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At our first editorial meeting to discuss ideas for Indias 500th Test, inevitably the thought strayed to the future and temporarily the mood turned sombre. It had taken just over eight decades for India to reach 500, but how many more to the 1,000th? Will there be a 1,000th?But it was apparent in a moment how absurd and incongruous that thought was. It was an occasion not for foreboding, but for gratitude. For as long as it has existed, Test cricket has been a reminder that higher and lasting pleasure can be derived from engagement and absorption, from anticipation and waiting, and from enjoying the journey as much as the destination.And it is more relevant and resonant than ever before in a world that is prone to living in moments. Few other sports are as sharply defined by singular moments as cricket, but its the sum of those moments that makes Test cricket the grandest, the deepest and the most profound of sporting experiences. Once you make the connection, it usually lasts for life.Mine started nearly four decades ago, with a small transistor radio clutched to my ear in the early winter mornings. India were playing the Bobby Simpson-led, Kerry Packer-depleted Australia, and the series, swinging one way and the other, ended in an epic six-day Test, with India falling short of a 493-run target by only 47 runs to concede the series 3-2.I was yet to hold a bat, and beyond the short Films Division news reels that played in movie theatres, I had seen no other cricket. I read up a short book by Vijay Merchant on the basics of the game, and it might have been an aunt who filled me up with some background, but the rest the mind imagined. I can swear I had a fairly graphic image of Sunil Gavaskars forward-defensive shot even before I watched him play.The colour of the game has changed immeasurably in the last four decades. The World Cup arrived in the 80s; Sachin Tendulkar ruled the heart in the 90s when India only won at home; the Test team truly arrived in the first decade of the new century; and in the last 10 years, the IPL has rewritten the rules of the game, both of how it is played and watched. But even more significantly, from the transistor radio in the 70s, Indians have at their command home-entertainment options that are no longer limited to even to the 1,700-odd television channels available.For Test cricket, this challenge also brings an opportunity. There is no doubt that the base has shrunk and will shrink further. But a niche is not necessarily an obscure corner. It can be distinct, high-profile and aspirational. It can be clutter-breaking, the rarer pleasure requiring fans to spend the commodity considered the most scarce: time. The faithful will be rewarded, and they will enlist more. In many ways, it is already a miracle that a sport lasting 40 hours a game has lasted 140 years. It will endure.It is perhaps no more than a coincidence, but what can be a bigger celebration of Indias 500th Test than the fact that it marks the beginning of Indias biggest home Test season in memory. Fault them for whatever else, BCCI officials, current and those just out of office, have shown a remarkable commitment to Test cricket. Thirteen is a significant number. With 103 Tests, the previous decade was Indias most prolific, and this decade, with 66 Tests already, is well on its way to match or exceed it. And if India stay the course, the 1,000th could come in double-quick time. Institutionalising a home season would be a progressive use of the BCCIs clout.It is also pertinent that Test cricket is going to smaller towns, with as many as six new Test venues being added. Players occasionally grumble about smaller venues that lack the attractions of the big cities, but arousing fan interest is a greater imperative. Test cricket needs spectators in the grounds, and it is worth taking the chance on smaller venues, which now have excellent playing facilities. It is now incumbent on the state associations to make fans feel welcome. They could start by making daily tickets easily available instead of the take-it-or-leave-it season tickets. Clean toilets and drinking water would be nice too. Love cant forever be one-sided, and it can no longer be taken for granted.?But it matters as much, if not more, that the players care. And in Virat Kohli, India have at the helm a cricketer not merely of considerable skills but with a passion to match. Kohli is a man of the times, a hero and an icon that the fans of his generation identify with. And he brings to Test cricket both the edge of his personality and the syntax of the shorter formats, in which he first earned his fame. He respects the challenges of Test cricket, but plays it on his own terms. His rage not only fuels the engine of his young team, it also fires public imagination.The 500th is a good reason for celebrating the past, and we will do so on these pages through the course of this Test. But there is much to look forward to too. The best way to celebrate this season would be to turn up at the grounds, tune in to the action on TV, or simply log on to our sites. We will be doing our bit, ball by ball. If you think Test cricket is worthy, its time to show it.Stitched Royals Jerseys . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. Kansas City Royals Gear . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. https://www.cheaproyals.com/ . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. Wholesale Royals Jerseys . 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. Royals Jerseys 2019 . LOUIS -- Rookie Tavon Austin has missed another day of practice, lessening the odds hell be ready for the St.BEREA, Ohio -- Racing downfield after cruising past the cornerback, Terrelle Pryor dove forward and grasped the ball with his fingertips as he fell to the turf.Fans watching at training camp cheered the 50-yard reception, as Pryor got up from the ground and spiked the ball to the turf, before jogging back downfield and bumping chests with Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III.The excitement emanating from Pryor was evident, as it has been for entirety of his second training camp with the Browns.After a year spent struggling with the transition from passer to pass-catcher, hes finally starting to feel like a real wide receiver.To actually be out there battling with corners and being able to beat corners man to man and getting off press pretty easy now. ... Im very excited, Pryor said. This game is the love of my life.Pryor initially made the move from quarterback to receiver in training camp with Cleveland a year ago, but had a nagging hamstring strain that kept him out of all but one exhibition game.The Browns added Pryor to the 53-man roster out of camp, but cut him before the teams first regular-season game, only to bring him back for the final five games of the season.After the roller-coaster season, Pryor spent time this summer working on his skills as a wide receiver with former Vikings star Randy Moss and current Browns quarterback Josh McCown in Charlotte, N.C.Terrelle came down there and worked his tail off, McCown said. Hes turning over every rock to make sure he can find a way to get himself better and its a hats-off and a credit to him because he wants it.From what Pryor has shown thus far in camp, Browns coach Hue Jackson thinks the training has paid off.He made the transition from quarterback to receiver, Jackson said. Hes handled it very well. Im very proud of what hes doing.As head coach of the Raiders in 2011, Jackson drafted Pryor -- then a quarterback -- and the two maintained a good relationship as they met again with the Bengals.Now together for the third time in Cleveland, Pryor and Jackson are providing help to each other.In Pryor, Jackson has a player that understands his offense and can teach it to Clevelands group of receivers that includes first-round pick Corey Coleman and the recently reinstated Josh Gordon.ddddddddddddSometimes, hell just tell me, `Terrelle, shut up. Dont answer this, Pryor said of Jackson. Its because I know this stuff pretty good. Im excited just to get the guys sped up, or if the guys have any questions, Im here to help in any way.In Jackson, Pryor has a coach who believes in his talent and views him as a potentially big piece of the Browns offense this season.There are a lot of different things that well do with Terrelle because I think hes very talented, Jackson said. Well just continue to find different ways to have him make a difference on our offensive football team.One of the ways in which Jackson will use Pryor involves the receiver undergoing yet another transition, though this move isnt a switch in positions.Rather, Pryor is switching from one side of the field to the other, moving from the X receiver to the Z receiver, where hell be lined up often next to the tight end.The receiver isnt at all concerned about switching sides, so long as he can still be on the field.I just want to go and help however I can, be a playmaker, Pryor said. Put me on the field, Im going to make a play and thats got to be my mindset. Thats what I want to do. Thats my ultimate goal.Game notesPro Bowl TE Gary Barnidge (sports hernia) was held out of practice as he recovers from surgery. . OT Joe Thomas and DE Paul Kruger were at practice, but did not participate as they were given a veterans day off. . The Browns held a nine-minute hitting period, but left the first and second-team players on the sidelines in an effort to get younger players involved. . Jackson said the team will host a scrimmage in Berea on Friday before playing an intrasquad mock game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '