Talk » else want me to [play that way]. And if I play it any oth

You can guarantee the move of the Gabba away from its traditional slot at the start of the home summer will cause a ripple of discussion around the Australian dressing room. Losing the chance to meet touring sides in Brisbane for the first Test of the season would equate to handing over a major competitive advantage.Australian Test teams and the Gabba have always seemed to go hand in hand, like England and seam or India and spin. There is the bounce on offer, and the lateral movement when overhead conditions permit. But other, more subtle, elements of playing cricket in Brisbane also come into the equation.I seldom found a greater contrast between the certainty in our group and the uncertainty in the oppositions than in the days and hours before the first ball in Brisbane. Visiting sides would be unsure whether to bat first or not, whether to play four quicks or not, or whether to attack or defend and try to take the game deep.All that uncertainty would help us as we forged on with a simple plan - not dissimilar to that employed by the Queensland Sheffield Shield side. It is generally better to bat first in Brisbane even if the pitch has a bit in it, because its invariably harder to bat on day two, when the surface has quickened up a bit and the nicks carry even further.Similarly the bowlers would know just the right lengths to bowl, a little bit fuller than in the southern states, in search of nicks, and around a fourth- or fifth-stump line so the batsmen were unsure of whether to defend the stumps or leave the moving ball to fly through into my gloves. It shouldnt be forgotten either that spinners could find the ground a very fruitful place to bowl, utilising the bounce and pace - just check the handsome Gabba records of Shane Warne and Nathan Lyon for proof.Often the fast bowlers of visiting sides would tend to pitch too short, affording us plenty of opportunities to leave the ball when it was new, and then to pull and cut as the Kookaburra lost a little bit of its shine and hardness. Matthew Hayden, not only an Australia opener but a Queensland native, was a brilliant exponent of this.It was Haydos who helped fill me with a sense of confidence walking out onto the ground, for he would just get so excited about starting the summer in Brisbane. Years after he retired, the Australian side of 2013-14 strutted onto the ground for the first Test of that Ashes summer knowing we had strong allies in the ground and pitch we were starting on. Thanks largely to Mitchell Johnson, and perhaps a few day-one runs by yours truly, we set the tone for the whole summer at the first time of asking.A lot of that advantage, however, is lost by moving the Gabba away from the start of a summer. Touring teams are less likely to be caught off balance if they have more time in the country behind them, and for the home side, it can be harder to turn momentum back towards them if it has swung away. Two examples from recent years: in awful circumstances the 2014-15 season was turned on its head, and the Gabba was swapped with Adelaide for the first Test, against India. Adelaide was an extraordinary week for all kinds of reasons, but theres no doubt the pitch helped Virat Kohlis men get much closer to a win than might have been possible in Brisbane. This summer, of course, South Africa got the opportunity to start the series in Perth, a place where theyve never lost, and they carried the early break all the way to a deserved series win.I understand that crowds for Brisbane have been disappointing outside of Ashes Tests for some time, and I also think the day-night concept is worth trying at the Gabba. But I do hope that Cricket Australias administrators take into full consideration how much the Australian team values getting a head start on the summer in Queensland when they are thinking about future summer schedules.Pakistan are starting their series in Brisbane, but theyve already been in New Zealand for several weeks before their warm-up match in north Queensland. It will be interesting to see how they adapt, particularly their older batsmen like Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan. Im also eager to see how Yasir Shahs legbreaks fare on the Gabba surface.The most defining thing about this series, though, is likely to be Pakistans catching. We are all aware how dangerous their pace bowlers can be, not least the recalled Mohammad Amir. But the New Zealand series was further evidence that Pakistans bowlers often have an inbuilt disadvantage - the need to take more than 20 wickets a Test due to a steady flow of dropped catches.Alongside the coach, Mickey Arthur, my former state coach and mentor Steve Stumper Rixon has been working as Pakistans fielding coach. Knowing Stumper, he will be giving them plenty of opportunities to work hard on their catching, with an eye on being a more efficient side in the field this series. A Pakistan side that can manage to hold their catches would be a threat to anyone - even Australia on their beloved Gabba.Custom Atlanta Braves Nike Jerseys . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. 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But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. Custom Texas Rangers Nike Jerseys . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Custom Oakland Athletics Nike Jerseys . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach.BEREA, Ohio - Cleveland Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor said Wednesday he does not believe he crosses the line when it comes to on-field chatter with opponents.Pryor also said he had no recollection of telling Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther that he would get cornerback Adam Jones cut.Some people are storytellers, Pryor said. I dont know a lot about that.Jones made that claim about Pryor in a postgame rant following Cincinnatis 23-10 win on Sunday. Jones also said Pryor was arrogant, and called Pryor garbage, and went so far as to pick up a trash can and mime looking for Pryor.Asked by reporters about Jones comments, Pryor initially said he wouldnt ?get into it. But the more he spoke, the more he talked about Jones and trash talk.He even said Jones had the right to call him garbage.I had one catch, three yards, Pryor said. I was garbage. He was right. It was an accurate statement.Pryor was not pleased with reports that said he and quarterback Robert Griffin III were arguing in the huddle when the Browns had to call a third-quarter timeout because the play clock was winding down.?You guys cant assume, because me and Rob wasnt arguing, Pryor said. I go and read in the articles you guys are saying that I am arguing with my teammate. Thats trying to break up this team and all were trying to do is come in here and fight for a win.I come in here and talk to you guys face to face. Im very honest with you guys, have fun with you guys, and then you guys paint a picture about me to be a bad person. And try to put some type of stigma between me and my teammates.So I appreciate if you guys would stop assuming and get the actual story before you write something.?Griffin also said that he and Pryor were not arguing, but the quarterback addedd that they cant have the appearance of arguing, which leads to questions.ddddddddddddMonday, coach Hue Jackson said Pryor had to better channel his emotions and passion. Wednesday, Jackson said he had talked with Pryor, and would continue to do so until the talks worked.Pryor maintained he is not causing any problems.You can ask all my teammates. Im not a guy that causes any beef or drama on the team. Thats not me. Am I on the sideline fiery? Am I in the game fiery? Absolutely.I want to think that the fans and my coaches or anyone else want me to [play that way]. And if I play it any other way and shut up and didnt do anything, I dont think Id play as well.?Pryor said he would be steadfast in not talking negatively about other players in the media because he wants to be a role model to the ?kids who write him and look up to him.When Im in the game, its different, Pryor said. Im in my sanctuary along with all the other players.He said, though, he does not believe he crosses the line when hes on the field.You cant cross the line in terms of that unless youre going to hurt the team with a penalty and stuff like that, Pryor said. The refs are pretty good at that ... they know if stuff is getting heated up. Theyll stop you. As long as you listen to the ref and obey their law, you can keep on going and playing your game. You know, staying in the moment.Pryor knows that players have called him out after the last two games, first Janoris Jenkins of the Giants via Twitter, then Jones.Words dont do anything to me, he said. Im a godly man. I just live my life every day being humble and being kind. And I live off of that. ' ' '