Sonstiges » Luis Cessa and Chad Green f

Following Australias Test-series hiding in Sri Lanka, much focus rested on how the batsmen were unable to find a workable method against spin, and on the touring spin bowlers struggling to match the efforts of their Asian counterparts.However, the strongest post-mortem line to emerge from the captain, Steven Smith, was less about technique than attitude and noise. Weve got a pretty quiet group and we need that sort of energy, come South Africa and the summer as well, he said between tours. I thought in the Test series in Sri Lanka we lacked a fair bit of energy in the field and that probably cost us at times.Weve got some pretty quiet characters, so even if its not making noise verbally, it might be just about having a bit more presence and the old Australian way of puffing your chest out and making your presence felt for the quieter guys. Its trying to do that, get into the game that way and try to provide some sort of energy that way.Whether or not Smiths suggested approach is the correct one, the issue he raised was pertinent. This is very much an Australian team still seeking to find an identity for itself after a series of retirements. The performances of the Test team in Sri Lanka, and of the ODI side currently in South Africa, suggest they are still a ways off.The search for an identity and mode of operation true to the team is not new. It may surprise some to note that many of the greatest sides ever assembled went on just such a quest. West Indies worked their way to a position of world authority only after reasoning they had to become harder-nosed than the great entertainers label they had worn since the 1961 Tied Test suggested. Steve Waughs Australian side stumbled early, enduring a decidedly indifferent first two Test series before embarking on a run of 16 consecutive wins. Finding the right level of team discipline and mutual respect was part of this, as was setting lofty goals to focus the mind.Clearly Smith and the coach, Darren Lehmann, need to find the right approach for this team, as distinct from that of the combination led by Michael Clarke that preceded it. The old Australian way is one such, but far from the only one. There could be no greater contrast, for instance, between Brad Haddin, the outspoken wicketkeeper and vice-captain, who remains close to Smith, and his successor behind the stumps, Peter Nevill. I spoke to Nevill recently about his perception as a neat and quiet wicketkeeper.I think thats a common misconception, saying that Im not vocal, because Id be the most vocal person on the field - its just purely directed towards our team, Nevill said. But if Steve was to tap me on the shoulder and say, Id like a bit more of that out of you, then Id certainly oblige.Even without thinking about it, you find a nice little equilibrium where youre comfortable operating at. For some guys, they like to get into a verbal contest, and they find that gets the best out of them. Ive never needed to do that to get myself in that optimal space. It hasnt been something Ive ever thought would that help me play better if I did that.Most dangerous to Smiths team would be trying to take on a persona inauthentic to the group of players currently wearing the baggy green. The search for a team identity was central to the experience of the former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, and as he related in his Cowdrey Lecture, it did not begin until the Black Caps realised, during a grim South African tour, that they had been pretending for too long:Ultimately we concluded that individually and collectively we lacked character. The key for all of us was, the team had no soul. We were full of bluster and soft as putty. It was the first time I had really stopped to consider this in 11 years of international cricket.The significance of what occurred that evening day was that we recognised that we had to change. We wanted to personify the traits that we identified in New Zealanders - to be humble and hard-working. We wanted to be respected by our long-suffering fans in New Zealand. We wanted to be respected by our opposition; and before we could demand this we had to learn to respect them.Later McCullum reflected that this was not a one-size-fits-all approach. It worked because he was leading the New Zealand team: The things that worked for us may not work for everyone. In changing the way we approached the game, and respected the opposition, we wanted to be true to our national identity.Herein lies the dilemma for Smith and Lehmann. To play the game the Australian way, both verbally and tactically, has been shown to work at home. But on foreign shores it is now patently clear that it does not. Further complicating things is that most of the men under Smiths command are not the loud and rambunctious characters of old. If anything, they may at times find themselves identifying more with McCullums approach.It is important, as well, for the Australians to understand that not every team from down under has played the game exactly the same