Offtopic/fun » wanted him to win if I didnt win, but I also didnt want

Jos Buttler has credited a lack of first-class cricket as a crucial ingredient in his successful return to the Test team.Buttler made 76, his second highest Test score, to help England reach 400 in their first innings in Mumbai. It was an impressive contribution for a number of reasons, not least the restraint Buttler exhibited against testing bowling. It was also his first half-century in first-class cricket since May 2015.More pertinently, it was just his fifth first-class innings since he was dropped from the England Test team in the UAE in October 2015.But far from seeing that lack of red-ball cricket as a disadvantage, Buttler insisted it was a factor in his relative success.I dont feel like having not played first-class cricket mattered to me at all, Buttler said. Probably the best thing for me is having not played any red-ball cricket for a year and having some time to think about my game.We play so much cricket that sometimes there isnt enough time to think, break down your game and work out what is vital to get the best out of yourself. I feel like the last year Ive probably learned the most about myself and about cricket in my whole career.While Buttlers words clash with conventional wisdom - Alastair Cook described Buttlers lack of first-class cricket as clearly not ideal ahead of the Mohali Test - there appear to be a growing number of players arguing for the benefits of a fresh body and mind over the virtues of regular games. Certainly Eoin Morgan has previously said he felt twice the man for a months rest ahead of an ODI series - while Kevin Pietersen has often remarked that Englands cricketers are obliged to battle not only their opponents, but their own schedules.At the time Buttler was dropped from the Test side, he seemed confused and lacking in confidence. He had failed to reach 50 in his 12 most recent Test innings - he had not reached 10 on six of those occasions - and later admitted he was relieved to have been left out.I got to a stage where I was not concentrating and did not want to be there, Buttler told The Telegraph this time last year. It was a relief to get dropped. I was not enjoying walking out there and feeling like I didnt know where the next run was coming from.Crucial to Buttlers improvement now - and it does have to be said, these are early days in his recall and the returns, while pleasing, are relatively modest - has been a renewed belief in his own abilities. And while these havent been demonstrated in copious amounts - or even sparse amounts - of first-class runs (injury and white-ball commitments limited him to a single County Championship match in the 2016 season), they are real nevertheless.After all, Buttler is the scorer of the three quickest ODI centuries made by an England player. He has shown, in many T20 and List A situations, that he has a rare ability. Few doubt his talent.But, after a series of failures in Test cricket, he had begun to doubt himself. And without the time and space to reflect and then work on his game, he felt he was sinking deeper into the mire with every dismissal.Ive learned one of the big things you have to have, that the top players have, is belief in your own game, he said. You have to be confident that, when you get a chance, youre going to perform.Youre your own best coach. Theres plenty of people out there to speak to, but probably one of the things I was doing when I struggled was speaking to too many people. It is better bringing it back to a few close people you trust and to yourself. No one can do it for you.You can receive great advice, but youve got to believe in yourself.Part of the reason for Buttlers limited appearances in first-class cricket in 2016 was a decision to appear in the IPL. While there still appears to be some controversy about such decisions in English cricket, Buttlers decision was fully supported by the ECB - indeed, they currently encourage players to gain experience in high-profile T20 leagues - on the basis of their increased prioritisation of white-ball cricket.If Buttler goes on to help England to that elusive global ODI trophy - and he may well - it may well be credited as a contributory factor. Anyway, had he not subsequently broken his thumb playing T20 cricket for Lancashire, he would still have been able to play several Championship matches.Besides, he feels the experience of representing Mumbai Indians in the IPL may have helped him deal with the conditions and the environment in Mumbai.It probably helps, having practised and played here, Buttler said. Having experienced IPL, you get used to the noise and chaos going on around you. You learn to deal with it and not get distracted. I think familiarity is good and definitely helps.Might there be a bit of contradiction there? After all, he argues that familiarity is good when it comes to batting in Mumbai, but freshness is best when it comes to building an innings against a red ball.It doesnt really matter. Just as Ben Ducketts success in the English domestic season didnt much matter when he came up against Ravi Ashwin and co. And just as Mark Ramprakash and Graeme Hicks century of first-class centuries didnt matter when it came to Test cricket. Success in county cricket is no