It has been a big 12 months for Travis Head. High expectations have been placed on Head since his Sheffield Shield debut at the

Posted in IYH Forums by jokergreen0220 at 08:45, Feb 10 2020

It has been a big 12 months for Travis Head. High expectations have been placed on Head since his Sheffield Shield debut at the age of 18 and his potential was always on display, but the one large gap in his record was hundreds. In fact, at the start of last season he had made only one: 108 for the National Performance Squad in a one-day game against South Africa in Darwin in 2014. But over the past year, Heads numbers have exploded.It all started with 202 against Western Australia in the Matador Cup, the second-highest score in Australias domestic one-day competition history. Then came a maiden first-class century, 114 also against Western Australia. Then there was an unbeaten 101 in the BBL, 134 and 192 to finish off the Shield season, and last month he made his name in England with 175 for Yorkshire in Englands domestic one-day cup.No surprises, then, that Head is part of Australias ODI squad in Sri Lanka, where on Sunday he added a second cap having made his debut against West Indies in June. Although he managed only 10 having come in at 202 for 5 in a chase of 228, he got a taste of the Sri Lankan conditions and will be better placed for the second match.I feel like Im in really good nick, Head told reporters in Colombo ahead of the second ODI. I feel like Im batting really well. Ive scored runs. Its all worked towards here and now. It was nice to get some games in England. I think Ive had a nice round experience in the last 12 months, Ive experienced different things, different conditions, different players, observed a lot and just watched guys go about their business, which has helped me.Notably, Head was also used for four overs of his part-time offspin and in the absence of the axed Glenn Maxwell, the No.7 spin-bowling allrounder position is one that Head is testing out during this series. Head joined the Test squad ahead of the third Test in Colombo and did plenty of bowling in the nets, but he knows there is work ahead of him if he wants to be selected as a legitimate allrounder.Im pretty raw, still, with my bowling, Head said. Thats helped me coming over here that Ive learnt the style the Sri Lankans have been bowling their spin. I havent come in here with a certain way of going about things. Im pretty open-minded on my bowling.I just want to try and find the conditions as best as possible. If that can get me selected, the second string to my batting - Im there to make runs - but if I can come in and do a job with the ball thats a positive. Thats what Im heading towards, working on as much as possible, so that I can be a genuine option.I played last year at home as No.1 but probably wasnt ready for that role, but took it on and did an okay job. Leading into the season if I can do as much bowling as possible and make myself a genuine spinner - thats my goal.That will be one of the summers aims for Head, the South Australia captain, especially knowing that a Test tour of India is coming up in February-March. Australias selectors will be on the lookout for batsmen who can handle the spinning conditions for that series after the Test debacle in Sri Lanka, and although Head has played only one first-class game in Asia - he made 31 and 50 against India A in Chennai last year - he believes his game could suit those conditions.I played one four-day game in India when I was there last and I got two starts, Head said. I got a 50 and a 30 and I had a pretty good game-plan, pretty similar to how I played the other night. Im always going to be positive and aggressive. Its a long way away, that Test series. Its a big summer. Ive got to get runs on the board, thats the main issue with everyone in the summer. https://www.chinasjerseys.com/" class="TyTxtSmlC">China Jerseys 2022 . The Australian is competing in his final season in Formula One and still looking for his first win this year. He will look to end Vettels run of six straight race wins on Sunday. Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career. https://www.chinasjerseys.com/" class="TyTxtSmlC">China Jerseys 2020 . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. https://www.chinasjerseys.com/" class="TyTxtSmlC">https://www.chinasjerseys.com/ . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. https://www.chinasjerseys.com/" class="TyTxtSmlC">China Jerseys 2021 . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. https://www.chinasjerseys.com/" class="TyTxtSmlC">China Jerseys . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The World Series champion Royals are stuck in no-mans land, close enough to contention to keep fighting yet far enough behind the race that going all-in at the trade deadline would be a fools gambit.The Royals entered the All-Star break at 45-43, seven games out of first place in the AL Central. They are also on the outside for the final wild-card spot, leaving general manager Dayton Moore and manager Ned Yost in the unenviable position of deciding what direction they should guide the franchise.It hasnt been early for a while, Yost said, dismissing the overused cliche of its still early.But again, you have to stay focused on today, he said. You have to forget about yesterday. Thats the hard part about this game. But weve been doing it for so long, thats how we approach it.The Royals season so far has been one of wild mood swings, soaring through a five-game win streak, then scuffling through eight straight losses, only to reel off five more wins in quick succession.The net result is their current position, stuck squarely between contender and pretender, unsure whether to unload players in the jumpstart of a rebuild or acquire the few pieces lacking from a title team.Things were much more defined a year ago.Kansas City was rolling through the hot summer months to a comfortable lead in the division, and it was apparent by mid-July that a postseason run was approaching. Moore began dealing away coveted prospects to get pitcher Johnny Cueto, second baseman Ben Zobrist and other pieces to round out his team.Both those guys were crucial to Kansas City beating the New York Mets to win the World Series.The Royals certainly have places that need shoring up, starting with a pitching rotation that has already seen Chris Young shuttled off to the bullpen. The Royals likely need at least one front-of-the-rotation starter if they plan to contend, even though Yost is confident there are sufficient in-house caandidates.ddddddddddddInjuries have also left Kansas City depleted across the lineup.Left fielder Alex Gordon missed a big chunk of the season with a wrist injury and has struggled since his return. Third baseman Mike Moustakas is done for the season with an ACL injury. Center fielder Lorenzo Cain is also on the disabled list after straining his hamstring trying to leg out a single.Finding someone who could play multiple positions -- Zobrist, anyone? -- would be ideal.Then again, the Royals have so far cobbled together a lineup with young call-ups such as Whit Merrifield and Brett Eibner that has allowed them to hang around. Merrifield was hitting over .300 for much of the season while Eibner has flashed some of the power that Kansas City has lacked for years.I wouldnt say theres urgency, said Merrifield, whose fine play at second base allowed the Royals to jettison underperforming veteran Omar Infante. Theres a lot of baseball left. A lot of stuff can happen between now and September and October. A lot of games to be played, a lot of ups and downs.The second half begins with three games in Detroit, then comes a crucial nine-game homestand against the Indians, Rangers and Angels that will ultimately decide whether the Royals will contend in August.If they go into another prolonged slump, the Royals could begin to replenish their depleted farm system -- especially with pitching prospects -- with an eye toward contending in a couple more years.Not that the Royals are thinking that way, even if the front office must consider it. They firmly believe they have the talent to reach the playoffs for a third straight year, or even make it to the World Series for a third straight year, and that one big run is enough for them to climb back into the race.Time is running out to put that run together. ' ' '