Perez, who has 17 saves, was not availab

Kane Williamson the Test captain has big boots to fill. In the World T20, for example, not one press conference would go without a question on the leadership of Brendon McCullum, how New Zealand were going to miss him, and how Williamson was going to carry forward McCullums legacy. Williamson is his own man, he leads in his own way, and New Zealand fans would have hoped that Williamson would dissociate himself from McCullums habit of not winning tosses. Its early days - Williamson came into this series with an even record - but if there was ever a series a visiting captain wanted to win tosses in, it is one in India, against this Indian Test side.Especially on this Green Park pitch, which was dry, which had cracks, but which was watered enough in the lead-up to make sure it didnt break up on day one. The humidity must have made it worse for New Zealand. You could see they were looking to bang the ball in, not just to test India against the short ball, but to rough it up for reverse swing. The first rule of reverse swing is no moisture on the rough side, but you can imagine how tough it would have been to execute that for Mark Craig, whose kit was dripping wet even before the end of the first session. You have been called upon to do a job in the first session of the series, you are looking to find the right length on a new pitch, but can you mind the sweat please while you are at it?Its very tough when youre sweating quite a bit, but you just have to find a way to keep the ball dry to try get the reverse swing, Mitchell Santner said. Even for the spinners, to try and keep your hands dry is key to grip the ball.It wasnt helping that New Zealands spinners had shown that they were not versatile enough to be threatening on a surface that wasnt yet doing much for them. It might be a slightly unfair expectation for bowlers who are rarely called upon to do the job on good surfaces. Yet, there were technical shortcomings, as noticed by Simon Doull on commentary. Santner doesnt use his non-bowling arm much, which denies him dip and drift; Ish Sodhis release is beyond the perpendicular, which denies him sideways turn. These things begin to matter less when the pitch starts to turn square, which it wasnt. So, they kept getting cut and pulled.Cheteshwar Pujara and M Vijay were now putting on a workshop on how to demoralise spinners who are unfamiliar with the conditions. Pujara frequently left his crease to take balls on the full or on the half-volley. Both Pujara and Vijay were alert to cut when this act forced the spinners to pitch short. Also, it has seemed New Zealands spinners have come more prepared for square turners where accuracy is more important. Thats what Daniel Vettori told Santner.Our conversation was more about bowling the ball in one area for a longer period of time but still having plenty on it, Santner said. Not try and do too much, let the wicket come and play its part. With not so much turn, you try and be patient and build more dots, try and get wickets that way through false shots.You cant overnight become different kind of bowlers, but what will hurt New Zealand is that the spinners couldnt stay as accurate as they would have wanted to on a slow pitch. The wicket is on the slower side and it is difficult to score runs, Vijay said. Thats what we felt. It is going to be difficult for them as well with the quality of Ashwin and Jadeja in the side.Yeah, I guess we might have been on the shorter side, but its about trying to find the pace that will suit for that wicket, Santner said. It might change in the second innings, I dont know.New Zealand were still going at 3.2 an over when things began to change. Around half-way into the day, Pujara got quite close to the pitch of a ball from Santner. There wasnt a lot of distance for the ball to travel, but the ball still turned. It spooned off the outer half of the bat for an easy return catch. The ball had begun to turn now. The techniques mattered a little less, and New Zealand dipped into their reserves.This was a day when it seemed this new batting core will finally put things past a side when its down without any dramas. Pujara and Vijay had been fantastic, but they left the door ajar, which the rest failed to shut. Virat Kohli possibly came in looking to dominate. He is that kind of a player. He has been itching to dominate a touring side with the bat. This was his opportunity, he possibly thought. When you see a partnership of 112 at a fairly brisk pace, you dont want to lose that momentum as the batsman going in. Neil Wagner played on the batsmans ego, and drew the top edge. Ajinkya Rahane will be the first one to admit he didnt move forward enough to be playing the defensive shot off the front foot. This was the mode of dismissal that had troubled him last year, but he overcame it. Rahane will be working to overcome this too. Vijay said the whole team will be.A bit of both, Vijay said. We got out to loose shots as well. The wicket was deteriorating as well. We have got to be really patient on this wicket. It is a lesson learnt. We will, hopefully, put up a better show in the second innings.The biggest lesson to learn is there for Rohit Sharma, who fell to a nothing loft, 20 minutes before stumps, giving Trent Boult the opportunity to run through the lower order. Vijay, though, extended Rohit the leeway that he didnt to himself. After calling his dismissal a bad shot selection, he wasnt as harsh on Rohit.Thats his area, I guess, Vijay said. When it comes off, it always looks good. When it doesnt, you fall on the wrong side. So I think we still got to back our instincts and play because we are playing in a sport where have got to win matches rather than just participate in a team. Whatever has got you here, you have to back that.In the end, through the wonderful mix of skills, imperfections, passing of time, changes in the pitch, the toll of weather that Test cricket is, we had a days play befitting the occasion that Indias 500th Test has somehow become. Both teams - India because they have Ashwin and Jadeja, New Zealand because they made a comeback and because the turn is slow - could lay claim to holding the advantage.Jaire Alexander Womens Jersey . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. Jaire Alexander Youth Jersey . It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. http://www.shoptheofficialpackers.com/Elite-Bart-Starr-Packers-Jersey/ . The head of USA Boxing came out swinging Tuesday with an open letter to Tyson -- a former Olympic hopeful himself -- that accuses the former heavyweight champion of trying to poach fighters who might be candidates for the U. Elgton Jenkins Youth Jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Jace Sternberger Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2.CLEVELAND -- Indians reliever Chris Perez has closed out the local media. Clevelands colorful closer, who has not spoken on the record to reporters for several weeks, left Progressive Field on Monday night after blowing a save in a 4-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers before the clubhouse was open. With Perez long gone, his teammates were left to answer questions about the demoralizing loss, which dropped the Indians four games out of first place in the AL Central. Manager Terry Francona downplayed Perezs snub, which came after he failed to protect a 2-0 lead. The right-hander yielded a three-run homer to Alex Avila and failed to record an out. "In a perfect world guys stand in front of their locker," Francona said before Tuesdays game. "Sometimes its not a perfect world." Approached by The Associated Press, Perez said he intends to maintain his media blackout. "Im not talking the rest of the year," he said. "Quit asking." Francona didnt defend Perezs actions, but he doesnt believe theyll be a distraction to his ballclub. "I think its his personal choice," he said. "I think we try to foster an environment where good, bad, in-between, guys are accountable. Some guys choose to not talk. Like I said, its not always a perfect world. " Francona intimated Perezs behaviour will be handled internally, and hes not worried that it will divide a Cleveland team that has grown into a tight-knit group this season. "I dont think its worrisome," Francona said. "I think those things with the team have a way of working themselves out and it doesnt necessarily have to be in public. This is where teams kind of come together and take care of team things." Perez has had a history of beeing a distraction.dddddddddddd. Last season, he made headlines for criticizing Cleveland fans for the teams poor attendance, ripped Indians ownership for not spending enough money and questioned some moves by the front office. He then lambasted manager Manny Acta a few days after he was fired. Earlier this season, he and his wife were arrested on misdemeanour drug charges. Perez has always been cordial with reporters, but has recently been more difficult to deal with. Following a recent win, he went out of his way to turn up the volume on the clubhouse sound system to make it harder for reporters to hear as they interviewed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. Perez was pitching in his third straight game on Monday night. He had converted 11 straight save opportunities since coming off the disabled list. Francona said Perez stopped in his office before leaving the ballpark. "He actually came in after the game and said, I felt great. I just blew it," Francona said. Perez, who has 17 saves, was not available Tuesday night as the Indians continued their series with Detroit. Francona was hoping for a long outing from starter Justin Masterson. Although Francona was second-guessed for using Perez and having the right-hander face left-handed hitter Prince Fielder in the ninth, Clevelands manager said he would follow the same script. "Not in the ninth," Francona said when asked if we consider using two pitchers in the final inning. "Thats why you have closers. Youre going to create chaos down there if you start doing that." Francona is also confident Perez will bounce back. "I think I have a pretty good grasp of these guys," Francona said. "To be a closer youve got to have selective amnesia." ' ' '