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This week the 2012 London Olympic Games begin, and Sarah Walker's guest is the sportsman and writer Ed Smith. Educated at Cambridge University, where he took a double first in History, Ed became the youngest ever Cambridge undergraduate to score a century on his first class cricketing debut. He was a professional cricketer for 13 years, at Kent and then at Middlesex, where he was captain in 2007 and 2008. He played three Test matches for England, and retired after an injury in 2008.

He has written four books, including On and Off the Field, a diary of the year he played for England, What Sport Tells Us About Life, and Luck. In October 2010 he wrote and presented a ´óÏó´«Ã½1 TV documentary, Inside Sport. For Radio 3, he presented Peak Performance, a series comparing the shared experiences of sportsmen and leading classical musicians, and he appears regularly on Radio 4's Today programme. He is now a Times features writer and a GQ columnist.

9am
A selection of music including the Essential CD of the Week: Grieg Lyric Pieces performed by Leif Ove Andsnes on Grieg's piano at Troldhaugen EMI 5 57296 2

9.30am
A daily brainteaser and performances by the Artist of the Week, the Belgian countertenor and conductor, Rene Jacobs

10.30am
In the week the Olympics begins, this week Sarah's guest is the sportsman and writer Ed Smith.

11am
Sarah's Essential Choice

Ravel: Miroirs
Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano)
DG 477 8770.