Scriptsprachen » Injured young players in tailback Rico Dowdle

Moeen Ali thanked the England selectors and team management after leading the fightback on the first day at The Oval.Moeen, who caressed his second century of the summer to help England rebuild from a perilous position of 110 for 5, admitted there have been times he would have dropped himself in recent months and described some recent performances - not least his second innings dismissal in the first Test of the series at Lords when he skipped down the wicket to Yasir Shah and missed a leg-break - as embarrassing.But he credited the faith and consistency of the selectors for the increased confidence of the side in all formats and for his own improved performances.I probably wouldnt have picked myself at one stage, Moeen said. I was embarrassed after Lords. But they stuck with me. Thats the good thing about this side: they stick with players and you see the results. Ive got to thank the selectors and Alastair Cook. I probably wouldnt have picked myself at one stage. It was 50:50.Sometimes guys just need a bit of experience. Each game, you get a bit better. Its a bit like my first-class career: when I first came in, I only averaged 20-something. I got the odd 100 but struggled a bit. But after a while, you get used to it and you get better.It has been noticeable that Moeens form with the bat has improved since injury to Ben Stokes precipitated his promotion back to No. 7 in the order. While he averages 14 as an opener (from six innings), 28.06 (from 19 innings) at No. 8 and 21 (from 11 innings) at No. 6 (he has not batted at No. 3, 4 or 5 at Test level), he now averages 97.16 (from nine innings) when batting at No. 7. All three of his Test centuries have come in the position.While he concedes he has to find a way to cope with the mental shift in coming in as low as No. 8, he also makes no secret of the fact that he finds the No. 7 position more comfortable. To a man who grew-up as a batsman, who used to take pride in selling his wicket dearly and learned to build an innings, coming in with the tail and often feeling the need to slog a quick 20 or 30 never sat easily.Being pushed up that one spot up gave me a boost, Moeen said. I feel like I can go out and play like a batsman. If I go down to No. 8, Ive got to do that as well. After Lords I told myself that, even if I was batting at 8, I would go out like I was batting No. 3 for Worcestershire.I was really embarrassed with my shot at Lords. I decided I had to bat properly again now. I was sick and tired of not scoring runs for England.You could argue that we saw both sides of the continuity of selection debate here. While Moeen vindicated the selectors faith with a century, James Vince failed again. It is increasingly hard to avoid the conclusion that the faith shown in him will not, for now at least, be rewarded.Neither selection was necessarily right or wrong. Had Moeen been caught in the slips on 9, as he should have been, England would have been in deep trouble and the decision to persist with him over Adil Rashid might have been questioned once more. Vince, meanwhile, was unfortunate enough to receive a fine delivery that demanded a stroke, lifted and left him. He was the only man in the top four with no reason to rebuke himself for his dismissal.Vince may reflect, however, on the harsh nature of international cricket. Deliveries like this will come along from time to time, so it is essential that, once he has established himself at the crease - and he has reached 35 on four occasions in Tests this summer - he takes advantage. In years to come, he may well regret not capitalising on those starts more than the three single figure scores he has suffered.He was unfortunate here, for sure, but this was his sixth dismissal to an edge to the cordon and his tenth dismissal in Test cricket without registering a half-century. You cant keep putting these things down to chance.It all means that England may well end the summer (they are likely to have one more innings) with no better idea of their best middle-order than they had at the start. With perhaps only the No. 4 spot up for grabs in Asia - it looks at present as if Jonny Bairstow will bat at No. 5, with Ben Stokes at No. 6, Moeen at No. 7, Chris Woakes at No. 8, Adil Rashid at No. 9 and Stuart Broad and James Anderson at No. 10 and 11 respectively, Gary Ballance, who has not made an irrefutable case for his own retention, may find himself competing with an all-rounder who can act as the third spinner - perhaps Zafar Ansari or Samit Patel - for the final spot in the side. Australias seamers may have noted, too, that Moeen took a ferocious blow to the head from a Wahab Riaz bouncer first ball. While his phlegmatic response to the incident was impressive - little seems to ruffle Moeen - the likes of Mitchell Starc will have noted that the technical issues that have, in the past, rendered Moeen vulnerable to the short ball remain. With an Ashes tour little more than a year away, such moments will have been stored in Australia for future reference.With Moeen stroking his way to a century he rated as the best of his career to date - the standing ovation he received on bringing up his century with a six suggested spectators at The Oval agreed - and England finishing with a total only 50 or so under par, the England management could fool themselves into concluding that all is well with this team.They will know, though, that had Wahab not over-stepped and had the Pakistan slip cordon been better, England could well have been dismissed for a total of around 180. Whether they reach the No 1 ranking or not in the coming weeks, they know that holes need to be filled. The depth of the batting keeps masking flaws but, against the best sides - and we may not look back on this as one of the stronger