Shane Bond and Daniel Vettori are world-class bowlers: Bond is a phenomenal competitor and Vettori a canny operator.

BBC: Russel Arnold's column

Mr Gates, a canny operator whom Barack Obama retained after he took over from George Bush, began to sniff which way the wind was likely to turn in 2008.

ECONOMIST: American military spending

The favourite of those who want a canny operator in charge, who think it's time for experience to come to the fore - Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas, a man who says he's keeping his powder dry until his local party officially nominate him.

BBC: Who will be Plaid Cymru's leader?