guarantee.All that matters is whether their method works in Test cricket. So while you would think that Buttler would benefit from more experience, while you would think he would benefit from learning how to build an innings - he has, after all, a modest first-class record (just four first-class centuries and an average of 32) - if he can demonstrate that his method works, he should be encouraged to embrace it.This was an impressive innings. While Parthiv Patels description of the early part of it as very lucky is somewhat graceless (and antagonistic), it is not entirely without truth. But while Buttler found batting a desperate struggle against the spinners on the first evening, he had the confidence and composure not to try and thrash his way out of trouble.While there were glimpses of the fine limited-overs player he has become - a few reverse-sweeps and one heave over mid-on for six - it was the less eye-catching skills that helped him here: his patience; his soft hands (not least when playing Jayant Yadav in front of leg slip when he had scored only 1), his ability to manoeuvre the ball and his maturity in dealing with the periods of pressure. Only once - in his 73 against New Zealand at Leeds in 2015 (his most recent half-century before this) - had he faced more deliveries in a Test innings.The game has changed. We live in an age where players reach centuries on debut with reverse-sweeps, where catches are routinely taken by fielders using the both sides of the boundary, where switch-hits and doosras have become part of the lexicon of the game. If Buttler wants to do things his way - and if it works - that should be just fine.Tony Clark Jersey . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. Joey Lucchesi Jersey . Speaking to the Chicago Tribune at baseballs Winter Meetings in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Boras called the former home of the Expos a "tremendous environment" for baseball. https://www.cheappadresjerseys.us/933m-eric-show-jersey-padres.html . Haas said he "felt a lot of pain" in his right shoulder when he slammed his racket to the ground in frustration after losing his serve at 3-3 in the first set. Ted Williams Jersey . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. Custom San Diego Padres Jerseys . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed.KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- J.J. Spaun made a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a record-setting victory Sunday in the Web.com Tours News Sentinel Open.Already assured a PGA Tour card as a top-25 finisher on the money list, Spaun broke through at Fox Den on his 26th birthday for his first tour victory.Spaun closed with a 5-under 66 and a one-stroke victory over best friend Sam Ryder, the third-round leader. Ryder had a chance to force a playoff, but missed an 8-foot birdie try on the par-5 18th, moments after Spaun made his go-ahead putt.I fought really hard out there and to have a putt at the last hole to win it and to bury it was a dream feeling, Spaun said. A lot of redemption in that putt.Spaun had a 26-under 258 total to break the tournament record of 23 under set by set by Tim Conley in 1993 at Willow Creek and matched by Heath Slocum in 2001 at Fox Den. Spaun broke Conleys mark of 263.Spaun won after finishing second twice this season, a run that jokingly promoted The Bridesmaid tag from his tour friends. He lost a playoff to Ollie Schniederjans in June in Wichita, Kansas, and was second behind Nicholas Lindheim last month in Lehi, Utah.Ive been knocking on the door all year, had a couple really close chances that I let slip out of my hands, and I didnt want that to happen today, especially when I had that opportunity on the last hole. I knew it was my time and I knew I was going to make it, and I buried it.Spaun earned $99,000 to jump from fifth to third on the money list wiith $335,432 with only the regular-season finale left next week at Pumpkin Ridge in Oregon.dddddddddddd. Last year, the former San Diego State player earned a Web.om Tour card by topping the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada money list.Spaun opened with rounds of 66, 62 and 64 to begin the final round a stroke behind Ryder.Sam could have used the win more than I could have honestly. I wanted him to win if I didnt win, but I also didnt want it to come down to how it came down, Spaun said. I wish he would have just kicked my butt today and beat me by six shots. I would have been happy. To come down the stretch and to make a putt and force him to make it, it just felt bad. Its a tough situation. He understands, and he said I can be happy, but its just kind of a downer to be honest.Ryder closed with a 68 after opening with rounds of 64, 64 and 63. He earned $59,400 to move from 55th to 29th on the money list with $137,961.I dont feel great right now, to be honest, Ryder said. I came out solid, I was playing good all day, made two bogeys from inside 60 yards, had a couple three-putts and felt like I kind of let it slip away. I fought back, yeah, but its going to sting for a minute.Spaun was making his 19th Web.com Tour start. He has five top-six finishes in his last nine events.Ryan Brehm and Rick Lamb tied for third at 23 under. Brehm had a 66, and Lamb shot 67. ' ' '