ages of Test cricket - the chances will be taken and England will not be allowed to escape.Moeen remains a man on trial. His role as Englands first choice spin bowler - a position that he held by a thread ahead of the Old Trafford Test - remains debatable and he may well have an important part to play in this match. While his bowling performances this series may have been underwhelming (he averages 67.57 with this bat this summer and 71 this series), his bowling returns since Lords have actually been noticeable better than Yasir Shahs.Yasir has claimed four wickets for 562 runs since his 10-wicket haul at Lords - thats a bowling average of 140.50 in the last two-and-a-half Tests - while Moeen has taken seven wickets at a cost of 37 apiece. These pitches have offered little to either man.Still, whatever happens with the ball, the depth of Englands batting line-up continues to save them. Moeen, Bairstow - who may well finish the year having broken Andy Flowers record aggregate of Test runs in a year (he made 1,045 in 2000; Bairstow now has 911 with seven-and-a-half Test left to play) from a wicketkeeper - Stokes, Woakes et al. continue to exhaust bowlers and punish the mistakes of fielders. Not for the first time, Pakistans four-man attack was exposed by the England lower-order at The Oval. That depth may well prove to have been the difference between the sides. Custom Cincinnati Reds Nike Jerseys . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. Custom Houston Astros Nike Jerseys . Badenhop was 2-3 with a 3.47 ERA in 63 relief appearances for Milwaukee this season. He is 18-20 in his career with three saves and a 3. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.com/?tag=custom-philadelphia-phillies-nike-jerseys . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Custom New York Yankees Nike Jerseys . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. Custom Baltimore Orioles Nike Jerseys . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina coach Will Muschamp had planned to be on a recruiting trip after his teams game with Georgia.Instead, disgusted by another demoralizing loss for the Gamecocks (2-4, 1-4 Southeastern Conference), Muschamp said hell stick around campus and continue looking for ways to improve the players hes got rather than focus on those recruits he hopes to sign.We need to stay here and we need to evaluate what were doing, Muschamp said.So far, what theyre doing is not good.The Gamecocks struggled on offense and defense in their 28-14 loss to the Bulldogs this past Sunday.South Carolina, last in SEC rushing and in stopping the rush, were exposed both ways against Georgia. The Bulldogs piled up a season-high 326 yards rushing and held the Gamecocks to 30 yards on 26 carries.Now, no ones position is secure.All starting spots are open during the teams bye week, Muschamp declared. The Gamecocks next game is at home against Massachusetts on Oct. 22.Starting left tackle Mason Zandi said the team went through its normal, start-the-week routine of reviewing film and holding a correct-mistakes-practice Tuesday after having Monday off.The players are prepared for anything.Changes could be dramatic or could be just fine tuning, you never know, Zandi said. Thats how were going to go about our business and thats what were going to do.South Carolina figured to struggle this season . A year ago this week ex-coach Steve Spurrier walked away from the team and the Gamecocks entered the year with few difference makers on offense and having to adjust to Muschamps hard-driven style.But South Carolinas defense has held opponents to 20.2 points a game, giving the Gamecocks a chance to be competitive in games with more high-powered opponents like Texas A&M and Mississippi State.South Carolinas offense, though, has been a dumpster fire much of the year. The offensive line has not opened holes for the Gamecocks young runners and the Gamecocks two quarterbacks -- senior Perry Orth and ffreshman Brandon McIlwain -- have contrasting, one-dimensional styles.ddddddddddddOrth is a passer who threw for 288 yards Sunday against Georgia, yet struggles to run in the read-option offense. McIlwain, who started three games this season, is a stronger runner who has struggled to complete passes.I dont think anyone questions the want to, Muschamp said. Were just not getting the execution and its very disappointing for them to not get the results.Orth said Muschamps attempting to fire up players who may be worn down by losing.If he believes that all positions are open, youve got to attack every day like youre not going to play, said Orth, a one-time walk-on who has started 11 games the past two seasons.The Gamecocks may have few moves to make on offense. Injured young players in tailback Rico Dowdle and receivers Bryan Edwards and Deebo Samuel were all back on the field this week.Dowdle had 30 yards rushing on seven carries against Georgia. Edwards and Samuel combined for seven catches and 125 yards while Samuel scored on a 9-yard jet sweep.Theres been loud calls during the fan base to use another freshman at quarterback, highly regarded Jake Bentley. However, Muschamp has wanted to redshirt Bentley, who had scholarship offers from Alabama, LSU and Miami among others.Were improving, receiver Terry Googer said. People dont always see it, but we are.Improvement may not be that evident going forward, either.The second half of the season features a number of land mines where the Gamecocks will be big underdogs, like a home game against No. 9 Tennessee (Oct. 29) and road contests with No. 18 Florida (Nov. 12) and No. 3 Clemson (Nov. 26) to close the season.Everyone wants to continue to fight, continue to raise the bar, continue to push our limits, Zandi said. Thats what Ive seen and I love it.---AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '