as this years World Series began.Ken Kostal, of Marblehead, s

Joe Root feels a session batting on a road inside the Chepauk stadium had helped him rediscover his fluency ahead of the fifth Test in Chennai.Keen to gain some practice time after feeling his footwork was all over the place in the previous Test in Mumbai, Root turned up the day before the match to find that the net facilities at the ground were not fit for use following the cyclone that hit the city in recent days.When the contingency plan - a session on the hard tennis courts at the stadium - also had to be abandoned due to the storm damage, Root decided that the road was the next best option.So while the conditions for his 30 minutes of throwdowns from batting coach Mark Ramprakash were not ideal, he felt the experience - one that was reminiscent to his youth playing in parks and garden and on roads - helped relax him and remind him of the simple pleasures of the game.My feet were all over the place against the seamers in Mumbai, Root said, so I wanted to iron a few things out.We tried to do it away from the cameras just in case it went pear-shaped. We were kindly helped by a few of the local guys and managed to get a few things sorted.It was nice to have that peace of mind going into the game, having worked on it. Something just clicked into place.To go back to being a kid again and remember what its like to play on a street with your mates, and get those reasons why you love playing and why you first got into cricket, to park all the pressure and think about the game ... that was nice.It did just relax me, and maybe thats all it needed.Root didnt look especially relaxed when he was given out, though. He kicked a water bottle and gave the foam boundary rope a whack with his bat after he was adjudged to have been caught behind after a review by India.Root was not only under the impression that he did not hit the ball - he later admitted that technology proved him wrong - but was frustrated at missing out on a century. It was the 13th time he has reached fifty in Test cricket in 2016, but only on three occasions has he gone on to make a century. Despite becoming the highest Test run-scorer in the world this year during the innings, his dismissal left him 11 runs short of the England record for most runs in a calendar year held by his boyhood hero, Michael Vaughan.I probably was a bit childish with my reaction as I walked off. But playing international cricket, youre going to be disappointed when you feel youve been hard done by - even if you havent.I was convinced I didnt hit it. Obviously the technology suggests otherwise, but it is bitterly disappointing when youre convinced out there that theres nothing.If you look at the wicketkeepers reaction, hes not interested either. I must have got a fine edge on it, but I didnt hear a noise and didnt feel anything on the bat.I think initially [my reaction] was from feeling like I didnt hit it. It went upstairs and I went up to Mo and said Ill be fine, Ive not got anywhere near it. Then you see the spike (on DRS) ... it was more disbelief than anything else, I suppose.But you sort of just have to suck it up, and put faith in the rest of the guys. I hope we can make that 500 score and put India under pressure.Id be lying if I was to say I wasnt frustrated about missing out on a century. But I feel my games in good order and I dont think Id have done anything differently if I had my time again.Id have still played the same shot. Im not going to change the way Im playing. Its just about being better at it. Matt Miazga USA Jersey . Catch all the action on TSN2 at 11pm et/8pm pt. The nine-time Big 12 champion Jayhawks are positioning themselves for another title, as they have run out to a flawless 6-0 mark in conference play thus far. Sebastian Lletget Jersey . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. http://www.soccerusateamonline.com/Justin-Morrow-America-Jersey/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Omar Gonzalez Jersey . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. Daniel Lovitz Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. HOUSTON -- James Hardens latest game left him tied in Houstons record books with perhaps the greatest Rocket of all.Harden had a triple-double -- 15 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds -- in just three quarters to lead the Rockets to their eighth straight win, 132-98 over the short-handed Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.It was Hardens fifth triple-double this season and the 14th of his career, which ties him with Hakeem Olajuwon for most in franchise history. Harden acknowledged how special it is to be mentioned in the same breath as The Dream.Yes, obviously all-time Rockets great, best to ever do it (in) a Rocket uniform and one of the best to ever do it period, Harden said. So just honored. Its a credit to my teammates who helped me and coaches and just trying to win. Thats all.Houstons winning streak is the longest current one in the NBA and the teams longest since 2014.The biggest thing Im happy with is we had 40 assists on 50 buckets, so theyre sharing the ball, coach Mike DAntoni said. James does what he does every night and just a lot of good stuff going on.Hardens triple-double came in 29 minutes and 52 seconds of play, which is his second when playing less than 30 minutes.Houston led by 15 points in the third quarter before using a 10-4 run to push it to 76-53 with about 7 minutes left in the quarter. The Rockets began to pour it on after that, outscoring the Kings 18-5 over the next 3 1/2 minutes to make it 94-58. Trevor Ariza scored the first five points in that span and capped it with a 3-pointer.Harden grabbed his 10th rebound soon after that and got one more late in the third before heading to the bench at the end of the quarter to end his night.The Kings played without three starters with Rudy Gay (hip flexor strain) and Ben McLemore (left quadriceps contusion) out with injuries and DeMarcus Cousins getting a planned day of rest. They were led by Garrett Temples 20 points.There are times when teams are going to have to rest people and that gives other guys an opportunity to step up, Sacramentos Matt Barnes said. We have to weather the storm until Ben and Rudy get back and I think DeMarcus is playing in the next game.dddddddddddd We have to pick up the pieces and continue to play hard and improve.Ryan Anderson had 22 points and Sam Dekker had a career-high 19 for Houston.Harden has thrived running DAntonis fast-paced offense and has piled up 53 assists in the last four games.TIP-INSKings: Have lost six straight in Houston. ... Anthony Tolliver had 12 points and 10 rebounds. ... Trailed by as many as 39. ... Willie Cauley-Stein had 11 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.Rockets: Eric Gordon had a season-high eight assists. ... Every Houston starter scored at least 10 points. Its the sixth time thats happened this season. ... Ariza finished with five 3s and has had at least four 3s in 11 games this season. ... The Rockets had 64 points at halftime and have scored at least 60 points in the first half in seven of their last 11 games.COME ON GUYSThe Rockets finished with 22 3-pointers to give them at least 15 3s in three straight games, which ties a franchise record. They came just short of tying the NBA record for 3s in a game of 23. With her son on the bench for the entire fourth quarter Hardens mother Monja Willis was imploring Dekker to help the Rockets break the record.James mom kept yelling at me, Dekker said. She was laughing and she kept saying: `You need two more for the record. Two more for the record. But I didnt pay too much mind to it. We got out of there with a win and with the way we shoot the ball I think well get pretty close again.NO RESTWith Cousins sitting out to rest Wednesday night, Harden, who has played in 152 consecutive games, was asked why he never wants to take a night off to give his body a break.I know Im not going to be playing basketball for the rest of my life, he said. I cherish moments like these and I love to play basketball. ... I love being on the court.UP NEXTKings: Visit Memphis on Friday.Rockets: Host New Orleans on Friday. ' ' '