations when they are eight, 12 and 16 weeks old and the new injection will be given at the same time as the others.
Previously, the hepatitis B vaccine was available on the NHS as a separate jab and was only administered to infants considered at risk, such as those born to infected mothers.
While hepatitis B rates in the UK are generally very low, in some inner city areas up to 1% of antenatal women are infected.
The infection has no symptoms so many of these women will be unaware they are ill, while their babies are considered at high risk.
Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England, said: "The Hexavalent vaccine has been extensively tested and shown to be safe and is widely used internationally with millions of doses being given around the world."
The six-in-one vaccine does not have any live organisms, meaning there is no risk of infants contracting any of the diseases.


Mining giant  BHP Billiton will sell its US shale assets after pressure from shareholders to offload the underperforming business.

The miner said a number of parties are interested in the assets and it is "actively pursuing options to exit".
Shareholder Elliott Management has campaigned for strategic changes at BHP including the sale of its shale operations.
It comes as the company reported $5.89bn (£4.56bn) annual net profit.
BHP said on Tuesday that it deemed the shale business "non-core" and was exploring options to offload the assets.
Chief executive Andrew Mackenzie said a number of parties are interested in acquiring its onshore US oil and gas operations, but would not name the price the company is seeking for the assets.
BHP's entry into US shale came at the peak of the fracking boom in 2011. A slump in oil prices slugged the business and forced a $7.2bn writedown last year.
BHP chairman Jac Nasser, who retires this year, recently conceded a $20bn investment in shale six years ago was a mistake in hindsight.
Analysts have suggested the business could sell for about half that in today's market.
New-York based fund manager Elliott Management had been agitating for a sale or other form of divestment of the US shale business.
The activist shareholder has publicly campaigned for a series of other changes at BHP, including the elimination of dual-structured Australia and London stock listings, and higher shareholder returns.
Plans to sell its US shale operations came as the global miner posted an annual net profit of $5.89bn, following a record $6.39bn loss a year earlier.
The result was slightly below analysts' expectations.
The miner tripled its final dividend to $0.43 a share, which was also shy of expectations.
The Anglo-Australian firm, like other miners, has benefited from a rebound in industrial metals prices after a slump caused by supply gluts and economic slowdown in China.
China is the world's biggest buyer of commodities.


The background of "Jihadi John" - in an Arab family from west London - links him to a distinct cluster of British militants, writes Shiraz Maher, a senior fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation at King's College London.

The identity of Syria's best-known jihadist is finally out: Mohammed Emwazi, better known as "Jihadi John", has been revealed as a former West London resident.
He is middle class and well educated, which chimes with a lot of our research. Radicalisation is not principally driven by poverty or social deprivation.
Indeed, the overwhelming majority of British individuals who go to Syria are from high-achieving backgrounds.
The most interesting revelation about Emwazi is that he travelled to Syria in 2013 when the conflict looked very different to the way it does today.
At that time the majority of British fighters did not join Islamic State (IS). Instead, they joined lesser known groups which were more focused on fighting President Bashar al-Assad.
Around this time it is known that a group of fighters of Arab and North African origin travelled to Syria from West London. Many of them were connected to gangs and engaged in criminality.
This is a distinct cluster given that the majority of fighters from Britain are typically of South Asian ethnic origin.
Over time, IS has absorbed a number of different groups and fighters who are keen to join its success.
It is likely that Emwazi travelled along a similar trajectory, as so many other European fighters have done. He has clearly actively sought to reduce his digital footprint on social media.
This is not that surprising. It is exactly what would be expected of someone who has been a major asset to IS. Emwazi is confident, eloquent and self-assured.
He is the ideal frontman to deliver the IS message in the dramatic videos for which it has become known.
Fighters in Syria often try to hide their identity by wearing masks and adopting pseudonyms.
The fact that Emwazi's identity has been revealed demonstrates that, despite the precautions taken by them, their names will eventually leak out. Emwazi is not the first foreign fighter to have been outed - and he will not be the last.
This will not affect how IS operates but it may well deliver a psychological blow because of the lengths they have gone to in order to shield him from the limelight.


Shares in Ericsson have dived after the Swedish telecoms company warned profits would be down by 94% for the third quarter.

The stock slumped 16.7% in morning trading, wiping billions of dollars off the firm's market value.
Ericsson is struggling with weak demand for its mobile network equipment and fierce competition in some markets.
It said quarterly income fell to 300m Swedish krona ($34.8 million) from 5.1bn krona a year ago.
Sales slipped 14% to 51.1bn krona.
Ericsson's acting chief executive, Jan Frykhammar, said: "Our result is significantly lower than we expected, with a particularly weak end of the quarter, and deviates from what we previously have communicated regarding market development.
"More in-depth analysis remains to be done but current trends are expected to continue short-term."
It follows a challenging period for the firm which has missed analysts' forecasts for five consecutive quarters.
The firm - which is the world's biggest maker of mobile network equipment - has seen sales fall in regions with struggling economies such as Brazil, Russia and the Middle East.
However, its sales in Europe were also hit due to the completion of mobile broadband projects in 2015.
The firm announced last week it would cut 3,000 jobs in Sweden - about a fifth of its workforce in that country - after being criticised for not acting quickly enough to tackle its problems.
The business has around 115,000 employees worldwide.
It has also been without a permanent chief executive since July when Hans Vestberg stepped down following criticism over his leadership and pay.