way. Allan Borders collective had more of an obvious snarl than Mark Taylors, personified by the likes of Merv Hughes, yet they played the game more conservatively. Taylor gave way to Waugh and a style that became uncompromising and arrogant in the most overpowering way, before Ricky Ponting dialled back somewhat on stratagems like sending the opposition in to bat, or forsaking nightwatchmen.In the aftermath of Monkeygate, Pontings men felt hemmed in from unbridled attacks by opponents, yet at the same time struggled to be nimble enough to take the fight to them with bat or ball rather than words. Clarkes sense of adventure on the field corrected that to a large degree, but also started a trend of overseas humiliations that Ponting, ever the fighter, had largely been able to avoid.There is one more example worth noting of a team finding itself this year, in the English county competition. As an Australian Test player, Chris Rogers was not always totally comfortable with the extremes of aggression practised by some of his team-mates, though he acknowledged the effectiveness of the approach.Granted the opportunity, with Somerset in his final first-class season, to define a team for himself, Rogers assessed both the club and the players within it. Recognising many of the young men under his command to be quiet, diffident types, he encouraged a brand of hard cricket that did not force them into overt displays of braggadocio.Instead he sought unstinting effort and attention to detail, and enjoyment of shared success. In doing so, Somerset went within a day of their first ever County Championship title, crucially finding a way to defeat Yorkshire outright at Headingley. In recent years that has been close to an unthinkable result, much as success in India has become a similarly distant dream for Australia. From his hotel rooms in Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, that is a tale for Smith to ponder.Matt Bowman Jersey .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. Deion Sanders Jersey . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. https://www.cheapredsjerseys.us/945s-kevin-mitchell-jersey-reds.html . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. 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It just lights up the stadium, Sabathia said Wednesday at the Yankees holiday food drive.New York traded Chapman to the Chicago Cubs in July for prospects, including touted 20-year-old shortstop Gleyber Torres and pitcher Adam Warren.After helping the Cubs win their first World Series title since 1908, Chapman became a free agent and agreed last week to a five-year, $86 million contract with the Yankees, a deal that has not yet been finalized.Last season, the Yankees dealt Andrew Miller to Cleveland, leaving Dellin Betances as the remaining reliever from their late-inning triad.Now Chapman and Betances will form a duo, with Tyler Clippard, Tommy Layne and Chasen Shreve among a large group competing for sixth- and seventh-inning mound time.I think with the guys that we have now, you have that same kind of relief where you can go out and pitch a good game and feel like the games shut down once you get to those guys, Sabathia said.Prior to arriving at Yankee Stadium, Sabathia took an overnight flight from Portland, Oregon, after attending an NBA game with Derek Jeter. Sabathia has been at?Yankee Stadium several times each week following arthroscopic surgery Oct. 11 on his right knee.Im trying to get my mobility back and make sure that Im ready to go come spring training, he said.Sabathia is a 35-year-old left-hander, and he pitched with a bbrace on his right knee this year while going 9-12 with a 3.dddddddddddd91 ERA, his lowest since 2012. He will make $25 million next year, the final season of his contract.He figures to slot in second or third in a rotation that includes Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda, who also can become a free agent after next season.Luis Severino, Warren, Bryan Mitchell, Luis Cessa and Chad Green figure to compete for the final two starting berths.Well see how it shakes out and who ends up in the bullpen. But its exciting to have this kind of talent, Sabathia said.Severino was 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA in 11 starts over the final two months in 2015. The 22-year-old right-hander went 3-8 with a 5.83 ERA this year in 11 starts and 10 relief appearances, making only four big league starts after mid-May.I felt like we kind of put some expectations on him, some heavy ones, and things just kind of snowballed on him, Sabathia said. Obviously, him going back down and coming back up and pitching well out of the bullpen helped him confidence-wise.New York is going with youth, planning to start Gary Sanchez at catcher, either Greg Bird or Tyler Austin at first, and Aaron Judge or Aaron Hicks in right.It is a team in transition, Sabathia said. Watching all the young kids come up and do what they did last year was fun, and hopefully they can keep it going and carry us hopefully to the playoffs this year. ' ' '