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Twin spin, batting big and being wary of how a deteriorating pitch can dictate the pace of play. Australias coach Darren Lehmann highlighted these areas as key battlegrounds in the series against Sri Lanka, as the touring team moved out of their initial Colombo base to prepare for the first Test match in Kandy.Steve OKeefes 10-wicket haul opposite Nathan Lyon has more than likely vaulted him back into the Test XI after he missed the tour of New Zealand, particularly as Lehmann and the selection chairman Rod Marsh are expecting a sparsely grassed surface when the series begins on July 26. They also expect pitches that will start out flat before deteriorating rapidly at the back end of each match, and can foresee Sri Lanka trying to test the patience of an aggressive batting line-up by blocking the boundaries. To lose patience is to lose the battle.You play the conditions on each game, so for us it did start to turn a lot [at P Sara Oval], which is pleasing, our spinners exploited that very well, so the conditions theyre learning to bowl in is pretty important as the Test matches wear on here in Sri Lanka, Lehmann said. Theyre pretty good wickets to start with, and thats the challenge for us, going big and making big runs.We know that Sri Lanka will defend a lot once batters are in, so its going to take a lot longer to get your runs if that makes sense. Weve spoken about the need to bat long periods of time is going to be key, which weve done pretty well to be fair over the last little while, but the challenge is to do it here. Knowing the game is going to speed up as the wickets deteriorate, thats going to be important to be ahead of the game in the Test series, but really happy with where everyones at. Our batters have a big role to play and our bowlers were probably a little bit rusty in the first innings but pleased we got through, theres no injury concerns and away we go.Lehmann spoke warmly of OKeefe and also Lyon, who was recovering from illness over the course of the tour match, and is set to play a central role in the same country he made a memorable Test debut back in 2011. Significantly, Lehmann pointed to the use of tandem spin, turning the ball in opposite directions, as something that would be vital not only in Sri Lanka, but also India next year.Hes been excellent for NSW, had a lot of success in Shield cricket, his 200th first-class wicket today so pleased for him, Lehmann said of OKeefe. Hes worked really hard, hes a really lively, buzzy character for us and played exactly the role we want him to play over here in this game. Bats really well, fields really well and complements Nathan really well, spinning the other way.We think that [twin spin] is the way to go. India do it there with Jadeja and Ashwin and most teams have a spinner going both ways, so for us thats important.A conclusion drawn by Lehmann and the team performance manager Pat Howard from unsuccessful recent tours to India and the UAE to play Pakistan was that touring sides needed to spend as much time as possible in unfamiliar climes before walking out on day one of the series proper. To that end, the Australians have followed an internal practice fixture with the match in Colombo, and will now have five days in Kandy before Angelo Mathews tosses the coin next week.Weve come over here a little bit earlier than we normally would, we think thats a helpful thing in future, we havent done that in the past, Lehmann said. So to come a little bit earlier here and go a bit earlier to India to get acclimatised for an extra few days and hopefully an extra game in most places.Having entered the final week of their preparation, all Lehmann is looking for now is the announcement of Sri Lankas tour squad, the better to plan individual opponents. I wouldnt mind the side at some stage, he said. Thats the challenge, I dont think anyone knows what squad theyve got. Once they name their squad well work through that. We know a bit about them. Theyll be a lot better side at home, and thats going to be a challenge for us, but end of the day we just worry about what were doing. Once we get their squad away we go.The only Australian player under any sort of fitness cloud is David Warner, in the latter stages of recovery from a broken thumb, but Lehmann gave no hint of thinking the vice-captain might be in any doubt to open the innings with Joe Burns: Were preparing for him to play. Austin Gomber Jersey . 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The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Ramon Urias Jersey . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Getting benched in Thursdays loss to Butler might end up being one of the best things to happen to Matthew Fisher-Davis.The junior guard has played well in the two games since, including a 22 point-effort on Tuesday night in Vanderbilts 83-59 win which gave Tennessee State its first loss of the season.I got sat down against Butler and me and (assistant) coach (Roger) Powell went back to the hotel and probably had a two-and-a-half hour talk about basketball, Fisher-Davis said. And then we started talking about life. . Ever since then Ive had a completely different outlook and Ive been at peace.Fisher-Davis certainly looked peaceful, making 6 of 10 shots from the floor and 8 of 11 from the foul line at Memorial Gym.Tennessee State (6-1), off to its best start since moving to Division I in 1977, fell to 1-36 against Southeastern Conference teams and 0-9 against Vanderbilt (4-3).Vanderbilts Jeff Roberson added 13 points and 7-foot-1 forward-center Luke Kornet and Riley LaChance both scored 12.Freshman Payton Willis looked comfortable in his second game as a starter at point guard.The Commodores went 10 of 23 from 3-point range and have made 25 3-pointers in the last two games.We have some excellent shooters and the hard part is getting them good looks, Commodores coach Bryce Drew said. With Payton, when he can get the ball into the lane that helps us get some looks and then when Luke can collapse the defense and throws it out that gets us some good looks, too.KenDarrius Hamilton led the Tigers with 19 points. Darreon Reddick added 12.We werent us, Hamilton said. That was just the only thing to it. Weve got to get back to Tennessee State.Vanderbilt outrebounded Tennessee State 39-20 and enjoyed a 22-9 advantage in second-chance points.Our biggest fear coming into the game was their size and that was the deciding factor because weve never been outrebounded by 19, which happened tonight, Tigers coach Dana Ford said. Some of that is size and some of it is lack of attentiion to detail and willingness to box out when their shot goes up, which well try to fix starting tomorrow.ddddddddddddTennessee States Delanie Spencer, who came off the bench to score a career-high 18 points in Saturdays win over Reinhardt, was held to six points.TSUs Tahjere McCall (14. 5 ppg) fouled out with eight points and Wayne Martin (14 ppg) scored just five. Jordan Reed was also well below his average (12 ppg) with six points.The Commodores broke a 7-all tie with a 10-2 run capped by Fisher-Davis five straight points. Vanderbilt closed the first half with a 14-0 run, stretching its lead to 43-22 at halftime.BIG PICTURETennessee State: The Tigers must regroup after their first loss and regain their offensive rhythm after shooting 41 percent from the floor.Vanderbilt: The Commodores enter December with a little momentum, winning two consecutive games after solid outings by Fisher-Davis, Roberson, LaChance and Kornet.SOCIAL SPHEREMemphis Grizzlies rookie Wade Baldwin, a former Vanderbilt point guard, tweeted Mathew Fisher-Davis is the best shooter in the entire NCAA late in the first half.HOT 3-POINT SHOOTERLaChance went 4 for 6 from 3-point range, making him 18 of 26 for a 69.2 percent clip in the last four games. He has played shooting guard, his best position, the past two games.When Matts got it going (from 3-point range), guys definitely help off me and other guys a lot so when he gets shots like that he definitely gets other guys open shots, LaChance said of Fisher-Davis, who hit two 3-pointers.UP NEXTTennessee State visits Lipscomb, another Nashville opponent, on Saturday before heading to North Carolina State on Dec. 10.Vanderbilt plays Minnesota (6-1) in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday before returning home to face High Point on Dec. 6. High Point (4-3) rallied from a 20-point deficit during the final 10 minutes to edge Morgan State on Monday. ' ' '