debut with the Diamondbacks in 2011. He is 56-5

Mark Petchey says Japans world No 6 Kei Nishikori offers Great Britain a different test to anything they faced in their Davis Cup triumph last year.Britain begin the defence of the trophy they won in November when they take on Japan in Birmingham this weekend and hopes are high of a potential repeat triumph.With world No 2 Andy Murray in the team, Leon Smiths squad were always strong favourites last year and Murray dropped just two sets in his eight singles rubbers along the way to glory. Evans gets GB nod Leon Smith names team for Japan tie But world No 6 Nishikori is a more than capable performer and already has a title under his belt this year having won in Memphis in February.Murray has a 5-1 winning record over the Japanese No 1, his only defeat coming at the 2014 World Tour Finals, but Petchey believes another top ten ranked player gives the tie a different look. Obviously last year you always felt Andy had the edge in the singles, it always felt like he was the better player in the one v ones. If he tees it up against Kei his superiority on the court is not going to be quite as overwhelming, Petchey told Sky Sports. Great Britain won the Davis Cup in 2015 That is something that gives a different dynamic heading into this tie to anything they had to deal with last year.Lets not underestimate the Japanese team, there is an awful lot of class with Nishikori and with [Taro] Daniel as well who is certainly not to be underestimated.Petchey concedes Britain go into the World Group first-round tie as likely winners despite the prospect of a tough encounter that could go all the way to Sundays final singles rubber - saying Murrays return to action for the first time since his Australian Open final defeat to Novak Djokovic and home advantage should give them the edge. Andy Murrays (right) lost just two sets in eight singles rubbers last year I think they are favourites given what they achieved last year, confidence is high amongst the team and Andy is playing, Petchey added.Despite having a lay-off since Australia I dont see any real problems with him coming back in and hitting the ground running. He knows how to hit a tennis ball, thats not going to have been forgotten amongst the nappy duty! Magical Murray role Remebering Andy Murrays role in Davis Cup glory Its at home, having won it last year the atmosphere will be phenomenal when they walk out on Friday. From that perspective there is not going to be any lack of desire from that team to put in a performance.Having ended a 79-year wait for Davis Cup glory, Petchey believes Great Britain could play with greater freedom having finally won the trophy - but admits things could go the other way with a degree of expectancy now on the team.Expectations are high and you can argue things either way, the Sky Sports expert said.The pressure to defend, wanting to go deep, have another deep run this year and the feeling it gave British tennis after the team did so well. But on the other hand they have won it, so the pressure is off to a large degree as theyve shown that as a team they are able to go on and win it. You could argue that it is now a slightly easier tie for Britain.The feeling is good within British tennis and the Davis Cup camp is strong. GBs route to Davis Cup glory We plot the path to a Great Britain repeat Whenever you have got some like Andy committed to a cause in the manner he was last year and clearly is going to be in the opening tie, you have got a great shot of repeating - a lot will depend on Andys season in terms of what he plays with the Olympics being this year.That is one of those unknown variables this year in terms of how far this team can go. If he is able to come out for every tie than the odds of defending the cup go up significantly.Also See:Evans gets GB nodGBs route to 2016 glory....Magical MurrayZeroes to heroesWholesale Football Jerseys Throwback . The Swede became the first golfer to win the PGA Tours FedEx Cup and European Tours Race to Dubai in the same season. "It is still taking a little time to sink in what Ive achieved this week as was the case when I won the FedEx Cup but then it just kept getting better and better as the days went on and I am sure this will be the same," he said. Stitched Football Jerseys Throwback . Olli Jokinen, Mark Scheifele, and Bryan Little each had a goal and an assist as Winnipeg won 5-2, handing Calgary its record-setting seventh consecutive loss on home ice. http://www.cheapfootballthrowback.com/ . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St. Discount Football Jerseys Throwback . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. Clearance Football Jerseys Throwback . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others.CHICAGO -- Baltimore is hoping Wade Miley can turn his solid July into a big finish with the AL East leaders.The Orioles acquired Miley in a trade with the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, giving manager Buck Showalter an experienced lefty for his rotation as the team tries to hold off Toronto and Boston for the division title.Wade Miley is a workhorse veteran left-handed starter who likes to pitch and compete, said Dan Duquette, the executive vice president of baseball operations for the Orioles. We think he will contribute to this years club with some quality innings.Miley is 7-8 with a 4.98 ERA, but he had a 3.45 ERA in five July starts. He pitched seven innings of one-hit ball in Seattles 4-1 victory against the major league-leading Chicago Cubs on Saturday.He was probably as good as he has been all year, Seattle manager Scott Servais said after Saturdays win at Wrigley Field. He kind of brought a different attitude, mentality, whatever you want to say to the mound today. He was very aggressive from the get-go.Miley was shagging fly balls before Sundays 7-6 loss at Chicago when he left the field while Seattle continued taking batting practice. Servais soon followed him into the dugout.Seattle received left-hander Ariel Miranda in the trade. The Cuban pitcher has spent most of the year with Triple-A Norfolk. He appeared in one game for Baltimore on July 3 at Seattle, allowing three runs and four hits in two innings.dddddddddddd.Ariel Miranda is a power left-handed pitcher with a four-pitch mix that is major league ready that provides us with flexibility, general manager Jerry Dipoto said in an email. We are very excited for what he can bring to the Mariners.The 29-year-old Miley was selected by Arizona with the 43rd pick in the 2008 amateur draft and made his major league debut with the Diamondbacks in 2011. He is 56-54 with a 4.07 ERA in six years in the majors.Miley went 11-11 with a 4.46 ERA in 32 starts with Boston last year, and then was traded to Seattle in December.We are glad that Wade can go from one team in playoff contention to another, and to a division that he has had success in during his career, Dipoto said. This decision is the best move for the Mariners present and future.Miley is making $6 million this season and is owed $8.75 million in 2017. His contract includes a $12 million club option for 2018 with a $500,000 buyout.---AP freelance writer Mike Cranston in Chicago, AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York and David Ginsburg in Baltimore contributed to this report. ' ' '